A look at the wreckage

The Facebook page Jeffrey Wennberg set up for local relief efforts directed at Hanamaki has added some photos from neighboring areas to Rutland's Japanese sister city.

The Finance Committee voted unanimously last week to recomment transferring $2,500 from the Rutland-Ishidoriya Student Exchange to the newly created Hanamaki Relief Fund. The full board is expected to act on the recommendation tonight.

Looking ahead

While there is nothing on the agenda for tonight's Board of Aldermen meeting about the Giorgetti revote, board president David Allaire said he plans to at least bring it up and that the board may try to schedule the vote tonight.

The vote would have to be warned 30 days in advance, which puts us at least into early May. See tomorrow's Herald for full coverage.

We've got a revote

The petition for a reconsideration of the Giorgetti Arena bond has been certified, which means Rutland is headed for a special election at the end of May.

There are a couple wrinkles to this, so be sure to check out the full story in tomorrow's Rutland Herald.

Holding pattern

They're still checking signatures at City Hall.

Meanwhile, this can serve to summarize my thoughts on the main issue of the day.

Up in the air

I just got off the phone with Rep. Welch. The House, as expected, voted today to end the subsidy that maintains passenger service at the Rutland airport. The bill now goes to a conference committee between the House and Senate, and Welch said he still has cause for hope as the Senate wants to keep the subsidy.

The bill also includes an anti-union provision which, according to wire reports, has drawn a veto threat from the White House.

Full coverage will appear in tomorrow's paper.