WTSA News For Your Friday, January 28th:
The Vermont Department of Health says there 1,490 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. There were two additional deaths. Windham County had 129 new cases of the virus. New Hampshire has 20 deaths and 1.,941 cases of covid 19, There were 152 new positive covid tests in Cheshire County. Massachusetts had 84 deaths and 8,616 new cases of the virus. Franklin County had 1 covid death and 110 new cases of the virus.
A Bellows Falls man has been arrested in Brattleboro on a charge of sexually assaulting a juvenile. Police say 26-year-old Andrew Hayes was charged after they investigated a reported sexual assault that had occurred in Bellows Falls. This case was received through the Southeastern Unit for Special Investigations. A juvenile reported she was allegedly assaulted by an adult identified as Andrew Hayes. After an investigation took place Hayes was arrested on Wednesday and arraigned on Thursday.
A new Vermont bill could potentially lessen the severity of some traffic violations from primary offenses to secondary offenses, aiming to fix racial inequities in traffic stops in the state. The offenses could include certain vehicle and pedestrian violations like a broken taillight, items hanging from a review mirror or jaywalking. Traffic data from 2020 showed that Black drivers are three times more likely to be searched at a traffic stop than white drivers.
The Agency of Administration has asked that the Senate Appropriations Committee to change parts of the Budget Adjustment Act, as passed by the House. The plan would use $90 million in ARPA funds for initiatives that do not maximize the return on investment or accelerate Vermont’s economic recovery. Instead tbe Scott administration wants the legislature to continue using ARPA funds for high-value transformational infrastructure projects, including housing, clean water, climate action, broadband and economic revitalization in every county in Vermont.
Governor Phil Scott has launched Better Places, a statewide program that empowers Vermonters to create and build vibrant and inclusive public places in the hearts of Vermont communities. This innovative partnership provides residents the opportunity to use crowdfunding to develop strategic, locally led projects in their communities and be supported with a 2:1 matching grant from the State. The Better Places program provides one-on-one project coaching, local fundraising support, and matching grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 to advance community-led placemaking efforts that create, revitalize, or activate public spaces
A man with Vermont connections has been sentenced for his involvement in the Capitol riot on January 6th. He’s now behind bars in South Carolina. According to South Carolina’s U.S. Attorney’s office, 26-year-old Nicholas Languerand was sentenced to 4 months in prison for assaulting law enforcement during the Capitol breach. They say he admitted to throwing items at officers. At the time of the riots, Languerand was living in Wolcott. He moved to South Carolina before being arrested in April.
LOTTERY NUMBERS:
TRI STATE PICK 3 8-7-1
TRI STATE PICK 4 5-9-3-2
LUCKY FOR LIFE 16-23-27-34-40 LUCKY BALL 7
MASS CASH 2-4-21-25-30
WTSA SPORTS:
Locally, as heard on 99 5 The Beast, and 99 5 The Beast Dot Com, in Boy’s High School Basketball action, Brattleboro beat Burr & Burton, 61-48.
Professionally, the Celtics visit the Hawks tonight, tip-off in Atlanta is at 7pm.
The Bruins visit the Coyotes tonight, puck drops in Arizona at 9pm.
Championship Weekend in the NFL on Sunday, Cincinnati visits Kansas City at 3pm, the 49ers face the Rams in L.A. at 6:30.