Research in the Northern Forest
VPR’s Steve Delaney talks with UVM scientist Donald DeHayes about research projects in the Northern Forest. (Listen to the interview online.) (VPR)
Farm of the year
Vermont’s farm of the year award goes to Lilac Ridge Farm in Brattleboro. (VPR)
Giving testimony
With the new Legislature just weeks away, several dozen would-be citizen activists spent a day at the Statehouse getting an inside look at the art of effective citizen participation. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Dean seeks Gore supporters
Governor Howard Dean is in Iowa contacting supporters of former Vice President Al Gore. Dean says Gore’s decision not to run for president in 2004 will help his own presidential campaign effort. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Burlington mayor’s race
The mayor of Vermont’s largest city wants to broaden his political base as he campaigns for a seventh term in office. Mayor Peter Clavelle has run before as a Progressive candidate. Now Clavelle is seeking the Democratic nomination as well. At Clavelle’s announcement Monday, Clavelle and his supporters said it was time to move away from party labels. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Instant Runoff Voting
Supporters of an instant runoff voting system have launched a statewide petition drive to encourage lawmakers to support their proposal during the coming legislative session. (VPR)
Campaign spending reports
The national Republican and Democratic parties paid for more than half of their respective Vermont gubernatorial candidates’ campaigns. Republican Governor-elect Jim Douglas reported spending $1.1 million; national Republican groups gave him $660,000 of the total. Democrat Doug Racine says he spent $723,000; national Democrats gave him $412,000. Spending for the lieutenant governor’s race was relatively close. Democrat Peter Shumlin spent the most at $163,000; Republican Brian Dubie, says he spent $140,000; and Progressive Anthony Pollina spent $138,000. (AP)
Diocese lawsuit
Vermont’s Roman Catholic Diocese has been ordered to turn over more than 50 years worth of records of misconduct complaints against priests. That order came from Judge Matthew Katz in a civil trial against the diocese and a priest accused of molesting an altar boy in Saint Albans. (AP)
Chittenden Bank president
Lawrence DeShaw of Shelburne has been named president of the Chittenden Bank. DeShaw will be the first person to hold the position. The bank’s parent company, Chittenden Corporation, is trying to streamline its Vermont operations. (AP)
Expanded airport service
Early next year, US Airways is planning to expand service between Washington and Pittsburgh from Burlington International Airport. The airline will use a larger plane to fly to Washington and add a flight to Pittsburgh. (AP)
Manchester school funding
Manchester property taxpayers have avoided having to share education money with other communities. The Manchester School Fund announced yesterday it had raised almost $2.5 million privately for the town’s public schools. (AP)
Foreign student settlement
A San Francisco company has agreed to pay $15,000 for refunds to foreign students who cleaned condominiums at the Smugglers Notch ski resort while living in substandard housing. Intrax denied any wrongdoing, but agreed to make the payment. (AP)