Interview: Smallpox Vaccine
Neal Charnoff interview State Epidemiologist Ann Fingar. They discuss the use and risks of the smallpox vaccine in response to bioterrorism. (Listen to the interview online.) (VPR)
Tobacco Money for Budget Deficit
Attorney General William Sorrell is strongly opposing a plan by the Dean administration to use money from the national tobacco settlement fund to help balance this year’s budget deficit. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Idle Gilman Plant
State environmental officials, a Vermont utility and laid off employees are working to prevent chemicals stored at an idle paper mill from contaminating the Connecticut River. Meanwhile officials are considering how the state can maintain the mill so it can reopen in the future. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Burlington Diocese Investigation
Vermont’s attorney general says the Roman Catholic church isn’t cooperating fully with the investigation into abuse allegations against priests. Attorney General William Sorrell says the church’s cooperation has improved from its initial position, but church officials haven’t been fully forthcoming. (AP)
Polluting Watercraft
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is calling for cleaner outboard motors and personal watercraft. The EPA, state agencies from Vermont and New York, and an industry group held a news conference in Burlington Thursday to talk about a new campaign. Retailers who are taking part in the program have agreed to encourage people to buy low-polluting craft. The EPA will require all manufacturers by the year 2006 to sell only low-pollution engines. The agency says Vermont has about 29,000 registered personal watercraft and boats with outboard motors. (AP)
Sheriff s Race
Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Deputy Connie Allen is running for a chance to be Vermont’s first female sheriff. Allen is 37 and has worked in the Sheriff’s Department in Grand Isle for nine years. Allen believes she would be the first female sheriff in Vermont, but she says gender has nothing to do with the job as long as you’re qualified. Allen said proper training and a good team of other officers are more important. Grand Isle Sheriff John Lawrence is retiring this year after 30 years on the job. (AP)