This just in: A group concerned with the nation's nursing shortage has decided who the victors will be in next week's Republican Senate and House primaries.

At least it appears that way, considering the press release put out Tuesday by the Institute for Nursing Ethics, an educational program for nurses run by Readnour & Barone, a Rutland law firm.

The "institute" announced it will stage forums for Vermont's candidates for the Republican U.S. Senate and House on Sept. 14 at the Rutland Regional Medical Center. According to the release, the candidates invited to attend are Republican Senate candidate Richard Tarrant and Republican House candidate Martha Rainville.

A week later, the "institute will conduct a separate forum for Democratic House candidate Peter Welch at the Central Vermont Hospital in Berlin. Curiously, there's no mention of independent/Democratic Senate candidate Bernie Sanders in the release.

Excuse me, but Republican Senate candidates Greg Parke and Cris Ericson, as well as Republican House candidate Mark Shepard, might have a bone to pick with the "institute." Bernie might, too.

-- Sam Hemingway