News
Governor Jim Douglas today released the list of appointments made in October, November and December, 2009.
Act 264 Advisory Board
Karen Woolsey, Bethel
Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council
Sandy Mayo, Castleton
Child Care Services Advisory Board
Ginger Potwin, Randolph
Vermont Communications Board
Donald Patch, Mount Holly
State Board of Dental Examiners
With the combined effect of increased ice formation between the Grand Isle, VT-Crown Point, NY, ferry crossings, as well as increased traffic at both the Northern and Southern crossings, we will be closing the Charlotte, VT, to Essex, NY, ferry crossing, until ice conditions permit in the spring. The new, free, 24-hour crossing from Chimney Point, VT, to Crown Point, NY, began on Monday.
For the third year in a row Vermont achieved its goal of sustaining a seat belt usage rate of above 85 percent. And as a result of the State’s impaired driving countermeasures, Vermont attained the lowest alcohol-impaired fatality rate in the country in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA).
Vermont grade school and high school students have shown gradual improvement in New England Common Assessment Program test scores over the last five years, but the percent of students in the "proficient" or better categories continues to fall under 75 percent for both math and reading, with math at, especially, the high school level showing quite low scores.
Vermont Yankee reported late Monday afternoon that two of the new monitoring wells the nuclear power plant just installed have tested positive for the radioactive isotope tritium. The three new monitoring wells were installed to complement the three drilled in 2007.
The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) has given preliminary approval for the issuance of the first of up to $135 million in Recovery Zone Facility Bonds. Significant infrastructure upgrade projects planned by Green Mountain Power Corporation have received preliminary approval for $25 million in Recovery Zone Facility Bond support.
Governor Jim Douglas today announced more than $200,000 in 19 matching grants to projects for the restoration and preservation of historic buildings across Vermont, including the Vermont History Center in Barre.
Vermont Associates for Training and Development based in St Albans has received $1,058,111 as part of a US Department of Labor award of $225 million in additional funding for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in fiscal year 2010.
Average retail gasoline prices in Vermont have fallen 4.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.76/g today. This compares with the national average that has fallen 2.1 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.67/g, according to gasoline price website VermontGasPrices.com.
The free, 24-hour temporary ferry between Crown Point, New York and Addison, Vermont, is now open to the public as of 5 am this morning. Governor Douglas was joined by New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee to greet the first passengers of the new temporary ferry near the site of the Lake Champlain Bridge.
College of St. Joseph is excited to announce it has received a $50,000 grant from Community Funds, Inc.–The John Merck Fund to assist with the College’s STEPS (Students Taking an Effective Path to Success) program. STEPS is a unique program designed specifically to meet the needs of Vermont foster youth transitioning to college.
Challenged as to how to respond to the horrific crisis in Haiti, the Saint Michael's College community came together with a large outpouring of generosity from all quarters in rapid time.