Saturday, May 10 BENNINGTON — A contentious dispute between hospitals and the state over a tax on health-care providers appears to have been resolved for the moment, potentially saving Southwestern Vermont Medical Center $1.2 million. The battle erupted over Vermont's provider tax, which is used by the state to increase the amount it receives from the federal government in   Full Story

Saturday, May 10 BENNINGTON — A state land-use permit application submitted this week to double the size of the local Wal-Mart was incomplete. District 8 Environmental Coordinator Warren Foster announced Friday that the Act 250 application, submitted three days earlier by engineers for Ohio-based developer Jonathan Levy, was "substantially incomplete.   Full Story

Saturday, May 10 BENNINGTON — An incentive program to create jobs across the state has exceeded expectations, helping a local housing company to thrive despite an economic slow down, according to officials. Seven companies, including Vermont Timber Frames of Bennington, participating in the program created 296 new jobs and $10.   Full Story

Saturday, May 10 ARLINGTON — The left side of the Lady Eagles infield brought home the school's top two academic honors this year. Third-baseman Kira Personnette was named Arlington Memorial High School's valedictorian this week, and shortstop Britni Hawley received salutatorian honors. The awards recognize the students for having the highest and second highest GPAs, respectively, in   Full Story

Friday, May 9 SUNDERLAND — You might not think it is possible for an elementary school with only 49 students to pull off a full-length musical production. But at Sunderland Elementary School, despite the school's size, the spring musical has become a staple of the extracurricular offerings under the direction of second-year principal turned director, Paul Schreiber, who is leaving   Full Story

Friday, May 9 BENNINGTON — The attorney of a man who lost a leg as the result of a hit-and-run accident said Thursday that he believes the award for a lawsuit against the driver and two local bars could reach $1 million or more. Suing two local bars "I believed there is a substantial likelihood of a large verdict for Mr.   Full Story

Friday, May 9 MANCHESTER — A longtime former town official seeks to represent residents in the Statehouse next year — if he is elected to the House in the fall elections. Jeffrey D. Wilson, who served as town manager for 17 years until 2003, announced his intentions Thursday. He plans to run as a Democrat for the position of state representative that now is held by Rep.   Full Story

Friday, May 9 HOOSICK, N.Y. — Picture this: Walking, biking, or riding from village to village, park to park, lake to lake and state to state on linking trails throughout Rensselaer County and beyond. Well, a group of trail enthusiasts has begun to map out the possibilities. "The point of this project isn't to look at every small point but to connect them on a large scale," said   Full Story

Thursday, May 8 BENNINGTON — A power outagestruckBennington Wednesday, leaving, at its height, 2,000 homes and businesses without electricity for several hours. The cause of the problem? A small bird. "A bird landed on a piece of equipment on one of our distribution lines outside a substationonMill Street, causing the line to burn down," said Central Vermont Public Service   Full Story

Thursday, May 8 BENNINGTON — A local fraternal organization has sold its Main Street property and is relocating to a former restaurant site on the outskirts of town. Near New York border Grand Knight Jeff Fortier, of the local Bennington Knights of Columbus Council, said the Catholic organization closed on a deal to purchase the restaurant space of the former Elizabeth's Garden on   Full Story

Thursday, May 8 MANCHESTER — The Bennington Bombers could call all of Bennington County home if the team's proposed plan to play half of its home games in Manchester is approved by the town's Select Board on Tuesday. The Bombers, a professional baseball development team of college players, played all of its 21 home games at Epstein Field at Southern Vermont College in Bennington last   Full Story

Wednesday, May 7 BENNINGTON — An Act 250 permit for a new, double-size Wal-Mart has finally been filed more than two years after the developer was awarded town permits to complete the project. "It did roll in the door today unannounced," said District 8 Environmental Coordinator Warren Foster.   Full Story