News

During a visit to a drafty, 19th century building in downtown Barre, Rep. Peter Welch on Tuesday unveiled new legislation to improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings and apartments.

A new rule for protecting archeological and historical sites during development under Act 250 is in place after a legislative panel signed off the changes.
Officials from the Douglas administration said the new rule would maintain the protection of archeological sites while making it easier for applicants to comply with the state’s environmental protection and development control law.

Central Vermont Community Action Council is on track to distribute nearly $5 million in ARRA funds to train Vermonters in solar, wind-power, weatherization, and other green jobs by the end of 2011.

The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund has awarded $334,765 in grant funds to develop local biofuels and foster the development of a viable biomass-to-biofuels industry in Vermont that uses local resources to replace petroleum with renewable alternatives.

Attorney General William H Sorrell announced today that his office has completed its review of a special investigation conducted by the Vermont State Police into activities at the Vermont Police Academy in Pittsford, VT, to determine if any criminal misconduct occurred.

The National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR www.napsr.org ), a non-profit organization that serves to promote natural gas and propane safety, will hold its Eastern Regional Meeting in Essex Junction on July 14, 2010.

With the Ethan Allen Farm as a backdrop, US Senators Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy today unveiled legislation to stabilize dairy prices and preserve the family farms that have been a fixture of Vermont culture for centuries.

The world’s metals industries lost a pioneer in the field of continuous casting and Vermont lost a remarkable engineer and employer with the passing of R William (Bill) Hazelett at age 91, on June 27, 2010. Son of CW Hazelett, the inventor of the twin-belt casting machine, Bill founded the Hazelett Strip-Casting Corporation and commercialized the design.

Moody’s Investors Services has announced that it has downgraded the City of Burlington’s general obligation credit rating two notches from Aa3 to A2. Moody’s moved the City’s status from a ‘negative watch’ to ‘negative outlook,’ which means that the credit rating company will not review Burlington’s status until the City next pursues a bond sale.

Native Americans and European settlers used the ancient waterways of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) for commerce and trade. Today this 740-mile recreation trail echoes the past by providing both an economic stimulus for businesses and outdoor adventure along its path.

Play at the New England Women’s Golf Association Championship concluded yesterday with Samantha Morrell of Laurel Lane Golf Club (RI) winning with three consecutive rounds of 74 for a final score of 6 over at the Killington Golf Club. Tara Joy Connelly of Cohasset Golf Club (MA) was second at 8 over. Mary Chamberlain of Cummaquid Country Club (MA) was third at 9 over.

An officer with the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles today arrested Brian Wells, 26, of Boston, Massachusetts at the DMV branch office on North Avenue in Burlington and charged him with attempting to obtain an operator’s license using a stolen identity.