The Week Ahead: April 22-28, 2013

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Happy Earth Day, you hippies!

Here's what's happening in Vermont news and politics this week. Got a newsworthy event for next week's calendar? Email by Friday to submit.

Monday, April 22

• At 9 a.m., the Vermont Commission on Women hosts a panel discussion on paid sick day legislation at UVM's John Dewey Memorial Lounge. WCAX's Kristin Carlson moderates.
• At 10 a.m., two Vermonters — Alyson Eastman, president of Book-Ends Associates in Orwell, and Megan Smith, commissioner of the Department of Tourism & Marketing — will testify before U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy's Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C. The topic: the newly unveiled immigration reform bill. Watch the webcast.
• U.S. Rep. Peter Welch is holding round table talks in Waterbury (at 10 a.m.) and Wilmington (at 2 p.m.) with officials from the federal Small Business Administration. The goal? To hear from businesses devastated by Tropical Storm Irene.
• At 6 p.m., the Burlington City Council holds a budget work session in city hall (followed by another on Thursday at 6 p.m.)
• At 6:30 p.m., Vermont Supreme Court Associate Justice (and former VT Freedom to Marry head) Beth Robinson gives a talk about the relationship between human stories and the legal system. See it at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library in Williston.  

Rest of the week after the break...

Tuesday, April 23

• At 10 a.m., the House takes up H.54, a bill related to the ridiculous number of exemptions to the state's public records act. 
• At 10:30 a.m., the Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on the pot decrim bill.
• On the Senate calendar today: S.165, a bill that would allow deputy state's attorneys to unionize.
• Starting this morning — and continuing all week — the House Judiciary Committee will take testimony on the Senate-passed physician-assisted death with digni-cide bill.

Wednesday, April 24

• "Wind turbine syndrome?" At 10:30 a.m., the Senate Health and Welfare Committee takes testimony on the supposed health effects associated with industrial wind power projects. 

Thursday, April 25

• At 8 a.m., Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger is the guest on "Charlie, Ernie and Lisa," WVMT 620 AM.
• At 9 a.m., the House Judiciary Committee re-takes up the question of whether criminal investigative files should be exempt from the state's public records law.
• At 11 a.m., Gov. Peter Shumlin holds his weekly press conference at the Statehouse ceremonial office.
• Sometime this afternoon, the Senate Government Operations Committee takes up S.131, a bill to divest state retirement funds from companies that extract, refine and produce fossil fuels.
• At 6 p.m., the Burlington City Council holds a budget work session in city hall.

Friday, April 26

• At 8:30 a.m., European consultants from Germany and Belgium will meet with state lawmakers for an energy forum.
• At noon, Congressman Welch will be on Vermont Public Radio's "Vermont Edition." Listen live.
• Pundit-palooza: Watch Stew Ledbetter and crew on "Vermont This Week," 7:30 p.m. on Vermont Public Television.

Saturday, April 27

 

Sunday, April 28

• Rebroadcast of "Vermont This Week" at 11:30 a.m. on VPT.