Morning Newscast: July 28, 2008

Here are the top stories at 7:30 a.m.:

Key Vermont lawmakers and Douglas administration officials today are set to announce a series of steps designed to avert a crisis due to the high cost of heating fuel for next winter;  Senator Bernie Sanders is vowing to continue fighting for increased federal home heating assistance despite a setback in the Senate;  High gas prices mean the state and federal governments are collecting less money in transportation taxes. The shortfall comes just as Vermont struggles to pay for a backlog of needed road and bridge projects;  A longtime activist with the New England Coalition says the nuclear watchdog group may not block the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant from winning a 20-year license extension;  Vermont could face a loss of some federal law enforcement funding if it doesn't make big changes to its sex offender registry.