October 17, 2002 – News at a glance

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Meub and Sanders on trade policy
Republican U.S. House candidate Bill Meub says Congressman Bernie Sanders has cost Vermont jobs by his strong opposition to free trade agreements. But Sanders says Meub’s claims are false. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)

Act 250 rule changes
The Environmental Board was criticized Wednesday for its proposed changes to the rules for Vermont’s Act 250 development law. At a public hearing, witnesses questioned if election year politics and pressure from development groups were behind the changes. They told the Board that its proposal could exclude the public from Act 250 hearings. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)

Homeland security bill
The battle over a plan to create a new agency of homeland security is heating up in Congress and both of Vermont’s senators are urging their colleagues not to support a plan supported by the Bush administration. (VPR)

National Guard deployment
Nine members of the Vermont National Guard are headed to Kosovo. The soldiers are from the 114th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. During their time in Kosovo, the guard members will handle media relations for the NATO peace-keeping brigade. (AP)

Douglas, Racine on economic policy
Democrat Douglas Racine and Republican James Douglas both say they’re policies will help the state emerge from the current economic downturn. Douglas says he doesn’t believe Governor Howard Dean’s characterization that Racine is the most fiscally conservative candidate in the race. And Racine says Douglas, the state treasurer, is trying to take credit for the actions of Dean and the Legislature. (AP)

Governor’s race poll
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Douglas Racine is apparently leading Republican James Douglas. A poll by WCAX television found that 42% favored Racine, 32% favored Douglas and Independent Cornelius Hogan had 8%. Four percent of respondents split their support for seven different minor party candidates and 14% of respondents are undecided (AP)

Dean’s fundraising still slow
Governor Howard Dean’s presidential campaign might be getting some national attention, but he’s not raking in donations. In the last three months Dean’s presidential campaign picked up about $97,000. Some candidates have raised millions of dollars. (AP)

Bennington technical school
The Career Development Center in Bennington has gotten the state’s go-ahead to become self-governing. Now it just needs approval from voters in the Mount Anthony Union High School District to become the first of Vermont’s 16 technical centers to become self-governing. (AP)

School expansion debated
Residents in the Leland and Gray Union High School District in southeastern Vermont are due to decide this Election Day on a proposed $5.2 million addition to the school. The proposal has divided the five communities served by the high school, with some residents saying the project is badly needed and others saying it’s too extravagant. Students from Townshend, Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane and Windham attend the school. (AP)

Ammonia spill fines
The city of Barre doesn’t know what penalties it might have to be pay after ammonia was dumped into a drain. The incident early this month killed a number of fish in Gunners Brook. A city employee told a contractor to put the ammonia in a drain, which led to the stream. (AP)

Rochester police shooting
The Vermont Attorney General’s office is investigating the shooting of a 63-year-old man during a gunfight with state police troopers in Rochester. Police say Maurice Lizotte has a history of mental problems. No troopers were injured in the shooting. (AP)

S. Burlington apartment fire
Nine people are homeless after fire swept through a three-unit apartment building near Burlington International Airport. No one was injured. Wednesday’s blaze at could have been worse, but South Burlington firefighters were visiting a nearby elementary school and rushed from there to the fire. (AP)

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