WTSA News For Your Thursday, March 25th:
2 deaths and 89 new Covid 19 cases were reported in Vermont Wednesday. One of the new positive tests was in Windham county. There were 10 dead, and 360 new cases of the virus in New Hampshire, with 23 positive tests reported in Cheshire county. Massachusetts reported 54 dead and 1,865 new covid cases, with 1 death and 8 new positive tests in Franklin County.
Beginning today, Vermonters 60 and over can sign up for a covid 19 vaccination appointment, you can register at health vermont dot com or by calling 855-722-7878. Click on the “Make an appointment” button to use the Health Department registration system. If you prefer to make your COVID-19 vaccine appointment through a participating pharmacy, you can find links on the same page to Kinney Drugs, CVS and Walgreens. The eligibility age drops to 50 and older on Monday March 29th.
Amtrak passenger rail service could be back on track in Vermont within the next few months. Service on the two trains that serve Vermont, The Vermonter, which runs from Washington, D.C., up the eastern side of Vermont before crossing the state and then ending in St. Albans, and the Ethan Allen Express, which travels between Rutland and New York City, were suspended last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Amy Tatko, from the Vermont Agency of Transportation, hopes to make an announcement within the next several weeks as to what that timeline will look like.
New Hampshire’s Executive Council on Wednesday confirmed John Formella, Republican Governor. Chris Sununu’s legal counsel, to be the next attorney general. The vote was 4-1, with the four Republicans on the council supporting Formella. Formella succeeds Gordon MacDonald, who was sworn in as chief justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court earlier this month.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was among several members of congress who called on Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to immediately expand access to essential 2-1-1 calls to thousands of vulnerable Americans who lack consistent cell service. The 2-1-1 hotline provides essential community services for millions of Americans seeking information related to supplemental food and nutrition programs, rental assistance, veteran services, substance use disorder support programs, and suicide prevention. While 9-1-1 and other emergency calls are guaranteed for individuals without an active contract with a cell phone carrier, 2-1-1 calls are inaccessible to thousands of Americans who do not have consistent cell service or who are only able to make calls using WiFi.
Based on median earnings for full-time, year-round workers, women are paid 82 cents for every dollar paid to men. Vermont Commission on Women presented the second in a series of Equal Pay Day video podcast conversations on Wednesday, the day into the year women need to work before their earnings catch up to those of men in 2020 due to the wage gap. The commission hopes to raise awareness about pay equity, and the ways racism, sexism, homophobia, and ableism intersect, creating much larger wage gaps for women of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and women living with disabilities.
LOTTERY NUMBERS:
TRI STATE PICK 3 5-4-4
TRI STATE PICK 4 5-5-2-2
TRI STATE GIMME 5 2-8-22-26-36
MEGABUCKS 3-9-24-29-39 MEGA BALL 1
POWERBALL 4-9-17-27-38 POWERBALL 18
MASS CASH 5-8-9-12-21
WTSA SPORTS:
Locally, as heard on 99 5 The Beast last night. Congratulations to your Brattleboro Colonels Boys Hockey team. They are the Vermont Division 2 State Champions this morning. Gavin Howard’s empty netter with 10 seconds left sealed the 5-3 win over previously unbeaten Harwood last night in Barre. Jack Pattison’s 3rd period goal gave the Colonels a 4-1 lead, which proved crucial for your Colonels, who are State Champions this morning. Wear your Purple today.
The Celtics lose to Milwaukee last night, 121-119.
The Bruins host the Islanders tonight, puck drops at 7pm.