Home Front: Leading the Guard in war time
All this week, Vermont Public Radio is exploring how the war in Iraq is touching the lives of people here at home. In the first part of our series, Bob Kinzel looks at how the life of Vermont National Guard Adjutant General Martha Rainville has been dramatically changed by the war. (VPR)
Children’s literacy program focuses on mothers in prison
Inmates at the women’s prison in Windsor got an early Christmas present recently: a gift of children’s books, to read to their kids when they come to visit. They also got a message, about the powerful bonds and positive influences that come from sharing stories. (VPR)
GOP legislative leadership
On Sunday, House Republicans elected Representative Richard Hube of Londonderry to be their leader and Representative David Sunderland of Rutland Town to be assistant leader. They’ll head up a caucus that will be in the minority for the first time since 2000. (AP)
Democrats meet in Florida
The national Democratic Party needs to rebuild itself from the grassroots and contest elections in every state. That was the message former Vermont Governor Howard Dean shared this weekend with party leaders at a meeting in Florida. Dean says he is considering running for national Democratic chairman when the election for that post takes place in February. (AP)
NRC meeting in Brattleboro
This week’s meeting in Brattleboro between the public and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is going to be subject to some new restrictions. Officials are worried about the size of the crowd that might show up for Thursday’s 6:00 p.m. session at Brattleboro Union High School, so they’re issuing tickets for the event. (AP)
Drunk driving evidence
The Vermont Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether the state Health Department needs to keep copies of the computer memory in the machine police use to test alleged drunken drivers. Defense lawyers have been using the lack of computerized records on the machines’ operation as a way to help some clients beat drunken-driving charges. (AP)
Property tax cut
Vermont’s 20 biggest payers of property taxes stand to save a combined $282,000 this coming year. That reduction from their current $14.5 million combined tax bill is expected to result from Governor Jim Douglas’ request for a three-cent cut in the statewide property tax. (AP)
Killington property tax
Town officials in Killington are considering taking some pressure off the property tax by implementing a local option tax on rooms and meals, sales and alcoholic beverages. Select Board member Norman Holcomb says the money could be used to erase mounting deficits at the Green Mountain National Golf Course. That’s the only municipal golf course in Vermont. (AP)
Nursing home virus
The director of the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington says most residents stricken during a virus outbreak last week have recovered or are recovering. Commandant Earle Hollings Junior says the home will remain off-limits to visitors until all patients have been virus-free for 48 hours. (AP)
Bus routes cut
Central Vermont’s Green Mountain Transit Agency is planning some cuts in bus service to take effect next month. The nonprofit transit provider says the cuts are necessary to avoid a deficit. (AP)
Appeal in Woodward civil case
Lawyers for the town of Brattleboro are asking a federal appeals court to throw out an appeal brought by the family of a man whom police officers fatally shot in a church three years ago. Attorneys William Ellis and Nancy Sheahan argue that federal Judge Garvan Murtha was right when he threw out a civil suit brought by the family of Robert Woodward. (AP)
Traffic fatalities
State and local police are hoping stepped up enforcement against drunken driving this holiday season will keep Vermont from hitting the ugly milestone of 100 traffic fatalities for the year. Chuck Satterfield of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program says traffic deaths have spiked this year to 92 so far after a decade-long decline. (AP)
Marijuana arrest
A 44-year-old Chester man could get up to 25 years in prison for an alleged series of marijuana sales to a police informant. Dennis Bailey was being held at the state prison in Springfield for lack of $1,000 bail. He pleaded innocent to five felony counts of selling marijuana. (AP)