Wake-Up Call: Friday, August 8, 2008

With the PolitickerVT.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Vermont's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

With the PolitickerVT.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Vermont's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

Vermont's Senate Judiciary Committee holds first hearing on state's sex offender policies

Vermont's Senate Judiciary Committee convened Thursday for the first of more than half a dozen hearings set to examine the state's dealings with Michael Jacques, who has been charged with kidnapping and murdering his niece, Brooke Bennett, in June.

The committee hearing follows a Wednesday report from Vermont's Attorney General's Office in which Attorney General William Sorrell, state attorneys from thirteen of Vermont's counties, and representatives of victims' advocacy groups revealed five proposals for legislative changes to the state's policy regarding sexual offenders. (PolitickerVT.com, Megan Stewart)

Link: http://www.politickervt.com/meganstewart/1422/vermonts-senate-judiciary-...

Symington explains tax controversy

Gaye Symington's campaign found itself Thursday explaining the reasons for simulated individual federal income tax returns the Democratic gubernatorial candidate released voluntarily last week to show her personal income. (Burlington Free Press, Nancy Remsen)

Link: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/N...

FBI director: Anthrax killer acted alone

WILLISTON -- FBI Director Robert Mueller said Thursday he is confident his agency's seven-year investigation into who was behind the 2001 anthrax letter attacks has found the culprit, even if some of the supporting evidence is circumstantial. (Burlington Free Press, Sam Hemingway)

Link: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/N...

Personnel disputes escalate in Winooski

WINOOSKI -- The Winooski City Council voted to launch an internal investigation into City Manager Joshua Handverger during a tense meeting Thursday evening in which two council members refused to take part in an executive session. (Burlington Free Press, Matt Sutkoski)

Link: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/N...

Officials tour flood damage

Following torrential downpours Wednesday morning, state road workers were out in full force Thursday in Addison County, building up banks along some roads and clearing off others as the rain continued to fall in many areas.

Gov. James Douglas and federal officials were also out touring flood-ravaged parts of the county Thursday, where most of the damage was done. (Rutland Herald, Dawson Raspuzzi)

Link: http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/NEWS04/...

Leahy wants motivation in anthrax case

WILLISTON—U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy says he wants to know the motivation of the man thought to have mailed him a letter in 2001 that contained deadly anthrax spores.

Leahy, a Democrat, said he hoped that the late Army researcher Bruce Ivins was the person responsible for the anthrax attacks that came weeks after the 9/11 attacks on the United States. (Boston Globe, AP)

Link: http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2008/08/07/leahy_wants...

Internet used to launch write-in campaign

A Marlboro man concerned that a three-way race for governor assures the re-election of the incumbent has launched a write-in campaign to make Anthony Pollina the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.

Kevin Kennedy suggests that by changing the candidate lineup, Vermonters wouldn’t have to choose between Democrat Gaye Symington and Pollina, a Progressive Party member who decided two weeks ago to run for governor as an independent. (Burlington Free Press, Nancy Remsen)

Link: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080807/N...

With the PolitickerVT.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Vermont's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.