For the second day in a row, the Senate was embroiled in fierce debate over legislation that would allow child care workers to form a union and bargain with the state. The 2012 session is supposed to end this weekend, so the clock is running out for supporters of the union effort.

Child care providers who want to form a union took their case to the Legislature on Friday. They say children would be better served by a work force that has the right to organize for better pay and working conditions.

Supporters of legislation that would allow child care workers to unionize say they'll continue pushing for it when lawmakers return in January.

We've been talking this week about a bill in the Vermont House that would allow Vermont child care workers to unionize. The union would represent all early education and home child-care workers. Yesterday, we spoke with Cyndi Miller, who's advocating for the union. Today we get a different perspective from Mary Burns, the president and CEO of the Greater Burlington Y.

Some child care workers in Vermont want to unionize. And a bill currently in the Vermont House would allow them to do so. The union would represent all early educators and home child care providers.

Early educators hoping to win collective bargaining rights were out in force at the Vermont Statehouse on Tuesday, lobbying on behalf of a bill that would recognize child care providers as state employees and would allow them to negotiate with the state over subsidy rates, health care benefits and licensing issues.

The new head of the state's Child Care and Child Development Division talks with VPR's Jane Lindholm about working to remove obstacles for quality child care in Vermont

We explore the traditions and culture of hunting-how it reflects our rural heritage, how it influences environmental conservation, and how our attitudes have changed. Also, we hear ideas on how to improve child care.