Interview: Vermont and the national election
If you’re one of the many Vermonters who voted for Senator John Kerry in Tuesday’s election, you may be feeling a bit out of step with the rest of the country today. While the 2000 election was so close it was ultimately decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, President George W. Bush won both the electoral and popular vote this time around, leaving many Vermonters clearly opposed to the president wondering what to make of those numbers. (VPR)
Interview: Hew Hampshire’s governor-elect
For just the second time in 78 years an incumbent governor in New Hampshire has been denied a second term. Democrat John Lynch defeated Republican Governor Craig Benson on Tuesday. (VPR)
Douglas faces budget challenges
Governor Jim Douglas says meeting the budget needs of the state without increasing taxes will be one of the biggest challenges he faces in the coming year. (VPR)
Democrats begin organizing House and Senate leadership
Democrats are back in power in the Statehouse, with a large majority in the Senate and enough votes in the House to elect a speaker for the first time in four years. Democratic leaders pledged on Wednesday to work with Republican Governor Jim Douglas but they said their party clearly is in a position to control the legislative agenda next year. (VPR)
Regional technical academy proposal rejected
Planners of a new technical academy proposed for Northwestern Vermont say they’ll decide next week whether to come up with a different plan or call it quits. Their proposal was defeated by voters in about two dozen communities Tuesday. (VPR)
Record numbers of Vermonters go to the polls
It looks like a record number of Vermonters cast ballots in Tuesday’s election. Unofficial estimates by The Associated Press put turnout at slightly more than 310,000 voters. That would top the previous record of 297,000 set four years ago. (AP)
Leahy and judicial nominees
Vermont U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy could be even more of a target for criticism from the right in the coming years than he has been already. As ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Leahy is expected to be a key player in upcoming debates over President Bush’s judicial nominees, including potential nominees to the Supreme Court. (AP)
Progressives pick up House seats
Leaders of Vermont’s Progressive Party say they’re encouraged by the results of Tuesday’s election. The Progressives picked up House seats in Bethel, Derby and Troy, bringing their total to six. With a Progressive incumbent winning in Brattleboro, the party now has more House members from outside Burlington than from Burlington for the first time. (AP)
NRC public meetings
Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials are planning to come to Vermont on Tuesday to talk about two recent inspections at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. Meetings are set for 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Governor Hunt House in Vernon and at 6:00 p.m. at the Vernon Elementary School. (AP)
Winooski smoking ban
The Winooski City Council might extend the just-approved ban on smoking in bars to private clubs. On Tuesday city voters approved by almost two to one a smoking ban for bars that was approved by city officials earlier this year. (AP)
UVM basketball coach to retire
University of Vermont basketball coach Tom Brennan is starting his last season. Brennan is expected to announce on Thursday that he will retire at the end of the season. The 18-year UVM veteran has led the Catamounts to two consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament. (AP)
Ski season opens next week at Killington
Killington Resort says it has begun making snow on its slopes today so that the resort can open its first run by Monday. (AP)