
	Vermont briefs Monday, January 5 The numbers don't lie: Vermont business data reveals tough times BURLINGTON (AP) -- Vermont long has prided itself as an incubator of small businesses, but the current economy appears not to be helping that. Full Story Douglas ponders permit reform Monday, January 5 MONTPELIER (AP) -- Five years after an effort to streamline Vermont's process for regulating land use, Gov. Full Story Report deals with Maine role in ISO New England Saturday, January 3 PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission staff recommends that the state's largest electric utilities seek more favorable agreements with the New England power grid. Full Story Govs, including Patrick, seek $1 trillion fed bailout Saturday, January 3 MADISON, Wis. -- Five Democratic governors are asking the federal government for a $1 trillion bailout package, including $250 billion for education and $150 billion in middle class tax cuts. Full Story Vt. expands, renames food stamp program Saturday, January 3 BERLIN (AP) -- About 30,000 Vermonters are now eligible for an expanded food stamp program. Full Story St. J building hit by gunfire Saturday, January 3 ST. JOHNSBURY (AP) -- Another Northeast Kingdom building has been damaged by gunfire. Full Story Settlement reached in fatal Westmore crash Saturday, January 3 BURLINGTON (AP) -- A settlement has been reached in a fatal crash in Westmore that killed two teenagers five years ago and pitted the parents of the driver and the teens against each other. Full Story With hard times, liquor sales are up in Vermont Saturday, January 3 BURLINGTON (AP) -- When times are tough, liquor sales rise in Vermont. Full Story Requests for public assistance up in N.H. Saturday, January 3 CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire public assistance offices have been so busy lately, they're changing the way they do business. Full Story Maine adoptees get birth records Saturday, January 3 AUGUSTA, Maine -- Amid tears of joy at the state's Vital Records office, scores of people who had been adopted as children got their long-awaited wish Friday to receive copies of their original birth certificates. Full Story New England in Brief Saturday, January 3 Maine governor asks for federal disaster aid AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- Gov. Full Story Budget crunch could put Vermont historic sites up for sale Saturday, January 3 BENNINGTON -- Vermont's historic sites such as the Bennington Battle Monument could be facing drastic changes next year, including closure or sale, as the state looks to save money. Full Story Region hit by snowstorm Thursday, January 1 BOSTON (AP) -- A winter storm isn't disrupting plans for Boston's annual New Year's Eve celebration. Full Story School fixes collide with budget cuts Thursday, January 1 BOSTON (AP) -- Gov. Deval Patrick's ambitious plan to revamp public education over a decade has crashed into the state's fiscal crisis, and now a commission is recommending savings and tax hikes -- including a 20 percent sales tax increase -- to achieve the plan's goals. Full Story State first in N.E. to require gas scores Thursday, January 1 WATERBURY (AP) -- When Vermont new car shoppers start looking at 2010 models they will see an easy-to-read label showing the vehicle's greenhouse gas emissions. Full Story