The people are being relocated this week. Property and debris will be removed next week, the mayor’s office says.
City to remove Battery Park homeless camp
Guy Page
Guy Page is the editor and publisher of the Vermont Daily Chronicle.
Climate Superfund bill seeks retroactive carbon tax on Big Oil, back to 2000
A bill introduced into the House would require Big Oil to pay into a climate change Superfund.
Voluntary paid family leave starts Feb. 13
Gov. Scott’s voluntary program provides partial income replacement for workers who need to take care of a family member. A mandatory PFL bill didn’t pass last year but could return this session.
Grand Isle Democrat voter from West Coast warns against safe injection sites
“The substance use disorder population has boomed since safe injection sites were started.”
UVM doctors seek living kidney donors
People who donate one kidney can continue to live healthy lives with their remaining kidney.
Man suing to bump Trump off Vermont ballot indicted for tax fraud
Castro charges that Trump gave direction, “aid and comfort” to ‘insurrectionist’ Proud Boys who stormed the Capitol January 6.
Which state employees earn more than Phil Scott?
Ahead of Scott (#94) is a “who’s that?” roster of UVM deans, administrators and professors.
Rebuffed suitor shoots 12 rounds into home
Charest allegedly sent notes expressing romantic interest and was previously warned by police to stop.
Children could shoot up in ‘safe injection sites,” GOP lawmakers warn
The bill’s sponsor says it’s up to the Health Department to establish any age-limit guidelines.
Legislature considers keeping reporters, public out of Truth & Reconciliation Commission meetings
An appointed state committee with influence on the reparations debate wants to meet without press and public physically present.
Burlington City Council delays police oversight vote
“This…this sucks,” Progressive Councilor Joe Magee said before storming out of City Hall.
Whitaker: Vermont’s dispatching mess
The State may need to forfeit the $9M in a budget year when every dollar counts.
Ehlers: Why does the Colchester Selectboard hate canaries (and clean water)?
Malletts Bay – proclaimed the Jewel of Lake Champlain – is degrading faster than any other section of lake, and it is because of development.
VIDEO: Behind the story of Milton High kneeling for the national anthem
“Can you imagine being called names daily because of the color of your skin? I can’t. I can not place myself in these children’s shoes,” a Milton mother says.
Teen arrested for attempted murder by car
Video shows an attempted murder victim being flipped into the air by a car police say was driven by an 18-year-old South Burlington man.
Man arrested for shooting three Palestinian students posted pro-Hamas statements
“The notion that Hamas is evil for defending their state from occupation is absurd,” wrote the man charged with shooting three Palestinian men in Burlington in November.
Double-digit school tax hike doesn’t include $6.3 billion needed soon to replace old buildings
The estimated cost of upgrading buildings statewide is $6.3 billion over 20 years – and that number may be too optimistic, officials say.
Drunken hit-and-run tailgater victimizes 75-year-old woman: police
A 75-year-old Concord woman was victimized by a drunk driver who tailgated and repeatedly struck her vehicle, police say.
Wilson: Europe, America, Vermont falling to globalist U.N. agenda
This all seems like we are paying for our own destruction.
First out-of-stater dies by assisted suicide
Cancer patient Lynda Bluestein became the first person from out of state to die via “assisted suicide” in Vermont.
Motel 6 ad pitchman Bodett gets grant to renovate Brattleboro arts center
The man who said “I’m Tom Bodett, and we’ll leave the light on for you” is renovating a Brattleboro arts building with a state grant.
Vote to oust GOP county chair and Democrat donor not recognized by state committee
Several committee members have expressed outrage that McGovern made donations to national Democratic candidates.
Video shows state trooper’s heroic rescue of eight-year-old girl
The thin ice gave way, and two children fell into the water. The 80-year-old homeowner was able to reach and pull to safety a 6-year-old girl who was close to shore.
High school hoopsters kneel during National Anthem, online stir ensues
The post gained a lot of attention from parents, players, and community members in Northfield and Milton.
House redefines domestic abuse to include ‘coercion’
The House approved a bill that would give judges wider perameters for granting a relief from abuse order.
Bill proposes voluntary gun license
In return for a waiver of the 72-hour waiting period, voluntary gun license applicants would be required to provide detailed information about themselves and their family members.
Lawmakers consider retail theft felony bill
Shoplifters know cops and courts will do little or nothing to stop misdemeanor thefts of under $900. “The current laws are telling these offenders that they are above the law,” a store owner told lawmakers.
Restorative justice, no police staff increase in Burlington Prog candidate public safety plan
“Evidence shows that community enforcement strategies change behavior more effectively than the threat of punishment by the criminal justice system,” Mulvaney-Stanak says.
Anne Donahue unafraid to challenge
In a recent interview, Representative Anne Donahue’s wisdom and moral compass shines through. So does her love of ice cream.
Myers Mermel to buy WDEV
Former Senate candidate and EAI prez buys community radio station chain.
House OKs ‘safe injection sites’
Supporters say the bill will reduce overdoses. “Passage of H.72 will make Vermont drug dealers very happy,” opponent and Rep. Art Peterson said.
Bean named Chronicle Social Media Director
Our daily views started jumping off the charts within just 24 hours of Paul’s first efforts to create more robust social media.
One dead in Barton fire
The fire was contained to a single room, but not before its occupant died.
Shannon unveils housing plan
Burlington’s mayoral candidates share differing ideas on solving the city’s housing shortage.
Burlington school supt. blames 14% tax hike on state ed formula
Burlington schools are in a tight spot financially, and the state’s property valuation formula called the Common Level of Appraisal (CLA) is a big reason why, the superintendent claims.
Scott, ‘broad coalition’ of lawmakers launch Act 250 bill
Climate-change minded lawmakers need to be ready to provide more housing to ‘climate refugees,’ an influential state senator argues.
Six state troopers placed on paid leave, under investigation
The investigation stems from police pursuit of a fleeing domestic abuse suspect.
Headlines: Rail Trail open for winter
The repaired, post-flood, NY-to-New Hampshire Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is open for winter use.
Nathan Strong, Lloyd Dike, House members pass on
Semper Fi applied to U.S. Marine Jesse Strong’s dad, too.
Bean: The Year of the Floods and Geoengineering
It’s becoming more clear to me that Vermont is not the main target at all, but rather high leverage, political, collateral damage.
Sportsmen’s Clubs honor U.S. Marine with hits highest honor
Butler excels in marksmanship and represented Vermont at 4-H National Shooting Sports competitions in Nebraska.
Almost two feet of snow in Groton Sunday – more snow, wind expected tonight
Wind + wet snow = power outages expected in eastern Vermont blizzard tonight and tomorrow And another one may arrive Friday.
From his weakened bully pulpit, Guv asks Legislature to act on public safety, affordability
Being the most popular governor in the nation cuts no ice when it comes to setting legislative priorities.
New bills, Part III: No customer charge for EV-related metering work/ ‘Aggregate’ retail theft felony/ Pet stores must offer shelter, adoption
Stores selling cats, dogs and ‘wolf-hybrids’ would be required to operate a shelter or adoption service for those animals, under a bill proposed last week.
17% spending hike for supervisory union goes to vote today
The supervisory union budget is reviewed and approved by the School Board, not the voters.
Local homeless man who died under bridge in winter topic of Bennington play
The story about Thierry’s hardscrabble life will be performed by local actors. A discussion on homelessness and poverty in our state will follow the play.
Political analyst, transhumanist expert, cops to speak at upcoming events
Tax policy, transhumanism, and crime will be the subject of upcoming public meetings this month.
Planned Parenthood, Target subjected to bomb threats on Jan. 6
Jan. 6 saw bomb threat hoaxes to a Vermont Planned Parenthood and a West Lebanon, NH store, plus a quick and strong police response to an armed man seen walking in Derby.
Letters (corrected): state senator drives immoral electric car/ Sharia and Hamas/ January 6 Epiphany
Go home, Becca.
State trooper dives into icy pond, saves 8-year-old girl
Michelle Archer took off her gun belt and dove into frigid water.
Two-minute outline of key challenges facing Legislature
There is ubiquitous agreement that action is needed on housing, but how?
New Jersey man arrested for shooting, kidnapping
Hamdi entered the home, kidnapped two men, and shot one trying to flee, police say.
New bills, Part II: Semi-auto ‘assault’ firearm ban, Flood Fund proposed
Four Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill that would ban possession of so-called ‘assault weapons.’
Heroin user gets four months for crash that killed two high school students
Charges were downgraded from felony to misdemeanor when the state couldn’t prove the driver was impaired.
New bills would create logging fraud crime, ban no-cause eviction, ease cannabis restrictions
Raw materials for the legislative sausage-making machine.
State’s Attorney Sarah George tells Harvard forum she “went to law school to dismantle the criminal legal system”
“I went to law school because I wanted to dismantle the criminal legal system and thought that that’s the best way to do it,” George said.
Vernon man dies in crash/ Mailbox thefts/ VT man killed in CA
The Toyota Corolla left the interstate and hit a tree.
Worker shortage stops delivery of Cabot cheese
Products as small as the cracker cuts and as big as the three-pound blocks will vanish from store shelves for a while.
Rainy weekends reduced 2023 deer harvest
The likely final tally of over 16,800 deer will provide about 3.4 million servings of locally-sourced venison.
The First 86 Names Linked to Ghislane Maxwell Trial Doc Dump
It’s NOT a Jeffrey Epstein client list. It IS a list of names that appeared in previously sealed court documents. Interesting info – but not conclusive.
Left is weaponizing food, Klar tells popular podcaster
“On the left, they’re trying to weaponize food. They’re saying it’s all about equity,” Klar tells Stuckey. “They’re saying it’s all about cows, and then climate change comes in. But in the end, people need to eat.”
Tolkien and your comments on VDC
Wisdom of C.S. Lewis via J.R.R. Tolkien re: written comments and criticism.
Fetal homicide bill to be introduced
There should be justice for expecting mothers who lose their unborn children to drunk drivers, a Northeast Kingdom lawmaker says.
Happy New Year
You made 2023 the best-read (1.09 million views!), most-visited, most-commented-on year Vermont Daily Chronicle year ever.
Legislature reconvenes tomorrow
Property tax sticker shock, safe injection sites, and control over private schools are among the issues expected to engage lawmakers when the second half of the biennium opens tomorrow.
‘Feather River John’ retires from working on the Freedom railroad
It comes as no surprise that by far the most gifted and prolific living essayist on the subject of Vermont liberty would use a railroad double-entendre to announce the conclusion of 30 years of bi-weekly commentaries.
K9 Carbon finds elderly man lost in woods
An elderly man lost in freezing woods after sundown was rescued by canine Vermont State Trooper.
Merry Christmas! Stolen ‘Flying A’ sign recovered
A week after it was stolen, an antique sign was reported found by a New Hampshire antique dealer and returned to its Enosburg owner.
Republican lawmaker says judges’ criminal rulings “not beneficial to the public”
Nonetheless, Lalonde argues that lighter penalties are more beneficial than harsher ones. He goes as far as to suggest that probation is a “higher deterrence” than jail time.
Keelan: Why there are so few homes being built
If housing costs and interest rates were half of what they are today and a labor force was available, multi-family housing (which is what is needed) would never see an ounce of concrete poured in Vermont’s towns and villages.
New mayor sees Newport as a ‘go to’, not ‘go through’ city
Addressing recent disruptions at City Council meetings, Sullivan praised the respectful majority of attendees and underscored the meetings’ purpose of conducting city business.
Legislators explain tax impact of new, $99 million school
The pricetag for a new Woodstock middle/high school has risen to $99M, local officials learned.
Christmas Day knife fight leaves Newport man dead
The victims in a fatal Newport stabbing and a non-fatal Tunbridge shooting have been identified.
Burlington cops say man beat his girlfriend unconscious
His attack left his girlfriend bleeding and unconscious, police say.
Man dies in Christmas Day fight/ St. Albans fire/ 118 MPH on I-89
Police are investigating the death of a man who died Christmas Day after a fight with another man in Newport Town.
Cops seek Bradford school vandal/ Newspaper that lost 90% advertising during Covid reorganizes
The newspaper, founded in 1889, has overcome some daunting challenges in the past few years, It lost 90% of its advertising revenue at the outset of COVID-19 and suspended its print edition.
Letters: Remembering forgotten riot/ Genocide/ Biden’s failure
Chronicle readers sound off on a forgotten riot, the Israeli-Hamas war, and Joe Biden.
Healthy honeybee population climbs
In 2023, VAAFM reported the highest number of colonies on record, 17,145.
Striking a Match for 2024
If you’ve been holding your pecuniary powder dry…..
Bridport man dies in crash
An Addison County man was thrown from his vehicle when it veered off the road. He was not wearing his seatbelt.
Hospital expands ER
Rather than continue to treat ER patients on stretchers in hallways, the Newport hospital will convert an ambulance bay into four new patient rooms.
Fluorescent lightbulb ban begins Jan. 1
Restrictions include the sale of general purpose, indoor/outdoor, residential, and business mercury-containing four-foot linear, compact fluorescent, and twist-based fluorescent lightbulbs.
St. J man arrested for two armed robberies
The charges stem from two separate incidents that took place on Sunday, Dec. 17.
‘Twas the beginning of school office budget construction….”
The children of the district are woefully behind / In mathematics and literacy, but not manipulation of mind / “Social and Emotional Learning stands strong in our midst” / Says Director of Equity, with smile affixed.
Deal with it, Supreme Court tells Newbury about State juvenile facility
Over the locals’ howls of protest, the the Vermont Supreme Court affirmed a state permit to develop a secure youth treatment facility.
Education revenue up, General Fund and Transportation revenue down for November
State revenue for November failed to meet projections.
Addison County GOP honors Favorite Son/ Caledonia lawmaker will run again
Gov. James Douglas was honored for a lifetime of public service by the Addison County Republican Committee.
I was dumbfounded when the lady asked me…..
Her question caught me by surprise, to say the least.
Consumers thumbs-down on EVs
High cost, poor service, and exorbitant battery replacement costs are among the complaints listed in ‘one star’ reviews.
Controversial Randolph school superintendent calls it quits
The Blake Allen incident made national headlines and took its toll on Layne Millington, he told a local newspaper after announcing his resignation.
COVID-19 pandemic linked to lower educational aspirations in Vermont high schoolers
After the pandemic, high school students are less interested in attending college. And parents are less motivated to urge them to pursue more education, VSAC said.
Man critically injured in Tunbridge shooting
Detectives have interviewed the individual responsible for the shooting, and the investigation is progressing.
Opening The Books: big paychecks signed by City of Burlington
A government salary watchdog organization has info on Burlington, the State of Vermont, and the federal government.
Anti-Israel ballot initiative begins in Burlington
Frustrated by the City Council’s unwillingness to condemn Israel’s role in the war with Hamas, pro-Palestine activists are collecting signatures to bring the issue directly to voters.
Arrest made in strangulation murder – one of 80 open murder cases in Vermont
Claudia Voight of Windham was strangled to death by former tenant Shawn Conlon, police say.
Vermont Senate leader calls Supreme Court stance on gun rights “insane”
More gun control is the right response to increase in violent crime, the leader of the Vermont Senate told a Burlington forum last night.
Feds ban VT drug store use of facial recognition to stop crime
Facial recog software sometimes produces false positives, resulting in harassment and embarrassment, the feds told Rite-Aid.
Deer jacking suspect faces federal firearm charges
Shortly after midnight, game wardens spotted a slow-moving truck flashing a light on nearby fields. When the cops flashed their lights, the driver fled at speeds of up to 100 MPH.
Family court judge drops road rage stabbing charge
The 20-year-old stabbed the 38-year-old multiple times, but an assault charge is unwarranted because he acted in self-defense, a family court judge said.
State Treasurer pushes Baby Bonds bill
A bill aimed at reducing intergenerational poverty would invest $3,200 in long-term bonds for every Vermont baby born on Medicaid.
