The Week Ahead: January 7-13, 2013
Here's what's happening in Vermont news and politics this week — the first of the 2013-14 legislative session. Got something newsworthy for next week's calendar? Email by Friday to submit.
Monday, January 7
- At 7:30 a.m., the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation hold a joint 2013 legislative breakfast at the Sheraton in South Burlington. Gov. Peter Shumlin and Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger will address the biz crowd.
- Gov. Shumlin holds a rare Monday morning press conference, 11 a.m. on the 5th floor of the Pavilion Building in Montpelier.
- At 1 p.m., Burlington Mayor Weinberger holds a press conference on an unannounced topic.
- The Burlington City Council meets at 7 p.m. On the agenda: a proposed city charter change banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines like the ones used in the Newtown school massacre. Also, Mayor Weinberger will ask the council to approve extending Paul Sisson's appointment as interim chief administrative officer while hizzoner takes more time to search for a permanent CAO.
Rest of the week after the break...
Tuesday, January 8
- At 1 p.m., Gov. Shumlin will attend a "site dedication ceremony" for the Green Mountain Psychiatric Care Center in Berlin, a 25-bed mental health facility that will partially replace the Vermont State Hospital.
- At 6 p.m., Burlington takes another stab at avoiding a lawsuit by approving a federally mandated plan to redistrict its wards when the City Council's Special Committee on Ward Redistricting meets in Contois Auditorium.
Wednesday, January 9
- It's opening day for the Legislature! The Senate convenes and is sworn in at 9:30 a.m. The House convenes and swears in members at 10.
- "The Mark Johnson Show" broadcasts live from the Statehouse starting at 9 a.m. Guests will include Gov. Shumlin and House Speaker Shap Smith, along with assorted other politicos Mark snags as they make their way to the cafeteria. Listen on WDEV 96.1 FM.
- At noon, the Vermont Workers Center's "Put People First" campaign holds a big Statehouse rally to unveil its "People's Agenda."
- It's not all state politics. Live at 5:25 p.m., Burlington City Councilors Bram Kranichfeld (D-Ward 2) and Chip Mason (D-Ward 5) take your calls live on CCTV Channel 17.
Thursday, January 10
- At 11:30 a.m. in the Senate chamber, Vermont's sole statewide Republican — Lt. Gov. Phil Scott — will be sworn in for a second term.
- At 11:45 a.m., Gov. Shumlin attends the Former Governors Luncheon at the Capitol Plaza in Montpelier. At 1:30 p.m., the guv is sworn in for a second term and delivers his inaugural address in the House chamber in Montpelier. Also being sworn in are State Treasurer Beth Pearce, Secretary of State Jim Condos, Auditor of Accounts Doug Hoffer and Attorney General Bill Sorrell. Watch it live on vpt.org or listen live at vpr.net.
- Want to hear the conservative perspective on this important political week? Hear it live at 5:25 p.m. when CCTV Channel 17 airs "True North Reports."
Friday, January 11
- At 8:15 a.m., the Burlington Business Association holds a business summit at the Echo Lake Aquarium and Science Center in Burlington. Shumlin is a guest speaker.
- Vermont's "Irene Recovery Office" has organized an all-day conference at Norwich University in Northfield to assess the state's ongoing recovery from Tropical Storm Irene. The fun starts at 9 a.m.
- Also at 9 a.m., "The Mark Johnson Show"'s guest is Lt. Gov. Scott.
- At noon, Gov. Shumlin is the guest on Vermont Public Radio's "Vermont Edition."
- The Vermont Energy Generation Siting Policy Commission — the panel Gov. Shumlin created to deliberate on where energy projects such as wind towers should and shouldn't go — will hold its first "deliberative" session today from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Department of Public Service in Montpelier.
- As always, catch all the week's politics with Stew Ledbetter and crew on "Vermont This Week," 7:30 p.m. on Vermont Public Television.
Saturday, January 12
Sunday, January 13
- "You Can Quote Me" airs at 11 a.m. on WCAX-TV.
- In case you missed it, watch the rebroadcast of "Vermont This Week" at 11:30 a.m. on VPT.