BRATTLEBORO — A new state law says Vermont schools must teach ways to prevent sexual abuse as part of their health education program.

The law passed by the Legislature this year says Vermont’s public schools will be expected to play a greater role in preventing and reporting child sexual abuse.

The Department of Education and the Department for Children and Families are working together to give sex abuse prevention the same importance as other health topics.

DCF Commissioner Steve Dale tells the Brattleboro Reformer schools have been working to prevent sexual abuse for years, but the new law makes it mandatory.

The new law was written partially in response to the 2008 rape and murder of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett in Randolph.



Reward boosted

for arson culprits

BARRE — Vermont State Police say the reward for information about who set a Memorial Day fire in Barre is now up to $12,500.

The Preservation Trust of Vermont has added $2,500 to the reward pot, bolstering $5,000 being offered by the Vermont Arson Tip Award and $5,000 being offered by the bank building’s owner, Barre Mayor Thomas Lauzon.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has joined the probe into the fire, which gutted the vacant century-old building recently purchased by Lauzon, causing more than $200,000 in damage.



Bridge linking

two towns opens

MIDDLESEX — A new bridge linking Middlesex and Moretown is now open.

Vermont Agency of Transportation officials say the bridge on Route 2 west of Montpelier replaces a 1928 truss bridge and has 4-foot shoulders to give more space to bicyclists and pedestrians.

Now that it’s in place, the state plans to remove a one-lane temporary bridge that had been used during construction.

That work will continue through the summer.