Vermont sugarmakers to discuss insect problem at annual meeting Thursday. Vermont sugarmakers say their industry's enjoying good times in general, but there are still some worries: Insects.

Internet phone service Vonage to pay $3M and issue refunds to end investigation by 32 states. Internet phone service provider Vonage Holdings Corp. has agreed to pay $3 million to 32 states to settle an investigation into some of its business practices.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Gay marriage advocates on Monday launched a campaign to try to overturn California's same-sex marriage ban, hoping to become the first U.S. state to convince voters to approve gay people's right to wed.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some of the world's largest financial firms on Monday urged a top U.S. lawmaker not to pursue big bank break-up legislation, an idea attracting interest in Congress and causing alarm on Wall Street.

NC special deputy attorney general Brill nominated by Obama to Federal Trade Commission. North Carolina's consumer protection chief for Attorney General Roy Cooper has been picked to join the Federal Trade Commission.

Same-sex couples say 'no legitimate' reason for excluding them from feds marriage definition. Gay married couples suing the government over a federal law that doesn't recognize same-sex unions say there is "no legitimate or plausible" reason for having a federal definition of marriage that excludes gay couples.

DC board says 'no' to putting gay marriage ban on ballot, citing human rights law. A measure to let voters decide whether to ban same-sex marriages in D.C. cannot go on the ballot because it would violate a city human rights law, the Board of Elections and Ethics ruled Tuesday.

Police: Vermont man took joy ride in stolen bus, posted video of it on YouTube. What possesses a man to steal his ex-employer's bus, take it for a three-state joy ride and then post a video of the lark on YouTube?

Intrawest selling Colorado's Copper Mountain ski resort to Powdr Corp.. Intrawest ULC has agreed to sell its Copper Mountain ski resort in Colorado to Powdr Corp.

Somali pirates attack US-flagged Maersk Alabama for second time, but guards repel attack. Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday for the second time in seven months, though private guards on board the U.S.-flagged ship repelled the attack with gunfire and a high-decibel noise device.

PERKASIE, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Carin Froehlich pegs her laundry to three clotheslines strung between trees outside her 18th-century farmhouse, knowing that her actions annoy local officials who have asked her to stop.

PERKASIE, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Carin Froehlich pegs her laundry to three clotheslines strung between trees outside her 18th-century farmhouse, knowing that her actions annoy local officials who have asked her to stop.

Somali pirates attack US-flagged Maersk Alabama for 2nd time, guards repel attack with gunfire. Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday for the second time in seven months and were thwarted by private guards on board the U.S.-flagged ship who fired off guns and a high-decibel noise device.

Vermont and 7 other states share $4 million in green jobs stimulus funding. Vermont and seven other states will share nearly $4 million in economic stimulus funding to support a green jobs program.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York state's top court ruled on Thursday that public officials have the authority to recognize out-of-state gay marriages and pushed state lawmakers to decide whether to legalize same-sex marriage.

In narrow ruling, NY's top court OKs some government benefits for married same-sex couples. New York's top court ruled Thursday that gay couples legally married elsewhere are entitled to some government benefits, boosting stalled legislative efforts to legalize same-sex marriage.

Merchant sea captain held by pirates, Navy rescue crew reunited in Virginia. A merchant sea captain who was captured and held by Somali pirates in April reunited Thursday with the U.S. Navy crew and captain who were part of his daring rescue, thanking them for saving him.

Federal statistics show 136 worker deaths in New England in 2008, down from previous year. New England recorded fewer work-related deaths last year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday, a trend that could be at least partly attributable to the economic downturn.

Homeland Security to give 'stamp of approval' to firms volunteering for immigration checks. The Homeland Security Department will give a seal of approval to businesses volunteering to use an electronic program to check workers' immigration status.

Canadians in Stanstead and Americans across the border in Derby Line, Vermont once lived in harmony as one community, mostly ignoring the imaginary line that separates them.