Iran Journal, Part 3: To Pari
In the last generation there’s been a massive migration of people to Iran’s cities. Population loss, highways and electricity have changed some aspects of rural life in Iran, but many traditions continue. In Part Three of his “Iran Journal,” VPR’s Steve Zind travels into the countryside to see what remains of the village where his ancestors lived 300 years ago. (VPR)
Jeffords to Campaign for Democrats
Senator Jim Jeffords says he believes the Democrats have a good opportunity to take back control of the U.S. Senate this fall. And Jeffords says he’ll actively campaign and raise money to help the Democrats achieve this goal. (VPR)
Liberty Union Candidates as Progressive
Leaders of Vermont’s Progressive Party say they are disappointed that some long time members of the Liberty Union Party have filed petitions to run for statewide office as Progressives. The Progressive Party hopes to thwart the plans of these Liberty Union candidates. (VPR)
Electric Grid Reliability
The agency that operates the New England electric transmission grid has launched a public relations campaign in support of a major power line proposal in Vermont. But an opponent of the project says the agency is misleading regulators and the public. (VPR)
Folk Songs Brought Back to Life
In 1930, Springfield, Vermont’s Helen Hartness Flanders began a year-long project that stretched into a life’s work: collecting thousand of traditional songs from across Vermont and New England. Flanders, who died in 1972, hoped the songs she archived would continue to be heard. Now one of her descendants is honoring that wish. (VPR)
Legislative Races
Republicans and Democrats are beginning in earnest their campaigns for seats in the Vermont Legislature. Monday was the filing deadline to get on the primary ballot. (AP)
Local Rooms and Meals Tax
A proposal for local sales, meals and rooms or gasoline taxes in Montpelier, Barre and Berlin is drawing mostly negative reviews from local business owners. (AP)
Winooski Smoking Ban
Starting next month there will be no smoking in Winooski’s bars. The city council voted Monday night to ban smoking in those establishments. (AP)
Lawsuit Against Power Producers
Vermont, along with seven other states and New York City, will announce a lawsuit Wednesday that seeks to force five of the country’s largest power producers to cut carbon dioxide emissions. A statement obtained by the Associated Press says attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, along with New York City’s corporation counsel, are filing the public nuisance suit in federal district court in Manhattan. (AP)
Judicial Nominee Blocked
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy says the Bush administration is showing “outright contempt for high environmental standards.” Leahy was speaking Tuesday about a Bush nominee for the position of federal appeals court judge. Senate Democrats blocked the confirmation of William Myers. (AP)
SBA Disaster Loans
Some businesses in Vermont’s two southern-most counties may be eligible for federal disaster loans due to cold weather this past winter. The Small Business Administration is offering the loans to small businesses that support agriculture in Windham and Bennington counties. (AP)
Wet Summer Weather
It has been a wet July in Vermont. The state’s largest city has seen rain on 13 of the 21 days so far this month. A typical July in the Champlain Valley gets about three inches of rainfall. Burlington has received almost six inches so far. The July record for rainfall in Vermont is almost nine and a half inches. That was set in 1998. (AP)
U.S. Marine Band
A Vermont native is the new director of the U.S. Marine Band, which performs regularly at the White House and presidential inaugurations. Lieutenant Colonel Michael Colburn of St. Albans used to play in the Bellows Free Academy Band. Now 39, Colburn will be the music adviser to the White House and lead the Marine Band in more than 200 performances a year. (AP)
Yellow Ribbon Magnets
Flag stores and veterans’ groups in parts of Vermont say they are struggling to keep up with the demand for new yellow ribbon car magnets that show support for troops in Iraq. The national phenomenon has spread to the Green Mountain State. (AP)