Gov. Peter Shumlin is defending his decision to fill a vacancy on the Vermont Supreme Court before he leaves office at the beginning of January. Shumlin says it's clear that the Vermont Constitution gives him this authority.

A proposal to extend the trapping season for bobcat and otter in Vermont has galvanized a group of animal-welfare advocates who want to see the practice banned altogether. 

Governor Peter Shumlin has three months left in his final term in charge. But he still has some thoughts on the direction the state should take on key issues.