Wake-Up Call: Wednesday, September 3, 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.

This week, Politicker.com will be at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stay tuned to Politicker.com over the course of the week for live updates from the convention.

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.

At convention, two delegates energized about ticket

MINNEAPOLIS -- Two delegates from Vermont characterized the Republican presidential ticket as one representing strength, courage and strong family values here at the Republican National Convention Tuesday. (PolitickerVT.com, Jessica Alaimo)

Link: http://www.politickervt.com/jessicaalaimo/1578/convention-two-delegates-...

Delegates look forward to Palin speech

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Vermont delegates to the Republican National Convention said they’re looking forward to getting to know John McCain's vice presidential pick now that the convention schedule is back on track. (Burlington Free Press, Malia Rulon)

Link: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/N...

Welch rides the bus

WATERBURY -- Passengers on the 4:45 p.m. run from Burlington to Montpelier are sold on the idea that public transit is the way to go.

So when U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., climbed aboard to listen to passengers Tuesday afternoon he heard a chorus of calls for more -- more buses going more places at more times of day. (Burlington Free Press, Terri Hallenbeck)

Link: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/N...

VPIRG challenges Vt. Yankee ads

Advertisements in print and on the air tout Vermont Yankee as "safe, clean, reliable."

The nuclear power plant is none of those, argues the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, which Tuesday asked state Attorney General William Sorrell to investigate whether the ads amount to false advertising. (Burlington Free Press, Terri Hallenbeck)

Link: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/N...

Douglas pleased with Palin pick for vice president

MONTPELIER — Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska, recently picked by Republican Sen. John McCain as his running mate in his campaign for president, might seem like an unlikely candidate to woo Vermont voters.

After all, she holds conservative viewpoints on several issues on which many Vermonters feel quite differently — including the teaching of creation in the classroom and abortion rights. And Vermont is, after all, considered one of the most liberal states in the nation. (Rutland Herald, Louis Porter)

Link: http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/NEWS03/...

Gov. Douglas Heads to RNC

Gov. Jim Douglas, R-Vermont, is leaving Wednesday for the Republican National Convention.

Many convention activities were put on hold in Minnesota while the focus was on Hurricane Gustav. (WCAX)

Link: http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8939360

Rutland residents will have a chance to learn about the state's sex offender laws a week before members of the state Senate Judiciary Committee visit the city seeking public opinions of the state's policies and practices.

Starting at 7 p.m. Monday, a town hall forum will be held at the Leahy Center at Rutland Regional Medical Center. (Rutland Herald, Brent Curtis)

Link: http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/NEWS01/...

Making Claire's: It took a village

When Gov. Jim Douglas came to Hardwick in 2003 for a town meeting, the desire for a good restaurant surfaced loud and clear and a follow-up gathering generated an "overwhelming" 60 attendees, recalls Linda Ramsdell, longtime owner of the town's Galaxy Bookshop. (Burlington Free Press, Melissa Pasanen)

Link: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080902/N...

Head of Native American commission resigns

MONTPELIER - The chairman of Vermont's Commission on Native American Affairs has resigned.

Mark Mitchell of Barnet says the powers given to the commission are illusory. (WCAX)

Link:  http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8936435

I arrived at the Vermont State Fair Tuesday around 1 p.m. empty-handed, with a barren wallet and the four-letter "f" word on my mind - free. (Rutland Herald, Dawnson Raspuzzi)

Link: http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/NEWS01/...

Goals for Vermont cell phone, Internet coverage debated

MONTPELIER – The Vermont Telecommunications Authority will soon begin construction on cell and wireless Internet towers and is still on track to complete Gov. James Douglas' goal of universal cell phone and broadband Internet coverage by the end of 2010, officials said Tuesday. (Times Argus, Louis Porter)

Link: http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/NEWS02/809...

Minter announces run for re-election

WATERBURY — Rep. Sue Minter, D-Waterbury, announced Tuesday that is running for a third term to represent the towns of Waterbury, Duxbury, Huntington and Buel's Gore in the Vermont Legislature.

Since being elected state representative in 2004, Minter has served on the House Transportation Committee. (Times Argus, Staff)

Link: http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/NEWS02/809...

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.