What's happening in Vermont news and politics this week? A former presidential candidate leading the charge to repeal Citizens United returns to Vermont. Chittenden County Senate candidates speed date you. And Gov. Peter Shumlin and Republican challenger Randy Brock face off in debate No. 2.

Got an event you want listed in next week's calendar? Email us by Friday.

Monday, September 24

• U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) will greet the press at Burlington International Airport at 10 a.m. before jetting to New York for the United Nations general assembly session beginning today.
• Gov. Peter Shumlin will be making a "campaign announcement" on the Statehouse steps this morning. What is it? Stayed tuned to Off Message to find out.
• U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) holds a press conference at the University of Vermont at noon to announce legislation he says will "curb the skyrocketing cost" of college education, which climbed 8.3 percent last year.
• At 7 p.m., the Burlington City Council will take up, among other things, whether to put a $100,000 down payment on buying the Winooski One hydroelectric plant.

Tuesday, September 25

• GOP candidate for U.S. Rep. Mark Donka is the guest on "Charlie, Ernie & Lisa in the Morning." 8:40 a.m. on WVMT 620 AM.
• Independent candidate for governor Emily Peyton is the guest on "Vermont Edition." Noon on Vermont Public Radio

Wednesday, September 26

•  Gubernatorial debate No. 2: Democrat Peter Shumlin and Republican Randy Brock face off live on WDEV's "The Mark Johnson Show." 9 a.m. on 96.1 FM.
• From 7 to 9 p.m., Brock headlines a forum on industrial wind at West Rutland High School.
• David Cobb, the founder of the Move to Amend campaign and a former presidential candidate, is the featured speaker at a Burlington forum billed as "Overturn Citizen's United! Challenge Corporate Rule." 7 p.m. at One Main Street (Union Station). 

Thursday, September 27

• Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger is the guest on "Charlie, Ernie & Lisa in the Morning." 8:10 on WMVT 620 AM.
• Republican candidate for attorney general Jack McMullen is the guest on "Vermont Edition." Noon on VPR. 

Friday, September 28

• State auditor candidates Vince Illuzzi (Republican) and Doug Hoffer (Democrat) debate live on "The Mark Johnson Show."  9 a.m. on WDEV-FM 96.1. Pocket-protectors and slide-rules optional.
• Secretary of State Jim Condos is the guest on "Vermont Edition," discussing the ballot-counting kerfuffle during the primary election.

Saturday, September 29

•  The League of Women Voters of the Champlain Valley is hosting an event called "Speed Date Your Senators," at which candidates for Chittenden County Senate will rotate through tables of eight to 10 voters to answer questions. So far, nine candidates have RSVP'd. 11 a.m. at Tuttle Middle School on Dorset Street in South Burlington.