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 HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. — A local man who excelled in academics and athletics at Southern Vermont College will return to campus on May 18 to be honored at the college's 81st graduation ceremonies. Benjamin Patten, a Hoosick Falls resident and radio disc jockey in Albany, will receive the college's Distinguished Alumni Award, the college announced Monday.   Full Story

Saturday, May 10 POWNAL — Ken Norris does not know where to begin. He is leading an effort to create a connecting trail from the Taconic Crest Trail to North Pownal village, but the only two accessways are not feasible, he told the Select Board on Thursday. "This trail has been slow going so far.   Full Story

Saturday, May 10 MANCHESTER — The Burr and Burton Academy girls lacrosse team defeated visiting Twin Valley on Friday by the score of 15-4. Molly Dexter and Kristen Palmer each netted a hat trick for the Lady Bulldogs, who improved to 4-5 on the season. BBA's Tess Montague notched two goals and one assist, and Robin O'Neill, Hannah Leech and Alyssa Kropp each scored once and notched   Full Story

Saturday, May 10 LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Big Brown slowed ever so slightly as he made his way to the track at Churchill Downs on Thursday morning. The big bay colt turned his head to look behind him, only to see the usual batch of trainers, exercise riders and barn workers quietly muddling through the mist, caught up in their daily pre-dawn routines.   Full Story

Saturday, May 10 It's encouraging that the Bennington School District will implement teacher training and class schedule changes to address poor student test scores and that recent comments from the superintendent indicate a wide-ranging discussion of educational options may be under way. Administrators of those local school districts that have routinely posted low scores on New England   Full Story