Democratic leaders at the Statehouse say several key conditions must be met if lawmakers are to seriously consider re-licensing the Vermont Yankee Nuclear plant for another 20 years.

Vermont's unemployment rate rose in February to 7 percent - its highest level in 17 years.

These were some of the voices in the news this week:

The conclusion of a new report commissioned by the state Legislature is that   Vermont Yankee can operate reliably after 2012 but must improve in several respects.

The Vermont Corrections Department will reconsider the closing of the Probation and Parole office in Middlebury.

Bob Kinzel talks with some of the top political reporters about the key issues facing lawmakers in the remaining months of the legislative session. Join the conversation with VPR's Ross Sneyd and John Dillon, and Kristin Carlson, Montpelier bureau chief of WCAX-TV.

Legislative leaders say there's not enough time in the session for lawmakers to decide if the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant should operate past 2012.

Voters in about 45 towns debated a resolution that calls on the Legislature to reject Vermont Yankee's request to operate the nuclear power plant for another 20 years after its license expires in 2012.

Voters in Warren want the state Legislature to stop Vermont Yankee nuclear plant from operating past its scheduled 2012 closing.

A Vermont Yankee executive says the company will soon reopen negotiations with the state's major utilities for a power contract after 2012; more than 150 people attended an emotional meeting in Rutland last night to decide the future of the Chaffee Art Center;

UVM President Dan Fogel told legislators yesterday that the school is putting off decisions about additional layoffs until officials know more about UVM's financial health this spring.

Young New Hampshire deer hunters may soon be allowed to hunt in Vermont, resolving an interstate dispute over youth hunting seasons.

Vermont television stations have gotten several hundred calls today from viewers confused by the switch to digital broadcasting; Legislative leaders have given Vermont Yankee a deadline of today to reach a deal for selling electricity to the state's major power companies; more...

Wind energy advocates want the Douglas Administration to lift its wind ban on large scale wind projects on state land; energy consultant tells lawmakers that Vermont has electricity choices other than the Vermont Yankee power plant; more...

In some ways, it's hard to understand why Vermont is feeling the fallout from the burst of a housing bubble the state largely avoided. But with more layoff announcements happening weekly, Middlebury College economics professor Doctor David Colander says the reality is hitting home that Vermont is not an economic island.

A salmonella outbreak linked to peanuts recently hit South Burlington. A seven-year-old boy was hospitalized for several days as a result.

Here's a possible new motto for New Hampshire, the "Live Free or Die" state: Live free on your snow day off or die trying to get to work.

This economy has people in Vermont's arts scene looking at practical questions of keeping community theater, gallery exhibitions and music festivals in business.  Also, two Vermont rivers may earn the congressional designation of "wild and scenic." And VPR's Steve Zind continues our series of reports from Iran.

Debate over Act 68 school funding; Legislative committee examines issue of asbestos contamination in Lowell; Justice Deparment will investigate salmonella outbreak after Sen. Leahy calls for probe of Peanut Corp. of America; Commentator John Fox on the yin and yang of the Superbowl.

The proposed legislation has the support of the state's medical society, which says the public needs confidence that doctors are not improperly influenced by drug company payments.

Sen. Bernie Sanders says the United States is headed for a depression unless Congress acts now on an economic stimulus package; far fewer businesses were started in Vermont last year ... and the number that folded began to rise; more...

A new law inspired by the rape and murder of a girl in Randolph last summer won preliminary approval in the state Senate just a few minutes ago; Gov. Jim Douglas outlines his budget proposals in a couple of hours;

Hannah Fairbank grew up in Charlotte. A stint in the Peace Corps qualified her to march as part of the National Peace Corps Association.

Today, in the second part of our series, "Vermont Quits", we visit with one Vermonter who utilized the Vermont Quit Network, which is funded by money from the 1998 tobacco settlement.

All this week, we're examining the issue of smoking. How is Vermont faring in helping people kick the habit? Today, we look at who's still smoking, and why it's so hard to quit.