Current News

The revelation last Friday that Vermont Yankee had discovered a radioactive isotope in one of its monitoring wells has led to what is likely to be much more damaging news for the Vernon nuclear plant. Yankee now reports that the tritium could have come from an underground pipe. State officials say they were led to believe by Yankee representatives that there was no radioactive material in underground pipes in the first place. Even the Douglas Administration, perhaps Yankee s greatest ally, sent a scathing message back to Yankee. Vermont Public Service Department Commissioner David O Brien told the Burlington Free Press that, The governor feels this has been a breach of trust.

US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced today that 10 Vermont public schools submitted winning proposals for solar energy projects and are in line for federal grants of $50,000 each.
“As our state and country move away from fossil fuels toward energy independence, young people are the ones with the most at stake in making smarter choices about alternative, renewable sources of energy,” Sanders said. “I’ve been very impressed by the great interest in this project shown by schools throughout the state. The projects at the 10 Vermont schools that were selected will help students and the people in their communities learn more about solar energy and smart ways to get to a greener future.”
The schools were selected by a state panel put together by the State Department of Education from entries submitted as part of a statewide competition. The winning proposals will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy for final approval. The 10 Vermont schools are:

Governor Jim Douglas today announced the appointment of Robert C Krebs and Oliver K Olson to fill two vacancies in the General Assembly.
Krebs, a land surveyor, engineer and businessman from South Hero, was appointed to fill the seat held by the late Representative Ira Trombley. He will represent West Milton and Grand Isle County.
“Bob will bring important perspective to Montpelier with his long business experience,” said Governor Douglas. “I believe he will do a great job represent the people of West Milton and Grand Isle County.”
Krebs is a graduate of the University of Vermont and was captain of UVM’s first championship hockey team in 1970. In addition to his business career, he served on numerous boards, including the Vermont Board of Land Surveyors. Appointed by Governor Dean in 1991 he served for a decade, chairing the board from 1995 to 1997.

Gifford Medical Center in Randolph has been awarded an Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund grant for the ninth consecutive year. The only organization in the state to receive the national award, Gifford has been granted $40,000 for 2010 to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer.
The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund is a program of the Avon Foundation for Women and supports community-based, non-profit breast health programs across the country. Gifford was selected as one of 127 grant recipients nationwide. Organizations are chosen based on their ability to effectively reach women, particularly minority, low-income and older women, who are often medically underserved.
In 2009, Gifford, through the Avon Foundation for Women’s generosity, reached 4,185 women during educational visits, a total estimated audience of more than 142,000 with the help of the media, and scheduled 588 women for mammograms.

The Putney School, an industry leader among schools and colleges in its commitment to environmental sustainability through curriculum and practice, has just completed what promises to be the nation's first 'green' net-zero gymnasium-- one that promises to produce more energy than it consumes. Global climate change is among the reasons the Southeastern Vermont school invested $7 million in the 17,000-sq-ft 'smart' building, located in the place once considered 'the cross country ski capital of the nation.'
We can't count on skiing as our only winter sport anymore, said school director Emily Jones. This is why we needed an indoor athletic space, and why we were committed to a building that would not contribute to further climate change.

With the market downturn and onset of the recession, Jones said, the school's board of trustees made the prudent financial decision to build a facility that wouldn't require high-priced oil to heat.

FairPoint Communications Inc has announced that it has moved the date of its bankruptcy reorganization plan to February 1, 2010. It previously was scheduled to file with the bankruptcy court on January 15, 2010. This is the second time its deadline has been extended. It was originally scheduled to file on December 10, 2009, following an October announcement that it was filing for Chapter 11 reorganization.

The US Department of Agriculture has awarded Vermont’s Rhino Foods, Inc $1.2 million in loan assistance through the Rural Development’s Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program, Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Peter Welch announced Thursday. The loan guarantee was made possible through funding available in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Rhino Foods, Inc., located in Burlington, produces and distributes ice cream novelties and ingredients. The loan assistance will be used by Rhino Foods to purchase new equipment to help expand capabilities to produce more product, and to help with production efficiency to improve competitiveness. Rhino Foods has been widely recognized in Vermont for its good business practices.

Vermont Governor Jim Douglas today joined New York Governor David Paterson to announce the design for the new Lake Champlain Bridge. Design work will begin immediately on the Modified Network Tied Arch Bridge concept, which was the preferred choice for replacement. Construction on the new bridge is slated to begin this spring, with completion expected by late summer 2011. Vermont and New York will share the costs of construction, which are expected to be approximately $75 million.
“This is another important step forward,” Governor Douglas said. “Both the public and our bridge engineers agree that this is an appropriate design to replace the historic Lake Champlain Bridge. It will fit easily into the historic surroundings and be a source of pride for residents of both states for years to come.”

Verizon Wireless has announced it is investing in Lamoille County to stay ahead of rising demand for wireless voice, 3G multimedia and Internet access. The new cell site provides increased wireless voice and 3G data coverage at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, as well as portions of the access road (Vermont State Route 108).
The details include:
· Expanded 3G data coverage at Smugglers’ Notch allows customers using notebook computers or smartphones the ability to:
- Download and use cool apps, from mobile social networking portals to streaming radio
- Browse the web to keep up with news, sports, stock quotes, Hollywood gossip and more at faster speeds
- Stream must-see video
- Share emails with friends, family and co-workers that include picture and video attachments
- Download and play vivid, rousing 3D games
- Quickly download and play music favorites from Top 40 to Classical
- Work on-the-go with rapid file sharing

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and 18 Senators today sent a letter to President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging the leaders to press for inclusion of language to repeal the federal antitrust exemption for health insurers and medical malpractice insurers in the final compromise on health reform legislation.
Leaders in the Senate and House are working with the administration to negotiate final compromise language to reconcile the differing health reform bills passed by both chambers. The House-passed health reform legislation includes a repeal of the federal antitrust exemption for health insurers. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was approved by the Senate on Dec. 24, does not include the repeal.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc (NASDAQ: GMCR) and Diedrich Coffee, Inc (Nasdaq: DDRX) have announced that they have each received a request for additional information from the US Federal Trade Commission with respect to the previously announced $35.00 per share cash tender offer by Pebbles Acquisition Sub Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of GMCR, to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Diedrich Coffee.
As a result of the Second Requests, the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (“HSR Act”) during which the FTC is permitted to review the proposed transaction has been extended until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 10th day after the companies’ substantial compliance with the Second Requests, or until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the next business day following that date, if the 10th day falls on a weekend or Federal holiday.

In an effort to further enhance the transit schedule until new temporary ferry service is operational, bus schedules have been modified. The changes go into effect on Thursday, January 14th. The schedule is available on https://www.lcbclosure.com . The efficiencies will shorten commute time for riders on both ends of the Essex-Charlotte run with slightly later start times, and earlier return times, all without giving up on-time service for existing destinations. The changes go into effect Thursday, January 14.Beginning Thursday, January 14, the Lake Champlain Transportation Company will station a boat at the temporary ferry site in Crown Point. It will be used to cut ice in the area and keep the channel clear until the new ferry site is operational.