Twenty-five years ago, Madeleine Kunin became the first woman to be elected governor of Vermont.  She addressed an anniversary symposium this week at UVM.  You can listen to her speech here.

2003 Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi has never been a favorite of the authorities in her country. But in the past six weeks she's come under increasing pressure from both the government and its supporters.

Congressman Peter Welch says he supports the idea of allowing the Treasury Department to take a partial ownership stake in a number of private banks to help open up national credit markets.

Gaye Symington says more troopers should be transferred to special units that investigate sex crimes; a Vermont state senator says the Chinese government has tried to influence state law; artists have been asked to help Vermont tackle its future; some underground fuel tanks in New Hampshire need to be inspected because they might leak hazardous substances.

A study has found that the number of women in state government leadership positions is on the rise.

Green Mountain Power promotes solar system usage; a contingent of Vermonters is in Quebec City to help commemorate the 400th anniversary of its founding. Vermonters can apply for emergency unemployment benefits soon; the Douglas administration says it can cut 150 government positions without harming public programs.

The House has overwhelmingly endorsed legislation that could clear the way for farmers to grow industrial hemp. Opponents criticized the debate as a waste of time, since the federal government doesn't allow cultivation of the plant.

Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy has gotten more support for his proposal to strengthen the federal law that protects the public’s right-to-know. Over the weekend he reached an agreement with Republican Senate opponents. But the legislation still needs approval from the President.