“When John McClaughry says we’ve got a fuel tax, a carbon tax, I think John’s correct,” Sen. Mark MacDonald says.
Senators agree with McClaughry: Clean Heat Standard is carbon tax
Contractor fraud registry already exists – but link is dead
If the State of Vermont really wants to fight contractor fraud, it might start with reactivating the link to a registry of fraudulent contractors.
VT Water Cooler: ‘White power’ bomber charged / Homeschooling grows / Newport scam sentencing
A man charged with making a bomb in Wilder is a white power advocate, police say.
House modifies end-of-life drug law, expands legal protections to non-citizen children, public servants
The Vermont House expanded legal protections for non-citizen children and public officials this week, while also opening the door for a bill next year allowing civil lawsuits of Vermont police.
No Zuckerbucks for VT local elections in 2022
112 Vermont communities received Zuckerbucks for local elections in 2020.
Mazur: ‘Voting mules’ cast 5 million ballots
A film by Dinesh D’Souza claims ‘voting mules’ were paid for harvesting and delivering millions of ballots in the 2020 election in key battleground states.
School bus hits car / Teen dies after gym class collapse / 70-year-old faces child sex charges
Why did a 14-year-old girl collapse in gym class and die shortly thereafter?
Health educator asks Legislature to weigh cost/benefit of VT pandemic response
A health educator from Cabot wants the Legislature’s government accountability committee to weigh the pros and cons of Vermont’s pandemic response.
Bernie Sanders On BLM Founder: ‘No One Should Get Rich Enough Off Politics To Buy Multiple Homes’
Buying a $6 million mansion is an “outrage,” said the junior senator from Vermont from one of his three homes.
Luebke: there’s a Fox in Vermont’s Election Hen House
The Vermont Secretary of State’s office “found no problem” with a Progressive House Caucus leader opening sealed ballot bags on Election Night, a Pawlet Republican says.
The Case for Easter
History and logic are on the side of the most otherwise fantastic event in human history.
Prisons re-opened to in-person visits
Visitors and volunteers will once again be allowed to make in-person visitors to incarcerated Vermonters.
$15 minimum wage, sports betting, film marketing in economic development bill
A grab bag of economic development ideas has been tossed by the Vermont House to solons of the Vermont Senate.
Former firefighter and ‘agroforestry’ student named UVM Truman Scholar
A young former firefighter from Franklin is one of 58 Truman Scholars nationwide.
VT Water Cooler: Beansie’s reopens / musical chairs in Burlington schools / homeless hotel stressing police / lower net metering for solar?
Constant calls to Berlin’s homeless hotel is stretching police resources – that headline and others from VT media.
Fury over transgender killing
Following a murder Tuesday in Morristown, transgender advocates are angry at the “exterminationist narrative” they say is employed by by some media, political candidates and legislators.
Roll call! S265, criminal threatening bill passes House
Those voting yes believe increased levels of conflict between citizens and school board members and other public officials across the country, particularly in regard to Critical Race Theory (CRT) and controversial Covid policies, warrants increased protections for elected officials from threats of violence, above those of ordinary citizens.
Police reports: fire, bomb, fatal car crash, robbery
From Westford to Wilder, Vermont’s first responders were busy protecting property and lives.
Double-digit inflation in March / Walgreens rations baby formula
Inflation hit double digits in March, and a major retailer starts rationing baby formula.
BLM flag to come down at Randolph schools
A new flag policy passed Randolph area school board means the Black Lives Matter flag must come down.
Dame: Dems, Progs think parents are the problem
House Bill H.659 would allow elementary school children to take hormone blockers and other gender drugs against the will of their parents.
Police lawsuit bill goes to House floor
A bill to study the pros and cons of stripping police of protection from civil rights lawsuits will go to House floor tomorrow.
Senate committee nixes free bus fare, e-bike subsidy in House transportation bill
Subsidies for e-bikes and free bus fare are out of the Senate version of the House Transportation bill.
VT Water Cooler: Welch in Eastern Europe / Covid-19 on rise / new Burlington High School plan faces questions / helping people who ‘look like us’
Building a new high school in Burlington is the $300 million (and maybe more) question facing Queen City residents.
McClaughry: Senate bill attacks tuition choice
S219 puts tight guardrails on tuition choice, especially to “egregiously religious schools.”
Morgan of Milton to run for new Senate seat
A West Milton House member is running for the newly-created Senate seat, “Chittenden North.”
Hunters harvested 5,400 turkeys last year – season starts April 23
Hunters put 140,000 servings of locally-sourced, free-range turkey on the table last year.
Docs to senators: add psychosis to cannabis warning label
Cannabis psychosis should be included on the warning label of marijuana products sold legally in Vermont, Vermont doctors say.
Suspect charged in Morristown stabbing death
A transient man has been charged with the second-degree murder in Morristown of a Hinesburg man.
Chick-Fil-A cancelled at Randolph high school
A Chick-Fil-A fundraiser for the Randolph High School baseball team has been cancelled “because of the rancor this choice stirred in our communities.”
Thayer: Hormone blocker bill means irreversible sterilization of children
Under a controversial bill, transgender drug therapy leading to sterilization (according to a leading children’s hospital) would be available to children without parental consent.
Criminal threatening bill makes legislators “more equal” than fellow citizens, lawmaker warns
Opposition to the criminal threatening bill took an Orwellian turn on the House floor today.
Minor league seats at big league prices / college builds housing / Rutland SA won’t run
The Lake Monsters unveil new luxury suites at eye-popping prices.
Senate committee ponders adding motor fuel to Clean Heat Standard
“It’s not a clean heat thing, it’s a clean driving thing,” Sen. Mark MacDonald said.
Brook: consumers need more recycling info
From the consumer’s point of view, recycling in Vermont leaves many important questions unanswered.
Babylon Bee: AOC Drafts Legislation Opposing Ghost Guns – ‘Ghosts Don’t Even Need Guns Since They’re Dead Already’
Ghosts are scary enough already, AOC claims.
Jr. Iron Chef makes sizzling return
For kids who don’t do sports, Jr. Iron Chef is the biggest competition of the year.
Woman pleads innocent to making child torture video / 109 MPH in Putney / crack bust
A Venezuelan woman filmed herself torturing a young boy to fulfill the sick fantasies of a paying customer in Burlington, police say.
Messy Middlebury voter rolls suggest larger problem, EAI says
After returning home to places like Singapore and Egypt, former Middlebury College students voted in the 2020 general election.
Steelhead trout jumping now on Willoughby River
See migrating trout jump upstream as you watch from a bridge in Orleans.
Shanghai Covid outbreak / state pays churches to vax members / no guilty verdicts in FBI-led kidnapping of governor / Soros writes more checks
National and international news about Covid outbreak in Shanghai and top leaders in the Biden administration.
Hansen: Clean Heat Standard increases carbon emissions and class divide
The Clean Heat Standard penalizes the already chronically-abused Vermont middle class.
Senate pension reform keeps defined benefit
The Senate chose to keep defined benefits in the pension reform bill.
Criminal threatening bill advances without gun seizure
House Judiciary last week discussed, but didn’t act on, making the ‘criminal threatening’ bill a felony to allow easier gun seizure.
VT Underground: The Great Tribulation
VT Undergound is waiting for the final gavel to fall.
VT Watercooler: Child porn bust / Bennington drug raid / pot store license applications / Nolan nets $156K / good year for sugaring
Another bookkeeper embezzling case – and other hot headlines from Vermont media.
Burlington gender ID webinar goes dark, social media comments referred to police
Controversial Burlington school webinar is no longer available for public viewing.
Holyoke MA man, 18, indicted for fentanyl dealing / alleged kidnapper found in Yellowstone
Indictment of an out-of-state teenager selling death in Bennington.
Kerrin: VT sex trade tied to drug gangs, and it’s everywhere
The City of Burlington won’t acknowledge this charter change sets the stage for prostitution decriminalization statewide.
Contagious bird flu strikes Vermont
Avian flu has claimed the life of a bald eagle in North Hero and sickened another in Shelburne.
McClaughry: Bill McKibben backtracks on nuclear
A decade ago climate activists like Bill McKibben were hair-on-fire to close Vermont’s largest producer of carbon-free electricity. Now the 350.org thought-leader is having second thoughts.
Lawyer may challenge Sarah George for Chittenden state’s attorney
Ted Kenney earned more Democratic County Committee votes than Sarah George in 2017.
Moran plant gets makeover / Amtrak terrorist watchlist / Rail trail progress / hazing at Norwich / Burlington eviction, runoff voting bills advance / National Guard to Europe
Godspeed the Vermont National Guard as members deploy to Europe. Burlington one step closer to making life even MORE difficult for landlords. Hazing at Norwich? These headlines and others from VT media
Sheriff will cancel town policing contracts if cops lose immunity
If Windham County sheriff’s deputies lose qualified immunity from lawsuits, 14 towns will lose police coverage.
Nolan, Malloy oppose Biden relaxation of Covid restrictions for immigrants
Two Republicans running for U.S. Senate agree Biden rescinding Covid restrictions on southern border is a BIG mistake.
What’s going on with the Vermont media? Two veteran journos discuss
Two longtime Vermont news reporters discuss the current state of journalism in the Green Mountain State.
Secret Service agents bribed by con men
Eye-opening headlines you probably won’t read in the mainstream national media, compiled by CLG.
Police: Woman found growling under porch
A woman under the influence was first heard, then seen, growling underneath a porch in Montpelier.
Bananas: Wash your brain for good personal grooming
JB describes many helpful techniques for a good brainwashing. You’ll feel so much better when it’s done.
Dodge runs for Caledonia County Senate seat
A longtime opponent of climate change restrictions is running for the lone Caledonia County senate seat.
VT Water Cooler: New invasive fish on Lake Champlain / land use regs impact housing crisis / Health network wants 10% rate hike / Condos denies voting irregularities
There’s a new invasive fish in Lake Champlain. That headline and others from Vermont media.
Legislature considers Burlington prostitution decrim today
Burlington’s prostitution charter change comes before the House Government Operations Committee at 1 pm today.
VT Underground: What is a woman?
This used to be an easy question….
Letters: Pro-Prop 5 GOP lawmakers must go
For these two letter writers, abortion should be a non-starter in the Legislature and in the ‘clinics.’
Gender ID birth certificate bill signed by Scott, Abenaki tax relief, City of Essex Junction approved by Legislature
Gov. Scott yesterday signed into law changes in legislative districts and gender changes on Vermont birth certificates.
Woman remains missing, police issue new photo
Missing since March 25, Mary Reid was last seen at her home in Searsburg.
Burlington educators ‘eager to share’ gender identity experiences with students, Ingraham reports
News coverage of Burlington’s gender ID education program has gone national.
Hansen: facilitate, don’t force energy transition
Who benefits from the forced transition to electric vehicles? Who loses?
Honeymooners rescued from snowy Mt. Mansfield
Scary start for a couple of young newlyweds.
Kesick Swamp protected forever
Scenic land in the family since Revolutionary War days will stay conserved and protected from development.
McLinden: Qualified immunity protects you and me
Qualified Immunity is not intended to give police a free pass in violating the rights of others. It is intended to protect officers from a flood of frivolous lawsuits that would make it difficult and potentially financially ruinous to perform their jobs.
Nolan, Malloy differ over Supreme Court nominee
The two Republicans seeking the nomination for U.S. Senate take different approaches to Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown-Jackson.
VT Water Cooler: Brattleboro next home of juvy hall? / Don’t look now, Covid increasing / 2021 opioid deaths top 200 for first time ever / Challenge to Sarah George?
Sarah George, the state’s attorney law and order conservatives love to hate, may face a challenge in Chittenden County elections this year.
Pfizer hires 600 to process vax injury reports
Will Pfizer come clean on the number and details of vax injury reports? Will the CDC insist they do? Also….in war, the truth is always the first casualty. Which side is telling the truth? Are either?
Asked ‘What is a woman,’ Gov. Scott takes the 5th
“I just don’t know, I haven’t contemplated that,” Gov. Phil Scott replied.
Keelan: a second home in the mountains
It’s not for sale, and the $10 million annual upkeep of this summer home doesn’t include the security service. But that three-hole golf course is really something.
School changes records to reflect student’s gender identity
An Essex school changed its registrar records to reflect a student’s chosen gender identity, according to the school district’s annual report.
Cops investigate Springfield gunfire
Shots fired in Springfield. Helicopter searching for missing man in St. J. Westminster burglar shot AND arrested. Alleged sex criminal commits suicide.
VT Underground
Just so I understand….
Thayer: Budget growth of $1 billion in just one year unsustainable
The Democratic leadership’s priorities need major adjustment. Stop trying to be all things to all people.
Exit sign theft epidemic hits UVM
UVM students are stealing residence hall exit signs this year. They can be returned, no questions asked, tomorrow. But after that….
Dogs on trails: leashed or unleashed?
High energy dogs hate to be leashed. That’s great for those dogs….not always so great for other dogs, or their owners.
VT Watercooler: ERs flood, surgeries postponed / Drugged driver hits schoolbus / college hazing
Hot headlines from around the Vermont media.
107 MPH in Berkshire / inmate suicide
Excessive speeding and an apparent death by suicide in a St. Johnsbury prison lead the police news today.
Suing police, threatening public officials, prostitution, and end-of-life drug bills in House committees this week
Suing a cop, engaging in prostitution, and ending one’s own life legally will become less difficult from a legal perspective if Senate-approved bills now in the House become law.
Dame: Dems in Legislature wants to control flagpole in Barre
The Donut Democrats continue to prove they have lost the middle by putting ideology ahead of constituents and true freedom and unity.
Former nurse gets 27 years for sick torture video of enslaved child
A Burlington man and former nurse ordered a custom-made torture video of an enslaved child.
Fernandez: Bernie at large and considered dangerous
Bernie’s idol was the early 20th century demagogue who said, ‘patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.’
McClaughry: Legislature pushes big changes in last six weeks of biennium
The Legislature is moving fast on big items with longterm consequences for Vermont property owners and taxpayers.
Bernie, you still alive? New owner of Twitter keeps forgetting
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Elon Musk have a history of tangling on Twitter. Now the Tesla owner is the biggest stockholder in the social media platform.
Legislature seeks universal school meals money
The feds started paying for universal school meals during the pandemic. That money is going away, and some in the Vermont Legislature want to keep the programs going. Who pays?
Water Cooler: Rest area schedules cut, truck crashes into laundromat
With all the federal $$ flowing, apparently there’s not enough to keep popular highway rest areas open as often.
Burlington schools ‘grooming’ young children to change gender identity, columnist says
A Substack columnist, with help from a small army of volunteers, is publishing information about the Burlington School District’s gender identity education program.
Barre BLM flag war continues in Legislature
The battle for the Black LIves Matter movement – or at least its flag – continues in the Vermont Legislature.
Dodge: Why change the Vermont Constitution?
Prop 5 is an open door for ideologies about multi-gender marriage, surrogacy, gender changes, insurance coverage, education, sex trafficking, competitive sports, and healthcare to name a few.
Klar: ‘Environmental justice’ bill creates More Imperfect Union
A Senate bill redistributes the cost of environmental pollution from the city mice to the country mice. Because, Vermont’s systemic racism.
Ryan: pot store burglaries may be cartel power play
If/when Vermont legal pot stores are hit by robbers, Vermont law enforcement should take note of lessons learned in Northern California: the thieves might be Sinaloa cartel operatives trying to rub out the competition.
Dad who police say assaulted infant daughter charged with Murder #2
A Derby man who police say assaulted his month-old daughter has been charged with second degree murder because her death 15 years later was due to injuries received.
Snowmobile racer, inmate die over weekend
A snowmobile race at Suicide Six turned deadly for one of its racers. And another inmate found dead in a State of Vermont prison cell.
Robot dog barks Covid warning in China / Food rationing in Spain / Goodbye Psaki, hello again Sarah Palin
Food rationing in Europe begins.
