
	Man pleads guilty to killing professor RUTLAND -- A man accused in the 2008 slaying of a Castleton State College professor pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Monday, admitting he bludgeoned her with a frying pan in a fight overheard by neighbors. Full Story News in Brief Man sentenced for child porn BURLINGTON (AP) -- A Vermont man has been sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for transporting child pornography over the Internet in what the judge called one of the most egregious cases of child pornography he’s ever seen. Full Story Candidates for RI gov support gay marriage PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Both Democrats running for governor and former Sen. Full Story Dartmouth to lay off 38, more in April CONCORD, N.H. -- Dartmouth College will lay off 38 non-teaching employees now and a similar number in April to help cut the school’s budget by $100 million over two years, President Jim Yong Kim said Monday. Full Story News in Brief Souter to speak at Harvard’s commencement CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Full Story Criminal investigation launched in Conn. power plant blast MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- Authorities launched a criminal investigation Monday into the cause of an explosion that killed five people at a power plant under construction, saying they couldn’t rule out negligence. Full Story Blast at Conn. power plant kills 5 MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- An explosion that sounded like a sonic boom blew out walls of an unfinished power plant and set off a fire during a test of natural gas lines Sunday, killing at least five workers and injuring a dozen or more. Full Story Mass. Guard unit returns from Iraq TAUNTON, Mass. (AP) -- The Massachusetts National Guard is holding a welcome home ceremony this weekend for about 165 soldiers who have spent the past year in Iraq. Full Story News in Brief City wins "downtown" designation MONTPELIER (AP) -- The city of South Burlington has won a designation that could mean tax breaks for it. Full Story News in Brief Vt., NH schools rank high for Peace Corps grads CONCORD, N. Full Story N.H. ethics panel writes warning to lawmaker CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire’s Legislative Ethics Committee meets Thursday to discuss issuing a letter of caution to a state lawmaker accused of using improper influence to win a railroad lease. Full Story Drug firms’ use of free samples questioned MONTPELIER -- Vermont, already a leader in the effort to cut health care costs by reining in drug companies’ marketing, could become the first state to require the firms to report how much they spend providing free samples of their wares to physicians. Full Story Vermont in Brief Retired state police captain to chase truants SPRINGFIELD (AP) -- A retired Vermont State Police captain is the new truant officer for the Springfield schools. Full Story Smart: No role in plotting husband’s death in 1990 BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y. (AP) -- Even after 20 years, the New Hampshire school aide convicted of persuading her teenage lover to kill her husband insists she had nothing to do with plotting the death. Full Story New England in Brief 2 Maine snowmobilers survive plunge into lake OAKLAND, Maine (AP) -- An Oakland mother and son are safe after plunging into a frigid lake on snowmobiles. Full Story