Interview: police shortage
Steve Delaney talks with Brett VanNoordt, head of the Vermont Police Chiefs’ Association, about the difficulties towns have attracting and retaining police officers. (Listen to the interview online.) (VPR)
Whooping cough
Vermont health officials are asking physicians and parents to be on the alert for signs of pertussis, also known as whooping cough. (VPR)
Gov. candidates’ on health care
Vermont’s gubernatorial candidates are proposing very different strategies to bring health care costs under control. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Northern New England east-west highway
The Federal Highway Administration has agreed to undertake a comprehensive study of transportation needs along the northeast border with Canada. (AP)
First female sheriff
Vermont is set to elect its first female sheriff. Connie Allen, who has been a deputy sheriff for the last decade, is running unopposed in Grand Isle County. (AP)
Kopp trial
A New York judge has set a tentative trial start date of February 3 for James Kopp. Kopp is an anti-abortion activist accused of the 1998 sniper slaying of Doctor Barnett Slepian. (AP)
Campaign signs law The Vermont law that bans political signs alongside state highways is constitutional. That’s the word from U.S. District Court Judge William Sessions. He says the law complies with the First Amendment, is enforced fairly, and is clearly written. (AP)
Douglas and Douglas
Earlier this week the Republican National Committee sent a check to GOP gubernatorial candidate James Douglas. But the overnight letter was delivered to his Democratic opponent, Douglas Racine. The Racine campaign turned over the envelope, affixing it with a Racine campaign sticker. (AP)
Illegal immigrant trafficking
A 22-year-old Guatemalan who lives in Canada faces a year in federal prison for bringing illegal aliens into Vermont. Authorities say Norvin Gonzalez-Morales was arrested in Derby Line in June after he brought six illegal aliens from Costa Rica across the U.S. – Canadian border. (AP)
Quechee Gorge death
A 62-year-old British tourist is dead after falling into the Quechee Gorge while hiking with his brother. Police won’t release the name of the victim until his family has been notified. At its deepest point, Quechee Gorge is 165 feet deep. The investigation is continuing. (AP)
Burlington murder plea
A 23-year-old Burlington man is being held without bail after pleading innocent to murdering a 41-year-old woman in the city. James Provost was led into court in handcuffs yesterday and charged with repeatedly stabbing and bludgeoning Susan Dow when she woke as he tried to rob her. (AP)
Restaurant murder plea
The former owner of a Burlington restaurant is headed to prison for 20 years to life for killing his business partner and the partner’s wife three years ago. Davis Chan pleaded guilty to killing Shiao-Fa and Tong-Hsiang Tao. (AP)
Foliage continues
There could be decent fall foliage viewing as late as the fourth weekend of October. In parts of Vermont an unusually late foliage season continues to hang on. (AP)