High energy dogs hate to be leashed. That’s great for those dogs….not always so great for other dogs, or their owners.
Dogs on trails: leashed or unleashed?
Guy Page
Guy Page is the editor and publisher of the Vermont Daily Chronicle.
VT Watercooler: ERs flood, surgeries postponed / Drugged driver hits schoolbus / college hazing
Hot headlines from around the Vermont media.
107 MPH in Berkshire / inmate suicide
Excessive speeding and an apparent death by suicide in a St. Johnsbury prison lead the police news today.
Suing police, threatening public officials, prostitution, and end-of-life drug bills in House committees this week
Suing a cop, engaging in prostitution, and ending one’s own life legally will become less difficult from a legal perspective if Senate-approved bills now in the House become law.
Dame: Dems in Legislature wants to control flagpole in Barre
The Donut Democrats continue to prove they have lost the middle by putting ideology ahead of constituents and true freedom and unity.
Former nurse gets 27 years for sick torture video of enslaved child
A Burlington man and former nurse ordered a custom-made torture video of an enslaved child.
Fernandez: Bernie at large and considered dangerous
Bernie’s idol was the early 20th century demagogue who said, ‘patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.’
McClaughry: Legislature pushes big changes in last six weeks of biennium
The Legislature is moving fast on big items with longterm consequences for Vermont property owners and taxpayers.
Bernie, you still alive? New owner of Twitter keeps forgetting
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Elon Musk have a history of tangling on Twitter. Now the Tesla owner is the biggest stockholder in the social media platform.
Legislature seeks universal school meals money
The feds started paying for universal school meals during the pandemic. That money is going away, and some in the Vermont Legislature want to keep the programs going. Who pays?
Water Cooler: Rest area schedules cut, truck crashes into laundromat
With all the federal $$ flowing, apparently there’s not enough to keep popular highway rest areas open as often.
Burlington schools ‘grooming’ young children to change gender identity, columnist says
A Substack columnist, with help from a small army of volunteers, is publishing information about the Burlington School District’s gender identity education program.
Barre BLM flag war continues in Legislature
The battle for the Black LIves Matter movement – or at least its flag – continues in the Vermont Legislature.
Dodge: Why change the Vermont Constitution?
Prop 5 is an open door for ideologies about multi-gender marriage, surrogacy, gender changes, insurance coverage, education, sex trafficking, competitive sports, and healthcare to name a few.
Klar: ‘Environmental justice’ bill creates More Imperfect Union
A Senate bill redistributes the cost of environmental pollution from the city mice to the country mice. Because, Vermont’s systemic racism.
Ryan: pot store burglaries may be cartel power play
If/when Vermont legal pot stores are hit by robbers, Vermont law enforcement should take note of lessons learned in Northern California: the thieves might be Sinaloa cartel operatives trying to rub out the competition.
Dad who police say assaulted infant daughter charged with Murder #2
A Derby man who police say assaulted his month-old daughter has been charged with second degree murder because her death 15 years later was due to injuries received.
Snowmobile racer, inmate die over weekend
A snowmobile race at Suicide Six turned deadly for one of its racers. And another inmate found dead in a State of Vermont prison cell.
Robot dog barks Covid warning in China / Food rationing in Spain / Goodbye Psaki, hello again Sarah Palin
Food rationing in Europe begins.
VT Watercooler: Digger gone to the dogs / Navy names ship after Ruth Bader Ginsburg / ‘Every Queer Eats’ / Prison supervisor busted for child porn
Some headlines are April Fools, and some aren’t. Hard to tell in Vermont!
Teenage voting veto upheld
Teenagers aren’t allowed by law to sign contracts – a fact that surfaced after the Senate yesterday upheld Gov. Scott’s veto of 16-17 year old voting in Brattleboro.
Klar: In Vermont, can’t say ‘let’s kill all the lawyers’ anymore
If S265 passes, best be careful what you say about politicians – you could be sent to jail, John Klar says.
Frenier: there’s a solution to religious/woke school dilemma
Vermont officials seem surprised to learn that many Vermont taxpayers, myself included, do not want their tax dollars used for woke indoctrination.
Editorial: Balint and Ram talk big about housing – but have no right to
Two Democratic senators who want to go to Congress say a bill they passed shows they care about creating affordable housing. The bill, and their voting records, say otherwise.
Mud season and mole salamanders
The fact that you think you have it tough traveling the back roads of Vermont now just shows you’ve never been a mole salamander.
Roper: VT short 4300 weatherization workers needed to make ‘clean heat credits’
There needs to be a measure of reality for “clean heat credits.”
Bananas: Help Wanted – GRASS for my dog
Save Rynancy!
Brandon man invented first electric motor, printing press, railway
A Brandon blacksmith patented the first electric motor. Who knew?
Pension reform clears Senate
The Senate on Thursday passed a long-time-in-coming pension reform bill protecting current retirees and asking more of those still working.
Biden gave teachers’ union greenlight to shape Covid guidelines
The Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis released a report that depicts the “cozy relationship with the Biden administration’s political leadership at the CDC positioned the union to impose line-by-line edits.”
VT Watercooler: religious schools in VT ed system? / what’s the fuss about Beta project / Miro wants to electrify Burlington / Sunflowers for Ukraine
A big building project is on hold in South Burlington. It’s just Vermont’s economic future hanging in the balance.
Data shows Vermont deaths 12% higher than expected
Why are more Vermonters dying? Some of it’s actual Covid deaths. Pandemic restrictions also have contributed, experts say.
Sexton: no fake Republicans
Fight the abortion and anti-gun culture and everyone who supports it – including the fake Republicans.
Alleged parking garage shooter gets lawyer, surrenders to cops
A 22-year-old South Burlington man has surrendered to police in connection with the weekend shooting in a Burlington parking garage. But first, he got a lawyer.
Zero hunting-related shooting injuries in Vermont last year
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reported zero hunting related shooting injuries (HRSIs) in 2021, continuing a multi-year trend of declining HRSIs in Vermont.
Roper: Scott admin pushes Senate for follow-up Clean Heat Standard vote
Will Phil Scott drop the veto hammer on the Clean Heat Standard if it lacks a follow-up report? Time will tell.
97% of Vermonters have health insurance
Although only three % of Vermonters lack health insurance, there’s room for improvement in affordability and preventative care, state officials say.
Record transportation $$ buys more paving, electric cars, bike paths, free bus fare
Vermont transportation spending has increased $225 million in two years. Aggressive use of federal paving money and a climate-change driven commitment to EVs and bike paths comprise the lion’s share.
Americanism & Marxism April 9
An Americanism & Marxism symposium will be held Saturday, April 9 in St. Albans.
Water Cooler: Molly Gray’s second-hand fundraising / Toney Woodstock nixes cannabis / mRNA lab in Colchester
They’re harvesting mRNA in Colchester.
With just one dissenter, Senate OKs ‘environmental justice’ bill
The Vermont Senate sees environmental justice and responds with another new advisory board with a mandate to create change.
Roll Call! Act 250 permit revision passes House
A bill that passed the House 92-49 will – supporters say – streamline the Act 250 permit process. Critics aren’t so sure about that.
Babylon Bee: Psaki Reminds Reporters That Biden Doesn’t Speak For The President Of The United States
Fake news site Babylon Bee reports on the growing chaos in Ukraine – and in Joe Biden’s statements about it.
From VT Underground:
Jim Jeffords was a Republican when he was elected, but not when it counted when the US Senate chose the next majority leader. Since then, Vermont conservatives have been gunshy of liberal Senate candidates. Will 2022 be different?
Rutland hospital drops vax, mask mandates / State House mostly mask-free
Rutland’s hospital no longer has a mandatory masking and vax policy for most employees and visitors.
Senate OKs coyote bill
An amended coyote hunting bill appears poised to clear the Vermont Senate.
Searsburg woman missing / Heineberg Bridge crash / truck jackknife on 22A
Police are seeking a 53-year-old woman missing from her Searsburg home.
MA men busted for holding man against his will / armed heroin dealer gets 3 yrs
Two Massachusetts men are in jail after holding a Williamstown man in a room for two hours.
Bill would enshrine Abenaki use of state lands
H618 would grant Abenaki-specific rights to state-owned lands.
Newport prison superintendent on leave, won’t return
The superintendent of Vermont’s northernmost prison has been placed on leave and won’t return, state officials said today.
‘Government consultant’ seeks $48 billion in late-night calls to Vermont legislators
A Missouri man is being sued by VT AG TJ Donovan for persistent late-night calls seeking exorbitant sums from Vermont legislators.
Dame: Laws should make government affordable, accountable, flexible
There are three things that fundamentally separate Vermont Republicans from the Progressive Democrat alliance that currently controls the legislature; affordability, accountability and flexibility.
‘Z’ now verboten in Germany
Residents in at least two German states have been threatened with criminal prosecution if they use the letter “Z” as a sign.
Water Cooler: storm pic takes on Mt. Washington / fireworks bill fizzles / high school robot team in world championship
Ranked choice voting and fireworks bills stall.
Cyberattack stops Hood, Booth Brothers milk production
Amid concerns about avian flu and global hunger, a cyberattack shut down Hood and Booth Brothers milk processing plants this month. They’re back on line – mostly.
Man dies in Lyndonville fire / Burglar bagged / Fugitive found
A Lyndonville man’s was found dead in his burning apartment this morning.
Nolan backs Brown-Jackson for Supreme Court
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Christina Nolan publicly backs a Democratic president’s nominee for the Supreme Court – “politics should play no role in the confirmation process,” she explains.
Washington County GOP work meeting, Thursday March 31
The Washington County GOP Committee is inviting Republicans to roll up their sleeves for a work meeting this Thursday evening in Berlin.
Evslin: Fracking saved our freedom
Without fracking, we’d be at Putin’s mercy. And Iran’s.
House passes record budget, Transportation bills
Its coffers swollen with federal funding and higher-than-expected tax revenue, the Vermont House last week passed record high state budget and transportation bills.
Vermont #1 in vacant homes
Despite an unprecedented shortage of available housing, Vermont has a higher vacant home rate than any other state in the nation. What’s going on here?
Disagreement looms over Act 250 reform passed by House, Senate
Last week, both the Vermont House and Senate passed widely differing versions of Act 250 (property regulation and development) reform. Reconciliation may prove difficult.
Cops seek Burlington shooting suspect, Alburgh ATM robber
A police garage shooting, an Alburgh store break-in, and a DUI rolling into a police cruiser were among the criminal incidents investigated by Vermont police this weekend.
Bottled mixed drinks coming to your grocery store?
Ready-to-drink cocktails will be sold in grocery stores next to beer and wine, if a bill approved by the House last week becomes law.
GOP statewide primary candidates meet Rutland faithful
Four GOP candidates took to the stage at the Pasta and Politics dinner to discuss their platforms.
Letter: Elect accountable School Board
A positive paradigm shift starts with electing school board members who will mandate the administration focus on math, science, literacy, and teach students to be critical thinkers.
Colburns: Climate Action Plan will put VT farmers out of business
Shame on the 96 House legislators for voting against waiting for a year for a report on the impact of the Clean Heat Standard.
Fauci mocked six-foot rule, military doctor sees post-vax cancer spike
The feds didn’t have data on students’ learning loss when the CDC issued its COVID-19 school reopening guidance, internal emails show.
Water Cooler: Wildlife bills advance / School PCB testing delayed / Dog survives bobcat attack
Not every day a dog gets attacked by a bobcat.
How did YOUR legislator vote on guns, Prop 5, illegal speech, etc.?
Vermont’s free market think-tank has assembled voting profiles on every Vermont lawmaker. In a few clicks you can find out how they voted on bills that matter to you – and then share that information with others.
Despathy: discrimination and segregation during the “pandemic of the unvaccinated”
The unvaccinated in Vermont have endured massive verbal and emotional abuse from state leaders, experts, neighbors and community members.
VT eating disorders up 700% since March 2020, State can’t cope
Vermont teenage eating disorders are way up over the last two years. So far, the State of Vermont can’t meet their treatment needs.
More boring photos that tell a story
What photo could be even more boring than empty parking spaces reserved for legislative carpooling? Satellite photos of the homes of lawmakers generally opposed to land development.
Enough of San Francisco! Traveler to 100 countries calls Williston home
A native Texan who has traveled to 100 countries forsook San Francisco for the good schools and quiet life of Williston.
Roll Call! House makes town withdrawal from school districts more difficult
Vermont public school mergers: easy to get into, hard to get out of. And harder still if a bill passed by the House March 17 becomes law.
Leadership training for teens to engage in politics, culture
Christian youth will learn about engaging in Vermont politics and culture May 2-6 at TeenPact in Montpelier.
Hunter Biden linked to Ukrainian biolabs
An investment firm connected to Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, has been involved in the financing of the Pentagon’s military biological program in Ukraine.
Biden solution to clogged immigration courts: let bureaucrats decide
The rule authorizes asylum officers to offer asylum to individuals who assert a fear of persecution or torture and pass the required credible fear screening. Currently, such cases are decided only by immigration judges.
King: Famine looms. Why won’t political elites say so?
There is a rough road ahead for the world. Our political class isn’t leveling with us.
State Police collect 3 tons of body armor for Ukraine
Law enforcement agencies and members of the public have donated about 1,000 body-armor vests and 45 helmets for the defense of Ukraine.
Water Cooler: racism, eugenics bill passes House / Senate leery of $$ for religious schools / getting to school in mud season
Two sisters will tell their families what it was like to get to school during a rural Vermont Mud Season. That story and others from Vermont news media yesterday and today.
Senate passed 16 bills yesterday
Bills about leg hold traps, non-unanimous jury trial decisions, collecting data on police and 13 other topics all passed the Senate yesterday.
The Registry Legislature
Farmers, cops, landlords, and home improvement contractors all are targeted for inclusion in statewide registries by a Legislature determined to combat systemic racism and climate change.
Martineau: My View from Montpeculiar
Reaganism: “Either You control your government, or it will control You.” Hear that, Burlington?
Act H 466: Climate-resilient protection for surface water
In the face of increased droughts due to climate change, this bill will ensure equitable access to surface water for users, while protecting the ecosystems of our streams and rivers.
Thayer: What it means to be Republican
Since the inception of the GOP in 1854, Republicans have supported “We the People,” not “We the Government.”
Landlords cited for trespass / Suckerpunched outside bar / DUI causes power outage
It’s not just storms and cyberattacks that cause blackouts. Sometimes it’s just a drunk teenager.
On Mt. Philo, winter a time for restoration
The quiet winter months are a perfect time for restoration of trails and steps at popular Mt. Philo in Charlotte.
Letter: Senators, veto 16-17 year old voting
Supporters of 16-17 year old voting should follow the science, a Ph.D. says.
Fernandez: No media coverage, but the Israel-Palestine conflict still rages
While Russia is portrayed as the vicious predator over a smaller state, the liberal media consistently portrays the small Jewish state of Israel as the unjust regime.
Evslin: We cannot afford for Ukraine to lose
Evslin on how to defeat Putin.
Vermont officials highlight White House warning on Russian cyberattack
The White is warning state governments and industry against a possible Russian cyberattack. The State of Vermont’s chief information officer wants people to take it seriously.
Veto Update: Gun control no, 50% land conservation maybe, contractor & rental registries yes
Don’t expect a veto on S4, the gun control bill. But that bill turning half of Vermont into an ecological preserve? Gov. Scott has his eye on that one.
Water Cooler: Housing stalemate, chip shortage
Vermont media headlines show Gov. Scott squared off against legislative leadership over solutions to Vermont’s worsening housing shortage.
The Babylon Bee’s Man of the Year is Rachel Levine
Read the ‘Man of the Year’ post that (finally) got fake news satire website Babylon Bee kicked off of Twitter.
Is the Electric Vehicle for you?
EVs require nickel produced in a Siberian slave labor camp and lithium mined from polluting Tibetan mines. Still feeling virtuous about buying one?
Sanders names names on corporate greed
While the world complains about Russian oligarchs, Bernie Sanders is crying ‘outrage’ on their American brethren.
10,000 VT households get extra $350 for fuel
Given high oil and kerosene prices, a one-time $350 benefit will be paid Vermonters already receiving fuel assistance.
Libertoff: Montpelier’s March madness
“You are crazy,” said my partner with an emphasis on “crazy.” It probably never occurred to her that we were scheduled to play Julio’s Restaurant, the team that shared first place in league play.
Former UVM ER doc sentenced for child porn
Eike Blohm’s federal sentence of 100 months will run concurrently with the 80-to-82-month sentence of imprisonment Blohm received in Vermont state court as a result of his guilty pleas to lewd and lascivious conduct and voyeurism.
