The House drafts a bill that riles up MAHA moms and environmental advocates.
Klar: Is Congress shielding chemical corporations from accountability?
Timothy Page
Ink lovers journey north for national tattoo convention in Vermont
Now in its second year, the Green State Tattoo Convention drew dozens of artists from across the country and hundreds of potential clients.
Fourth alleged smuggler busted in dramatic Vermont-to-Quebec U-Haul human smuggling operation
A recent human smuggling case that directly impacts Vermont’s border communities made headlines when a U‑Haul truck packed with 44 migrants was intercepted just north of Derby Line crossing INTO Canada.
VT Headlines: Heatwave and high risk of wildfires
Several burn bans issued as fire danger remains ‘very high’ across Vermont; Heat Advisory: Some will feel close to 100 today; Fire department asks residents to limit water usage in South Hero
Unbelted driver dies while trapped in crash/ Young thugs beat up victim in City Hall Park, gun involved
The Fayston driver died as workers tried to extricate him.
Health Department recognizes primary care practices for high vaccination rates
One pediatrician attributes the practice’s high rates to its patients and their belief in the benefits of vaccines.
Klar: The big shill: The ugly truth about pharma lackey, Peter Marks
Marks favored Pfizer over American children’s health.
Why Act 73 doesn’t save small schools—but Act 168 could
Act 73 may have redrawn the districts. But the fate of Vermont’s small schools will be decided locally—and likely soon. Act 168 gives communities a legal path to protect what they value. But the state won’t do it for them.
Federal judge puts hold on deportable alien shot in Burlington
A federal judge agreed Monday to temporarily block the imminent deportation of an immigrant from Vietnam, who officials say is dangerous and was wounded during a shooting in April in Burlington.
Roper: VT Dems’ SNAP attacks reveal everything wrong with that party
Their sense of entitlement without accountability is a proven governing failure.
Bananas: Hartford Tech Center to add sex work track
The local high school tech center currently offers tracks for automotive, auto body, culinary, cosmetology and STEM fields. The lack of progressive pathways to bodily autonomy for students has two Windsor County senators concerned.
MacDonald: Not helping ICE is a slippery slope
Vermont, New York, and Maine have the progressive disease for which clean elections, blogs like this, and persistence are the only cure.
Compass Vermont: Newport’s move to recruit vampires as blood donors goes global
The Vampire Swim, returning this Halloween, started in Newport as a small cold-water challenge to encourage blood donations in a season when supply often runs low.
Taxpayer-funded puppets? Not anymore
If the debate is going to happen, let’s at least base it on facts — not furry blue nostalgia.
VT Headlines: Outgoing commissioner Deml says Vermont prison system has stabilized under his watch
Main Street in Burlington open to weekend traffic; For Vermont Green FC, soccer and social advocacy go hand in hand; Hot Monday, heat wave continues through midweek
Edmunds on VT logo: something changed 50 years ago
Today these family farms are all but extinct. Could it be the last 50 years of central planning, diminished the mood for celebration?
Crosby: Gerrymandering seen in Vermont, too
In New England and New York, where about 40% of voters voted for Trump, Republican members of Congress are quite rare due to gerrymandering.
Feds charge Crips gang member with cocaine trafficking
ATF links him to unsolved double homicide in Burlington
CLG: Shooter opened fire on CDC and killed cop ‘after suffering COVID vaccine injury’
Trump considers taking DC law enforcement into Fed hands/ Zelensky trashes Trump’s peace terms/ Five troops injured after soldier opens fire at Georgia military base
VT Headlines: Sergeant First Class recognized for risking life in Waterbury rescue
Moment of silence for Vermont social worker Lara Sobel on 10-year anniversary of her murder; Man accused in T-Rugg’s Tavern hostage standoff set to appear in court for change of plea
Dame replies to ‘Your voice matters’ letter: ‘The truth matters’
“The detractors list two main bullet points, both of which I contend are at least misleading and at worst downright falsehoods,” Dame said.
Morning Drive’s Feliciano: veteran, former guv candidate, problem-solver
Trained problem-solver, veteran, and former guv candidate.
Letter: Soothing the climate-crazed
Apparently, the weather is wild and wacky—at least here in Vermont—all the time, it’s just that most of us have really bad memories. Or little knowledge of history.
Steidler: Congress must investigate what China got from working on the Pentagon’s computers
At issue is Microsoft’s “using engineers in China to help maintain the Defense Department’s computer systems — with minimal supervision by U.S. personnel — leaving some of the nation’s most sensitive data vulnerable to hacking from its leading cyber adversary.”
Kids put down their smartphones to mow 50 lawns, and feel great about it
Rodney Smith Jr’s goal is to show Vermont kids the profound satisfaction that comes from helping a neighbor, one lawn at a time.
Castleton bike path homicide and killings of Arkansas hikers not linked, VSP says
Some reports have suggested a possible link between Fleming’s case and a high-profile double homicide in Arkansas. The VSP says there’s no evidence connecting the two cases, but they’re following their usual process to explore every possible lead.
Best Pooch in the Noosk returns to the Onion City
Even the pooches who didn’t win still wagged their tails and grinned ear to ear.
Scott defends SNAP data amid condemnation by Dem leaders
“The bottom line is, this is a federal benefit,” Scott’s press secretary said. “The federal government is legally entitled to this information and has been for much of the last decade.”
Northfield man denies federal stolen gun charges
Peter Baez, 41, of Northfield pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Burlington Thursday afternoon to a two-count federal indictment obtained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Letters: Investment in AI, and school reconfiguration concerns
“We’re witnessing a new economy that my imaginations just can’t comprehend. However, this evening I went to ChatGPT for a meatloaf recipe. My wife said it was delicious.”
VT Headlines: Youngblut lawyers stall as DOJ ponders new charges
Newport police arrest man after armed domestic assault; Activists stage ICE protest at Leahy Burlington International Airport; Nonprofit announces 30 affordable apartments in Berlin
Compass Vermont: Family vows to rebuild after losing nearly 100 farm animals
On Sunday, April 6, 2025, while the Nodes family of Barre Town, Vermont, attended church with their nine children, a fire broke out on their farm.
Vermont author defends the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages, a period often shrouded in myths and misconceptions, are brought into clear focus in Defending the Middle Ages, by Vermonter Jeb Smith.
Roadside marker remembering Remember Baker, 250 years after he was beheaded
Don Keelan will serve as master of ceremonies and Bill Budde, curator of the Russell Vermontiana Collection, will speak on the topic of Remember Baker’s place in history.
VT Headlines: Experts react to RFK Jr.’s vaccine cuts
Dry, windy weather raises wildfire risks; officials urge Vermonters to make an emergency plan; Burlington police look for downtown burglary suspect
Rutland nurse sentenced for dealing drugs, arrested for assault
A former registered nurse, who admitted he allowed his Rutland residence to be used for unlawfully manufacturing, storing, distributing and using crack cocaine, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison. And there are more legal problems coming for Daniel McSwiggan, 52, of Rutland, Vermont.
Illegal immigrants who used counterfeit papers arrested
Artemio Cordova Mendez, 36, and Alejandro Monfil Carbello, 40, have both been previously removed for being unlawfully in the United States, but each man returned without permission, according to Homeland Security Investigations.
Hartford snowboarder busted for major drug deal
Rahm Klampert, 45, of Hartford, who offers personal training workouts, pleaded innocent to the one-count felony indictment last week.
Murray and Gervais: Republicans, your voice matters
Together, we can build a stronger Republican Party for Vermont.
Klar: Sparks fly in Harvard v. Trump legal face-off
Free speech violation by Trump, or unconstitutional discrimination by Harvard?
CLG: Pandemic fears explode as virus in China prompts quarantines, thousands of new cases reported
Bill and Hillary Clinton, former AGs and FBI directors subpoenaed for Jeffrey Epstein testimony; DOJ launching grand jury investigation into ‘Russiagate’ conspiracy allegations; Trump deploys nuclear subs in response to Medvedev tweet; Ukraine to launch military training for teens as young as 14
Compass Vermont: VT gives Trump admin 5 years of data on SNAP recipients
The deputy commissioner at DCF noted that Vermont faced the risk of “unspecified sanctions,” which could include withholding of federal funds that cover half of the state’s SNAP program costs.
VT Headlines: Max Misch charged with kidnapping, S. A.
Several towns celebrating National Night Out to bring communities and police department together; UVM soccer tickets selling fast after historic Vermont Green win on Saturday; Vermont takes another step towards state-wide high-speed internet
Soulia: What the numbers show about race and crime
And if we’re serious about public safety, criminal justice reform, and race relations, then we need to be honest about what the numbers show — even when they don’t conform to political narratives.
Roper: More on those polluting EVs…
How particulate pollution from tires is worse than from tailpipes, and why this matters.
Planned Parenthood’s gender protocols called ‘substandard’ by clinic cofounder
Edwards-Leeper’s young patients informed her that they received cross-sex hormones during their first 30-minute in-person or remote consultation with Planned Parenthood.
Compass Vermont: National forest plan balances timber, trail use, protecting trees
Telephone Gap Project balances timber, trails, and old-growth protection
VT Headlines: Man accused of hit and run with police cruiser with child in car
Environmental administrator for Trump White House visits Vermont; Unsheltered homelessness spikes in Vermont as need outstrips safety net; Major intersection in Burlington closed this week due to Champlain Parkway Project construction
Vermonters subsidizing failing New York hospitals
In 2023 alone, CVPH and Alice Hyde accounted for over $44 million in losses, or more than 80% of the Network’s total hospital operating deficit that year.
Vermont Green FC wins championship
Vermont scored on a penalty shot by League MVP Julien Le Bourdoulous, and a goal by substitute Maximilian Kissell with an assist from Zach Zengue.
Soulia: Understanding Vermont’s five political camps
Vermont is home to five active and distinct political identities: Vermont Democrats, Vermont Progressives, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Vermont Republicans, and Vermont Libertarians.
Left abandoned in a Dumpster, by 25 he had created 80 software programs
At 15, he launched Figgers Computers.
At 19, he sold one invention for $2.2 million.
Three sentenced for role in fatal drug turf war in Swanton
Still to be sentenced is the leader of the drug trafficking conspiracy, Dominique Troupe, 37, of Colchester, who was convicted in May 2024 by a federal court jury in Rutland on four felony charges. He is known by the street names “Whop” and “Juice.”
Cops, ACLU settle lawsuit over arrest of repeat felon
John Chinnici, 39, of Bennington had initially filed the civil rights lawsuit against the town, Police Chief Paul Doucette, and former Detectives Lawrence Cole and Anthony Silvestro for their actions concerning an armed robbery investigation of two convenience store employees as they attempted to make a night deposit in January 2016.
Twiddling thumbs as wildfires burn
How changing management methods impact air quality and weather
How Vermont’s partnership with North Macedonia has grown well beyond its original mission
The bond was forged in shared deployments, most notably when Vermont Guardsmen served alongside their Macedonian counterparts in Afghanistan, a testament to the trust built between the two forces.
Ellis: Future Democrats
These women are the future of the country
Orleck: Reflections on Vermont 250 Logo, and what really makes Vermont home
In a world obsessed with the new and the unanchored, Vermont’s greatest strength has always been its rootedness, its barns and mountains, its churches and fields, its people, and their stories. When we erase these from our icons and our celebrations, we risk losing not just the images, but the spirit they represent.
When floods hit Vermont’s iconic dirt roads, runoff hits waterways
But there are ways to improve those roads that reduce pollution and strengthen against floods.
Vermont still not back to pre-Covid job numbers
Unlike four other New England states, Vermont has failed to recover all of the jobs it lost from the 2020 pandemic-induced recession, according to a July 31 report prepared for the Vermont Emergency Board.
A nurse’s role in underserved regions
The future of rural healthcare in Vermont begins with you
VT Headlines: Vermont medical debt relief plan will help over sixty thousand Vermonters
St. Albans Creamery to pay settlement after illegal dumping suit; South Burlington meets with consultant for superintendent search; Henry’s Diner celebrates 100 years in business
Forest Service passes controversial logging in Green Mountain National Forest
The Telephone Gap Integrated Resource project had a historic level of public engagement, according to advocates, before it passed in June.
Tracking a new forest pathogen
A new pathogen called beech leaf disease (BLD) is spreading across Vermont forests.
VT Headlines: A year after flash flood hit NE Kingdom, recovery continues in St. J.
Gumshoe Investigation Leads to Arrest of Old North End Robber; Classical Series a Respite From War for Ukrainian Musicians; Plans to replace Burlington monument bring controversy over state-recognized tribes to Queen City leaders
Hospital network to lay off 77 and eliminate 69 vacant positions
The latest round of job reductions is expected to save the network up to $5 million. When combined with additional cuts announced Tuesday, the total savings are projected to reach $180 million. These come on top of $150 million in cost reductions implemented earlier this year.
School roof sags after workers remove load-bearing supports
Happened during PCB removal project
Selectboard suspends Animal Control Officer after charge of dragging screaming pig
The squealing pig could be heard above the roar of the ATV engine on the video that neighbors used to record the incident, Game Warden Ethan Coffey reported.
Warner: Jeffrey Epstein and Israeli Intelligence
The larger question many conservatives, and also non-conservatives, are unwilling to let go is, given Epstein’s obvious connections to the intelligence community who are known to have heightened awareness of who they associate with, what are we to believe about who he was and what he was doing?
South Burlington goes out of state to pick new police chief
Dover, N.H. Police Chief William N. Breault was named as the new police chief for the city of South Burlington on Tuesday afternoon.
State working on finding, training young people to work
The state’s Regional Workforce Expansion Pilot program is hiring coordinators to find and train (mostly) young people to join the labor force.
CLG: Hawaiians urged to evacuate as millions under tsunami threat
Blackstone identifies employee killed in NYC shooting; Trump reduces Russia-Ukraine ‘deadline’ to 10-12 days; Tsunami hits Russia’s Kuril Islands
What do illegal immigrants actually contribute in taxes?
The facts are complex, but one thing is clear: The claim that illegal immigrants are paying their fair share is not supported by the math.
Keelan: The engine and the caboose
In the July issue of VermontBiz magazine, reporter Olga Peters metaphorically describes the economy of northwestern Vermont: “Chittenden County stands as the undeniable engine of the state’s economy, generating a disproportionate share of its jobs, wages, and income tax revenues.”
Vermont Judge dismisses CFL climate lawsuit against State of Vermont
“This case demonstrates the problematic nature of the Global Warming Solutions Act’s expansive private right of action provision,” said Vermont’s Secretary of Natural Resources, Julie Moore, in a written statement to VDC yesterday morning.
Agritourism brings second income to Vermont farmers
“They were lying on top of the hay bales staring up at the sky, watching for shooting stars.”
VT Headlines: Vermont Green Football Club to host league final in Burlington
100+ Plainfield residents share ideas to become more flood resilient; Sen. Peter Welch celebrates grand opening of renovated pool at Burlington Boys and Girls Club; Fairfax dairy named 2025 Vermont Dairy Farm of the Year
Bear killer, dumper charged
Critic blames crackdown on hunting bears with dogs
Klar: Bipartisan Immigration Amnesty Bill has little chance
The Dignity Act and the Big Beautiful Bill collide.
Ex-Burlington chief Murad to run Vermont prisons
Governor Phil Scott today announced that Department of Corrections Commissioner Nick Deml will step down from his role on August 15, with former Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad named to serve as interim commissioner.
VT Headlines: Police seek help finding missing 82-year-old woman
Crews contain forest fire in Fair Haven; Vermont State Police investigate suspicious death in Brandon; Wildfire smoke continues to impact local air quality
Roper: Face it, Vermont’s public schools are terrible
Taxpayers and students are being ripped off, and no one is being held accountable.
Soulia: Pulled NEA handbook promotes Palestinian Nackba, downplays Holocaust
Vermont educators were teaching the historical record—while their union’s national leadership was busy diluting it.
Not even the weak Loonie can explain the downturn in Canadian tourism
A weak Canadian dollar has always meant a quieter season of Canadian visitation. But the latest figures reveal a downturn so bad that only the COVID-19 pandemic was worse.
CLG: New York man uses AI to build bombs he planned to detonate in Manhattan
Elite police unit to monitor social media for anti-migrant posts; U.S. State Department accuses EU of ‘Orwellian censorship’; 99 Ukrainian drones shot down overnight – Moscow
Quebec skipper hits Hogback Reef
A Quebec man navigating Lake Champlain struck a known reef near Sunset Island on Friday afternoon, prompting a multi-agency rescue response and the safe recovery of all four people aboard the damaged vessel.
Livingston: Vermonters don’t dance in the streets
We walk them. We build them. We shovel them. We drive through them in battered pickups with a plow blade strapped to the front and a tired dog in the back. But we don’t dance in them. Not like they do in the cities we never asked to become.
Bossange: Are YOU okay with the Trump dictatorship?
“Many Trump supporters are unwilling to see through all the white noise coming from their selected media sources. They have found solace and comfort with a narrow window of information, which for many of us, is easier to understand.”
The Vermont Podcast interviews Rep. Zak Harvey (Rutland-3)
We discussed Harvey’s transition from Wall Street to State Street, a move driven by his deep connection and love for Vermont. He shared insights into the @VTGOP’s efforts to build momentum in a state where they have often been the underdogs. Harvey’s analysis of the political landscape was both candid and forward-looking, touching on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the party.
VT Headlines: Woman at South Burlington prison reportedly commits three assaults
Hotel and event space proposed for Malletts Bay draws controversy; Cuts to federal agency could pose election security risk; Agritourism brings second income to Vermont farmers
The Buff Ledge UFO
Close encounter over Lake Champlain
Americans for Prosperity targets Vermont lawmakers in new accountability campaign
Campaign spotlights housing, taxes, and energy mandates
A day fishing becomes international incident on Vermont’s Canadian border
The incident has sparked outrage in Quebec and raised questions here in Vermont, not just about jurisdiction, but about the nature of reality itself.
‘Family man’ gets 5-year prison term for 22 pounds of heroin in Highgate
U.S. Border Patrol Agents arrested Freddy J. Rodriguez, 40, of West Warwick, R.I. with 10 kilograms of heroin on Sept. 19, 2023 as he prepared a nighttime load in a kayak to head north from Highgate on Lake Champlain to meet another vessel coming south from Canada.
Beerworth: Aborting Planned Parenthood’s funding is long overdue
PP of VT worked to pass legislation that forces our schools to provide condoms to middle school students as young as 12. When those condoms fail, kids can head to Planned Parenthood clinics without involving parents.
Letters: Anderson on why Vermont should join Canada
Also: Mittica on the possible treason of Barack Obama, and the consequences.
Grants will help flood-hit towns build homes above flood plain
Most of a $68 million state and federal grant package announced yesterday will help flood-stricken communities build housing outside of flood-prone areas.
Roper: New Hampshire eliminates vehicle inspection mandate
How about Vermont, and what other useless programs can we scrap?
Will the new Medicaid rules on work increase Vermont’s workforce?
For a state already grappling with a shallow labor pool and an aging population, the new rules are poised to create more barriers than bridges to employment.
Vermont’s rise in raccoon rabies crosses the border into Quebec
The state has faced an increase in cases since 2022. The last time Vermont saw a rise in rabies-positive raccoons, the primary species carrying the virus, was between 2015 and 2016.
