You might be familiar with the phrase “October Surprise,” where a crucial and election-shaping incident transpires shortly before an election.
LaMarche: Accused of using the n-word – a February surprise
Guy Page
Guy Page is the editor and publisher of the Vermont Daily Chronicle.
When You Became Your Own Media, look what happened!
I need to tell you what happened AFTER I told a group of people Saturday night how to Become Your Own Media.
State GOP leaders shun Trump for Haley
Nikki Haley is coming to Vermont Sunday afternoon, and some state GOP leaders are coming out in favor of her over Donald Trump.
Cyberattack causing delays filling Medicaid prescriptions
State officials are urging patience.
BREAKING: Senate moves to save Salisbury fish hatchery/ GunSense pushes gun ban at polls/ F&W, coyote bill lacks votes
Salisbury hatchery ALIVE. Coyote hunting ban NOT SO MUCH. The latest from the State House.
Bartley: Housing crisis progress dying in environment committees
Remember when the Legislature said it would reform Act 250 to allow more housing? Apparently the Supermajority leaders can’t either.
Mom dead in NH, Amber Alert for children
The children are believed to be with their biological father, who police say may be armed and dangerous.
Bernie’s federal judge screeners have NO federal court experience
Paul Burns, the executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group in Montpelier, Xusana Davis, executive director of Racial Equity for the state, and Barbara Prine, a staff attorney at Vermont Legal Aid in Burlington are all listed as have zero cases in federal court.
Headlines: Towns brace for school budget backlash/ Judge holds journo in contempt/ Non-profit fraudster
A judge ordering a Fox News reporter to reveal her sources says he supports freedom of the press, but…..
Buffalo Soldiers, modern-day service noted at Fort Ethan Allen
The 10th Cavalry Regiment, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers, was stationed at Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester in the early 1900’s.
Schools without budgets could face 87% ‘solution’
Any school district without an approved 2024 budget by July 1 will face the 87% Solution.
Decker Towers resident pepper sprays transients and cleaning staff
Luther allegedly sprayed an individual who was, in fact, a paid cleaner who was cleaning the stairwell.
Must-see Video: What hath Bernie wrought?
Burlington’s Bernie Revolution started with such hope. In a video expanded from yesterday’s version, a former Prog now running as a Republican talks about his long march to disillusionment.
Gov. Scott says he’s leaning towards voting No on his local school budget
Like other Vermonters, Gov. Scott is looking at a ‘significant’ property tax increase.
Video: Former Bernie Prog now runs for school board as a Republican
Bill moved to Burlington in the 1980’s because he was attracted to the socialist movement spearheaded by a Brooklyn-born guy who was making headlines across the country.
AG demands cut in pickup truck settlement – after it’s made
Cut us in, California.
Life without parole ends for Newport murderer
Brochu was serving a life without parole sentence for the aggravated murder of 18-year-old Tara Stratton, in Barre in January of 2003.
State ambulance chief on leave during investigation into drinking case
“Hospital staff noted Paramedic Dame appeared to be impaired. After an evaluation, Ms. Dame was determined to not be fit to perform her duties,” Vermont Health Department spokesman Ben Truman said.
Cyberattack causes Medicaid prescription ‘service outage’
Vermont’s Medicaid pharmacy system has suffered the same cyberattack that struck much of New England.
Stormwater regs will put county fairs out of business, Senate told
Stormwater permit compliance will cost up to $1 million per county fair. “You just can’t make that kind of money up at the fairground,” Folsom said.
‘Bank your vote,’ Dame urges Town Meeting voters
Moose hearings. Utility scams. Struggle over short-term rentals. Party chair urges GOP to “bank” Town Meeting votes.
Legislature passes school tax ‘fix’ – now what?
The situation was so dire that, the Campaign for Vermont reports, a Democratic state senator looking at a $3,000 property tax increase herself said the pre-H.850 property tax would “put people out of their homes.”
Retail theft, Act 250 ‘reform’ bills in House committees
A House bill now under committee review would make it much easier to charge a suspect with felony shoplifting – but would reduce the sentence.
Secrecy surrounds next federal judge in Vermont
Vermont’s diversity chief, the president of VPIRG, and a Planned Parenthood lawyer are on the selection team for the next U.S. federal judge.
Stolen Mississippi gun recovered in Irasburg burglary bust
Paintball vandals. Barre man arrested for Bradford traffic disturbance. And border cops and state police collaborate on a bust.
Vermont doctors take to radio to describe risk of high-THC pot
Vermont doctors argue the risk to mental health if THC caps are eliminated. The marijuana industry claims keeping the current cap will be bad for business.
Wealth taxes could prompt exodus of highly-mobile Vermonters
Is it even constitutional to tax unrealized capital gains?
Another teen arrested for murder in Vermont
A 15-year-old Maine native now living in Springfield, MA has been charged with felony second-degree murder for a shooting in St. Johnsbury.
Judge rules coyote hunting with dogs in public interest
In a case with ramifications for S.258, a judge has ruled in favor of the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife coyote regulations.
I told you so, Scott says when signing ed financing fix bill
You can almost hear the governor saying “I told you so'” to the Legislature.
United Nations cited 18 times in House Environment and Energy Committee docs
A documents search of the Vermont Legislature website shows a strong U.N. advisory presence – especially in one key committee. And just what is a ‘polycrisis?’
On April 8, the sun will go dark
“We expect to see a large volume of visitors to the region in the days before, during and after the event. With this in mind, the Lake Champlain Chamber is encouraging cities, towns, and businesses in the region to plan accordingly.”
Video: Sportsmen oppose Fish & Wildlife Board changes
Opponents of S.258, reconfiguring the Fish & Wildlife Board, speak out in this VDC video of a Tuesday, February 20 State House gathering.
Bigfoot Vocalization in Orleans County?
A Bigfoot heard in Orleans County? You decide. NOT Satire. Because it’s Friday.
Woman freed after serving four months for dragging, injuring police officer
A woman who dragged and injured a police officer with her car served four months after her sentence last November. Now she’s free.
Woman found in woods died of strangling
The woman’s mother reported her missing. Hours later her body was found in woods in the small town of Washington.
Legislator bagged for DUI outside State House
The Bennington lawmaker won’t be contesting the charge, a spokesperson for House Democrats said.
Senate toughens hunting control bill morning after sportsmen gather at State House
The Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee Wednesday has made a bill strongly opposed hunting advocates even more restrictive.
Vermont part of national cellphone outage
“We should know more within 12 hours,” a Verizon boilerplate message says about an inquiry into “potential network disruption” in Barre.
Second-biggest baseload power plant faces Act 250 review today
Big power plant’s effort to recover heat loss gets a look by regulators. Cops banned for cellphone pix, voyeurism. Popular speakers join Supreme Court free speech case.
Dame, MAGA Vermonter discuss the Great Divide
Ley: “We failed when we support a Governor who refused to vote for the best president in recent history.” Dame: “I think the blame goes both ways – right? There’s plenty of Republicans Donald Trump refuses to support.”
Senator interrupts Family Alliance speaker twice – but tactic doesn’t work
A frustrated – or just rude – state senator interrupts the testimony of a Vermont Family Alliance advocate. See brief YouTube clip.
3-year-old on ventilator after ice fishing tragedy on Lake Memphremagog
A patch of thin ice was the scene of a family riding a side-by-side plunging into the icy waters of Lake Memphremagog Saturday.
Ehlers: House committee to vote on raising everyone’s electricity rates
The same influential lobby group that wants to remove local control from energy siting also wants ratepayers to pay more to fund the reconstruction of Vermont’s energy grid.
Legislature control over sheriffs, gender ID rights, “Climate Resilience Officer”and more discussed in Senate committees
Senate committees this week will ponder amending the Constitution to control sheriffs and make gender ID a protected civil right.
Legislature’s War on Age of Consent moves to child vaccination
The Legislature’s War on the Age of Consent is fought on the battlefields of schools, libraries, voting booths, and health clinics
Scott asks Biden for December flood relief $$
Mid-December flooding that produced some PTSD in flood-shocked Vermonters has elicited a request of federal disaster relief from Gov. Phil Scott.
Towns may postpone Town Meeting
A bill expected to pass the Legislature this week will allow towns to postpone Town Meeting in hopes of voting on reduced school spending.
Despathy: House committees ignore billion-dollar cost of Renewable Energy Standard – what is going on?
Two House committees punt on the billion-dollar price-tag of an energy bill rumored to be ‘the Speaker’s bill drafted by a renewable energy lobbying organization.
100% renewable power mandate, Wealth Tax, expanded socialized healthcare sought in House committees this week
Most bills need to be approved in their committee of jurisdiction by March 15 in order to be taken up for a full vote this year. Committees will be pushing hard until then.
Power struggle over trapping, coyote hunting peaks in Senate this week
S.258 would seize rule-making power from the Fish & Wildlife Board, expand the role of non-hunters, and prohibit coyote hunting with bait and dogs.
Breaking: Dangerous dude busted by SWAT team in Montpelier
Montpelier Police tried unsuccessfully to get Sicely to surrender during the day. Later the State Police Crisis Negotiators also made a try, but he still refused to budge. State Police eventually deployed a form of tear gas and Sicely surrendered.
“I will not go gentle into that good night”
Lately I am realizing that the “you” in “we need you more than ever” is a plural that refers to our whole team – me, my indispensable copy editor Tim Page, reporter Mike Bielawski, and social media director Paul Bean – as well as the score of other regular contributors.
Mandatory local option tax proposed
A new House bill takes the option out of the local option tax.
Bradley: Salisbury fish hatchery cannot be closed
Closing the Salisbury fish hatchery is a budget cut that will have disastrous effects for fishing in Vermont.
Avian Flu crosses species, kills Vermont bobcat
A Vermont mammal has died of the highly pathogenic avian flu.
Checkback on Clean Heat Standard slams 2025 deadline
The Public Utilities Commission ‘checkback’ report resisted by climate hawk supporters of the Clean Heat Standard has been issued – and it’s not good news for them.
Solutions to public safety dispatch, unemployment computer woes years away
Public safety dispatch upgrade planning: two years. Unemployment insurance computer: four years away.
Warner: I’m running for Selectboard
Among the many issues connected to the board are complaints from former members of bigotry and racism while townsfolk have complained of incompetence and social justice activism from members violating the stated charter function.
UVMMC ransomware hacker pleads guilty
The Ukrainian mastermind behind the devastating 2020 ransomware attack on Vermont’s largest hospital has pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court.
BeanTV: What’s dating like in Burlington?
Paul Bean goes to Dating Ground Zero – the University of Vermont.
Scott recommends tougher crime laws
“We should learn from the failed experiments in places like San Francisco and Oregon, where even they are thinking of repealing many of the measures they’ve put in place,” Scott said.
Senator typing during Scott budget address stirs discussion about decorum
A breach of decorum during Gov. Phil Scott’s January 23 budget address had the State House buzzing afterwards, and is believed to have spurred Senate leadership to give membership a refresher course on decorum when visiting the House chamber.
Dawson: Meeting VT EV mandates in a high-end market
Sales tips for selling luxury EVs to Vermonters.
Wall Street Journal says geoengineering is really happening
“Scientists are resorting to once unthinkable techniques to cool the planet because global efforts to check greenhouse gas emissions are failing,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Three held in connection with Wright murder remain jailed
Kayla Wright had been associating with Keith, who also uses the name “Anthony Borrow,” and others at the house, Labor said.
Was Migrant Justice speaker “here…. illegally?” Pro & con
Major’s statement clearly was rude and crude. Both what he said and how he said it offended the council and his employers. But – was he wrong?
Bananas: Taylor Swift wins first Super Bowl championship & MVP
She is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Taylors).
Senators review ban on sale of gas-powered cars, kids who can’t read, hallucinogen decrim
Senate seeks solutions to students’ declining reading scores.
Bill would require farmers to house workers hired via state-run directory
No other state-funded employment directory requires employers to house workers hired under its auspices.
22 years for raping little girls and filming it
“One of the more serious child pornography cases in Vermont in recent years” involved a man (now seeking to become a woman) who filmed his rape of little girls.
Democrat Attorney General Clark contributes to Progressive mayor candidate
“The work is about recognizing where our system has disproportionately impacted people of color, and digging in to how to rectify that,” Charity Clark said of her job at the Vermont Attorney General’s office in 2020.
Pro-life advocates criticize Christian group’s ‘pro-abortion'(?) Super Bowl ad
There’s a reason the “He Gets Us” commercial didn’t show a liberal washing the feet of someone in a MAGA hat, or a BLM protestor washing an officer’s feet. That would’ve been actually subversive.
Paul Dame interview Thursday night
Q& A with Paul Dame on Twitter/X Thursday night
“Car-free” society, illegal immigrants in workforce, expanding socialized healthcare bills in House committees
The proposed transportation plan transitions away from gasoline-powered vehicles.
Warner: Calling out Hartford DQSH and bomb hoax
The bomb hoax, obscured by an encrypted Russian server from whom the hoax emails came, needs to be addressed.
On second thought… Bill removes tax cap linked to big school tax hike
House committee steps back from looming school tax hike, while another committee advances renewable power bill that could cost ratepayers $1 billion.
Big brawl at the Whiskey Den
“I arrived on scene and found people on the ground engaging in a physical altercation with each other. I stopped the altercations.” – Cpl. George Johnson
State climate change suit vs. Exxon may continue in state court
A federal judge says Vermont courts are a fitting venue for the State’s lawsuit against Exxon for alleged harmful climate change policies.
First Vermont Lottery benefited blind slaver from Alburg
Hawkins tried in vain to regain his vision. He learned from doctors in this country that an opthamologist in Europe was his only hope. With no money to pay his passage over, he needed help.
Cop quits three jobs after ‘hot mic’ statement about illegal alien
Major’s explanation that he was talking to his daughter was not accepted as either true or excusable by other members, who called for his resignation.
Sheriff John Grismore tells his side of the “kick”
“It was a seating maneuver to put him back on the bench,” Grismore said on the radio Tuesday.
Adjusted state budget creates Universal Afterschool, boosts flood relief, library and dispatch planning
Revenue for planning and implementing universal afterschool and summer programming will come from the legal sale of cannabis.
Police raid expected to yield more arrests
Fentanyl, coke, cash seized in raid. Fatal snowmobile crash. Truck hits covered bridge. Guns stolen from cars. Gunfire along Thetford highway near childcare center and pediatrician’s office.
JAM: Bill gives teeth to school mascot law
If the same Legislature that bungled its way to the proposed 20% school tax increase passes this law too, taxpayers had better look to either mascot compliance – or their wallets.
Tallest building in Vermont nears completion
Bill gives school mascot law teeth. ‘Right Side Up’ talks REAL substance abuse recovery. Sewage spill in Springfield. Presidential Primary and Town Meeting less than a month away.
Scott signs flood-related municipal tax relief bill
S.160 passes along the duty to pay the lost tax revenue from the municipal property taxpayers to all Vermont property taxpayers.
Woman shot in head, body dumped in container
Investigation showed Kayla Wright, 29, of Derby, was shot multiple times, and at least one shot struck her in the head, killing her.
Three state troopers placed on leave back to work, commander reassigned
Lt. Owen Ballinger, a 25-year state police veteran, was quietly moved to headquarters in Waterbury as of Jan. 14 and is now listed as the administrative services coordinator.
Ed funding crisis impacts legislative pay hike, cigarette ban bills
The looming 20.5% property tax increase is impacting legislative and state budget decisions in the State House, as legislative leaders and Scott administration seek to save money – even threatening favored policy initiatives.
State looks to South Burlington, Vergennes as new home for youth detention facility
Newbury is out and South Burlington and Vergennes are in as possible sites for the state’s new ‘justice involved’ youth detention and treatment facility.
In Committee: Senate lawmakers seek to ban social media and personal electronics at schools
Cellphones in school are a source of distraction and bullying. Best to ban their use there, a Rutland County senator says.
Unanimous House honors TV newsman Stewart Ledbetter
Stewart Ledbetter is a rare breed of reporter.
Arrested for smashing bus stop windows with bricks/ Fire displaces families/ Two dead bodies found
Witnesses provided Officer George Johnson with cell phone video of Farnsworth smashing out the glass with a brick.
ANOTHER sinkhole in downtown Burlington
For the second time in two months, a Burlington Daily News photographer has filmed a downtown street sinkhole caused by a broken underground pipe.
Pro-wind energy lawyer decries NIMBYs, backs Senate bill
A utility industry lawyer claims “NIMBYs” (Not In My Backyard) oppposing wind and solar projects have “captured” the energy siting regulatory process with their “self-interested and occasionally irrational opposition.”
House committees ponder gun ban in public buildings/ carbon credits for utilities/ Homeless Bill of Rights/ Non-rez property tax surcharge
Carbon credits for utilities using fossil fuels? A pro-nature, pro-biodiversity Act 250? No guns in public buildings? How about an additional property tax? House committees will consider them all this week.
Burlington man gets five years for luring 12, 13 year olds to provide child porn
Martin later threatened the minor and caused the minor to send him additional CSAM in the form of photographs and videos of the minor.
Third arrest in Danby drug dispute murder
The homicide on Danby Mountain Road arose from a dispute among a group of people regarding drug trafficking and stolen firearms.
BREAKING: Scott goes national with support for Congress border bill
With other Republican governors are on Texas, Gov. Phil Scott has gone national with his support for the Border Bill.
