Here are the top stories at 7:30 a.m.:
The Bush administration yesterday released $5.1 billion in fuel assistance to states, nearly doubling federal money to help poor people cope with high home heating bills expected this winter. Polls show that Governor Jim Douglas enjoys a comfortable lead in his re-election campaign. Yet the governor is running tough ads that seem to personally attack his Democratic opponent. The ads imply that Gaye Symington does not respect Vermont workers.