WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-News Minute: Here is the latest Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont news from The Associated Press

News Minute: Here is the latest Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont news from The Associated Press

Associated Press - February 9, 2010 3:55 PM ET

MAINE:

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - FairPoint Communications will begin paying out customer rebates next month for the company's poor customer service. State utility regulators had ordered the rebates totaling more than $8 million after FairPoint failed to meet quality standards in working with customers.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - The state's Supreme Judicial Court has upheld a $4.9 million award to a man severely burned in 2002 when the mast of his sailboat touched a low-hanging power line. Bryan Smith got workers' comp benefits but also sued Central Maine Power for negligence with the line handing much closer to the ground than it was supposed to be.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - State House members have gone on record opposing plans for the Massachusetts National Guard to expand its low-altitude flight training over western Maine. Opponents say state officials haven't gotten enough information about the plans and say they'd be too noisy.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - State House members have endorsed a push to bring the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy to Portland Harbor. Supporters are hoping to turn the ship into a floating museum and say it would generate tourism and jobs.

NEW HAMPSHIRE:

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Strafford County authorities say Leeland Eisenberg, the man who did prison time after taking hostages at a Hillary Clinton campaign office in 2007, is now a fugitive. A prosecutor says Eisenberg sometime this morning cut off the electronic monitoring bracelet he was supposed to be wearing while on probation.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - State Attorney General Michael Delaney has cleared a Keene police officer, saying he was justified in shooting and killing a suspect during a hostage situation earlier this month. A report says Charles Turcotte repeatedly refused to put down a knife he was using to threaten his ex-girlfriend before he was shot by Officer Josh English.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - A House panel has recommended against two proposals aimed at dumping the state's same-sex marriage law that took effect last month. Members of the Judiciary Committee voted to recommend killing a proposed constitutional amendment floated by gay marriage foes and against a direct effort to repeal the law.

DURHAM, N.H. (AP) - Republicans can find plenty of encouraging news in a new WMUR Granite State poll. The survey of likely voters shows Kelly Ayotte with a 41 to 33 percent lead over Democratic Congressman Paul Hodes in their Senate race. Republicans are also making strong poll showings in the state's two congressional districts.

VERMONT:

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - State education chief Armando Vilaseca says Vermont needs to cut the number of school districts to help the state save money. Vilaseca is among those testifying before a House panel today on a proposal that would begin laying the groundwork for district consolidation.

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Governor Jim Douglas is pushing to dump dozens of state boards and commissions, saying the move could save the state nearly $700,000. Douglas says some of the panels have been inactive for years. He's proposing abolishing 45 panels and having six others modified or consolidated.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - School officials and teachers in Burlington remain far apart as they talk contract. The district is pressing teachers for a 5 percent pay cut next year and then 1.5 percent raises for the two years after that. The Burlington Free Press reports teachers are looking for raises of more than 5 percent each year of the deal.

RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) - Family and friends are calling a miracle the rapid recovery of a West Rutland high school student after he was hit by a car late in December. The Rutland Herald reports doctors had told Josh Scaralia he wouldn't be able to return to Mount St. Joseph Academy because of his brain injury but he's already gone back to school.

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