Vermont Yankee safety meeting
Public Safety officials traveled to Brattleboro Monday for a budget work session with towns in Vermont Yankee’s emergency evacuation zone. The purpose was to discuss how to spend $800,000 in radiological emergency planning funds included in the state’s 2004 budget. (VPR)
Milk pricing agreement
Vermont’s two largest dairy cooperatives say they’ll support a scaled back plan by dairy processors to increase milk prices. The new plan won’t have the impact of the original proposal, but the cooperative say it’s still an important beginning. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Cheesemakers win award
The Grafton Village Cheese Company has earned an award from a prestigious cheese competition for the twelfth year in a row. The National Association of Specialty Food Trades hosts the annual competition to judge about 5,000 cheeses in 29 categories. (VPR)
Vergennes police shooting
The shooting of a Vergennes man by state police over the weekend has brought focus to the issue of law enforcement procedures. It was the ninth police shooting incident in the last three years. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Amber Alert program
State officials have launched a program to help law enforcement agencies deal with child abduction cases. The so called “Amber Alert” system will notify members of the public through radio and TV announcements of any details surrounding an abduction. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Border express lane
Frequent travelers between Vermont and Quebec can now apply for a card allowing to use an express lane at the border. (AP)
VT and NH governors meet
The governors of New Hampshire and Vermont met in Montpelier Monday to have lunch and discuss common concerns. (AP)
Police shooting investigation
It will be several weeks before police complete their investigation into the fatal shooting by police of a Vergennes man. The Vermont State Police say that Merrill Patten was threatening officers with a loaded shotgun when he was shot five times early Sunday. (AP)
Dean fundraising
Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean might have been the second quarter Democratic fund raising champion, but he still lags in one key area: Dean is fourth of the nine Democratic presidential candidates in money in the bank. He has raised just over $10 million since January, but he’s spent a good chunk of his cash on TV ads and an Internet campaign. That puts him in fourth place overall, with about $6 million on hand. (AP)
Vermont soldier injured
A 19-year-old soldier from Milton man is recovering from combat wounds suffered when his vehicle was ambushed in Baghdad. One of the soldiers with Mark Gratton when he was wounded June 27 was killed and another was more seriously wounded. Gratton is expected to recover. (AP)
Leahy’s concerns for Myanmar
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy is weighing in on the growing concerns about Myanmar, a country in southeast Asia. Leahy says proposed economic sanctions send a message to rulers in the country, formerly known as Burma, that their behavior is outrageous. (AP)
Burlington transit center
The mayor of Vermont’s largest city is calling off a proposed 15 (M) million dollar transit center. Mayor Peter Clavelle said it was increasingly apparent that the center did not have strong and broad public support. (AP)