When a person loses a job, unemployment insurance is meant to keep that worker afloat till a new job can be found. But the system that provides that benefit has become insolvent during this recession, with the state borrowing tens of millions of dollars from the U.S. Treasury to keep benefits flowing to the unemployed. This week, legislative leaders and the governor announced a compromise plan to return the system to solvency by 2015, including changes to benefits and eligibility, and increased contributions from employers. We talk about the proposed changes to the unemployment insurance program with Labor Commissioner Patricia Moulton-Powden and Chris Curtis, an attorney with Vermont Legal Aid which is critical of the plan. Listen
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Also in the program, the Lane Series at the University of Vermont has been providing music, theater, and dance for decades. For the last 23 years the series has borne the stamp of its director, Jane Ambrose, who retires at the ends of this season. We talk with Ambrose about memorable concerts and performers, and the legacy she’s created during her tenure. Listen