Interview: Dean campaign
Steve Delaney talks with the manager of Howard Dean’s presidential campaign. In the last several days, Dean has enjoyed success in fundraising and publicity. (Listen to the interview online.) (VPR)
Euthanasia bill
Opponents of the so called “death with dignity” bill say they will mount an aggressive campaign to defeat the legislation this session. They’re concerned that the proposal will be abused by a patient’s family, their doctor or their insurance company, but proponents of the legislation say these concerns are being greatly overstated. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Tobacco fund
Attorney General William Sorrell says the Douglas administration has shortchanged anti-smoking programs in next year’s budget. The attorney general says it doesn’t make sense to cut the programs just as they’re beginning to work. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Fall moose hunt
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department wants to increase the number of permits it issues for the annual moose hunt. (AP)
Border drug smuggling
A Quebec man faces federal drug charges after being arrested in the Northeast Kingdom for trafficking marijuana that had a street value of one million dollars. (AP)
Catholic mass for peace
The leader of Vermont’s Roman Catholics says the conditions for a just war against Iraq have not been met. The Most Reverend Kenneth Angell made the remark during his homily Monday night at a special Mass for Peace held at the Saint Joseph Co-Cathedral in Burlington. (AP)
Infant-toddler daycare
A new childcare center for employees of the state of Vermont is nearly booked up three months before it is to open. The childcare center in Middlesex is for infants from one to 36 months, and the heavy demand for spaces is said to be a sign that there’s a shortage of day care for very young children. (AP)
FBI whistle blower
Vermont U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy is criticizing the FBI for what he says was retaliation against a whistle-blower. Leahy and Senator Charles Grassley Monday released an FBI inspector general’s report saying FBI Unit Chief John Roberts was targeted for remarks he made on the CBS program “60 Minutes.” (AP)
Bomb scare
A suspicious box dropped from a vehicle near the Burlington International Airport prompted responses by emergency crews and the evacuation of nearby homes. But after it was checked by the Vermont State Police bomb squad, the parcel turned up empty. (AP)
Republican National Committee
A former Vermont legislator has been elected secretary of the Republican National Committee. Sara Gear Boyd of Colchester was Republican leader in both the Vermont House and Senate and now has served on the party’s national committee for 10 years. (AP)
Instant Runoff Voting
The Vermont attorney general has advised lawmakers that a constitutional amendment is needed to apply instant runoff voting in elections for governor, lieutenant governor or treasurer. But Lamoille County Senator Susan Bartlett disagrees. She says her bill would not require a constitutional amendment because it would make the results advisory and the Legislature would have the final say. (AP)
Island school district proposed
Voters in Grand Isle County will decide next week whether to form their own union school district. The vote would be a first step toward a possible high school for the five Lake Champlain island towns. Students now travel off the islands to nearly 20 high schools in Chittenden and Franklin counties, and in New York state. (AP)
McNulty steps down
Education Commissioner Raymond McNulty is stepping down this week after a little more than a year on the job. McNulty is leaving to take a job outside of state government. He could announce his plans as early as Tuesday. (AP)
Bookstore records
The Montpelier bookstore that purged records of books its customers had bought has been getting e-mails and phone calls from around the country. The reaction comes after an Associated Press story last week on the decision by Bear Pond Books to purge its records for fear they could be seized by government agents under the USA Patriot Act. (AP)
Movie theater closes
Burlington’s Nickelodeon Cinemas has closed after 22 years in business. The theater, known for airing both commercial and independent films, showed its last movies on Sunday. Local theater owner Merrill Jarvis is interested in buying the six-screen, 900-seat theater. (AP)