Investigative journalists are dropping like a congressional aide’s pants across the U.S. as main stream media lays-off thousands.
Bananas: Journalism lay-off pandemic sweeps across America to Vermont
Timothy Page
Feds charge Hardwick man in joyride
A well-traveled man has been ordered jailed after authorities said he stole a U.S. Forest Service vehicle in Manchester, took it on a joy ride throughout Vermont and the Northeast.
Fernandez: October 7, or what’s behind Israel’s 9/11?
October 7th was about Arabs taking Palestine back by force and moving it back into the House of Islam, or Dar Al Islam.
Lawmakers considering having Vermont taxpayers pay for slavery
One point emphasized by Legislative Counsel Tucker Anderson was that the task force can only make recommendations, the power to set policy remains with elected legislators.
Brennan: It’s time for Vermont lawmakers to put flavor bans to rest
Legislators would be well served to consider policies that would bolster education and training practices that continue to meet the objective, drive down youth tobacco use.
Roper: Get ready for $800 million in higher electric costs, just cuz
More ideological virtue signaling with other people’s money.
VT Headlines: Library pays century-old debt to help with flood recovery
House advances ‘life raft’ budget adjustment to help flood-affected municipalities; Proposed agreement to expand UVM student housing moves forward
Vermont prosecutor arrested for DUI
Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos was arrested for suspicion of driving while under the influence Thursday evening after she showed up at the scene of a suspicious death in Bridport.
Klar: A tale of two billionaire farmers
What Mark Zuckerberg’s cows tell us.
Green: Crime and Concerns in Morristown
Morristown held its second community Crime and Concerns meeting at the People’s Academy auditorium this past Monday night.
Despathy: Moving past the covid hysteria, settling back into the science
As the censorship stranglehold loosens, risks, impacts and new findings related to covid injections are surfacing.
Accused drug dealer ‘Stop Sign’ faces 20 years
About 85 grams of suspected cocaine base, 25 grams of suspected fentanyl, and multiple digital scales were found.
Feds, banks colluded to snoop on religious, gun-owning Americans without warrant
If the FBI’s and FinCEN’s collusion with banks is any indication, the Left plan to “extinguish all bigoted beliefs” involves extinguishing one constitutionally guaranteed freedom at a time.
VT Headlines: Burlington authorities try to clear Battery Street homeless encampment
Implementation of Vt. nursing licensure compact proves costly; Bristol woman pleads guilty to plotting with son to kill her husband in Hinesburg; Vt. health officials tell lawmakers to reject cannabis potency proposal
Gorman: Energy industry bill disenfranchises Vermonters
Rather than replace wild living trees with industrial dead solar panels, rather than surrender the Biosphere and the Ethnosphere to the Technosphere, we need to start saving every wild acre left.
Economists bullish about Vermont’s economy
Brushing aside previous concerns about a mild recession, Vermont’s economists told panel members that the economy and the state’s revenues are strengthening.
What’s a mobile home park? A Vermont House bill could change the definition
The bill, H.618, aims to expand the legal definition of mobile home parks to include communities of mobile home owners who own their own lots.
Walgreens in Vermont fined for Covid-era ‘vaccination errors’
Covid-era labor shortages and high demand for vaccines led to poor working conditions and medication/vaccination errors at Vermont’s largest drug store chain.
Stack: Vermont’s education-budget sausage grinding continues
The Act 127 & 173 Follies!
Goddard College closes campus, uninhabited residence halls remain
On Tuesday Goddard College in Plainfield formally shut down on-campus programs in favor of an online-only model which is anticipated to last at least a year.
Scott budgets for psychiatric youth facility, housing and disaster relief – but no new taxes and fees
“Our communities and all those looking for, or struggling to afford, a decent home – they don’t have the lobbyists, the money, or the time to push back on the campaigns we’ve already started to see, to keep you from taking action,” Scott told legislators.
VT Headlines: Bennington Man charged with possession of a bomb
Vermont woman admits to planning husband’s death; Slate Ridge case now before the Vermont Supreme Court; GlobalFoundries donates high-tech equipment to local high school
Proposed constitutional amendment enhances equality – but not for religion
A previous version of Proposition 4 from 2019 included “religion” between “sex” and “disability.” No more. Some demand to know why.
CLG: Trump cruises in New Hampshire primary election, Haley vows to fight on
Biden wins write-in vote in New Hampshire; U.S. launches new round of airstrikes in Iraq; U.S., Allies Conduct New Strikes Against 8 Houthi Targets in Yemen; Ocean freight rates skyrocketing
Keelan: Requirements to become a town treasurer: not much
Your local licensed barber has far greater required qualifications.
Lawmakers will tackle carbon reductions, slavery reparations, library book controversies and more
These bills will be reviewed in legislative committees this week. For more information, including times and agenda, see weekly schedule.
After Netanyahu rejects two-state solution, Bernie calls for funding cuts
Netanyahu says a Palestinian state would become a launching ground for further attacks against Israel.
VT Headlines: Vermont public transit system faces funding crisis
21 skiers and snowboarders rescued from Killington’s backcountry Saturday; Northfield woman receives nearly 170 gallons of free fuel from nonprofit; Vt. Organic Farming Association receives $1 million
Roper: The last Democrat pay raise bill was greedy. This one’s also corrupt.
“Poverty for thee, but not for me!”
Mary Fletcher Hospital opened 145 years ago today
Pioneering medical education in Vermont: January 22, 1879
VT Headlines: Mayor Miro Weinberger proposes increase of public safety tax
VTSU offers free tuition for some in-state students; More Vermont police departments eyeing EVs; Stolen car damages South Burlington Police cruisers
CLG: Florida Gov. DeSantis drops out, endorses Trump
WHO director calls for world pandemic treaty to prepare for Disease X; UN condemns Ukrainian attack that killed 27 civilians in Russian city; U.S. preparing for ‘sustained’ Yemen bombing campaign
MacDonald: NH seeks to ban cloud seeding and other atmospheric geoengineering
If we lack any sense of transparency, limits, or regulation, we might find ourselves subject to man-caused atmospheric effects without knowledge of recourse.
Paul: Lessons from the Great Covid Cover-up
We the American people must not allow bureaucratic “experts” to endanger our lives, lie to us, or curtail our constitutional rights. Never again.
Ryan: Socrates and the failure of democracy
Basically, Democracy means we can rule on anything we like, as long as 50% of people say we can. That is about as dangerous a rule as I’ve ever heard.
Bananas: CBS to air ‘Survivor: Burlington’
As they scoured the world looking for the best urban challenge they were shocked to find Burlington has a D- crime, in the top 10% least safe cities in the United States.
Woodstock Foundation seeks six-month delay in lawsuit
The plaintiffs will fight any effort to sidetrack the case, their primary local lawyer Michael F. Hanley of Plante & Hanley in White River Junction said this week.
LaMarche: The new digital highwaymen
Supposedly ‘equity’ minded lawmakers want to cover Vermont highways with traffic cameras that elsewhere have led to ‘disproportionate’ traffic ticketing for minorities.
VT Headlines: Stowe Winter Carnival underway
Closing of Putney Paper Mill a shock, local lawmaker says; Sen. Peter Welch calls for Federal standard of reproductive rights; Shelters expanding hours, staffing ahead of strong wind chills Saturday
Williams: Opposing H634 means preserving opportunity for our children
Shouldn’t quality, cost, convenience, what’s best for children, and local control be the driving forces behind these decisions — not the legislature?
Thayer: No such thing as a “safe injection site”
Vermont taxpayers paying for this bad behavior to stay high and unproductive in society, and to never seek help – how is that safe or right?
Vermont advocates renew push for single payer system
Critics say the proposal would add another layer of taxation to a state struggling to remain competitive by reducing the high cost of living.
Roper: My constituents want school choice and must be stopped!
Rep. Laura Sibilia introduces legislation intentionally opposed to her constituents’ interests.
126 years ago today, fire destroyed Barre Opera House
A glimpse into the devastating fire of January 18, 1898.
VT Headlines: VT lawmakers revisit single-payer universal health care
Burlington mayoral candidates debate for 1st time; North Country lawmaker seeks increased funding for nursing homes; Vermont doctors, patients seek living kidney donors
Evslin: A cease fire in Gaza will not make Hamas go away
It’s like ending crime by defunding the police.
Frenier: The limits of intersectionality
All social theories sooner or later are shown to be flawed. This is because no theory, no matter how brilliant, can capture all of reality.
Video: James Wilson and the American globe
One of Vermont’s claims to fame is James Wilson- a Bradford resident who produced the first globe in the Americas in 1802.
Conversations about conflict at Burlington High School
Teachers at Burlington High School are facing hard decisions about how to discuss the Israeli-Hamas war in class–or if they should discuss it at all.
VT Headlines: Should VT municipalities sign on to statewide ethics code?
St. Johnsbury hospital seeing surge in respiratory illness; Will this be the year Vermont bans flavored tobacco sales?; Vt. auditor finds ‘consequential mistakes’ in Burlington TIF accounting
Galfetti: Safe injection or throwing money in the fire?
A 12-year old child could walk in without a parent or guardian and proceed to “shoot up,” no questions asked.
Despathy: Supermajority bills usurp parent rights over healthcare, local control of energy, schools
If big government ever earns a final epitaph, it will be this ‘Here lies a contrivance engineered by know-it-alls who broke eggs with abandon but never, ever created an omelet.”
Davis: Infringing on freedom
Vermont’s ongoing battle for gun rights.
Rep. Jim Harrison: Making a point about legislative pay?
Pay the governor the same as legislators? Some Dem lawmakers are trying to make a point.
School curriculum sides with Palestinians, promotes socialism
Class on social movements and protest requires students to highlight work of Palestinian social movements, no equal time for Jewish, Israeli movements.
Milton High School Board flunks new flagpole for political flags
Milton High is not the only school debating whether to bring down its BLM flag, members of the Champlain Valley School District School Board are considering taking theirs down as well.
CLG: Trump projected winner of Iowa GOP caucuses
DeSantis poised for second, Haley third in Iowa GOP caucuses; Iran fires missiles at ‘terrorists and spies’ near U.S. consulate; Houthis hit U.S. ship with missile
VT Headlines: Barre’s ‘cliffhangers’ in limbo as city considers landslide buyouts
Anti-war protesters target Vergennes weapons facility; Split Council Restores Firefighter Job, OKs Budget – tax rate would go up 4.56%; Winooski FD responds to repeat structure fire on Main Street
Warner: VT GOP – call me crazy, but….
If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. (Galatians 5:15)
Roper: Stop forcing EVs down our throats
Soviet-style central planning does not work!
Wheeler: Political outage!
Recently someone complaining about one of the sad policies in our State blurted out: “Someone has a lot of work to do!” It never occurred to this person that the “someone” included them!
VT Headlines: Man arrested after stabbing person with sharp object several times
Leaders from across U.S. gather at Burlington’s City Hall to honor MLK; Lawmakers consider requiring home sellers and landlords to disclose flood risks; Utility crews make headway on Vermont outages
Klar: Is a nuclear renaissance on the horizon?
Proponents of climate change action are increasingly coming to terms with the factual reality that renewable energy manufacturing cannot possibly provide the baseload of power the world requires.
LaMarche: The misspent millions
This crisis is solvable. But state leaders’ proclivity for short-term, wasteful solutions, hinders effective and lasting change.
Eshelman: Traditional public school vs. tuitioned school choice
With School Choice Tuitioning there is a choice. In a monopolized traditional public-school format, parents get what they get.
Banned chemicals PCBs found in East Montpelier’s U-32, remediation underway
U-32 Middle and High School in East Montpelier has joined dozens of schools in the state testing positive for the toxins, also called polychlorinated biphenyls.
Cole: Against unlimited government
Apparently, our legislators see the boundaries and shrug them off. This is akin to me getting elected and proposing a ban on all abortions despite the recent limits on abortion restrictions Vermonters put into the state constitution.
VT Headlines: Legal online sports betting officially launches in Vermont
Vermonters still without power ahead of winter storm forecasted on Friday; Swanton Village voters to weigh public safety expansion; Vt. lawmakers revisit flavored-tobacco ban
CLG: U.S., U.K. begin bombing Yemen
Democrats fume after Biden orders Yemen airstrikes w/o congressional approval; Ukraine shells Donetsk hospital on Christmas Eve; Pentagon report fails to track $1 billion in weaponry for Ukraine
Roper: House Democrats pass BYOD State Supported drug dens
Despite being Federally illegal: Bring your own drugs! What could go wrong?
Baker: I want to be Ben Shapiro
Not really be him, but I sure would love his intellect and ability to debate. Let me tell you why.
VT Headlines: Utility crews spread across rural areas of VT to restore power before upcoming weekend storm
Low-income Vermonters struggle with loss of Medicaid coverage; Vermont woman hospitalized after building collapse in Dummerston; Authorities clean up South Burlington encampment
Bill prioritizes minorities and illegal immigrants for flood reimbursement
A bill introduced Jan. 10 deprioritizes the majority of Vermonters for proposed flood recovery assistance.
MacDonald: Vermont Surpasses 2022, With 27 Homicides in 2023
Only half of the homicides were gun crimes, a fact lawmakers choose to ignore.
Keelan: Efficiency Vermont just keeps growing
Efficiency Vermont is not different than most Vermont nonprofits that are, in effect, quasi-state agencies. They have substantial mission creep.
Windham County man faces Fed. court for lumber poaching
USFS claims “299 merchantable trees were unlawfully harvested. Many small non-merchantable trees (an inch or less in diameter at breast height) were also cut, but not tallied.”
Frustration grows over out-of-staters committing crimes in Vermont
A suspect in a shooting that occurred in October of last year was apprehended in Union, New Jersey on Jan 4. This is the latest incident that involves out-of-state residents committing crimes in VT.
Klar: New York law attacks religious freedom
Chick-fil-A is targeted for its faith yet again.
End-of-life assisted suicide up since 2021; policy may undermine neighboring states
Vermont possibly to become a “suicide tourism” destination.
Free ice fishing Jan. 27
Festival at Elmore State Park
DMV official put on leave while FBI investigates
Wade Cochran, director of the enforcement and safety division at the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, has been placed on paid leave pending an unspecified Federal investigation.
Evslin: How not to control disease
Overstrict rules are counterproductive
VT Headlines: How Vt. communities are working to turn problem properties into profit
Chelsea tackles rise in crime with help from neighboring communities; Burlington again struggles to find consensus on police oversight; Fire rips through Vermont home
McClaughry: Civil society
What is less likely to make news are act of kindness, generosity, good Samaritans, people stepping in to help those who have suffered misfortunes.
Lawmakers to hold hearing on ‘woke ideologies’ influencing the military
Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs Chairman Glenn Grothman, R-Wisc., will host the hearing.
Vermont Huts reaches out
Vermont Huts Association looks to bring more people into the outdoors
Director of Elections moving on
Secretary of State announces nationwide search.
Roper: Make VPIRG pay
For flood damage to our communities and mental health damage to our children
Silverstein: Selection bias, a trojan horse and a Don Tinney proposal: a financially toxic threesome
Failure to review and reflect on the entirety of all relevant information almost guarantees that the conclusions drawn will be neither justified nor reliable.
VT Headlines: Some Vermont schools have been without potable tap water for years
Taxes on sugary drinks cut consumer sales by 33%, study says; Welch talks border policy changes and workforce issues; Police want your help identifying a Smuggler’s Notch burglar
LaMarche: An affection for injection
“Safe injection” sites are coming to a community near you.
Bananas Exclusive: Gay’s resignation letter
Johnny Bananas is the nom de plume of a fake news reporter living in Vermont. Nothing he reports ever actually happened. This is satire, folks.
Resort faces safety violations after toddler’s July, 2023 water tank drowning
The water tank entrance was supposed to be clearly marked with danger signs and have a secure cover held shut with metal bolts. Smuggs failed on both fronts, a state report says.
CLG: SCOTUS to take up Trump Colorado ballot case
37 Epstein Documents Released in Their Entirety; Wyoming judge dismisses effort to bar Trump from ballot; Maine GOP state lawmaker moves to impeach state secretary over Trump ballot removal
Iselin: American Epiphany
We have created a society in which those who favor and advocate the truth in real life, just as Jesus did, rather than only in abstract ivory towers, are sneeringly, mockingly persecuted as “Truthers” by the shamestream media and by censorship.
Beck: What a mess
The annual discussion over Vermont’s Education Fund and wringing of hands over education property tax rates is an unprecedented mess this year, and that’s being kind.
Fired Woodstock coach loses first round in transgender lawsuit
The Woodstock Union High School coach, fired after he joined a private conversation last Feb. by two students on his team about transgender athletes, lost his first battle to win back his job.
VT Headlines: Authorities work to solve surge of homicides from 2023
Vermont Senate beefs up financial disclosure requirements in response to VTDigger reporting; Brattleboro’s municipal EMS takeover plan may face state review; DEC outlines bathroom environmental action
Coast-to-coast drug kingpin sentenced in Burlington to 12 years
A part-time Vermont resident, the mastermind of a coast-to-coast conspiracy to distribute hard drugs and launder drug money, was sentenced to 12 years.
Stevenson: Fish and Wildlife Department defies legislators
Vermonters have been trying to change how the Fish and Wildlife Board and Department treats wildlife and the public for decades but reach grid lock, every time — and here we are again.
