Plans to send Vermont immigration staff to Minnesota rolled back; Burlington’s mayor to convene emergency meeting as ICE tension heats up; Enosburg home destroyed by fire
H. 276, State Wildlands, is scheduled for testimony in the House Environment Committee on Wednesday afternoon at the Vermont Statehouse. Sponsored by committee chair Rep. Amy Sheldon, the bill would create a new Wildlands designation within Vermont’s Ecological Reserves, permanently protecting certain lands from conversion, promoting natural processes and old-growth forest conditions, and permanently designating many state parks as Wildlands.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Leonora Dodge (D – Chittenden-23), proposes creating a new Legal Representation in Federal Immigration Proceedings Program within Vermont’s Office of Defender General. As written, the legislation declares it to be the public policy of the State of Vermont that covered individuals “should have the right to ongoing legal representation” in federal immigration cases.
The initial proposal would apply only to electric vehicles, swapping the current flat EV fee of $89 with a per-mile charge using odometer readings. While officials say broader expansion is not on the immediate horizon, decisions made in the next few months could shape whether MBUF becomes Vermont’s long-term transportation funding model.
A bill that would ban the sale of car and truck tires in Vermont unless the manufacturer has an approved plan to dispose of waste tires will get a hearing in House Environment at 9 AM Thursday morning.
Fixing the roads is a core government responsibility, DEI is not.
Following fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, protesters rally in Essex Junction; Deadly fire investigation underway in Sharon after man dies in camper; Butler Family Auto in Barton destroyed by fire; Facing housing crunch, Stowe considers strict restrictions on short-term rentals
One widely shared account suggests that during the struggle, one or more ICE officers shouted “gun,” prompting another officer to draw a weapon. According to this version, Pretti’s sidearm was removed by an officer who then walked away, but the weapon discharged negligently. Some commentators point to the Sig Sauer P320 handgun, which has been the subject of lawsuits and controversy over unintentional discharges, typically when dropped. The theory suggests the discharge may have led other agents to believe Pretti was firing, resulting in what they perceived as a justified use of deadly force. “If this is what happened, it’s an incredibly unfortunate accident,” one commenter wrote.
At present, selectboards have option of voting on local pot stores – or not
A 26-year-old Glover man was arrested early Sunday morning following a series of alleged vehicle-related crimes that began at a nursing home parking lot and ended with his capture at a nearby residence, according to Vermont State Police.
ECVB marketed itself as specializing in converting Ford Transit vans and Mercedes Sprinter vans into “reliable, self-sufficient adventure homes.”
Dead are: Kendall Lemay, 38, of Cadyville, N.Y., a driver, and Jacob Rivers, 41, of Plattsburgh, N.Y., a front seat passenger, police said.
Like King, Charlie Kirk spoke out against restrictions on the freedom of the individual, and despite many contesting his views, did not turn to violence or retaliation to further his beliefs.
Deadly bat-borne virus with no cure is spreading in India with ‘epidemic potential’ as new cases emerge; Israeli fire kills three in Gaza, medics say, as U.S. pushes deal; United States Completes WHO Withdrawal; Children’s Health Defense Hits AAP With RICO Suit Over Fraudulent Vaccine Safety Claims; Alex Pretti’s Sig handgun has history of accidentally firing – offering possible clue to why Border Patrol agent shot him
The winning time ranked as the fifth-fastest performance ever by an American woman indoors.
An open letter to the Vermont Legislature
This past Tuesday Governor Phil Scott delivered his 2026 Budget Address to Vermonters and the General Assembly saying the time for structural reform is now. With federal stimulus dollars winding down and revenue forecasts downgraded, Vermont faces a pivotal moment that demands discipline, innovation, and collaboration.
The former Prime Minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu, once said, “The Mid-East needs a success story.” And here in Vermont, that is precisely what we need in 2026.
Senator Bernie Sanders in Burlington to talk health care;; Vermont school district voices support for education reform amid controversy; Burlington Chief of Staff Erin Jacobsen to resign; Vermont lineworkers headed down to Virginia ahead of ice storm
The club currently has more than 50 active members and meets on the second Tuesday of each month in Rutland
The teachers’ retirement system now has 10,772 retired members and beneficiaries drawing pensions, compared to just 10,526 active teachers contributing to the fund.
Pushes left-wing narrative despite evidence.
Wells River man dead in reported single-car crash; Thousands report Microsoft 365 outages, including Outlook and Teams; Vergennes warns residents that the city is low on salt ahead of weekend snowstorm; Downtown Burlington bar closing ‘effective immediately’
Hussien’s supporters on Reddit are asking the public to support his family: “Hussien Noor Hussien has been living in the US for 22 years. He used a false name to escape Somalia, which hurt no one, and served his time for that fraud after he was caught. A few weeks ago, ICE abducted him from his cab at the Burlington airport and imprisoned him at the NW correctional facility in St Albans.”
Travelling exhibit utilizes unique “peer-education” to teach the lessons of the Holocaust
JP Morgan’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, called a nationwide interest rate cap an “economic disaster” that would result in “a drastic reduction of the credit card business” for 80 percent of Americans.
In an era defined by hesitation, that alone is a notable accomplishment.
Traveling without Real-ID; Lifetime hunting & fishing license winner
Vermont needs a secure facility to hold people deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial for violent crime. That was one of the “asks” to lawmakers by crime victims, survivors, and advocates from across Vermont who gathered at the State House on Tuesday for the first Voices for Vermont Victims Public Hearing, urging lawmakers to enact reforms to better protect victims’ rights in cases involving mental health and forensic competency issues.
Will they face criminal proceedings?
University of Vermont President Marlene Tromp silent on dorm squalor while she lives with her entire family in ‘free’ campus housing.
Unpaid caregivers provide millions of hours to dementia patients
The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Benjamin Paul Sheldon Schooner, 35, of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada near the Haskell Library and Opera House in Derby Line on Christmas Day about 12:20 a.m., records show.
Milton resident still recovering from shooting
State subsidies and regulation made childcare more expensive, less available, and less effective.
Gov. Scott forecasts comeback for nuclear; ICE Out protests happening across Vermont, including Burlington and Williston; Gov. Phil Scott aims to fix Vermont’s ‘broken’ criminal justice system this session
At a Capitol Ministries mixer Tuesday afternoon, elected officials as disparate in their views as Progressive Rep. Brian Cina of Burlington and Republican Rep. Mary Morrissey of Bennington could be seen sitting down peacefully over the ice cream served up by the State House ministry overseen by Rev. Aaron Clark of Montpelier.
Gov. Phil Scott on Tuesday unveiled his proposed FY2027 budget, saying the $9.4 billion plan reins in costs, provides targeted property tax relief, and begins addressing long-term structural challenges in education, transportation, housing, and human services—without raising broad-based taxes.
The Transportation budget faces a $33 million shortfall this year. Growing use of EVs, increasingly fuel-efficient gasoline/diesel cars and trucks, and people working at home rather than commuting have conspired to reduce purchasing at the pump – where the Transportation Fund gets most of its funding. So now both interested residents and state legislators are looking elsewhere.
Vermonters will have an opportunity to share their concerns and become better informed regarding the increasing role schools and government have been playing in their family’s health care decisions.
A surge in homelessness and a 32% construction labor shortage have exposed Vermont’s housing crisis as a shelter emergency. Meanwhile, a transformation in off-site construction has created homes that are often higher quality and more energy efficient than traditional builds—at half the cost. So why do state and local regulations still treat them like the mobile homes of 1970?
In particular, one Facebook commenter said the resolution would have no effect on ICE except to draw federal attention to Williston as a sanctuary town. “It equates to the drunk driver that thinks he’s smart for throwing his beer cans/packages out the window so they’re not in his car if he gets pulled over. That pile of cans on the side of the road equates to putting up a big sign that says, ‘I drive drunk on this road, please patrol here more,’” Frank Williams said.
Hundreds gather in Waitsfield, Vermont for peaceful protest on Martin Luther King Jr. Day;Vermont’s Transportation Fund faces $33 million shortfall; Arctic blast expected to bring near record cold this weekend in Vermont, New York; Rutland community shares mixed reactions over Walmart relocation
A story of salvation and friendship in the Vermont State House.
One bill prohibits arrests for civil violations – including immigration violations – in ‘sensitive locations’. The other requires all law enforcement – including federal officers – to wear name tags and not wear masks.
In these chaotic times, it is a good idea to reach out for and hold fast to whatever helps us to remember what it means to be fully human. You don’t have to be a Christian, or an activist, to appreciate Strength to Love. You just have to be human and want to be the best human you can be.
Records provided by museum staff show Sanders, who is Jewish, has missed every council meeting since joining the board, despite his long tenure and high-profile role in national politics, including his Democratic presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020.
As much as 20% of public charging goes to non-residents who contribute nothing to highway maintenance. The state has studied—and largely rejected—direct solutions.
But will SCOTUS Intervene on behalf of pesticide manufacturers?
Bills, news rules impact cost of fuel, fuel storage, overtime pay, credit card usage
Vermonters deserve an elections system that is convenient, but also secure and accurate. We have the former, but we do not at present have the latter. Moreover, multiple polls by a wide spectrum of pollsters such show around 80% of people support Voter ID. Passing H.670 should be a no-brainer.
For those who missed her charade, here it is: @IlhanMN refers to our great country as the “U.S. G*dd*mn States.” But without the asterisks. There is no circumstance in which she should refer to our country in this way. It is beyond disrespectful—it is appalling, disgusting, and sick. Shame on her!
Only 3 days of warning given for eviction, under the new proposed bill.
Multiple people, including minors, seriously injured after head-on crash in Monkton; Vermont State Police investigate Chittenden Regional inmate death; Crews Respond To Structure Fire In Swanton; Hinesburg and new police union agree to three-year contract
Vermont State Police said the bus, returning from a dance recital, left the roadway on the southbound Exit 3 off-ramp in wet, slushy conditions. The driver, Brittany Pontier, 26, of Bennington, was able to reenter the roadway, and the bus continued on its way.
Vermonters use less total energy than the residents of any other state in the nation and their total energy consumption per capita is among the lowest five states. About 11% of Vermonters heat with wood, the highest share of any state, according to the EIA.
Trump selling seats on Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ for $1B; U.S. opens missile facility in Qatar amid Iran tensions; U.S. freezes all visa processing for 75 countries, including Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iran
The Obama White House, the National Civil Rights Museum and Little Rock Central High School: all have hosted bronze statues of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as part of a local man’s public art project. Now, 15 years and 17 sculptures later, the last statue in the project has found its final home in Shelburne.
All permanent ground solar should require local town permitting complete with Notice and Public Comment, with certified letters including Notice and Public Comment opportunity to abutters.
A fourth generation Vermonter, Graeter’s focus is on a return to granular fiscal oversight rather than the broad policy analysis that has characterized the office exiting auditor Doug Hoffer’s tenure.
Also: Rowell on Mulvaney-Stanak & ICE
Two states, two outcomes, and a different model in New Hampshire shape the debate
A nationwide network failure left roughly one-quarter of Vermonters without cell service for ten hours on January 14, exposing critical vulnerabilities in the state’s communications infrastructure
Despite national headwinds and federal regulatory uncertainty, leading OPO coordinated organ donations from 640 deceased donors across the New England region that resulted in a record 1,692 life-saving organ transplants
Lowell Town Garage destroyed by fire, officials say; Monkton farm matches furry friends with seniors, veterans; Vermont organizations merge accessible recreation and conservation goals in ‘first-of-its-kind’ outdoor center in Rochester; Roadway in Randolph closed due to crash
Among its dense forests and rocky ledges, local folklore speaks of a terrifying cryptid known as “The Black Beast of Snake Mountain,” which allegedly terrorized the region during the 1920s and 1930s.
Just off court supervision for Central Vermont drug case
Members of the FSA state committee are appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and, in support of the Trump Administration’s Farmers First commitment, members of the FSA state committee are responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations, resolving program delivery appeals from the agriculture community, maintaining cooperative relations with industry stakeholders and keeping producers informed about current FSA programs.
The most discussed feature of H.594 is the Return Home Program, where the state would fund travel and relocation for unhoused individuals who wish to return to a state where they maintain legal reside
Our current legislature seems to have no problem in “raising revenue” by taxing Vermonters more each year to match spending increases. With a $9B budget, Vermont does not have a revenue problem. We have a COST problem. We have a SPENDING Problem.
But a new study shows it doesn’t have to be this way!
Lights, Camera, Safety!
House Bill H.545, introduced by Rep. Theresa Wood (D–Washington-Chittenden) and Rep. Alyssa Black (D–Chittenden-24), would shift the power to set immunization recommendations from federal agencies to the Vermont Department of Health. It would require all insurers to cover any immunization recommended by the commissioner with no copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles, and grant immunity from most civil and administrative liability to health professionals who administer those vaccines in accordance with state guidance.
School districts finalize budgets with varying property tax increases; Shelters crushed by costs of animal cruelty, advocates tell Vermont lawmakers; Burlington Electric can sell renewable energy credits to Maine
Bingham was selected as one of only seven finalists from across the state in an election that saw more than 1,000 Vermont fifth-graders cast their ballots. As a Cabinet member, she will serve alongside Vermont’s first-ever Kid Governor, Roslyn Fortin of Highgate, to address critical issues facing the state’s youth.
Energy Policy: Nuclear Returns to the Conversation; Telecommunications: Local Control Versus Statewide Infrastructure; Insurance Regulation: Technical Changes With Structural Importance; Transportation: Revenue Signals Raise Long-Term Questions; Human Services: Governance Updates Move Forward
A Vermont school district is under federal investigation amid allegations that its policies discriminate against girls by allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports. “These policies jeopardize both the safety and the equal opportunities of women in educational programs and activities,” OCR said in a statement announcing the investigations.
Also, St. J cops arrest wanted man from Connecticut.
Governor Phil Scott’s office today announced a range of appointments made in the fourth quarter of 2025 – including former UVM police chief and public safety entrepreneur Gary Margolis of Shelburne to the State Police Advisory Commission.
The adorable Southern bog lemming, delicate small whorled pogonia orchid, mysterious lake sturgeon and humble wood turtle may not seem to have much in common. But, all four are classified as “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” (SGCN) in a newly-drafted update to Vermont’s Wildlife Action Plan, which is now available for public comment.
Confirmation process begins for Vermont Supreme Court nominees; Extended city attorney vacancy leads to overspending in Rutland; Waterbury Dam flood gates repaired as work continues; Vermont DMV launches online commercial permitting system
New Hampshire authorities will conduct a death investigation.
A new initiative in Bennington County signals a major shift in how Vermont enforces school bus passing laws, but the full legal framework won’t be in place until August 2026.
At two public meetings held a week apart, Council members and staff from the Climate Action Office walked through Vermont’s updated Climate Action Plan, introduced a list of “Top 10 Priority Actions,” and discussed next steps — even as the state has already missed its first statutory emissions benchmark and faces mounting costs to reach the next.
Vermont’s 2020 energy standards focused on basic quality and efficiency. In contrast, the 2024 standards are designed to support the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), joined by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), introduced legislation Tuesday Jan. 13 to prohibit sitting presidents from naming or renaming federal buildings, land, or other assets after themselves.
The proposed legislation would, for those involved, remove the risk of prison time if they come forward within a predetermined period and admit and cease their illegal activity.
The following is an open letter from Barre resident Larry McEnany to Treasurer Michael Pieciak.
The Global Warming Solutions Act money pit deepens!
BTV airport joins anti-human trafficking program; Judge denies bail in deadly vehicle chase despite report blaming Rutland police; Vermont National Guard members to deploy to Germany for training mission
Rep. Greg Burtt (R-Cabot) said he is developing a bill to repeal the so-called “Road Rule” included in Act 181, the sweeping Act 250 reform package passed by the Legislature’s 2024 Democratic supermajority. The provision places any development on a private road 800 feet or longer automatically under Act 250 jurisdiction, regardless of project size or environmental impact. It takes effect July 1 – hence Burtt’s effort to introduce a bill to rid Act 250 of what he believes is an onerous provision.
New legislation (S.171) sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Rebecca White (D-Windsor), would create a Clean Fuels Program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels.
Registry data reveals a significant disconnect between the perception of local hosts supplementing income and the reality of ownership patterns.
A significant source of friction in negotiations stems from wage comparisons with nurses at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington—the network’s flagship facility.
Also: Report: last school merger saved some $$ but VT still has #2 per-pupil spending AND $3000 scholarship applications accepted
A nonprofit that helps immigrants, regardless of legal status, get to health care appointments is asking Vermont lawmakers for $167,000 in state funding after losing support from the University of Vermont Extension Service.
Vermont Futures Project: right diagnosis, (mostly) wrong solutions.
UVM researchers designed a game to test agricultural policy but found something unexpected.
Two bills sit before the Vermont Senate that would undo the state’s unfolding climate policy disaster. S.110 would repeal the Global Warming Solutions Act’s citizen-suit provision and convert its mandates back to goals. S.68 would repeal the Affordable Heat Act.
After years of coping with rampant drug use, vandalism, littering, unsanitary conditions, crime and panhandling that downtown business owners say drives away customers, the town selectboard on January 6 resolved – almost – to remove encampments – a policy first proposed three years ago.
