WTSA News For Friday, February 7th:
The Vermont Department of Corrections, Vermont State Police and multiple local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies are searching for convicted murderer 55-year old William Wheelock, who removed an electronic monitoring device and absconded from furlough on Wednesday. Wheelock was convicted in 1987 of second-degree murder and sentenced to serve 21-99 years in prison. He was released on furlough Jan. 28, 2020. He was under state supervision and residing in transitional housing in Bellows Falls at the time he absconded. While on furlough, he was required to wear an electronic monitoring device. Wheelock cut off and discarded the device, which alerted corrections officials to immediately notify law enforcement. Wheelock is described as white, 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 215 pounds, with blue eyes, thinning gray hair, and “666” tattooed on his left eyelid. He has ties to the area of Springfield, Massachusetts.
New Hampshire election officials are gearing up for Tuesday’s Presidential primary. The Attorney General’s Office will be operating its Election Day hotline from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Voters and election officials with concerns or questions are asked to call 1-866-868-3703 (1-866-VOTER03). Inquiries and complaints may also be submitted via email at election law at doj dot nh dot gov. A team of more than 50 attorneys, investigators, and staff from the Attorney General’s Office and Secretary of State’s Office will be deployed to polling locations across the state. They will be available to assist local election officials and respond to any issues that may arise.
Vermont businesses will see a double-digit rate decrease in workers’ compensation insurance in 2020. The new rates, approved by the Department of Financial Regulation, become effective on April 1, 2020. This is the fourth straight year of rate decreases since Governor Phil Scott took office and represents the largest decrease in over a decade. When combined with decreases from 2017-2019, Vermont employers will pay an average of 30% less in workers’ compensation premiums than they did in 2016.
Vermont Congressman Peter Welch has introduced legislation that will more than double funding for the federal Recreational Trails Program. Since 1991, RTP has provided funding to states to develop and maintain outdoor recreational trails, The program is modeled after the Highway Trust Fund and is funded through taxes paid on gasoline used to fuel snowmobiles, ATVs, and other recreational vehicles that do not use highways.
Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos was part of an elections security tabletop exercise held by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency last week in Washington D.C. Representatives from 45 states, 11 federal agencies, and 16 private sector vendors participated in the tabletop exercise, which featured worst-case scenario response planning and discussion. Condos said the opportunity to join with colleagues from around the country.
LOTTERY NUMBERS:
TRI STATE PICK 3 3-6-9
TRI STATE PICK 4 5-8-5-8
LUCKY FOR LIFE 18-30-31-33-34 LUCKY BALL 16
MASS CASH 5-13-26-33-34
WTSA SPORTS:
The Celtics, winners of 5 straight, host Atlanta tonight, tip-off against the Hawks is at 7:30. The Bruins hit the ice tomorrow afternoon when the host Arizona, puck drops at 3pm.
Tomorrow is opening day of the XFL, first game? The DC Defenders hosting the Seattle Dragons at 2pm.