Wed Noon News Script

Wed 15-MAY-2013 Noon News Script

1} SUBSTATION12_VO

A Vermont boy is in a Boston Hospital -- after suffering an electrical shock at a substation in Springfield. Police say a 12-year-old boy climbed over an eight foot fence topped with barbed wire -- and once inside, he grabbed an electrical line. Police say the boy had visible burn marks, but was conscious and moving at the scene. They are still trying to determine why he went into the dangerous, high voltage area.

2} CHIEF12_SOTVO

((Chief Johnston: "I don't know. We don't have the answers to that right now. He was the only child that climbed up over the fence. There was barbed wire on top of the fence, to get inside the compound. Once he got inside the compound, he started climbing up on the framework of the substation where he ended up reaching up and grabbing a wire.")) The chief says other children were playing outside the fence. They called for help. The injured boy was airlifted to Mass General in Boston. Police have not released his name and we do not have any additional information about his condition.

3} TEACHERFIRED_WHITE

A special ed teacher is out of a job in connection with a secret audio recording -- and school officials say their investigation isn't over yet. In February, a recording device sent to the Bennington Elementary school with a special ed student allegedly capture verbal abuse aimed at the student by staff members. Now one of the staff linked to the probe -- Kathy Houran -- has been fired for alleged misconduct.

4} SESSION11_VO

The Vermont Legislature has finished its business for 2013. The session came to a close late last night after lawmakers signed off on next year's budget. Some of the session's highlights include a gas tax increase -- end of life legislation -- pot decrminilization and licenses for undocumented immigrant farm workers.

5} ENDS10X_SOTVO

((Gov. Shumlin: 48:46, This session has reaffirmed the work of Vermont's brand of democracy. We work together across party lines to improve the lives of all Vermotners.)) A couple of high profile issues that lawmakers did not find consensus on were campaign finance reform - and a union for child care providers.

6} GUARD11_VO

Furloughs for civilian employees of the U-S military have been scaled back again. The furloughs were ordered as part of the sequestration budget cuts. In our region they impact five thousand personnel at Fort Drum in New York and 500 at the Vermont national guard. Originally, workers were facing 24 days off without pay. But now it has been reduced to 11 furlough days. Congressman Bill Owens says even that could have been avoided if there was compromise in Washington.

7} OWENS11_SOTVO

((Owens: :49 Clearly this whole sequestration thing should have been and could have been dealt with but people don't have the where with all to figure it out. )) The furloughs begin in July and last through September.

8} RUTLAND11_VO

Barre Police are investigating allegations within the Rutland PD. The Attorney General's office asked Barre to handle the criminal investigation at the Rutland City Police Department -- to avoid conflict of interest A former Rutland officer -- who is now a state trooper is suing the department -- alleging racial discrimination and employment law violations among the departments top brass. Barre's Police Chief tells Channel 3 News he's assigned a detective to do the job.

9} BARRECITY12_FONTOC

Voters in Barre City yesterday narrowly approved municipal and school budgets. The 10-million dollar city budget passed on a vote of 373 to 365 -- a margin of just eight votes. The 12-million dollar school budget squeaked by with slightly more breathing room -- on a vote of 378 to 361. A separate article asked voters if they wanted to authorize 61-thousand dollars for a school police officer. That item was rejected by six votes.

10} BONDVOTEAM_FONT

Middlesex voters have shot down a 4-point-5 million dollar bond measure -- to renovate the town's school. The last major improvements to the Rumney Memorial School were in 1991. School Board members say the kitchen, boilers and structure need fixing.The vote was 230 to 168 against the measure.

11} MACE12_VO

Reports out of Bennington indicate Mace Security International is moving at least some of its Vermont jobs to Ohio. Mace makes pepper spray and other personal security products. Company founder Jon Goodrich says company officials have told him they plan to vacate the Holden-Leonard Mill in July. Goodrich still owns the building. The move is expected to effect at least 40 jobs.

12} CABOTAM_VO

The Cabot Creamery is planning to move most of its administrative workforce -- to Waitsfield. That move does NOT affect manufacturing operations at the cheese plant in Cabot. Agri-Mark, which owns Cabot Creamery, is buying and renovating a 28-thousand square foot facility in in the Waitsfield Industrial Park for 2-point-8 million dollars. Up to a 100 workers will move there -- by 2014.

13} NYHAYAM_VO

Farmers in our region have stored a record low amount of hay this year. In New York, hay stocks stood at 150-thousand tons at the beginning of the month -- down from 327-thousand tons a year ago. Agriculture officials also say Vermont reported record-low stocks of hay -- along with farmers in five other states. The U-S Department of Agriculture blames last year's drought for cutting into hay production, and some farmers had to feed their animals earlier than usual, which also cut into the supply.

14} FORECAST

Today: Increasing clouds Afternoon & evening showers Windy Highs: 62 to 68 Wind: S 15 to 30 mph Tonight: Showers ending Then partly cloudy Lows: 42 to 48 Wind: SW 10 to 15 mph Thursday: Partly sunny Chance for a few scattered showers Breezy Highs: 63 to 70 Wind: SW to NW 15 to 25 mph Extended: Friday: Partly sunny Lows: 35 to 45 Highs: 60s Saturday: Partly cloudy Lows: 35 to 45 Highs: 65 to 75 Sunday: Partly sunny Lows: 40s Highs: 65 to 75 Hyper-Extended: Monday: Mostly cloudy Chance for showers Lows: 45 to 55 Highs: 70s Tuesday: Mostly cloudy Showers Lows: 50s Highs: 70s

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