Vermont Edition (VPR)
12noon-1 p.m. Weekdays
Funding the Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is funded primarily by the license
fees paid for hunting and fishing. But those activities are declining, a situation that calls into question how the department is
funded. We talk with former Fish and Wildlife commissioner Steve Wright
and Ed Gallo of the Vermont Hunters Anglers and Trappers Association.
Also, how snarls of traffic are affecting the Upper Valley, and essayist Tim Johnson
commiserates with fellow flu sufferers.
Future of Vermont Yankee
Bob Kinzel hosts a discussion of where to store nuclear waste long term, how to pay for
decommissioning the power plant, and especially what kind of independent
safety review needs to be conducted there. Also in the program, we talk with Peter Freyne, the Seven Days columnist who just announced his sudden retirement, and we listen back to some of the voices in
the news this week.
Teaching Math
Thirty percent of Vermont's
11th graders scored proficiently in the math portion of this year's
NECAP state assessment tests. We talk with the state's Director of
Educational Assessment, Michael Hock, about the low scores. And we hear from math teachers about how math is taught in classrooms around the state. Also, we look at a new affordable housing report, and we bring you an audio postcard from Londonderry.
Vermont's Shifting Population
Close to 500 people moved to Vermont
last year, and most of them chose to live in Chittenden County. Meanwhile, counties in southern Vermont saw declines in population.
We take a look at the numbers with Will Sawyer, from the State Data Center,
and we examine the economic impacts with Jim Matteau, in Brattleboro.
Also, we talk to Vermont’s
Deputy Commissioner of Banking, Tom Candon, about the recent security breach at
Hannaford stores. And, we visit master flutemaker Jonathon
Landell in Richmond.
Credit Card Practices and Consumer Debt
Congressman Peter Welch joins us as we talk about credit card practices and whether
consumers and retailers need more protection against escalating rates and fees. Joining the conversation is consumer finance expert Karen Gross, President of Bennington's Southern Vermont College. Burlington Free Press reporter Candace Page discusses salamanders and the rites of Spring. And Burlington comedienne Martha Tormey on the off-duty challenges of professional confidentiality.
Tax advice to meet the April 15 deadline
The deadline for filing taxes
looms large on the calendar. On the next Vermont Edition, we get advice from the pros. Also on the program, a court
decision reaffirms the rules about who's responsible for libelous information
posted to blogs and other web sites. And
a few teens get the thrill of meeting their snowboarding heroes
at the U.S. Open at Stratton.
Four-year terms for state officers
Every two years, Vermonters go to the polls to elect the state's
constitutional officers. But a perennial statehouse debate
asks the question, why not four-year terms? Bob Kinzel talks with
Senators Jeannette White and Bill Doyle about the pros and cons of
changing the length of one term in office. Also, a look back at the big stories in the news this week.
Beyond Buckets
How Technology Has Changed the Sugaring Industry
Gadgets like the Hydrometer and
processes like Reverse Osmosis have dramatically changed the sugaring
industry in the last decade. We talk with the President of Vermont's Maple Sugar Makers' Association, Rick Marsh, about how producers have adapted and we check in with sugarmakers around the state to
hear how the season is going so far. And, we bring you a live performance from Vermont's
Brazilian-inspired jazz band, Guagua.
Vermont's Economic Stability
What does
all turbulence in the national economy and on Wall Street mean for Vermont? State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding
examines the health of the state's investment accounts, and Vermont's economic outlook. Also, Staff Sergeant Alaria O'Brien shares her story of helping help other Iraq and Afghanistan veterans get
medical and psychological services after
deployment. And the Brattleboro Women's Film Festival is underway - we get a peek a few of the films.
Mental Health Parity
It's been 10 years since Vermont's landmark mental health parity law, and now some advocates are trying to strengthen it. We hear from Ken
Libertoff, the Director of the Vermont Association for Mental Health, and
Paulette Thabault, Commissioner of Vermont's Banking, Insurance, Securities,
Health Care Administration. Also, a Vermont playwright writes about her mental illness. And an update from bat biologist Scott Darling.
Court Records Online
Proponents of a bill at the Statehouse say that
some records, particularly those related to family court proceedings,
could be abused if they were available online, as opposed to paper records. We look at the public's
right to know and the individual's right to privacy in the era of
digital court records.
Also, New Hampshire's anti-tax stance might be eroding, and we hear about newly discovered letters from the Cornish, New Hampshire, painter Maxfield Parrish.
Governor Jim Douglas
The scope of safety assessments at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant
and a capital gains tax plan are some of the issues we discuss with Governor Jim Douglas.
Also, we listen
back to some of the voices in the week's news.
Mysterious Disease Kills Bats in the Northeast
A mysterious fungus is killing bats in the
northeast. We talk with bat biologist Scott Darling and Vermont caver Peter Youngbaer to find out the latest. Also, we hear from Free Presss reporter Candace Page about how a development in St. Albans affects two wetlands.
Creating More Housing at Affordable Prices
Affordably priced housing can be hard to come by in Vermont, with one estimate saying the median house price across the state is $206,000. We talk with two builders who have
differing viewpoints on how to create more affordably priced housing.
Also, reporter Bruce Edwards on an extensive study about the health and environemntal impact of Omya's mining operations in Florence, Vermont.
Solid Waste: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
We talk about recycling with Tom Moreau, General Manager
of the Chittenden Solid Waste District. And Carolyn Grodinsky, a waste prevention specialist the Department of Environmental Conservation, helps
us explore how we can reduce the
amount of trash we're generating in the first place. Also on the program, a conversation with VPR's John Dillon about
the future of commercial composting in Vermont.
And
we pay a visit to a store in Brattleboro
that specializes in recycled building
materials from 'deconstructed' buildings.
Expanding and Improving Health Care
The Legislature's health care committees are continuing to work on
improvements to state's health care plans. We examine the goal of insuring 96
percent of Vermonters while working within the constraints of a tight
budget. Also on the program, a second look at a controversy over
an old cemetery in Hartland.
Congressman Peter Welch
Congressman Peter Welch joins us to discuss a bill that would change FISA court rules and other issues before Congress -- including what he
calls the "middle class issues" of gas prices and mortgage trouble.
Update on Vermont Broadband Projects
Town meeting voters gave overwhelming support to
an east central Vermont broadband project. We
look at what happens next, and how soon Vermonters might have internet in their
homes. Also, we talk with the founder of the New England Lost Ski Area Association, and we bring you a town postcard from Shaftsbury.
Reaction to Vermont Primary and School Budget Votes
Political analyst Eric Davis joins
Jane Lindholm for a final analysis of Vermont's outcome in yesterday's
Democratic contests. Also, the directors of the School Boards Association and the
Superintendents Association assess how school budgets faired across the state. And
we listen back to some of the sounds of Town Meeting Day.
Participatory Government in Vermont
On Town Meeting Day, we examine the challenges of
maintaining a participatory government in Vermont with Susan Clark, Middlesex town meeting moderator
and co-author of the book, All Those In
Favor: Rediscovering the Secrets of Town Meeting and Community. Also, a look at the art and science behind exit polling. And, a peek at preparations for the annual town
meeting potluck in Goshen, Vermont.
Religious Clubs, the First Amendment and Public Schools
After-school clubs that include worship and Bible study straddle a fine line with the First Amendment. We talk about the current legal thinking on the issue. Also in the program, an increase in delinquent taxpayers in some Vermont towns heralds tough times. And we take a backstage look at the 2008 auditions for spots in summer theaters and films in Vermont and upstate New York.
