Wednesday, July 1 MONTPELIER — A judge has blocked the city of Barre from enforcing an ordinance that would have required a convicted sex offender and his family to move. Twenty-nine-year-old Chris Hagan had been ordered by city officials to move under an ordinance passed last year that blocks convicted sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools or other places children   Full Story

Wednesday, July 1 WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency took a major step toward tougher reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks Tuesday by giving California the green light to impose new requirements that could become the national model for combatting tailpipe pollution linked to global warming.   Full Story

Wednesday, July 1 CINCINNATI (AP) — The Kroger Co. on Tuesday recalled ground beef sold in some of its grocery stores. JBS Swift Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo., earlier voluntarily expanded a beef recall because of possible E. coli contamination. Kroger says the suspect beef was sold under its store brands in more than a dozen states.   Full Story

ADAMS, Mass. -- One person is dead after an early morning truck crash Monday at a quarry in Adams. According to police, a pickup truck went off the edge of a limestone quarry at Specialty Minerals Inc. off Route 8 (Howland Avenue), and claimed the life of at least one person inside it. Police have confirmed the body is not that of an SMI employee, since all were accounted for on Monday.   Full Story

Monday, June 29 BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is planning to sign a state budget that includes a 25 percent hike in the state sales tax. Patrick is scheduled to sign the $27.4 billion spending plan Monday afternoon in his Statehouse office. The budget, coming in the midst of a recession, makes steep cuts to service and slashes aid to cities and towns.   Full Story

Friday, June 26 BRATTLEBORO — Even the most venerable of institutions is not immune to the impacts of the current economic crisis. Earlier this month, World Learning cut 14 positions, 13 of those in Brattleboro, where its headquarters is located. In addition, World Learning announced a 5 percent salary reduction for the 2010 fiscal year, which runs from July of this year through   Full Story

Wednesday, June 24 Douglas calls for fix of health care crisis MONTPELIER (AP) — Gov. Jim Douglas and five other governors are scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama on Wednesday to talk about health care reform. Douglas, who co-hosted a White House health care forum in Burlington in March, says he plans to urge the Obama adminstration and congressional leaders to focus on   Full Story

Tuesday, June 23 MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Late June is fresh strawberry season in Vermont. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture says locally grown berries are ripe and ready to enjoy. Lourie Mazza of Mazza Farm in Colchester says it's a beautiful year for strawberries. She's reporting a bumper crop in size, color and flavor.   Full Story

Tuesday, June 23 BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Sunday marked the first day of summer but the rain and cool temperatures could have many fooled. The Burlington Free Press says June has been 3.2 degrees cooler and has had 1.13 more inches of rain than normal, according to National Weather Service data.   Full Story

Monday, June 22 MONTPELIER (AP) — The state of Vermont and some of its most well-known dairy brands are embarking on a "dairy drive" aimed at helping needy families and struggling dairy farmers. More than 2,300 pounds of dairy products were donated last weekend in the first drive, and subsequent ones are scheduled for July 11 in Burlington, Williston and Colchester and Aug.   Full Story

Monday, June 22 MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Late June is fresh strawberry season in Vermont. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture says locally grown berries are ripe and ready to enjoy. Lourie Mazza of Mazza Farm in Colchester says it's a beautiful year for strawberries. She's reporting a bumper crop in size, color and flavor.   Full Story