The feds are cracking down on legal gun purchases used in a crime in another state.
Former Senate candidate Mermel joins EAI board
A former Senate candidate, a professor, and a conservative grassroots organizer have joined the Ethan Allen Institute board of directors.
Block heater causes oil delivery truck fire
A fully engulfed fire threatened to spread to nearby trucks.
Hall: Rutland GOP swept Senate seats by “leaving no stones unturned”
The Republican National Committee chose to bombard people like me with 5 or 6 emails per day asking for money. This happened every day of the week to the end. But the worst of it was, no one answered any of MY messages. Not one.
Man convicted of child sex assault dies in prison
A man serving a 40 years-to-life sentence for repeated sexual assault on a child under age 10 died in the state prison in Springfield this morning.
Sportsmen’s group conserves Rutland County wetlands
Four acres on Lily Pond in Poultney has been acquired by an arm of the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs.
Siegel: ‘Brave enough to lose’ race for governor, now focused on issues
To lose is hard. To walk into the fire with your eyes wide open is hard.
Watercooler: Attempted child abduction
Burlington police are investigating an attempted abduction of a child walking home from school.
NEK mom: ‘breaking through one-sided propaganda’
I contribute to try to be optimistic that freedom will win in the end. I don’t believe most human beings want to live under constant lockdowns and surveillance.
Drug raids on Valley Street today
A street infamous for drug addiction, crime and shootings is being raided by several police agencies today.
Bananas: As suicides increase, help is on the way from Clinton Foundation
With each passing year the hashtag “#ClintonBodyCount” has been trending upward.
Leahy, Sanders vote for gay marriage bill, oppose comprehensive religious protections
All three Vermont members of Congress voted for a bill making gay marriage the law of the land and leaving religious groups and individuals open to legal and government action.
Sex offender pleads innocent to registry failure
By federal law, sex offenders must register when they move to another state. A Calais man has pleaded innocent to failing to do so.
‘Tom’ from Brooklyn gets 3 years for Rutland fentanyl dealing
A 23-year-old Brooklyn man was sentenced for dealing fentanyl.
Planetarium rehab kicks off statewide $40 million ‘revitalization’ program
The federal funds keep flowing from the “once in a lifetime opportunity” of unprecedented pandemic-era spending.
How did YOUR town vote on anti-slavery amendment?
The Town of Norwich voted 26-1 in favor of Proposal 2.
Vermont consumers get poor value for their internet dollar
Vermont gets a pretty poor bang for its buck, especially when compared to every other northeastern U.S. state.
Water Cooler: Meat processor gets $1.1 mil grant / All-payer health ‘reform’ contract extended / SoBu sees crime spike
From the “It’s News But It’s No Surprise” Dept. – crime is also up in Burlington’s nearest neighbor, South Burlington.
Vermonter Shiffrin finishes fifth in World Cup slalom in Killington
Five-time Killington Cup winner Mikaela Shiffrin of Vermont wasn’t able to make it an even dozen this year.
Drag Queen Story Hour comes to the Upper Valley
If it is a religion, then drag queens are the Pentecostals of the order, full of spirit and willing to push the boundaries.
CLG: Dutch ‘Nitrogen Minister’ to close 3000 farms
The Netherlands, one of the world’s leading food producers, will shut down up to 3000 farms because of climate change regulations.
Hall: ‘Thank you for being there for Vermont’
“Your positioning and willingness to let the people be heard is somewhat of an abnormality when compared to other media.” – James Hall
Keelan: from crypto to EVs, tech-driven changes need second look
The Big Brains running Big Tech are making Big Mistakes.
McClaughry: Johnstown Flood of bills will sweep through Vermont State House
The Democrat-led House and Senate now have the power to drive through any measure decided upon by its leaders, spurred on by their clamoring interest groups.
25 Vermonters killed in post 9/11 wars
Vermont’s overall deaths in post 9/11 wars are the fifth lowest in the nation, but the ratio of losses to civilian residents who are veterans is the highest.
Evslin: Legislators must First Do No Harm
Advocates of climate change legislation believe the price of fossil fuel is too low to give Vermonters an economic incentive to switch.
Water Cooler: Lawmakers look at housing crisis
Whole Foods won’t carry Maine lobster anymore.
Smith: Living off the grid not so simple
Grid customers and utilities have a long way to go to understand how this new system would actually work.
Bananas: Pfizer releases Climate Vaccine
“We believe we can lower the global temperature at least one to two degrees by lowering the global population ten to fifteen percent,” Bill Gates said.
Every Vermont town and city voted for ‘reproductive liberty’ Article 22
Norwich, a wealthy Windsor County bedroom town for Dartmouth College and the nearby hospital, voted about 12-1 in favor.
State unveils draft trapping regulations
The day before a public discuss-and-comment informational meeting, the State of Vermont has published the draft trapping regulations.
Higley: December 1 deadline for rule on 2035 ban on new gas-powered vehicles
Dec. 1 is the deadline for Agency of Natural Resources adoption of a rule banning gasoline-powered new vehicle sales and registration in just over 12 years.
The cream rises to the top
A teen from tiny Lunenberg in the Northeast Kingdom is making her mark in international dairy showmanship.
‘Scribblings’: VT House Dem leaders heavy-handed on rank-and-file
Vermont House Democrats are like the dog that finally caught the car.
Water Cooler: It’s official: no gasoline-powered new cars by 2035
It’s official: the State of Vermont will ban the sale of gasoline-powered new cars by 2035.
Man found dead in home explosion identified
The body of a 56-year-old man was found dead after a home explosion in Newfane.
No harvest for Burlington community gardeners refusing diversity/inclusion/equity pledge
As part of its ‘deep organizational work to address racism as a public health crisis,’ the City of Burlington won’t allow people who refuse to sign a diversity pledge to grow food in a taxpayer-funded community garden.
Eight-year-old shamed in Vermont school over pronouns
The problem for the eight-year-old boy is that his brain does not warp like the warped dimensions of gender pronouns.
Winooski teen arrested as accessory in Mubarak murder
A 19-year-old Winooski man has been charged as an accessory of a 21-year-old New American in Burlington.
Tebbetts: Giving Thanks This Season
Vermont would not be the state we love without our farmers.
Evslin: Trump was the middle finger of the proletariat
There are important reasons why almost half the voters supported Trump in 2016 and 2020 and why so many remain loyal to him today.
McClaughry: Election Aftershocks
The Republican membership of the House sank from 43 to 38, with no bright new faces among them.
Subject of Wall St. Journal drug recovery story arrested for criminal threatening
A former basketball star and longtime drug addict was arrested for criminal threatening in West Rutland.
Libertoff: Maple syrup, Thanksgiving, and Small World connections
While my culinary standards are low, I refuse to eat pancakes without Vermont maple syrup.After making derogatory remarks about the fake stuff, I produced my cherished Morse Farm container.
Archery, muzzleloading season continues after regular deer season ends on Saturday
Archery deer hunting continues November 28 through December 15, and muzzleloader deer hunting will occur December 3 to 11.
State-funded IDEAL makes equity inroads with municipalities
56% of Vermont residents live in towns and cities (listed) that have signed a Declaration of Inclusion.
Pandemic-era Medicaid benefit extension likely, officials say
The pandemic may be (almost) over, but federal Public Health Emergency Medicaid benefits appear likely to continue, at least into 2023.
Trump, or not? More readers weigh in
Donald Trump will make you sick, but he is the only thing powerful enough to rid us of this cancer.
Child who died in I-89 crash identified
11-year-old Silas Baustert of Essex died when the SUV he was riding in struck a rocky ledge on I-89.
Watercooler: Labor shortage delays Burlington homeless pod opening
The community buildings for the Burlington Homeless Pod project haven’t been delivered due to labor shortages and supply chain problems.
The Bell in the Town Hall
The 151-year-old bell in the Cambridge Town Hall had been hidden for decades, until local third-graders brought it back to life and rang it on Veterans Day.
Despathy: Thankful for free speech, free thought, free press
A friend sent me a link to Vermont Daily Chronicle. I stayed up all night reading. Finally, real news. Free press, Free speech, Free thoughts.
Randolph high school backs down over transgender incident after ADF files lawsuit
Randolph Union High School dropped disciplinary proceedings against 14-year-old Blake Allen after the Alliance for Defending Freedom filed a lawusuit on her behalf.
Talking Turkey: A Thanksgiving Quiz
She came from Mississippi.
Avoid bears – don’t put up bird feeders until Dec. 1
If a bear visits your feeder, take it down for a week.
Blake Allen writes essay on transgender student conflict. But it’s not the one the school wanted
Write an essay admitting your misdeeds, Randolph high school freshman Blake Allen was told by school officials after she complained about a transgender student watching her in the locker room. Well, she wrote an essay…. and now you can read every word on the Fox News website.
Watercooler: Person dies in storage unit fire
Top headlines from Vermont media today.
Connecticut man wanted for drug-related murder busted in Vernon
Shawn Santoro was arguing over drug territory in Hartford, CT when he shot a man on October 4, court records say.
Bennington House challenger wants hand recount
Two Republicans and a Democrat want recounts for House elections in which they narrowly trail the next top vote-getter.
Gay marriage bill advances in U.S. Senate – ADF calls new religious protections just ‘lip service’
A new federal gay marriage law could wipe out the protections for Vermont churches and others opposed by conscience to gay marriage.
Despathy: To meet carbon ‘goals,’ Vermont will play the corporate carbon credit game
Faux solutions will not offer real Vermont emissions reduction, nor will it make water and air cleaner or reduce ubiquitous microplastics.
G20 panelist seeks global digital tracking of vaccination
A digital, global vaccine passport will help nations prepare for the next pandemic, an health official tells the G20.
Benning: To elect candidates, VT GOP must move on from Trump
If the VTGOP is to survive and thrive, we’d best be moving on.
Three drivers busted for 100-MPH+ speeding this weekend
I-89 in Georgia was once again the scene of triple-digit speeding, police say.
Letters: Balint, Welch donate FTX campaign $$ to Right to Life? / Young people terrorized by climate conversation
Now THAT would be atonement.
Support Trump in 2024 – or not?
Dangerous to the entrenched bureaucracy or toxic leader? Readers weigh in – and so can you.
Leahy, Welch, Sanders want ‘locality pay’ boost for federal employees in Windsor, Orange counties
Our senators say federal workers in Orange and Windsor counties deserve “locality pay,” a little-known pay bump for federal employees living in high-cost areas.
Alleged PTO embezzler arrested
The treasurer of the Townshend School PTO embezzled more than $2,000, state police say.
Child dies when SUV strikes I-89 rocky ledge
A child passenger died after a Chevy Suburban drifted off the passing lane shoulder into rock ledges.
Man dead in home explosion
Investigators found the body of a dead man in the burnt debris of a Newfane home.
Shepard: RNC needs Lee Zeldin, Ronna McDaniel must go
With all the issues and challenges facing America, good is not good enough. The Republican Party needs change at the very top, Vermont’s national committeeman says.
Watercooler: UVM Health loses $90 mil / House candidates want recount
Two Republicans and a Democrat are seeking recounts in close House races, VTDigger reports.
Hate-free forum in St. Albans postponed due to illness, NAACP announces
A masks-requested (but not required) hate-free forum sponsored by two government agencies and the NAACP has been postponed due to illness.
Nunnikhoven: Living in the Age of Euphemism
Vermont, the “Reproductive Surgery” State.
$20 million in additional heating assistance announced by State of VT
In addition to emergency housing for the homeless and higher food stamp benefits, the State of Vermont has added $20 million to the emergency heating fund.
Municipal firearms restrictions #1 priority for gun control group
“Repealing the pre-emption law is absolutely on the GunSense legislative agenda,” Casey told VDC.
Republicans outvoted 2-1 in VT November 8 election
Returns for ‘down ballot’ statewide office races show less than 100,000 reliably Republican Vermont voters.
Attempted murder by stabbing in Stamford
One Stamford man is in critical condition and another is in police custody following an early morning stabbing.
Pandemic-era homeless housing, food stamp benefits to continue
The pandemic is (mostly) over, but the increased state benefits for temporary housing and food stamps remain.
$32 mil in fed, state funding to build, rehab 244 homes
With a heavy emphasis on housing low-income and homeless Vermonters, a state housing board has allocated $32 million in government funds.
Watercooler: Whoops! That ‘armed man’ at UMall was just a customer
Concerned about a young man carrying swords at the mall, local police discovered he’s just a customer who bought samurai swords and a BB gun.
Springfield, MA man lead suspect in NEK drug ring bust
An alleged cocaine and fentanyl distribution ring has been interrupted by a federal grand jury indictment.
55 bee species in VT need protection
The team created a watchlist of 55 of the state’s most imperiled species based on their restricted ranges, changes in abundance, and the threats they face.
MA father banned from kids’ school after speaking up at meeting
The Massachusetts school district insists it supports the right of free speech BUT……
Independent Congress candidate ‘moved the needle’
The #4 finisher in the race for Congress offers grateful reflections.
Watercooler: State reopens wintertime Homeless Hotel program
Beginning December 15, Vermont’s homeless will (as during the pandemic) have a warm bed in a ‘homeless hotel.’
RSV surge, result of pandemic masking and social distancing, seen in Vermont
Young children who as infants weren’t exposed to RSV due to social distancing and masking are more vulnerable to it now.
Rural power utilities seek rate hikes
Ukraine’s to blame for big rate hike request, one rural Vermont co-op says.
The Purple Crowberry lives!
Not since Teddy Roosevelt was president of the United States has the purple crowberry been seen in Vermont. Until now.
FTX linked to WEF, Ukraine cryptocurrency site
Collapsed cryptocurrency empire and Becca Balint major donor FTX set up a crypto donation site for the Ukrainian government, the Blaze reports.
Man pleads innocent to butane torch attack on girl: press report
An Albany man has been released on conditions after pleading innocent to burning a girl with a butane torch.
History Corner: A Salem “witch’s” ties to Plainfield
The Martin family left Massachusetts because of the Salem witch trials and relocated to New Hampshire and then to Vermont.
Rep. John Palasik dead at 68
Milton legislator and longtime public servant John Palasik announced this May he would not seek re-election, wishing instead to spend more time with his family – and especially his grandson.
Meyers: Balint team falsely called Molly Gray ‘homophobic’
VTDigger’s coverage of the 2022 race for Congress was not a Watergate moment.
Watercooler: deputy fired for assault elected sheriff
Plenty of election, health, and economic news in Vermont media headlines today.
Burlington mayor wants homelessness ‘rare and brief’
The mayor of Burlington wants to make homelessness rare and brief. It’s neither now.
Balint’s crypto campaign donor collapses. Questions about her future, and the world’s
The collapse of a $32 billion crypto empire raises big questions for campaign contribution recipient Becca Balint – and the rest of the world.
Source Correction: ‘Hate-free forum’ in St. Albans next week; masks REQUESTED
Community members – with or without masks – are encouraged to join a conversation on understanding and addressing bias, discrimination, and hate crimes in Vermont.
Connecticut women busted for intent to sell drugs
A police dog sniffed out the drugs in the erratically-driven car, then two-legged cops found ‘materials consistent with distribution,’ state police say.
Thankful for Vermont wild turkeys
Native wild turkeys disappeared with Vermont forest in the late 1800’s. The birds we see everywhere today are descended from 31 wild turkeys restocked 52 years ago.
