Tuesday, January 6 BENNINGTON — A local manufacturing plant announced layoffs Monday for the fifth time in less than four months, bring the company's total cutback since October to about 200 employees. NSK Steering Systems America Human Resources Manager Gregory Laurin said 51 hourly employees and 20 salaried employees were laid off as of Dec.   Full Story

Wednesday, January 7 A Green Up reminder A Green Up friendly reminder to potential winners in 2009 student contests. Green Up Vermont wishes to remind adults they may hold the key to opportunity for young students they know who could enjoy and learn from entering Green Up's annual poster and writing contests.   Full Story

Wednesday, January 7 ALBANY, N.Y. — Electronic unemployment filing systems have crashed in at least three states in recent days amid an unprecedented crush of thousands of newly jobless Americans seeking benefits, and other states were adjusting their systems to avoid being next. About 4.5 million Americans are collecting jobless benefits, a 26-year high, so the Web sites and phone   Full Story

Wednesday, January 7 BENNINGTON — Another local manufacturing firm was forced to lay off employees Monday because of a slowdown in its aerospace division, but the company may see a boost in the second half of the year when a new project begins. May see boost later this year Vermont Composites, which specializes in crafting carbon fiber parts for commercial and military aircraft, as   Full Story

Wednesday, January 7 HANOVER, N.H. — The Mount Anthony Union High School varsity indoor track & field team competed in its third New Hampshire League Meet of the season on Saturday at Dartmouth College. The boys finished 7th out of 14 teams with a total of 16 points. The school record-setting relay team of Zach Bartlett, Jason Devens, Stephen Silber, and Ethan Burdick remained   Full Story

Saturday, January 3 NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — John Travolta's teenage son, Jett, died in the Bahamas after apparently suffering a seizure and hitting his head at his family's vacation home, authorities said Friday. A house caretaker found Jett, 16, unconscious in a bathroom late Friday morning.   Full Story