For two years now, a commission created by the Vermont Legislature has been looking for ways to deliver judicial services more efficiently and affordably across the state. In Vermont's two smallest counties, the commission proposes cutting staff and moving most judicial hearings to larger, neighboring counties. 

A new potential roadblock has been raised to a commercial wind farm that developers want to build in Ira and Poultney. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says the ridgelines being considered for the project are rare and irreplaceable natural areas that should be protected. 

The Environmental Protection Agency is reconsidering its approval of a state clean up plan for Lake Champlain. The plan was approved by the federal government in 2002, but pollution levels have continued to rise in the big lake.

A mysterious bat disease that was first detected in upstate New York and quickly spread to caves in Vermont may be on the verge of sweeping across the country.

The Vermont Senate considers a bill today that will grant anonymity to donors who give to the University of Vermont and other public colleges in the state. 

Senator Patrick Leahy has helped Fletcher Allen hospital get $1.7 million to pay for advanced medical simulations. The money has helped train National Guard medics for their service in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Senator Bernie Sanders wants you to go to the doctor. Sanders appeared at the Community Health Center in Burlington to promote a free clinic that organizers hope will see 100 patients on Sunday.

Forecasters are projecting a slight increase in the number of tourists visiting New Hampshire this spring.

The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum could open a branch in the defunct Moran power plant on the Burlington waterfront.

 A South Burlington police detective is suing the Chittenden County prosecutor for defamation.

The U.S. Navy has another ship named after Montpelier native George Dewey, the Vermonter who became known as the hero of Manila Bay for his service during the Spanish American War.

Too much nitrogen in the waters of the Long Island Sound has led to "dead zones" where fish and shellfish can't survive. Now the federal agency is asking sewage treatment plants nearly 200 miles away in Vermont to help reduce pollutants that are hurting the sound.

Governor Jim Douglas is traveling to Canada this week to discuss a bilateral relationship with Quebec.

It's the time of year when a lot of people in the Northeast are hankering for fresh grown vegetables. Now, even in the coldest area, farmers are devising ways to satisfy that craving.

Burlington Telecom is a publicly-owned cable, Internet and phone utility that's significantly in debt, and some city residents are worried they're going to wind up paying. But Mayor Bob Kiss says he's confident the company can be saved. 

Unionized Vermont State Police troopers will be asked to approve a new contract with the state that includes a 3 percent pay cut.

Open records advocates are crying foul over a measure moving through the Vermont legislature that would grant anonymity to anyone who gives money to the University of Vermont or the state's public colleges.

The Vermont Supreme Court will hear an appeal of the murder conviction of Brian Rooney who was convicted of raping and murdering a University of Vermont student.

Sen. Bernie Sanders is joining Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and 16 colleagues in calling on the FDA to lift the lifetime ban on donating blood for any man who has had gay sex since 1977.

The author of an economics newsletter says housing was more affordable in Vermont last year than at any time since 2003.

New Hampshire is borrowing $50 million from the federal government to pay state jobless benefits through mid-May.

On Town Meeting Day voters in Montpelier came out strongly in favor of de-criminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana.

A South Burlington man's crusade on behalf of disabled military veterans became a statewide movement at town meetings this week. Residents in about 40 towns were inspired by the work of Lou Lertola to increase property tax breaks for the vets.

Congressman Peter Welch wants the government to start negotiating Medicare prescription drug prices.

Power provider Entergy Corporation has agreed to financial concessions in an attempt to win approval from New York regulators for a proposed spin-off of six nuclear units.

Governor Jim Douglas has signed into law the Military Parent Protection Act, which addresses custody of children while a parent is deployed.

New Hampshire Governor John Lynch has asked federal emergency officials to assess the damage from last week's storm to see if the state is eligible for disaster relief.

A Senate committee is considering another bill to legalize video slot machines in New Hampshire.

A new unified union school district was formed in Addison County at town meeting yesterday. The five towns of the Addison Northwest Supervisory Union school district all agreed to the merger.

Voters in the southern Vermont town of Jamaica reflected the state on Town Meeting Day. They passed both town and school budgets, while they complained about interference from Washington and Montpelier.

Two Vermont towns voted on wind projects on Town Meeting Day, and they ended up going separate ways.

In Burlington, voters repealed the instant runoff voting system that they've used in the past two elections to choose a mayor.

Rutland City officials are celebrating the fact that both the city and school budgets passed.  But some of those officials may be less pleased by something else that passed - term limits.  

Voters in Stowe have approved a charter change with a strange twist.

Montpelier officials were easily re-elected on Tuesday despite a controversy about an overpayment to a contractor.

Island Pond voted to support the sale of the state airport because it will help create jobs in town.

Wilmington voters embraced a new "pergola" built in their downtown. The structure is in a new town park that was built on the site of a bank that burned down.

Voters in Island Pond say they support a plan to sell the John H. Boylan State Airport to the developer of a proposed wood pellet manufacturing plant.

The wait is over for fans of Howard Frank Mosher. His first novel in 3 years hits the bookshelves today. His newest and 11^th novel is called "Walking to Gatlinburg", and tells the Civil-War era tale of 17-year-old Morgan Kinneson.

Voters in Rockingham held the "floor" portion of their town meeting Monday night. They scrutinized their level-funded budget in a mood of caution due to the sluggish economy. Then, in a surprise move, they voted to spend more.

A new poll shows Entergy Vermont Yankee has lost the trust of a majority of Vermonters. The poll says a radiation leak at the plant has severely eroded public support for the plant to operate after 2012.

This Town Meeting Day marks the 41^st year that Washington Country senator Bill Doyle has conducted a survey on issues facing the state.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has submitted a Demand for Information letter to Vermont Yankee owner Entergy seeking documents related to statements made about a tritium leak.

It's Town Meeting Day in Vermont, the state's annual exercise in direct democracy, and there's plenty to vote on this year.

Workers representatives say it's unclear if any workers at the Essex Junction IBM plant were let go as part of nationwide layoffs.

Vermonters can contribute to the Nongame Wildlife Fund on their state tax forms to protect wildlife such as the loons and peregrine falcons that are not hunted in Vermont.

The lights are back on for many of the million-plus customers in the Northeast affected by a storm last week that dealt the region snow, rain and in some places hurricane-force winds.

Gov. Jim Douglas says the state's business owners are going to be paying less for workers' compensation insurance.

Voters across New Hampshire are deciding whether to fund new school construction projects in what could be their last chance before a looming suspension in state aid.

On Town Meeting Day, voters in Wilmington will attempt to settle the fate of a decorative structure that's become a flash point in town. It's called the "pergola."  And some people in Wilmington want to get rid of it.

At the closing ceremony of the Olympic yesterday, Vermontville, New York's Billy Demong was the U.S. flag bearer. But he also carried the banner as the first U.S. Olympic champion in Nordic sports.

The sap is flowing in northern New England and officials say a spike in prices has encouraged more people to set up backyard maple syrup operations.

Voters will decide next week whether to replace Lebanon's aging junior high school in what could be their last chance before a looming suspension in state school construction aid would make the project too costly for city taxpayers to shoulder on their own.

Officials have lifted a weight limit on trucks using a temporary ferry between Addison, Vermont and Crown Point, New York.

Storeowners in Vermont say they have high hopes for the upcoming sales tax holiday and they're confident it will provide a much needed boost for their businesses.

New Hampshire health officials are advising people without power to throw out food if there's any doubt it could have spoiled.

The Northeast Kingdom town of Lowell is gearing up for a big Town Meeting vote on Tuesday.