Saturday, October 4 NEW YORK (AP) — In the end, congressional approval of the government's $700 billion financial rescue plan Friday did little to lift the financial markets from their growing dejection over the obstacles still facing the economy. Wall Street ended an intensely volatile week with the Dow Jones industrials falling 157 points and the major indexes all suffering big losses.   Full Story

Monday, October 6 The United States is facing a very serious financial crisis. While we need both sides of the aisle to put politics aside and work together to craft a way forward, it is also important to examine how we came to be in this mess in the first place. If we are serious about a real and lasting fix to our economy, we must first be committed to separating facts and records from   Full Story

Monday, October 6 MANCHESTER — About 400 supporters of Democrat Barack Obama for president rallied together Sunday at Applejack Field. The general themes: Obama's hopeful message will change America's attitude and world standing; his energy policies will help combat global warming; Republican John McCain's economic policies are similar to President George W.   Full Story

Monday, October 6 BENNINGTON — Theodore Francis Doucette, a long-time resident of Bennington, and co-founder of the Bennington Area AIDS Project, died at his home Tuesday at the age of 82. Born in Winthrop, Mass., in 1926, Doucette graduated from Millbury High School in Millbury, Mass. He then enlisted in the Army Air Corps, which would shape a project he undertook in Bennington later   Full Story

Monday, October 6 It was a stretch of season that the Mount Anthony Union High School boys varsity soccer team would just as soon forget forever. And it was laid to rest with the help of some memories from better days. The Patriots' 3-1 victory over visiting Hoosick Falls on Saturday that erased an eight-game losing streak might be the start of a hopeful new chapter for MAU, but it also   Full Story

Saturday, October 4 RUTLAND — The Friends of Dorset Nursing Association have extended the date of their raffle drawing for an original oil painting by renowned local artist, Arthur Jones. The drawing will take place on Oct. 25 and proceeds from the raffle will benefit DNA's community-based home health care and hospice services.   Full Story