News

By Pat Bradley

Burlington, VT – A Dean will remain in charge of "Democracy for America" - the political action committee founded by Howard Dean after his failed presidential bid. Howard Dean has announced that his brother will take the reigns of the Vermont-based organization. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more.

By Eesha Williams

Northampton, MA – The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on a measure to limit class action lawsuits. Last week, the senate approved the bill, which President Bush supports. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Eesha Williams reports on the likely effects for our region.

By John Krol

Great Barrington, MA – Valentine's Day can be quite a challenge for people looking for the right gift for their honey. But, it is also a red-letter day for retailers with last minute purchases. For florists, it's likely the busiest day of the year -- but as WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief John Krol found out today -- it's something they look forward to.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – A new poll of American Catholics by Zogby International and LeMoyne College in Syracuse NY has found that faith in the
leadership of the American Bishops remains stagnant several years after the clergy sex scandals first came to light. As
WAMC's Brian Shields reports, the poll also questioned Catholics on the U.S.election, Social Security and peace in the Middle East.

By Eesha Williams

Northampton, MA – A new study of court staffing in Massachusetts shows wide disparities in personnel levels, including politically connected courts that are overstaffed by nearly 50 percent. Meanwhile, many courts in western Massachusetts are severely under-staffed. WAMC's Eesha Williams reports.

By Pat Bradley

Lake Placid, NY – Twenty-five years ago the village of Lake Placid, New York hosted the thirteenth Winter Olympic games. This weekend, Lake Placid kicked-off two weeks of silver anniversary celebrations that will bring many of the 1980 athletes back to the Olympic village. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley was at the anniversary's opening ceremonies Saturday night: the re-lighting of Lake Placid's Olympic flame.

By Allison Dunne

Kingston, NY – Managers of the Hudson Valley Mall say the mall was to have reopened today at noon. The Kingston-area mall was the scene of a shooting spree yesterday afternoon that left one man hospitalized. Here's WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne reports.

By Pat Bradley

Montpelier, VT – The New England Zero Mercury Campaign has released a report that calls for phasing out mercury thermostats from the marketplace in favor of alternatives that they say are eco-friendly and more energy efficient. The report also criticizes several New England states for not being aggressive enough in ridding the region of mercury.

By Eesha Williams

Montpelier, VT – The Vermont senate voted yesterday to automatically increase the state's minimum wage annually to keep up with inflation. The bill now goes to the House, where passage is considered likely. Gov. James Douglas has indicated he will sign the measure. That would make Vermont the first state in the Northeast to tie the minimum wage to the cost of living. WAMC's Eesha Williams reports.

By John Kroll

Boston, MA – Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's stand of stem cell research is drawing criticism that he is putting politics over the needs of his state. This as the legislature is considering a bill that would allow for research laboratories to create new stem cells. WAMC's John Krol reports.