Thursday, November 20 NEW YORK — Wall Street hit levels not seen since 2003 on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones industrial average plunging below the 8,000 mark amid a doureconomic outlook from the Federal Reserve and worries over thefateof Detroit'sthree automakers. A cascade of selling occurred in the final minutes of the session as investors yanked money out of the market.   Full Story

Thursday, November 20 It's an unfortunate knee-jerk reaction whenever state revenues fall: Politicians seem to think only of cutting budgets, rather than the most reasonable of tax increases to fund state programs until the economy recovers. This is a direct result of three decades of Republicans campaigning on a one-note theme, "No new taxes!   Full Story

Thursday, November 20 BENNINGTON — State economists have again downgraded the state's projected transportation revenues, meaning towns — and their residents — could see increased taxes and fees. State officials and legislators met with economists Tuesday who projected that the transportation budget will fall an additional $5 million short of expectations.   Full Story

Thursday, November 20 POWNAL — Librarian, reporter, town clerk, the late Helen Renner wore many hats and was well-known by most residents of Pownal and elsewhere over many decades. Renner, 93, died on Saturday following a long illness. "If you stop and drink from a well, you should stop and thank the person that dug the well," said Jim Winchester, owner of Winchester's Store.   Full Story

Thursday, November 20 BENNINGTON — The past eight months have served as the biggest gut-check the Mount Anthony Union girls basketball team has had to face in a long time. There isn't a high school team anywhere that doesn't have to deal with the loss of key players to graduation; only one team in Vermont, however, can say it graduated the best player in the state.   Full Story

Thursday, November 20 BENNINGTON — On Saturday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m., the Bennington Center for the Arts welcomes acclaimed neo-classical pianist Cody Michaels to its stage for a program titled, "After the Leaves Have Gone: Celebrating Late Fall and the Spirit of Thanksgiving Through Music and Spoken Word.   Full Story