Pete Hirschfeld, bureau chief of the Vermont Press Bureau, talks with Vermont Edition about some of the issues being debated at the Statehouse this week.

Newscast: Thursday, April 4, 2013, 5:50 p.m.

The House has unanimously approved a two-year capital construction bill that solidifies a commitment to rebuild the Waterbury state office complex devastated by Tropical Storm Irene.

Recently, commentator Sarwar Kashmeri proposed that the Federal Government think about funding a billion dollar, ten-year, gun-buyback program to soak up as many of the 300 million firearms in America as possible. Now, he'd like to take that concept one step further.

Newscast: Thursday, April 4, 2013, 12:04 p.m.

Brent Burns, the new Political Director for the Vermont GOP talks with Vermont Edition about what he expects from his new job.

Newscast: Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 5:50 p.m.

One of the country's top medical journals is touting Vermont's health care reform effort as an example for the rest of the nation. A study published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine says other states can learn some lessons from Vermont in rolling out health exchanges that are essential to the federal Affordable Care Act.

Patients living with Lyme disease crowded the Statehouse on Wednesday to tell their stories about years of misdiagnosis and chronic pain. The patients and their advocates want legislation to protect doctors if they prescribe long-term antibiotic treatment contrary to current medical standards.

Tensions continue in Asia as North Korea responds angrily to new United Nations sanctions and the latest U.S./South Korean military exercises, with threats to attack South Korea - and America - with nuclear missiles. Barrie Dunsmore offers his analysis.

Vermont lawmakers are continuing their efforts to crack down on distracted driving, with bills that would boost the penalties for texting while driving and ban all hand-held electronic devices when driving through road construction zones.

Peter Gilbert recalls something a former student said now fifteen years ago and explains how, finally, he came to understand its wisdom.

Newscast: Tuesday, April 2, 2013, 5:50 p.m.

An oil spill in Arkansas may add urgency to Vermont legislation that would regulate oil pipelines. Environmentalists point to similarities between the pipeline in Arkansas that ruptured and one in northern Vermont that could be used to ship tar sands oil. 

The Senate Transportation committee is set to make a key change in the gas tax bill that was adopted by the House several weeks ago. Lawmakers are eyeing the gas tax as a way to raise new revenue to allow the state to take full advantage of all federal matching money that's available. 

Newscast: Tuesday, April 2, 2013, 12:04 p.m.

Newscast: Monday, April 1, 2013, 5:50 p.m.

Vermont became the first state on Monday to publish the rates it would charge people who don't currently have health insurance to get coverage - a key step toward establishing the health exchanges that are central to the federal health care law known as Obamacare. Health officials said Monday the rates are comparable to current commercial rates.

Statehouse Schedule: Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Newscast: Friday, March 29, 2013, 5:50 p.m.

The state of Vermont is hoping to improve water quality in Lake Champlain's Missisquoi Bay basin, which has been the site of toxic algae blooms, by reducing bacteria that flows into the bay and finding solutions to suspected discharges in the towns of Enosburg Falls, North Troy, Richford and Swanton.

The Vermont Telecommunications Authority has terminated two grants awarded to the Springfield based broadband provider VTel. The decision stems from what was described as a performance problem with one grant.

VPR News Director Ross Sneyd talks about this past week in the Legislature.

Statehouse Schedule: Friday March 29, 2013