Facing Facts

May 14, 2008

Poor Kids

The state kicks in $170,000 to cover free breakfasts for low-income children — a deal compared to the cost of fixing what makes 'em hungry.

Air Force Pilots

A Vermont company creates special underwear to replace "piddle packs" and keep fighter pilots in their seats when nature calls. What's next? Don't ask.

Anthony Pollina

The Progressive candidate's bold leap may become a fall now that Symington is in the race. Will he take the Dems down with him?

Smugglers' Notch Pass

Vermont 108 — the road that connects Stowe and Jeffersonville — is open for the season; it's closed in winter. Now you can put your snow shovel away.

Speeding For Love

Troopers pulled over a 33-year-old man driving 119 mph on I-91 last Sunday, in a Bentley. Says he was speeding to a dinner date — with Mom, right?

May 7, 2008

Beer Lovers

Senate approves sale of higher-octane specialty brews at grocery and convenience stores. Cheers to that, but can Vermont's beer aisles get any bigger?

Schools

Forty percent of Vermont schools failed No Child Left Behind, and state officials blame higher federal benchmarks. Reading, 'riting and regulation.

The Hungry

More than 56,000 Vermonters received food stamps in March, the most in 15 years. Another 20,000 may be eligible. Good thing it's "wild edibles" season.

Dairy Farmers

Rising feed and energy costs won't hurt Vermont milk producers under the new Farm Bill. At least our cows are fat and happy.

Vermont Legislators

Lawmakers approve a $4.2 billion budget and pack it in two weeks early. Could be evidence of Yankee thrift or Symington for Governor.

April 30, 2008

Rescued Canoeists

Life vests save two flatlander canoeists who capsized on Lake Willoughby. Good thing they absorbed Vermont's tacit motto: Function before fashion.

Campaign Finance Reform

By a single vote, Democrats fail, again, to override Douglas' veto of a bill that would limit political contributions. Well, party on,then.

Vermont Birders

A five-year survey of breeding birds identifies 17 new species hatching here since the 1970s, including the bald eagle. Now we need some whip-poor-will power.

Vermont Soldiers

Collapse of ATA Airlines leaves two Vermonters among scores of soldiers stuck in Baghdad. Is the military replacing stop-loss program with a market-based model?

Garden Suppliers

With food prices on the rise, hyper-localvores head to the backyard for sustenance, and seed sales are booming. Zucchini bread ahead?

April 23, 2008

Vermont Budget

Two weeks before the session ends, Douglas' "stimulus" plan needs a lot of thought. In this case, is late really better than never?

Poor Students

The University of Vermont says it will cover tuition and fee increases for 150 Vermont college students. A good investment in tough times.

Poor Adults

$1 million to stabilize insurance premiums for low-income Vermonters could come from a Catamount fee increase. The sick get sicker, the poor get poorer.

South Burlington Pooches

City Council throws dog owners a bone with canine park proposal. Not to pet stores: Re-stock the pooper-scooper aisle.

The Weather

It's been nice. It's supposed to stay nice. Let's not jinx it with unbridled enthusiasm. It is, after all, the weather.

April 16, 2008

Vermont Guard Pilot

Crowd-pleasing top gunner is benched after tricky maneuver over Fenway Park. Meanwhile, the Sox seem a bit "remedially grounded" themselves.

Vermont Lottery

Odds are that lottery players are wealthier and better educated than previously thought. Can we have some new games now?

Stuck in the Middle

Middlebury College a capella group is given the hook for "embarrassing and even humiliating behavior." The school's not singing, either.

Composting

Lawmakers propose keeping Intervale Compost open another year while they reconsider regulatory role. The calm before the shit storm?

Vermont Taxpayers

Elected officials agree to go without raises to save the state some money. Are we getting what we pay for yet?

April 9, 2008

UVM's Canadian Studies Program

The once-popular department is being downsized, maybe even phased out. Meanwhile, Church Street is crawling with Canadians. Good timing, eh?

Murder Suspect Brian Rooney

The accused demands a hearing to discuss his attorney's performance, then claims he didn't have time to prepare for it. So much to do in the slammer . . .

Intervale Compost

Burlington's breadbasket will stop accepting food scraps at the end of the month. Whither to bring our stinking compost? How about ANR?

Parking Ban Fund

It was a tough winter for road crews, but Burlington shoveled in almost $70,000 from parking-ban violations. That'll buy a couple more meter "maids."

Groundwater Legislation

In defiance of the bottled-water industry, the Vermont Senate recognizes the state's groundwater as a "public trust." Good planning. House?

April 2, 2008

Breast-Feeding

Vermont Human Right Commission backs discrimination complaint against Freedom Airlines. A kid's gotta eat, right?

Hillary's Campaign

Pat does the math and says Hillary should concede nomination to Barack. Yo, Bernie?

Private Pot Plots

Vermont Supreme Court bans nosey cops from backyard airspace. Porch-tokers rejoice.

Raises or Roads?

A bill proposes pay increases for Vermont's top state officials, including the guv. What about the potholes?

131 Battery Street

Developer of former Waterfront Video building says the project wouldn't be "prudent" right now. While the economy tanks, he's in the Caymans.

"Facing Facts" is a new feature that appears each week in Local Matters, the local news section of Seven Days.