Vermont News by Megan Stewart

The cost of weatherizing homes for the bitter winter months just got a little bit cheaper.

Vermonters could have an easier time affording weatherization and home heating equipment this winter, as state Treasurer Jeb Spaulding announced that interest rates for loans aimed at helping residents prepare their homes for winter have significantly decreased.

With states across the country facing tighter budgets, Gov. Jim Douglas’ administration on Monday proposed merging two departments to create a singular Department of Economic and Community Development.

The administration seeks to increase efficiency and cut funds by merging the state Department of Economic Development and the Department of Housing and Community.

Vermonters met expectations of high voter turnout last Tuesday, flocking to the polls in numbers not seen since former President Bill Clinton was elected 16 years ago.
 
On Tuesday, the Elections and Campaign Finance division of Vermont's State Department published its report on this year's voter turnout as well as complete election results.
 
Over 66 percent of all eligible voters actually cast their votes, or about 326,822 people. An estimated 30 percent of the voters used absentee ballots.
 

In an election cycle dominated by change, Vermont incumbents at the state and national level kept a tight hold on their seats and Vermont voters kept up their independent voting streak.

Vermont's sole U.S. Representative, Peter Welch (D-Hartland), claimed nearly 85 percent of the vote, according to the early results. His closest competitor, independent Mike Bethel, earned less than 5 percent of the vote.