Tue Noon News Script

Tue 31-JAN-2012 Noon News Script

1} GMCRAM_VO

A federal judge has dismissed a class action lawsuit filed against green mountain coffee roasters. In 2010 -- The SEC launched an inquiry into the Waterbury company's accounting practices. A group of investors filed suit against the Green Mountain Coffee -- claiming the company falsified statements to make it look like it was performing better than it was. U.S. District Judge William Sessions has dismissed the suit -- saying the plaintiffs failed to present any facts indicating a strong inference of fraud. A separate and similar lawsuit against Green Mountain Coffee filed by The Louisiana Municipal Police Employees' Retirement System is still pending.

2} HALL_WHITE

A former legal assistant in the Vermont U.S. Attorney's office -- has pleaded guilty to tipping off a drug suspect. Danielle Hall accepted a plea agreement on a charge of obstruction of justice in exchange for a sentence that includes no jail time. Hall will get six months of home confinement and three years of probation. Prosecutors say in 2008 Hall told her boyfriend Michael Ryan -- that he was the focus of a grand jury investigation. Ryan and his partner Randy Russell later pleaded guilty to selling marijuana and laundering the proceeds thru the Justin Cruz Salon they co-owned in Burlington.

3} MOORHEADAM_VO

A former Barre man is headed to prison for making meth inside his home. A judge Monday sentenced Ricky Moorhead to 77 months in prison. The 35 year old got caught manufacturing the drug -- after a small fire broke out at his home on french street in June of 2010. He was already wanted by police in Kentucky for a parole violation.

4} CRASHAM_VO

Police say a teenage driver broke no laws -- when he crashed his car on icy roads Friday morning -- killing a Champlain Valley Union high school student. 16 year old Zeke Kassel was a passenger in the car. The seventeen year old driver -- Julien Vandal (van-DAL) and his 15 year old sister were not injured. Police say the car was between two others on Shelburne Falls Road -- and they do not believe it was exceeding the speed limit. Both the driver and his sister were wearing seatbelts. Police still aren't sure if Kassel was buckled in.

5} BURLINGTON10X_VO

Planners in Burlington -- are creating a picture of what the Queen City might look like a hundred years from now. For a week - Planning and zoning officials took comments from the public about what they like - and don't like in the city. Last night -- consultants presented a series of proposals for improving Burlington over the next century. Ideas range from a skating pond on the waterfront -- to bigger -- longer-term projects -- like a year-round farmers market topping an underground parking garage -- to scrapping the Town Center mall -- and dividing it with new grid streets - much like the ones the mall replaced.

6} FUTURE10X_SOTVO

((27:17 - :26 Ross Nizlek - Burlington Resident "some of those we might have to tweak... But I think in general I was very impressed with 90% of what they put out")) ((29:17 - :27 Linda Tierney - Burlington Resident "as Burlingtonians, I think we've gotten used to some spaces that are not all that attractive, that I would like to see some of the ideas implemented that they presented." )) City staff say they will take the illustrations -- and develop a master-plan to present to the city council this spring.

7} MERGERAM_VO

They're located in different states -- but two school districts in the connecticut river valley may merge into one. Members of the Essex North Supervisory Union in Canaan, Vermont have formed a steering committee with representatives of new hampshire's school administrative unit 7 in colebrook. The committee is examining five merger proposals. Each calls for a two-campus high school -- with academic and arts programs in colebrook and a vocational school in canaan. The proposals differ on what to do with the town's elementary schools. Enrollment in both districts has declined more than 20 percent over the last decade.

8} FLOODING11_VO

A malfunctioning water fountain -- washed high school basketball teams off the court in Burlington. School staff say they don't know how the fountain broke over the weekend, but it caused several thousand dollars-worth of damages to a corner of the gym and the girls' locker room. The school cancelled last night's game, and Rice will host -- rather than visit for today's game. Thursday's contest is up in the air.

9} BHS11_SOTVO

((3:47 - :54 - Nick Molander - Asst. Principal we want to get them back as soon as possible, we use this gym for all of our P.E. Classes, the estimate right now is hopefully by the end of the week.)) The court-floor is one of the oldest in the state. Administrators says if the affected portion needs to be replaced it could be quite expensive. Maintenance staff are checking with other schools across the state to see if they have any leftover material that might fit.

10} MADRIVERAM_VO

Most of the region saw a bit of snow last night -- and that's perfect timing for skiers. Mad River Glen is turning back the clocks today -- and is offering lift tickets at its 1949 price. Skiers can hit the slopes for just three dollars and fifty cents. The ski area is celebrating its 64th anniversary. Mad River received an inch of snow last night -- and four inches of snow during the day yesterday.

11} FORECAST

TODAY: AM light snow, mixing with light sleet & freezing rain. 1-2" accumulation. High: 27/35 Wind: Light TONIGHT: Light mix early, then light rain. Low: 27/35 (rising into the 30s) Wind: S 10-15 mph WEDNESDAY: AM light rain, then scattered PM showers. High: 37/45 Low: 20/28 Wind: SW 10-15 mph THURSDAY: Partly sunny. High: 25/35 Low: 15/25 FRIDAY: Partly sunny. High: 20s Low: 10/20 SATURDAY: Partly sunny. High: 20s Low: 10/20 SUNDAY: Partly sunny. High: 25/35 Low: 15/25 MONDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance for snow showers. High: 25/35

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