And thoughts on the race for Speaker of the House
Roper: Randy Brock for Senate President Pro Tem!
Timothy Page
Ice fishing prospects abound in the Green Mountain State
VT Fish & Wildlife at the Yankee Show, Jan. 17-19; Hunters took more than 17,000 deer in 2024
Fleeing man tries to stab cops with needle
Aaron Montgomery, 35, of Springfield, who had an arrest warrant, also resisted arrest by kicking, spitting on, and attempting to bite officers.
Newbury saffron farm sustains vision of experimentation
About half the shares of Calabash Gardens are owned by family and friends, and 39% are owned by people of color.
Roper: Legislature, resolve to cut spending in the new year
Since 2019, the year before Covid, the state budget has grown from about $5.8 billion to $8.5 billion. That’s a $2.7 billion spending increase in just 4 years.
Koch: “Scribblings” on education finance
The legislature should make education reform priority ONE for the next two years.
Beware the Wampahoofus
Vermont’s cryptid with particularly slanted views
A Colchester community reflects on its first year as a village
It’s been a year since the Westbury mobile home park in Colchester became the Village of Westbury, the first village established in Vermont in nearly a century.
Roper: What’s to show for 25 years of Democrat/Progressive control
Let that be your New Year resolution: Hold your representatives in Montpelier accountable for what they are doing in your name and, ostensibly, on your behalf.
School Board to principals: Recite Pledge of Allegiance every day
The Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District Board (SVUESD) voted shortly before Christmas to have the Pledge of Allegiance recited every day.
St. Albans man charged with animal cruelty in dog neglect case
For the Love of Dogs Vermont rescued the canine, who had lost about 77 pounds and was left w/o food, water, electricity, or heat for an extended period.
Klar: A New Year’s resolution (of political differences)
New Year’s 2025 celebrations augur the second inauguration of Donald J. Trump as president of the United States.
Low disposable income makes Vermont 5th worst state for work
Despite the highest workplace safety and a 37.8 hour work week on avg., Vermont ranks low due to a 48.46 happiness index and $15,263 average disposable income.
GOP State Senate leader: We won’t forget Vermonters
The new legislature needs to continue to focus on the difficult work of passing systemic change. VT voices deserve to be remembered and acted upon.
Keelan: VT nonprofits a new source of State revenue?
The Vermont nonprofit sector is one of the largest sectors of the State’s economy, measured by revenue generated and employees, yet is primarily unregulated.
Bossange: America’s lost political parties
If this past election proved anything, it confirmed the death of the national GOP, the unraveling of the Democrats, and the emergence of a new MAGA Party.
CLG: New Year’s ‘terror attack’ kills 10 people, injures 35 in New Orleans
Ukraine ends transit of Russian gas to EU; Canadian Teen Recovers From Severe H5N1 Bird Flu Infection; Fog Causing Mystery Illness Is Documented By Social Media
Furlough for dangerous inmate put on hold after public outcry
Breer has as a criminal history includes arrests for sexual assault, kidnapping, aggravated domestic assault and numerous violations of probation and parole.
VT Headlines: Ice jam shuts down Route 5 in St. Johnsbury with flooding
VSP interviews St. Johnsbury PD captain in connection with ongoing investigation into Dec. 13 shooting; Snow, rain to impact Vermont on New Year’s Day
Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy grew to $2.1 billion in 2023
Green Mountain State maintains #2 ranking for outdoor recreation as part of GDP.
Jesse: What we need from a new Essex-Westford school superintendent
They will have to focus on student academic achievement by setting specific measurable goals and focusing district resources on meeting those goals.
Gov. Phil Scott announces appointments to the newly-created land Land Use Review Board
This new Board is a reorganization of the Natural Resources Board, the organization responsible for the administration of Act 250, Vermont’s land use and development law.
As euthanasia booms in Canada, Vermont elections have weeded out assisted suicide proponents
Vermont’s “End of Life Choices” law means that doctors may prescribe lethal doses of medication to terminally ill patients if that’s what they choose.
2024 Healthcare: More sickness causing costs to rise?
In a nutshell, Vermont is getting sicker and older and our current health care system is going broke.
Celebrate in style at the best reception and event venues in Vermont
Vermont is home to many estates, hotels, and events places that offer picturesque settings to set the right mood for any occasion.
Police say homeless Barre man beats, robs elderly man
Police said they jailed Carlos Manuel Perez, 33, for lack of $3,500 bail at the state prison in St. Johnsbury following the arrest on Saturday.
VT Headlines: Joan Shannon will not seek reelection to Burlington City Council
Vernon police seize fentanyl, cocaine in traffic stop, two arrested; Wakefield police seek help finding missing 14-year-old; Buprenorphine initiative in Burl.
Soulia: Equal pay, unequal costs
How Vermont legislators spent your money on H.861
Swenson: From Montpelier to Austin
Lessons Vermont needs to learn from Texas. Vermont deserves better, and it’s time for its leaders to deliver.
Klar: Who will be VT’s new Lt. Governor?
Because John Rodgers unseated incumbent Lt. Gov. Dave Zuckerman with less than 50% of the popular vote, the VT Legislature will select who gets the job.
CLG: Jimmy Carter, 39th president of the United States, has died at 100 years old
Democratic Lawyers Call for Congress to Block Trump From Taking Office; Bird flu virus shows mutations in first severe human case in U.S., CDC says
Bennett: Jimmy Carter and the Marsh Rabbit
If a marsh rabbit can care about politics, the one in this story was surely a Republican.
Suspect in vicious beating/robbery released to mother
Abdirahman Mohammed, 22, is accused with four others of attacking a couple in downtown Burlington back in April.
Keelan: Is Zuckerman the reincarnation of Bernie?
The Lieutenant Governor’s traveling around the State to warn us of the crisis of book banning was irrelevant, and it fell on deaf ears.
A bone-chilling record
Vermont’s coldest day: December 30, 1933
Bird Flu confirmed in backyard flock in Franklin County
Officials alert animal owners of need for continued vigilance to protect bird flocks and cattle in Vermont
VT Headlines: Abandoned rottweiler recovering
EV infrastructure challenges; Church Street difficulties; Cats catching bird flu and how to keep them safe.
Klar: Biden renews technology-sharing treaty with China
All the while, Chinese drones threaten US national security.
Young-people’s rate of non-fatal overdoses increasing
Among these overdoses, cannabis, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and stimulants account for the most increase.
Queen City drug dens go viral
New social media clips show drug dens in Burlington as staffing challenges getting worse.
Klar: Will Donald Trump end birthright citizenship?
Birthright Citizenship hurts the nation: A constitutional examination of what makes an American.
Arnn: Drain the swamp
The following is adapted from remarks delivered on November 19, 2024, at a Hillsdale College reception in San Diego, California.
Vermont has the 2nd-most grocery stores per capita
The report notes that VT has 3.3 stores per 10,000 residents, while NY has the most with 4.3. At the bottom are UT, AZ, and NV all tied at 1.1 stores.
2024 in Education: Costs rise, performance declines
In 2024, the Green Mountain State saw education costs, aka property taxes, rise more than 13%. All while academic performance continued to decline.
Kinsley: No victory on property taxes this year
What we have is a distribution of resources problem. The resources we have are not making it to the right places to improve (or even maintain) student outcomes.
Grant: Slam the backdoor on China but keep American global business, allies in AI
The battle against China in AI is crucial. The U.S. has a narrow lead but cannot become complacent.
Letters: A little girl’s will to live
Running into turbulent seas the boat sunk and a 11 year old girl wearing a life jacket was the only survivor latching onto a tire tube.
Balint: Legislate away loneliness
Editor’s note: The holidays are a particularly lonely time of year for many people. Rep. Balint’s bill addresses a real problem.
Tree farm dream continues at Murray Hill
Bob Murray and his wife, Carlie, bought the 60-acre plot of land and planted their first tree in 1976.
New South Burlington city curator ‘exhibits’ belief in art, community
Sarah Jayne Kennelly creates showcases in South Burlington’s Public Art Gallery.
Kept from school as a girl, new district officer Saja Almogalli fights for Winooski students
Winooski is the only majority-minority school district in Vermont, and its students come from more than two dozen countries.
Bumps in the not-so-Silent Night
M.R. James and the tradition of Christmas ghost stories
CLG: Ukraine uses U.S. ATACMS to strike chemical plant in southern Russia
Interactive map reveals disturbing pattern in drone sightings across the U.S.; Pentagon Reveals It Actually Has 2,000 Troops in Syria, Not 900
Soulia: VT’s spending problem
Can our State break free from Federal dependency?
Soulia: The hidden cost of global healthcare
How U.S. overpayments prop up cheaper systems
Newport awarded $112K to launch downtown vendor cart program
The funds will support construction of custom vending carts and finance a marketing campaign targeting cross-border shoppers.
Brownington man gets 15 years in fatal shooting following abuse order
Michael Chadwick of Brownington pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Lamoille County Superior Court for the 2022 shooting death of Mark Benjamin, 42.
Page: From Reformation to redistribution
How the Protestant Reformation influenced the rise of Socialism
Wood: Daniel Penny and Luigi Mangione – was their violence justified?
Democracy is many things. One of those things is delicate. May we never live in a society where we believe that either violence or despair are the only options.
P.L.A.Y. and Cabot Creamery team up for Seriously Sharp Squeaker dog toy
Inspired by Cabot’s iconic Vermont Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese, this eco-friendly toy embodies the quality and community spirit both brands are known for.
BLOTTER: Break-in, assault, John Deere theft in Franklin Co.
A series of thefts and break-ins in Franklin Co.
Sugarbush to open new chair to summit of Lincoln Peak
On Saturday, December 21, Sugarbush Resort will debut its newest upgrade, the Heaven’s Gate Quad, providing a more spacious ride to the summit of Lincoln Peak.
Scott names new energy & telecom commissioner, others
The acting commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation and deputy commissioner of the Department of Liquor and Lottery were also named.
Dread your commute? These folks suggest trying a trail instead
“Our whole mission is trails that go somewhere,” one org director said. “The whole point is that you could use it to commute.”
VT Headlines: VSP search for missing man underwater
News quiz: What is UVM advising its foreign students to do before Donald Trump takes office?; Eric Edson sentenced on federal charges; Dronespotting
New pregnancy resource center says thanks to supporters
Despite the chaos in the world and in their lives, one thing never changes: God’s love for these parents and their children.
Bucknam: Repeal DEI requirements lawyer licensure
If this kind of vicious hatred towards Jews in Canada were directed at Blacks or LGBTQ folks, the Vermont Bar would surely have a serious discussion.
Wounded St. Johnsbury Police captain returns home
St. Johnsbury Police Capt. D. Jason Gray, who officials say was struck by two shotgun blasts during a domestic abuse call, returned home to a hero’s welcome
Health insurers missed $400 million in unrealized savings, GMCB says
Vermont hospital payments for VSEA and VEHI members ultimately averaged 289% of Medicare rates during the study duration.
Unspent Covid $$ to fund minority-owned businesses in Burlington
Program specifically to assist “Black and Brown communities in Burlington by putting resources directly into the hands of BIPOC people” and those serving them.
Newport woman charged with forcing teen to drink detergent mixture
Officers learned Hall had been making the juvenile ingest the dangerous mixture almost daily.
Gov. Phil Scott announces 16 projects received Transformational Tourism Grants
Also, Vermont 2025 hunting and fishing licenses and lawbooks available
Klar: New USDA guidelines will sicken us
The new regulations advocate “reducing focus on chronic disease risk reduction” and more on “improving the lifespan.”
Vermont State Treasurer press release on returning $1.3 million to Vermonters
The program will rightfully return a total of nearly $1.3 million to over 5,000 Vermonters before the holiday season.
Vermont AG going after gunmakers for violence involving firearms
18 AGs to go after firearms industry for gun violence, opponents call it ‘fear mongering’
Klar: Telling the truth about Communist tyranny
Legislation designed to rescue American students from the ideology of far-left academia.
Human Rights, Reconciliation Boards seek more public money
The Commission was set up in 1987 to advocate for various human rights protections such as providing representation for renters while in court for housing disputes.
Keep Vermont Safe: Green Mountain mayhem
Church Street juveniles with knives; Domestic/Sexual assault in Newport; Sexual Assault in Mendon; Salisbury man calls 911 a total of 56 times for no reason
Bryce: King Coal powers on
Thanks to soaring electricity demand in China and India, coal consumption will hit another new record this year: 8.8 billion tons.
CLG: NJ residents say they’re suffering alarming symptoms after encounters with drones
Ex-CIA officer gives chilling drone theory; Russian chemical defense chief killed in blast in Moscow; Madison female school shooter, 15, named after killing two
Roper: Climate Council doubles down on Clean Heat/Gas & Diesel carbon taxes
Time to repeal this unelected, worse than useless committee.
Despathy: Unelected Climate Council committee backs slower rollout of CHS
Despite all of the proposed Clean Heat Standard’s issues that have bubbled to the surface, some members of Vermont’s Climate Council refuse to let go.
Wrenner: $88 M state computer boondoggle goes full speed ahead
Total expected cost through 2031, for a system that is not guaranteed to work as expected: $88 M.
St. J. Police shooter was delusional and using crack cocaine
Pleads not guilty to upgraded charge; Habitual offender charge added
Burlington rejects anti-Israel referendum (again)
Those who opposed the measure again cited that it would divide their community.
NH GOP guv will help Trump deport illegals
Ayotte has been politely supportive, which we should not mistake for a road to Damascus conversion. But on deportation, she appears to be on board.
Bernie Sanders says Musk is right on military spending
Sanders wants to help Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, which is co-led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
More dogs than ever need homes: Passion 4 Paws is trying to help
Robin Shover founded the Shelburne-based non-profit in 2014 and has since rescued over 3,000 dogs.
Lt. Gov.-elect Rodgers: ‘I want to be a bridge’
John Rodgers on his political rebound, switching parties and priorities.
Parents object to transgender-themed books in kindergarten
The books in question are sometimes both graphic and targeting young audiences.
Smith: Why I elect not to vote
As a former liberal, conservative, and libertarian and, for years, I am happy to say that I have now freed myself from politics and voting.
Harrison: Next Legislature will look very different
The House Republicans plan to introduce legislation to repeal Act 18, the Clean Heat Standard.
Keelan: A little boy’s wish
Originally published on Christmas Eve, 2005, and published every Christmas Eve since. It was awarded 3rd Place in the 2021 New England Better Newspaper Competition, sponsored by NENPA
CLG: Biden regime spent $267 million on ‘disinformation’ research
Biden Education Department spent over $1 billion on DEI grants; U.S. pays $20 billion into Ukraine loan fund; Israel preparing to strike Iranian nuclear sites
Three opioid related overdoses in less than a 24 period in Hartford VT
100+ Vermonters a month die from opioid related fatality
Fernandez: Syria’s regime change: “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”?
Flooding from their base in the northern Idlib province, HTS, or Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is now Syria’s ruling para-military presence.
$21.8M housing project to create 40 units in Newport area
The $21.8 million project includes converting Newport City’s historic Sacred Heart Convent into 26 mixed-income rental units the high school into 24 condos.
Champlain College research on machine learning & data science gets noticed
Mentored by their professor, two Champlain College students gain international recognition for groundbreaking research that helps secure privacy in big data.
Guv reshuffles administration leadership team
Governor Phil Scott Wednesday announced new appointments within the administration and on his senior policy team.
VT Humane: File charges over slaughterhouse cruelty
The most recent animal cruelty reports, .documented by a federal inspector at the Vermont Packinghouse in N. Springfield, VT, should result in criminal charges.
