States “thought they were getting more doses and they planned for more doses and opened up to 65 and up, thinking they were getting more.”
Earlier this week, the White House said the federal government would soon release coronavirus vaccine doses stored for second shots, but governors expecting increased shipments discovered Friday that no national stockpile exists, and now they are demanding that President Donald Trump’s administration be held accountable for deceiving the American public.
“Governors were told repeatedly by [the Department of Health and Human Services] there was a strategic reserve of vaccines, and this week, the American people were told it’d be released to increase supply of vaccine,” tweeted Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) on Friday. “It appears now that no reserve exists. The Trump admin. must answer immediately for this deception.”
Local news briefs: Vermont food box program extended
Published: 12/22/2020 9:27:21 PM
Modified: 12/22/2020 9:27:19 PM
Vermont food box program extended; local company returns
A food distribution program aimed at helping farmers and people in need during the coronavirus pandemic has been extended through February.
The Vermont Foodbank told WCAX-TV it was able to extend the Farmers to Families Food Box program thanks to generous community support.
When the program started, the USDA awarded the contract to the Enosburg Falls-based Abbey Group, but the last two rounds went to out-of-state companies.
The Abbey Group will return to supply the food from area farmers.
New fish health laboratory in Randolph dedicated to biologist
Electric co-op offers high-speed internet to 4 towns
December 20, 2020 GMT
LEMPSTER, N.H. (AP) Nearly 900 New Hampshire Electric Cooperative customers in four towns now have access to high-speed internet service.
The broadband projects in Lempster, Clarksville, Colebrook and Stewartstown were supported by a $6.7 million grant from the state’s Connecting New Hampshire Emergency Broadband Program.
The project’s completion required the cooperation and support of numerous partners, all of whom worked under tight deadlines to have service available to members before Dec. 15, as required by the terms of the grant.
NHEC Broadband Executive Robert Cruickshank said the co-op would be working closely with towns, the state and federal government, contractors, and existing telecommunications providers as it builds out its broadband service. He also said the co-op will continue to seek out federal and state funding for construction.
NH Business Review
First 900 customers in Sullivan, Coos counties now have high-speed access
December 17, 2020
Tom Mongeon, chair of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative board, prepares to cut the ribbon marking the start of NHEC broadband service to the first 900 members of the co-op at an outdoor ceremony held Dec. 15 in Lempster.
Nearly 900 members of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative now have high-speed internet service, the first step in the utility’s eagerly awaited mission of bringing broadband to the state’s rural areas.
The co-op marked completion of two fiber-optic networks Dec. 15, providing members in four towns – Lempster, Clarksville, Colebrook and Stewartstown – with access to internet services with upload/download speeds as high as 1 gigabit per second.