This week started off with a big business story: IBM’s deal to offload its Essex Junction plant to Global Foundaries. Also this week, we learned how the rules the state is writing for the new GMO labeling law, the well-known Rutland police chief announced his retirement, and Vermont earned an average grade for the quality of its public infrastructure. And finally, Allen Prue was found guilty of the murder of a popular school teacher, Melissa Jenkins.
These were some of the voices in the news this week:
Examining IBM’s Deal With GlobalFoundries
(Gov. Peter Shumlin) “GlobalFoundries is in the chip-making business; research and development will remain in Vermont; manufacturing will remain in Vermont.”
(Tech analyst Peter Cohan) “IBM is shrinking in a growing market. They’re following other people who’ve taken the lead. So it’s hard to see profitable industries where IBM is a leader.”
Know Your GMOs: 2016 Labeling Law
(Assistant Attorney General Todd Daloz) “If you want to be in compliance with the law you’re going to put it on the same part of the package where the nutrition facts label and the ingredients list already live. So that somebody who’s interested in getting this information knows where to look; it’s easy to find. But it’s not a warning.”
Rutland Police Chief James Baker To Take New Job
(Rutland Police Chief James Baker) “I’ve been public servant for 40 years, and for the last 20 years I’ve been in high-profile jobs. It’s time to get out of the spotlight for awhile.”
Vermont Earns 'C' For Quality Of Infrastructure
(Amanda Hanaway-Carrente, a Vermont civil engineer) “Obviously not everybody is excited about a C report card, but the problem is we’re right now as a country dealing with aging infrastructure.”
(Rutland mayor Chris Louras) “What’s cost effective is replacing an 1873 water main rather than repairing it four different times.”
Prue Found Guilty In Murder Of Melissa Jenkins
(Caledonian Record reporter Todd Wellington) “When the jury forewoman read the guilty verdict s, everyone was trying not to hoot and holler but they turned to each other and hugged and cried and police shook hands and people patted each other on the backs. And all the while this was going on, Allen Prue just sat at the defense table and hung his head.”
