VPR News from Vermont Public Radio

Jane Brody Encourages End Of Life Planning

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:03:06 -0400

Let's face it, aging and death are not conversation topics people really look forward to, but Jane Brody says it's crucial to talk about the inevitable before it occurs.

Newscast: Monday, April 15, 2013, 7:34 a.m.

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:34:26 -0400

Newscast: Monday, April 15, 2013, 7:34 a.m.

WhistlePig Case Challenges Definition Of Farm

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:06:16 -0400

What makes a farm a farm? That's a question the state's Environmental Court will have to sort out as it considers WhistlePig whiskey, a company that wants to make whiskey from rye that it grows itself.

Analysis: Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Moving Forward

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 11:29:35 -0400

A bill that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana is expected to come up for a final vote in the House next week before moving to the Senate. VPR's Bob Kinzel talks with Peter Biello about the argument the bill's opponents are making.

Newscast: Saturday, April 13, 2013, 8:35 a.m.

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 11:24:45 -0400

Newscast: Saturday, April 13, 2013, 8:35 a.m.

New Technology Extends Cell Coverage To Rural Areas

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:06:33 -0400

Vermont officials say some hard-to-reach parts of the state will soon have cell phone coverage thanks to the successful test of a new system.

House Committee Endorses Idling Ban

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:50:35 -0400

Vermont is the last state in New England without a law that prohibits excessive car and truck idling. But legislation recommended by a House committee on Friday could soon mean fines for Vermont motorists who leave their cars running for more than five minutes.

Newscast: Friday, April 12, 2013, 5:49 a.m.

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:31:27 -0400

Newscast: Friday, April 12, 2013, 5:49 a.m.

Social Justice Series Explores The Death Penalty With "Dead Man Walking"

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:30:00 -0400

St. Michael's College has developed a three-part, campus-wide Theater and Social Justice series focusing on the death penalty which culminates in a theatrical presentation of "Dead Man Walking".

House Votes 98-44 to Decriminalize Marijuana

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:48:58 -0400

Supporters of decriminalizing - or even legalizing - the possession of small amounts of marijuana have cleared a major hurdle. The Vermont House voted 98-to-44 on Friday to make it a civil offense - instead of a crime - to possess one ounce or less of pot.

Congolese Man Teaches Dance And Music Of His Native Culture

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:53:26 -0400

The Vermont Folklife Center's Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program has been focused on helping Vermont's immigrant communities preserve the traditions of their home countries. For one Congolese man, that's meant teaching young people the dance and music of their native culture

Interview: Leahy Optimistic About Gun Legislation

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:42:43 -0400

On Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted to open debate on gun control legislation. One person at the center of this discussion is Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Regional Report: Bio-Methane Plant Proposed In Salisbury

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:38:18 -0400

A natural gas pipeline in Addison County is attracting attention of property owners along the proposed route. And it's not Vermont Gas's proposal to extend its pipeline south to Middlebury. A Montpelier-based company wants to build a bio-methane gas production facility at a farm in Salisbury and then build a pipeline to send that gas to Middlebury College.

Newscast: Friday, April 12, 2013, 7:34 a.m.

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:34:01 -0400

Newscast: Friday, April 12, 2013, 7:34 a.m.

Construction Begins, Funding Uncertain For Lamoille Valley Rail Trail

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:35:49 -0400

As construction season gets under way, work is set to begin on the first phase of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. When complete, the trail will stretch across the breadth of Vermont, between St. Johnsbury and Swanton. But project organizers fear they won't have the money to get very far.

State Says More Money Needed From Vermont Yankee For Emergency Response

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:00:09 -0400

The Shumlin Administration wants Vermont Yankee to pay more to help emergency officials respond to a nuclear accident. The request for increased funds draws on lessons learned from Tropical Storm Irene and the 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan.

Newscast: Thursday, April 11, 2013, 5:50 p.m.

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:56:00 -0400

Newscast: Thursday, April 11, 2013, 5:50 p.m.

Foreign Executives Visit Future Business Site in Newport

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:18:14 -0400

In about a year, two new foreign companies expect to be operating in Newport at the site of a former skiwear manufacturer. AnC Bio, a Korean bio-tech firm, and Menck Windows, a German company, are the centerpiece of a $600 million economic development initiative promising to bring 10,000 jobs to the Northeast Kingdom.

Discover Jazz Announces 2013 Lineup

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:30:00 -0400

The lineup for the 30th Annual Burlington Discover Jazz Festival includes Branford Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin and John Scofield.

Handing Down The Art Of Stonecutting

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:12:04 -0400

Stonecutter Master George Kurjanowicz, teaches the art of stonecutting at the Vermont Folklife Center's Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.

Discovering Poetry In The Lines Of A Good Novel

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:44:00 -0400

James Moore, a Winooski playwright, speaks about Pulitzer Remix, which features 85 artists making poetry from all 85 Pulitzer Prize winning works of fiction.

Taibbi To Discuss Wall Street With Bernie Sanders

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:08:59 -0400

Journalist Matt Taibbi has delved further than most into the debris left behind the financial meltdown on Wall Street in 2008, and he's not shy about reporting what he's seen.

Newscast: Thursday, April 11, 2013, 7:34 a.m.

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:34:57 -0400

Newscast: Thursday, April 11, 2013, 7:34 a.m.

Bill Would Bring Hospital Boards Under Open Meeting Laws

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:31:08 -0400

Legislation to bring the state's hospitals under Vermont's Open Meeting Law faces an uphill battle at the Statehouse.

Newscast: Wednesday, April 10, 2013, 5:50 p.m.

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:58:41 -0400

Newscast: Wednesday, April 10, 2013, 5:50 p.m.

In Defeat For Secretary of State, Senate Nixes Early August Primary

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:45:28 -0400

The Vermont Senate has overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to move the state's primary elections to early August. The early date was supported by Secretary of State Jim Condos, who said he needed more time between the primary and the general election to meet federal deadlines to get ballots to overseas voters.

Basket Maker Now Teaches Skills She Learned 20 Years Ago

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:50:00 -0400

Basket maker, Jeanne Brink is co-author of A Western Abenaki Language Guide and she gives talks and workshops on Abenaki culture. She also was one of the first apprentices in the The Vermont Folklife Center's Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.

This Week In The New Hampshire Legislature

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:44:00 -0400

John Gregg, local editor for the Valley News speaks with Vermont Edition about the political debates at the New Hampshire Statehouse this week.

Newscast: Wednesday, April 10, 2013, 12:04 p.m.

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:16:55 -0400

Newscast: Wednesday, April 10, 2013, 12:04 p.m.

Williston Teenager On Mission To Save Lives Through CPR Training

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:03:15 -0400

15-year-old Tommy Watson is on a journey that began with his efforts to make CPR training mandatory for students in Vermont before they graduate high school.

Newscast: Wednesday, April 10, 2013, 7:34 a.m.

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:44:22 -0400

Newscast: Wednesday, April 10, 2013, 7:34 a.m.

Senate Committee To Make Changes To House Tax Plan

webmaster@Vpr.net (Vermont Public Radio) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 06:57:18 -0400

The Senate Finance committee is working on a tax package for next year and the plan is likely to look quite different from a proposal adopted in the House several weeks ago.