Auditor’s debate
The Republican candidate for auditor, Bruce Hyde, says incumbent Democratic Auditor Elizabeth Ready has inappropriately politicized some of the operations of her department. It’s a charge that Ready strongly denies.
Interview: economic forecast
Steve Delaney talks with Alan Day, chief economist, of Banknorth Investments. (Listen to the interview online.) (VPR)
New Goddard president
Goddard College in Plainfield has a new president. Dr. Mark Schulman currently heads Antioch University Southern California. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Highgate egg farm
Agriculture Commissioner Leon Graves has rejected a proposed expansion of a Highgate egg farm. Graves says the project failed to meet the manure management requirements set out in the state’s large farm law. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Congressional race
Congressman Bernie Sanders and his Republican opponent Bill Meub clashed over economic issues on Tuesday afternoon. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
FAHC may appoint Colodny
Fletcher Allen Health Care is considering the appointment of former UVM President Ed Colodny as interim chief executive. (VPR)
Bombardier Capital layoffs
The financial services company Bombardier Capital has announced cost-cutting measures to its assets-management division. The division currently employs about 50 people in Colchester. (VPR)
Air quality
Vermont and the rest of New England suffered an increase in the number of unhealthy air quality days this summer. Vermont had five days this summer with unhealthy amounts of ground-level ozone, up from two days in 2001. (AP)
Corrections union
Vermont Corrections Commissioner John Gorczyk says he’s puzzled by a recent “no confidence” vote by union members. The corrections unit of the Vermont State Employees Association proposed the symbolic resolution at the union’s annual meeting last month. (AP)
Higher education
Vermont received mixed reviews in a new report on higher education. The report says the state’s college students are more likely to graduate than those in other parts of the country. But the report also says Vermont is more expensive than most other areas. (AP)
Gov. candidates on Act 60
The leading candidates for governor of Vermont have laid out competing views on the Act 60 school funding law. Democrat Doug Racine says the law is a work in progress that likely needs revision. Both Republican Jim Douglas and independent Con Hogan are calling for bigger changes. (AP)
Electoral process
It appears a gubernatorial candidate’s position on electoral process may be influenced by his present political situation. Jim Douglas favors letting the Legislature decide the election if no one gets a majority, as called for in the Vermont Constitution. Doug Racine likes the idea of the winner of a plurality being given the job. Con Hogan likes instant run-off voting, which would tend to favor an independent who is many voters’ second choice for governor. (AP)
Waitsfield murder case
Isaac Turnbaugh will continue to be held without bail as he awaits trial for first degree murder in the death of a co-worker at a Waitsfield restaurant. The Vermont Supreme Court has ruled that District Court Judge Edward Cashman acted within his discretion when he ordered 19-year-old Turnbaugh held without bail. (AP)
Circ highway
Vermont’s top transportation official says he’s completely frustrated that environmental concerns are delaying the next step in building the Chittenden County Circumferential Highway. Transportation Secretary Brian Searles was reacting to news that officials with the Federal Highway Administration will meet with their counterparts from the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss the Circ. (AP)
Foiled burglary
Police are crediting a Vermont convenience store clerk with foiling a robbery attempt by pulling a pillowcase off the robber’s head. The clerk from Maplefields Convenience Store in Manchester was able to provide police with a description of the young man. (AP)