Marlboro compliance with No Child Left Behind
Vermont’s commissioner of education, Richard Cate, traveled to Marlboro Monday to urge the school board to comply with the No Child Left Behind Act. (VPR)
Diocese faces new abuse lawsuits
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is facing at least three more lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by Vermont priests. But the diocese has indicated it will take a more aggressive position in fighting the news cases. (VPR)
Vermont Youth Orchestra plays Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is about as good as it gets. Generations of performers — from Tchaikovsky to the Beatles — have played there. Tuesday night, members of the Vermont Youth Orchestra will be added to that historic list of Carnegie Alumni. They’ll perform a unique program of new works written entirely by Vermont composers – including Trey Anastasio of the rock group Phish. (VPR)
Vermont-Cuba agriculture deal
Vermont’s agriculture secretary, Steve Kerr, says his recent trade mission to Cuba wasn’t about politics, it was about business. And he says after a surprise five-hour meeting with the country’s president in Havana, a deal for cows and powdered milk was clinched. (VPR)
Lt. gov. candidates plan for November
two Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor – Jan Backus and Cheryl Rivers – have different strategies for a fall general election campaign. Each candidate is trying to convince voters in Mondays’ primary election that they have the best chance to unseat incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie. (VPR)
Primary Election Day
Vermonters head to the polls Tuesday to pick candidates to run in the November 2 General Election. Election officials expect voter turnout to be low. Democrats will pick a candidate for lieutenant governor and for the U.S. Senate. Republicans will also choose a candidate for the U.S. Senate and for attorney general. (AP)
Vermont Greens and Nader
The Vermont Green Party has agreed not to list anyone as its presidential and vice presidential candidate on the ballot in November. The group has endorsed independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader for president but did not nominate him. (AP)
Leahy nominated to UN post
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy has been nominated by President Bush as one of two U.S. representatives to the upcoming session of the United Nations. The president also sent to the Senate his nomination for an assistant secretary of the Navy. In addition to Leahy, Bush is nominating New Hampshire Senator John E. Sununu to represent the United States at the 59th session of the UN General Assembly. (AP)
McCardell editorial
The former president of Middlebury College calls the 21-year-old drinking age bad social policy. John McCardell stepped down as president in June after 13 years. In an op-ed piece in Monday’s New York Times, McCardell details some things he would have liked to say while president but did not because he didn’t want to rock the boat. (AP)
Heating assistance program
More Vermonters are seeking assistance to help pay their home heating bills this winter. So far 18,000 Vermonters have applied for fuel assistance, which is an increase of 1,000 from the same time last year. The state Office of Home Heating Fuel Assistance says the increase is due to high heating costs. (AP)
Daley sentencing hearing
Vermont state troopers who witnessed the 2003 traffic crash that killed one of their colleagues described the circumstances at a sentencing hearing Tuesday. The hearing is expected to last for two more days as a judge decides how much time Eric Daley should serve in prison for the June 15, 2003, death of state police Sergeant Michael Johnson. (AP)
Bob Dylan sound-alike contest
After hearing from 17 contestants in a Bob Dylan look-alike and sound-alike contest, a Washington, Vermont man has been named the closest embodiment of Dylan’s sound and spirit. (VPR)