Iran Journal, Part 4: Making Friends
Kings and shahs have tried to make Iran more worldly and western. Clerics have tried to make it more religious and isolated. Recently VPR’s Steve Zind traveled to Iran in search of family history. In Part Four of “Iran Journal,” he discovers that neither the approach of the shahs or the mullahs seems a perfect fit for the Iranian people. (VPR)
Vermont Joins Lawsuit Over Carbon Dioxide Emissions
The state of Vermont has joined with seven other states in a lawsuit against five major power companies that emit large amounts of carbon dioxide. The lawsuit charges that the emissions are a significant contributor to global warming and that the emissions are affecting the health of citizens and the economies in the individual states. (VPR)
Clavelle Criticizes Douglas’ Health Care Policy
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle accused Republican Governor Jim Douglas on Wednesday of failing to show leadership on health care issues. But the Burlington mayor says he’ll wait until later in the campaign to offer details of his own health care plan. (VPR)
Dean Supporters Move Festival to Pittsfield, MA
Supporters of Howard Dean’s presidential bid will gather this weekend in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Organizers moved the location of the two-day DemocracyFest to the Crown Plaza Hotel in downtown Pittsfield, instead of holding it at a ski area in nearby Great Barrington. (AP)
St. Albans Caps Retail Construction at 50,000
Town officials in St. Albans have passed an interim zoning bylaw that puts a cap of 50,000-square feet on new retail construction. An interim bylaw is good for two years and can only be extended for one additional year. (VPR)
Battery-Powered Toy in Cereal Boxes Worries VPIRG
The Vermont Public Interest Research Group is taking on Spider Man. The non-profit group is trying to get the Kellogg’s cereal company to withdraw boxes of cereal containing a Spider-Man toy that has a mercury battery. (AP)
Soldier Returns to Unit
The U.S. Army paratrooper whose life was saved in Afghanistan by a helmet made in Newport is back on duty. Army first sergeant Colin Rich has spent four months with his unit in Iraq. (AP)
Dean to Speak at Democratic Convention
Howard Dean will speak to the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday. Dean and all of the other former presidential candidates were given prime-time speaking slots at the convention. (AP)
Algae Blooms
The state of Vermont is monitoring sections of northern Lake Champlain for blooms of the sometimes toxic blue-green algae. Officials say no blooms have been observed this summer, but warm water and hot weather can lead to algae blooms. (AP)
Northfield Community Center Gift
Norwich University is pledging $50,000 to help the town of Northfield restore the community’s former grade school building. The Gray Building, which closed in 1994 and has been vacant ever since, is being developed as a community center. (AP)
Teacher Abuse Cases Settled
Two former Chittenden County teachers accused of sexually assaulting underage students in separate cases have made deals with prosecutors. Richard Bugbee Jr. of St. Albans is headed to jail for six months. A judge will decide if Jaime Lee Rugg will go to prison. (AP)