The U.S. House has given its strong approval to legislation that could lower flood insurance rates for hundreds of Vermont homeowners.

The proposal also eliminates the need for some homeowners to have flood insurance.

After paying out billions of dollars in claims in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, the federal flood insurance program faced a $24 billion deficit in 2012. Congress that year passed legislation that dealt with this deficit in two ways.

Canadian regulators have announced that they will allow the reversal of a pipeline that some worry could bring tar sands oil from Alberta to Montreal.

With the shooting deaths of 20 first-graders in Newtown, Conn., still fresh on lawmakers’ minds, Linda Waite-Simpson figured the time was right last year for a debate about gun control here in Vermont.

The Essex lawmaker focused on what she thought were reasonable concessions – things like background checks on gun sales, and bringing state law in line with federal statutes. But as Waite-Simpson would quickly learn, the Vermont Statehouse is bleak territory for advocates of gun control.

The New England Center for Circus Arts has been teaching and inspiring people of all ages since 1977.

Now, the Brattleboro-based center looks toward the future, having just purchased three acres of land to build a custom-designed training facility.

VPR's Neal Charnoff speaks with NECCA Artistic Director Elsie Smith about the center and about this weekend's Circus Spectacular performances.

Vermont lawmakers are spending this week at home for Town Meeting.  The break marks the half-way point of the legislative session.

VPR’s Bob Kinzel talked with Vermont Edition about where key pieces of legislation are currently in the lawmaking process.

On Tuesday, Burlington voters approved three resolutions that changed the city charter regarding gun laws.

They give police the power to seize guns when there is reasonable suspicion of domestic violence, ban firearms on the property of institutions where liquor is served and would require all guns to be under lock and key when not in possession of their owner.

Vernon residents met Wednesday for a third and final installment of a town meeting that began on Monday evening. The town is grappling with the unknown impact of losing Vermont Yankee, its biggest tax payer and employer.

After lengthy debate Tuesday, voters made deep cuts in the municipal budget and eliminated the town’s police department. The school budget was defeated by Australian ballot. On Wednesday, several people said they had heard that a petition was being drawn up, calling for a vote to restore the police department.