The Scott administration hopes adding more housing to the market will lower one of the root causes of homelessness: exorbitantly high rental rates.
State must triple rate of new home construction, Scott admin says
Guy Page
Guy Page is the editor and publisher of the Vermont Daily Chronicle.
Westford, Stowe voters reject spending, Berlin says yes and no
Voters yesterday rejected a wastewater project in Westford and a $39 million school project in Stowe.
UVM payload mission blasts off tomorrow for International Space Station
DNA extraction in zero gravity is the mission of a UVM research project aboard the International Space Station.
At cannabis stores, Health Dept. provides 3,000 free lockable storage bags
Cannabis is in the top three of accidental child overdoses.
218 years ago today, Montpelier became Vermont’s capital
Montpelier chosen as a capital for its central location? Kinda… but mostly it was about the money.
Man with 23 arrest, probation/parole violations arrested for Church Street assault
More tales of ‘catch and release’ from Vermont law enforcement.
Released by judge after punching hospital staff, man attacks off-duty cop, police say
Vermont needs more options to protect the public from mentally disturbed violent offenders, Burlington’s police chief says.
Out-of-state drug dealers used juveniles to sell drugs in Rutland, police say
A 72-year-old man has been charged in a Monday night shooting in Rockingham. Also, federal court records say youths are being used to sell drugs in Rutland.
School superintendent: Accused killer, principal won’t be in school
Neither an accused teenage killer nor the Burlington High School principal will be returning anytime soon.
NAACP: Youth brains not fully developed, don’t try 14-year-old as adult
“We know that boys like this 14-year-old Black child are not inherently valued by a system and dominant culture that will determine the fate of his humanity,” the Rutland NAACP statement says.
Vermont gained 3,000 people last year
Net migration slowed in 2022 compared to the Covid Diaspora of 2021. And the Palmetto State is the favorite new home of departing Vermonters.
Mail handler: Sanders, Welch, Balint postal demands show disconnect with reality
Both Sanders and Welch voted to steal what little profits the USPS had and transfer them to the US Treasury to fund their own little unrelated projects.
State police target 90-100 MPH speeders
When a reporter noted that “10 years ago I could go by a state trooper at 78 and get pulled over,” Scott answered, “10 years ago we didn’t have the level of crime we have now.”
Shannon joins mayoral race, sets up Democrat caucus battle
Shannon and City Council President Karen Paul will vie for the Democratic nomination at the Burlington Democratic Caucus on December 10.
Education headlines: School mascots, administrator sabbaticals, college staff cuts, mental health
High legal fees for school mascot fights are a top headline in the 802 Ed newsletter this week.
Trooper injured, cruiser damaged in 11-mile chase of Burlington man
Running over tire deflation device wasn’t enough to stop the fleeing suspect.
Accused arsonist dies of apparent suicide/ Prohibited firearms/ NH homeless burned in propane fire
Homeless men huddled in a cold car in New Hampshire suffered burns when propane torch fumes exploded.
Back-to-back poor acorn crops mean hungrier bears
Hold off on the bird feeders this month – those backyard bears may be even hungrier now.
Suicide linked to National Guardsman homicide
A Brownington man who worked with slain National Guardsman Gunnar Watson was found dead by suicide.
VT public schools: Where talking llamas teach kids the “F” word
These kids were exposed to an F-bomb dropping llama, which is a lot more preferable to being isolated and restrained in a locked, padded closet covered in your own excrement for hours on end like the students in Fair Haven.
DMV offices close/ Balint withdraws MTG censure/ UVM freezes instate tuition
DMV offices and some online services will be closed for some or all of next week.
Last Smugglers Notch stuckage/ Teen died of gunshot to torso/ Montpelier fire not suspicious (yet)
The final Stuckage took place with snow on the ground. And, more details on the shooting death of a Shelburne teen and the fiery destruction of a Montpelier lumberyard.
2A group builds war chest to challenge gun control laws in court
A Rutland gun shop has donated $2000 the an unprecedented effort to challenge Vermont gun control laws.
Former UVM prof to speak on Diversity, Inclusion & Equity effect on children
Former UVM prof Aaron Kindsvatter believes teaching DEI on schools can harm the psyches and development of children.
Fire ravages Montpelier lumberyard, destroys fire truck
The lumberyard fire was the second major blaze in the downtown Montpelier commercial district within the last week.
Man released by Judge Jiron arrested for domestic assault hours later
The prosecutor wanted the suspect sent to a psychiatric facility for a competency exam. Instead, Jiron released Myott.
Most October homicides drug-related, VSP commander says
They’re offering few details now, but the state police say most of the homicides committed in Vermont last month were connected to drug trafficking.
Despite BLM support for Hamas, Essex school board defends flying its flag
The Essex-Westford school board won’t down the BLM flag and in a recent letter didn’t condemn BLM’s siding with Hamas.
Driver bilked elderly woman of up to $392,000
Fortunately most of the illegal deposits were reversed.
Police shut down homeless camp after gunshot finding
A gunfire expert confirmed the shot that struck a school bus windshield in Montpelier came from a homeless camp.
Barre man arrested for murder in drug-related Caron killing
Police have arrested a Barre man for the second degree murder of an accused drug dealer found dead in Plainfield last week. Police say the killing was drug-related.
14-year-old charged in Bristol killing – 8th homicide of October
A teen has been charged with the second-degree murder of another teen, who was shot fatally Monday.
NEK high-voltage transmission project eligible for federal $$
The proposal utilizes roadway burial and existing transmission corridors in Vermont and New Hampshire to deliver 1,200 MW of Canadian hydro and other non-fossil fuel energy.
Body of accused Barre fentanyl dealer found in woods
One of the four bodies found dead in Vermont woods in the last week belonged to an accused Barre fentanyl dealer.
Montpelier eatery, bar damaged in fire
First flood, then fire ravages Montpelier’s downtown. And an Ontario woman is dead after a collision with a car driven by a drug-impaired man, police say.
Pink slips coming at state colleges, Newport City Hall
VSU Interim Pres. Mike Smith wants to cut 33 full-time jobs, mostly from management.
Hatchet-wielding man arrested outside Brattleboro homeless shelter
Almost seven months after the director of a Brattleboro homeless shelter was axed to death, the Groundworks shelter network was shaken by a hatchet-wielding local man.
Homeless shelter manager: “I’ve never seen anything like this before”
The homeless camp being investigated as the possible site of a school bus window shooting isn’t the only tent community in Vermont’s capital city.
Guns seized from homeless camp after school bus shooting
A possibly defunct non-profit owns the land where police seized weapons from a homeless camp following a shooting at a school bus last week.
Homeless camp investigated after school bus window shot out
Someone shot out the windshield of a school bus carrying students, Montpelier police say.
Feds winning the war on fentanyl?/ Trapping season, Wheels for Warmth tomorrow
It is extremely rare for pets to be caught by law abiding trappers during Vermont’s regulated seasons.
Human smuggler suspect denied bail
As an illegal immigrant in the country unlawfully, Godinez-Antonio would have little reason to return to court to face his charge, the federal prosecutor noted.
Young men found in Eden killed by gunshots to head
The families of two Massachusetts men asked police last week to look for them. Tuesday their bodies were found in Eden, about a mile apart.
Miro wants more gov’t control of ‘military-style’ semi-autos
“As long as we allow these weapons to circulate in mass numbers with virtually no regulation, these catastrophes will continue,” Weinberger said.
Burlington resident ticketed, doxxed, and got death threats for “No one is born in the wrong body” stickers
Those putting up the stickers have been called transphobic, accused of creating a hostile environment and putting children in danger.
New Speaker of the House is pro-life lawyer who worked with Alliance Defending Freedom
Mike Johnson is pro-life, taught at Liberty University, and led House Republicans seeking to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 loss in court.
School cops removed from BHS two years ago, despite wishes of most parents
There weren’t any SROs at BHS when the fight started because in the spring of 2021, the Burlington School District removed them – despite a poll indicating that most parents wanted SROs to stay.
One-punch theory plausible in postal attack, defense doctor says
The facial injuries sustained by a postal worker could have resulted from a single punch, one doctor testified. But another doc said that’s unlikely.
Two dead bodies found in search for missing Mass. men
Police are treating two dead bodies they found in the Northeast Kingdom as a case of homicide.
BHS principal pulls fire alarm, placed on leave
As many a high school prankster has learned, pulling the fire alarm when there’s no fire is against the law. A lunchroom fight prompted the school principal to pull the alarm to evacuate the building. Now she’s in detention.
Burlington City Council cracks down on gender pronoun use
“One of the concepts that I think this entire gender identity issue is failing at is the recognition of the concept that your rights end where my nose begins,” a Burlington NPA member accused of ‘misgendering’ replied.
Sanders funnels another $75K of campaign $$ to family non-profit
“Bernie hates capitalism, but loves $,” says a prominent DC lawyer.
Zuckerman attends D.C. gun control summit
Vermont’s lieutenant governor this week attended a ‘gun violence prevention policy summit’ sponsored by the Democratic Governor’s Association in Washington, D.C.
Vermont sues Meta over teen mental health crisis
When children attempt to step away from using the platforms, Meta bombards them with alerts designed to lure them back, the complaint alleges.
Brandon Heath, Shawn Tkach in concert October 27
A popular American gospel artist and one of Vermont’s favorite radio personality/worship leaders will perform Friday, October 27 at Ignite Church in Williston.
What America needs most
America faces at least three existential threats.
Burlington homeless man convicted of murdering NH couple out for a walk
Tansient arrested in Burlington found guilty of murdering a retired NH couple. Another shooting. And a masked man who nonetheless was easy to identify, due to….
Langdon Street in Montpelier gets flood recovery $$
Funky Langdon Street in downtown Montpelier will get state funding to mitigate future flood damage and restore three commercial units and 16 apartments.
State buys out flooded properties at 120% of property value
Flood buyouts. Industrial wastewater grants. Sanders says don’t just allocate extra billions for overseas – remember the folks at home, too. And Patrick Leahy’s federal funding legacy lives on and on.
This is the cheapest city to buy a home in Vermont
The median list price for a home in Vermont is $447,250. The median price is $275,000 in this city…..
Homeowner fires Sig Sauer to thwart nighttime burglary
One shot from the homeowner’s pistol was enough to interrupt the suspect’s attempted burglary.
Stranger offers kids a ride and candy
Read the Chronicle’s Monday morning weekend police news roundup.
Abenaki Tribe Councilman: Trapping is a way of life for indigenous people
“My ancestors did this, I do this, my people do this,” Jaime Taylor told the legislative panel.
Balint makes demands of everyone except Hamas/ Prog state senator seeks ‘end of Israeli apartheid state’
One Vermont state senator wants an end to the state of Israel, while another stands strong with the Jewish state.
Fed up with feds, New Hampshire starts its own border patrol
“The Federal Government refuses to take action on our Northern Border,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “They cut funding, limited our resources, and have thrown their hands up.” Now 85% of border encounters with suspected terrorists are on the northern border.
Broughton: Act now to protest Pro-Hamas hatred, lies spread on campuses
Academics across America are praising the vicious attack on Israel.
Hartford CT drug dealer gets 16 years in federal pen
The assault internally decapitated a man and left him a paraplegic. The man is still paralyzed with little to no function of arms and no function of the lower part of his body.
No bail for VSP cruiser, rifle theft suspect
Veteran police reporter Mike Donoghue digs deep into details about a brazen crime and the manhunt that followed.
Stolen state police rifle recovered
The state trooper left the keys to the cruiser in the car before a thief stole the cruiser and rifle in it.
NH cops swamped by calls to youth psychiatric facility
As the Vermont Supreme Court ponders Newbury’s rejection of a juvenile detention facility, local police have their hands full with a youth psychiatric facility in New Hampshire.
Suspected thief of state police cruiser and rifle arrested
State police say they’ve got the man who stole a police cruiser and a police-issue rifle in Rutland Tuesday. They’re still looking for the rifle.
Scott stands by catch-and-release judge, says Legislature should fix the problem
An alleged attempted murderer released to family custody is the latest ‘catch and release’ decision by Justin Jiron, who has twiced been appointed as a judge by Gov. Phil Scott.
VT Digger asks Scott to criticize Israel – here’s what he said
Questions critical of the Israeli response to the Hamas invasion are asked by a leading Vermont news outlet. Governor Scott responds.
Montpelier person charged with child porn
Peter Gamble, AKA Grace, was charged on five counts of possession of child sex abuse material.
School shooting threat prompts petition for armed school cop
Some Plainfield and Marshfield residents want an armed cop in their local school.
State Police cruiser and rifle stolen
The cruiser stolen this morning was recovered, but the Sig Sauer rifle remains at large.
Hartford, CT man shot dead in Newport
Wilmer Rodriguez died from multiple gunshot wounds last weekend.
VTrans resorts to chicanery to stop Smugglers Notch stuckages
The choice of chicanes followed lengthy brainstorming of many options and a driver survey that drew more than 300 respondents.
F&W: Anti-hunters shows ugly side on social media
We all want to see the ecological systems of our state thrive. I am certain that we will not achieve this common goal by being cruel to one another.
At City Hall, Scott, Weinberger, faith leaders rally behind Israel
Governor Scott and others denounced the actions of the Hamas terrorists as evil. One of the rabbis spoke of the importance of building loving kindness. The prevailing messages spoke of the need for peace in Israel.
Burlington Fire Dept. rolls out overdose response vehicle
Another City of Burlington response to its drug epidemic: OD first responders.
Car break-in gang hits Charlotte
Police are tracing repeated car break-ins to a gang of young men. Also, state police are investigating two shooting deaths in the NEK.
Swimmer wraps up swim of all 410 miles of Connecticut River
An epic, four-year swim of the length of the turbulent Connecticut River will conclude this weekend.
Rural VT needs broadband, not buses to fight climate change: lawmaker
Some legislators want to push beyond the ‘politically feasible.’ Others think the current plan to replace fossil fuels cars with EVs is a bad idea.
Insurers must refund for contraception services
Refund checks will be sent to all policy holders charged a cost-share for contraceptive services by three large Vermont health insurers.
Driver hits four cars, kicks cruiser windshield
A serious case of road rage happened Tuesday on I-89 and a state highway in Fairfax.
Former Vermont cop investigated for underage sex abuse later worked at Homeland Security’s “Project Safe Child”
VDC has obtained numerous Vermont law enforcement documents showing a former Bellows Falls police officer and Homeland Security child safety program worker was investigated in 2015 for allegedly abusing a young teenager in 1995-96.
Public opinion opposes Mt. Washington name change
A New Hampshire resident wants the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to change the name of Mount Washington to a Native American name because the first U.S. President owned slaves.
Accused child rapist released again after judge denies secure bail request
An accused child rapist was released on $200 bail after his third violation of conditions hearing Wednesday.
McCormick: Affordable Heat Act too costly, will be locked up in courts
A bagel shop in Burlington is advertising for new hires at $25 per hour — about $5 more than the state’s Weatherization Assistance Program insulation installers are now paid.
Police release sketch of Castleton killer suspect
Police hope a sketch of the suspect will help locate the killer of Honoree Fleming.
Guv supports concept of GMP plan to end blackouts
It comes with a hefty pricetag, but a Green Mountain Power plan would eliminate weather-related blackouts in Vermont.
Danby man, Yale student starts petition to fire pro-Hamas prof
A Yale professor should be removed from the faculty for her pro-Hamas invasion statements, a petition begun by a Vermont man says.
Vermont ‘mountain’ named for Revolutionary War hero celebrated today
Some towns build statues. In 1825, Newbury named a mountain after Casimir Pulaski, the Father of the American Cavalry.
Have you seen these car thief suspects?
Police are seeking two young people who reportedly stole a car in Vershire and stopped at a convenience store in Waterbury.
Second Amtrak-car collision in last five days
Police say Rampone did not notice the flashing railroad signals or Buskey with enough time to stop.
In a world of Prodigal Fathers, change needed in church, government, media
“Young men need to know that marriage and children give them something to live and die for,” Squires said.
Social experimentation leads to catastrophe, Restoring Our Faith speaker warns
Identity groups are swooping in to fill the void creating by sidelining faith and family, Eberstadt said.
End of surgical abortion in Barre reported nationwide
As it turned out, Vermont has NOT become a post-Dobbs haven for abortions.
Another Holocaust upon us, Rabbi tells Faith Summit
“It’s happening again.”
