Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour:
Affordable housing advocates hold a news conference at the Statehouse to say the gap between wages and housing costs in Vermont continues to grow; Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy speaks out against the recess appointment of Alabama judge William Pryor to the Federal Appeals Court; Congressman Bernie Sanders says American trade policy has damaged the granite industry in Barre; Goodwill Industries reduces the number of unattended drop bins it uses to collect donated items in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont; Democratic rivals John Kerry and John Edwards campaign in New York City this morning, Edwards goes to Georgia this afternoon; newly announced independent candidate Ralph Nader explains to reporters why he’s running, while many of his former supporters ask him to stay out of the race.
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