The public can now read about all Vermont State Police incidents of use of force.
Guy Page
Guy Page is the editor and publisher of the Vermont Daily Chronicle.
Fatal crashes
Two men died in crashes on Vermont highways this week.
Water Cooler: Court House to shut down most days, sheriff can’t hire enough security
Headlines from today’s news: one more sign that Vermont doesn’t have enough cops, and people are suffering because of it.
Inspired by grandmother, Elle goes all-out in Olympic finals
On the morning of the biggest race of her life, the Richford Rocket recalled her inspirational grandmother. And butterflies.
Fact check: “Not one press person has shown up” for State House advisory meetings – FALSE
Actually, Madame Chair, one press person DID show up.
Public school vax clinics to open
Public schools will soon offer walk-in Covid-19 vaccination clinics. And UVM will require everyone to wear masks indoors.
BLM flag will still fly when school starts
The BLM flag will continue to fly when Essex schools open – contrary to the original agreement.
UPDATE: Hartford cop, man he killed identified
A Hartford police officer Thursday shot and killed a man trying to strangle him.
Water Cooler: Homeless honeybees / Burlington police report errors / home-schooling looking good / Gerrymandering
The power struggle over the future of the Burlington Police Department continues.
Leahy directs $23 mil to VT farm, rural projects
Sen. Patrick Leahy delivers $23 million in earmarked federal spending for VT farm and rural projects.
Elle goes for gold in 1500 finals Friday AM
Friday morning, Berkshire dairy farmer Elle Purrier St. Pierre will seek Olympic gold and glory in the finals of the Women’s 1500 run.
State spending rose 25% in last two years – and more is coming
State spending jumped 25% in two years. That’s not even counting a dozen more pending, huge expenses.
Closed-lipped CCP frustrates foreign investors, Gordon Chang reports
The Chinese government doesn’t like sharing information – even with foreign investors in Chinese companies. Gordon Chang reports.
Biden names VT gay marriage lawyer to U.S. Appeals Court
President Joe Biden has named the architect of Vermont’s gay marriage law to the U.S. Court of Appeals.
VT Medical Society backs healthcare vax mandate
The Vermont Medical Society supports mandatory vaccination in the healthcare workplace.
Water Cooler: LL Bean departure, police decision in Burlington; $1.65 mil for State House makeover; that awful knotweed
Cops, dogs, knife attack and LLBean in Burlington, big money to retrofit post-pandemic State House, and more hot headlines from Vermont media today.
What’s in the Secretary of State’s ‘new’ civics?
What version of civics education will the Vermont Secretary of State’s office produce?
Wandering pals escape tragedy on I-89
Two wandering dogs escaped tragedy on I-89.
Klar: resist indoctrination
CRT holds that equal opportunity and merit are mistaken ideas. Instead, “equalizing” outcome and redistributing wealth will create a wonderful new society. NOT!
Montpelier city councilor named Burlington City Attorney
Montpelier City Councilor Dan Richardson will resign if Burlington hires him as its next city attorney.
Scam of the week: password blackmail
Scammers have one of your passwords. Now they’re blackmailing you. What can you do?
Joke? – Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire are on a Road Trip
Four guys from Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts are in a car….
Biden wants Cuomo to resign
Looking across Lake Champlain, Vermonters see NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo in BIG trouble.
Shrier: Gender ideology run amok
In 2007, America had one pediatric gender clinic; today there are hundreds. Testosterone is readily available to adolescents from places like Planned Parenthood and Kaiser, often on a first visit—without even a therapist’s note.
Indoor hockey rink planned for Shelburne Road
The only Vermont native to captain the UVM hockey team wants to build a 30,000 sq. ft. indoor rink off Shelburne Road.
Winters: fight cynicism with civics
Vermonters mistrustful of state and national elections and government need a good dose of civics education, Vermont’s Deputy Secretary of State says.
Water Cooler: Biden admin dismisses abortion suit against VT hospital
A federal lawsuit on behalf of a pro-life UVMMC nurse who said she was manipulated into participating in an abortion has been dropped by the Biden administration.
State says unvaxed should wear masks in school
After the first few weeks, students and staff at schools with 80% or more eligible students vaccinated won’t need to wear masks – except for the unvaccinated.
Vax booster shots likely coming as virus mutates, leading VT doc says
As the Covid-19 virus mutates, vaccine booster shots likely will be needed to keep Vermonters out of hospitals, a leading physician says.
Former GOP lawmakers named to Act 250 board
Two former GOP lawmakers have been named one of Vermont’s Act 250 review boards.
EBT families’ food benefits rise
The federal government has authorized the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) and Agency of Education (AOE) to provide temporary food benefits to students (Pre-K to grade 12) who would normally receive free or reduced-price meals at school.
Chittenden County should mask up indoors, CDC warns – but state leaders disagree
Vermont’s most urban, highly-vaccinated county should mask up indoors, the CDC recommended today. However, Vermont government leaders don’t agree.
Employee vax mandate subject of Chamber poll
A leading business organization is asking its members if they will require employee vaccination.
Woman buys gun for boyfriend, drug dealer
Vermonters buying guns for their drug dealers, dealers failing the drug recovery program, and New York drug dealers plying their trade in Vermont – it’s all in the recent public record in U.S. District Court.
Shootout, hate-crime assault follow call for more Burlington policing
“My Progressive opponents continue to have their heads buried in ideological sand. It’s time to put public safety over politics,” Burlington City Council candidate Christopher-Aaron Felker said today.
Water Cooler: copter crash on Causeway, hate-crime assault in Burlington
Hot headlines from around Vermont: reaction to a Burlington shootout, a race-related assault in the Queen City, and a copter crash on the Causeway in Colchester.
Big Newport employer to close facility, hopes to employ most workers remotely
A large call-center employer in Newport reportedly will close its building soon. The company hopes to keep as many employees as possible working remotely, a development official said today.
10 animals test positive for rabies
To prevent a rabies outbreak, Vermont and federal wildlife officials are collaborating on the 25th annual anti-rabies bait drop.
Metaxas: What would Bonhoeffer do?
The Christian hero of the German resistance to the Nazis would have challenging words for Americans today, says the author of the best-selling biography Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. Eric Metaxas will speak at a Montpelier banquet Sept. 10 and at a seminar in Williston Sept. 11.
$120 mil redirected to VT towns, cities
Federal millions$$ once ticketed for Vermont’s 14 county governments will instead be given to cities and towns.
Low-tax NH attracts workers. High-tax VT pays them to come
In our neighbor across the river, Vermont looks like a dying state that pays people to move here.
Mask ‘masked’ skin cancer
A man thought the sore on his nose was just rubbing from the mask he had to wear at work. It wasn’t.
Greta Garbo won’t talk in Brandon
Brandon has recently become Vermont’s “capital” for the revival in interest in silent films by both students and film fans. See Greta Garbo in “Wild Orchids” Saturday, August 7 at 7 pm.
Keelan: does VT really want new housing?
Here’s the dirty little secret about Vermont’s affordable housing crisis: communities don’t want more housing.
Second Amendment Sanctuary vote Wednesday in Groton
If approved, the proposal would bar the town of Groton from using funds to store firearms that have been confiscated or are being stored “for the purpose of enforcing any other law that unconstitutionally infringes upon the right of the people of Groton, Vermont to keep and bear arms.”
Water Cooler: VT demand for vaccines stagnant / paid family, medical leave pushed / hotel room costs climb / Big chair in Bennington damaged
Friday’s hot headlines from Vermont media.
Jummai Nache not part of mainstream media coverage of Covid-19
Vermont media have run news stories about Covid-19 skeptics in Oklahoma contracting the disease and now on respirators. But nary a word about Minneapolis missionary Jummai Nache suffered chest pains just three days after her second Pfizer vaccine shot in February. Since then she has suffered blood clots, cardiomyothapy, and amputation of both legs below the knee – with amputation of her hands to follow soon.
VW settlement pays for all-electric bucket truck
Thanks to money garnered by the State of Vermont from a multi-state settlement with Volkswagen over falsified emissions statements, the state’s largest utility has purchased an all-electric power line maintenance bucket truck.
Bob Beeman: fix-it man at the Olympic Games
Despite high heat and humidity and ever-present protocols, Bob Beeman of Morristown is enjoying his seventh Olympic games.
Tree wardens are the real life Lorax
Appointed by local selectboards, tree wardens make determinations about public shade trees. A new state law requires more reporting but also offers educational opportunities.
States weigh ban on ransomware payoffs
At least three states—New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania—are considering legislation that would ban state and local government agencies from paying ransom if they’re attacked by cybercriminals. A bill in the Vermont Legislature would study possible ransomware prevention and enforcement measures.
Jewish group plans protest at Ben & Jerry’s
A Jewish community group will rally Sunday at 11 am at the Ben & Jerry’s plant on Rte. 100 in Waterbury to protest the company’s July 19 boycotting of ice cream sales in disputed territories in Israel.
Water Cooler: 71% Burlington property owners see tax hike / vax ‘breakthrough gap’ narrows / Leahy wants $2.1 billion for more capitol security
Brattleboro’s new black, woman police chief promises a new perspective.
Roper: So-called ‘Smart Growth’ forces Vermonters into flood zones
The ‘Smart Growth’ concept of building homes in urban areas would force Vermonters to live in high-risk flood zones. Good idea? Maybe not.
News report: Act 250 delayed Waterbury gun shop, stopped sugarhouse at Mormon historic site
A sugarhouse near an historic site and a firearms shop expansion both faced unexpected, questionable opposition during the Act 250 review process, according to today’s Burlington Free Press.
Lake Monsters on 19-2 tear draw record crowd
Tuesday night’s record crowd at Centennial Field in Burlington shows that local baseball fans are noticing that the Vermont Lake Monsters are playing like, well, champs.
Thayer: Rise Up
Instead of teaching that our great Country was founded on the desire to be free and choose one’s own destiny, Critical Race Theory teaches that America was founded on racism and oppression. This is not about promoting the American dream for all citizens, it’s about pitting people against each other in a never-ending power struggle.
William Shatner brings Star Trek to North Country
William Shatner brought the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise with him to Ticonderoga, NY last week.
Cops seek masked armed robber
Wearing a disguised that included a surgical mask, an armed man robbed a Fair Haven gas station yesterday.
Exciting news about how the Vermont Daily Chronicle is growing – and how you can help
This July saw the best-read day, week, and month in the history of the Vermont Daily Chronicle. My heartfelt thanks to you.
Water Cooler: Covid up but restrictions unlikely; replacing Bible at VA; septic waste fertilizing stops; register women for draft?; winery won’t reopen; VT’s ‘Boston Tea Party’ celebrated
Will Bibles be taken from the NH VA? A farmer stops spreading septic waste on his fields. Covid cases up, but restrictions unlikely. These and more headlines from VT media.
Runner, rower, and patriotic rugby player represent VT in Tokyo
A dairy farmer’s wife, a disgruntled skier, and a patriotic rugby player represent Vermont in the “2020” Tokyo Olympics.
Covid aside, how healthy is Vermont?
For a state often called “the healthiest in the nation,” Vermont has some troubling health risk indicators.
Commentary: communism the ‘second oldest faith’
When Marx was asked what his objective in life was, he said, “To dethrone God and destroy capitalism.”
Stalker put GPS on woman’s vehicle
A Manchester man is scheduled to appear in court today on charges he placed a GPS on the vehicle of a woman he was stalking.
Black critic of CRT to speak in Bennington, Montpelier
Coming to Vermont August 5-7 is K. Carl Smith, retired U.S. Army officer and nationally recognized author, speaker and the creator of the Frederick Douglass Republican Engagement Strategy.
Commentary: There’s no affordable housing in Realtor’s hometown. He knows why
In East Warren, there were trailers, modest homes next to mansions, with no issues. Now we only have mansions.
Commentary: 15-year-old urges VT to become first to end homelessness
Theoretically, many homeless people could use the $2500 from the State to acquire more permanent housing. There’s only one problem: there is no housing available.
Water Cooler: Air quality advisory for northern VT, Climate Council makes recommendations, free tuition a big hit, Brattleboro names VT’s first black woman police chief
Hot headlines from VT media.
Guv unaware of state employee ‘equity audit’
Gov. Phil Scott stands behind the need for equity and diversity training of state employees, but said he is unaware of any plans to implement an ‘equity audit’ on state employees.
Strafford mine cleanup almost finished
An EPA Superfund mine cleanup 22 years in the making is nearing completion.
Calling Out the Big Lie
It’s time for Vermonters to heed Alexandr Solzhenitsyn and “live not by lies.”
Climate science settled? Not so much
Disciple of physicist Richard Feynman says scientific honesty requires an open mind on the lasting effects of climate change.
Water Cooler: Police seek violent attacker; selectboards saying the Pledge (no)?; impossibly tight VT rental market; Burlington property taxes rise steeply; another VT mask mandate?
Have you seen the man police say viciously assaulted someone in South Burlington? Could Vermont have another mask mandate?
Opinion: Sanders, AOC offer death sentence for the poor
Senator Sanders continuously rants about economic inequality being a death sentence for the poor. What he and the Ocasio-Cortez squad advocates is the real culprit.
Pride Parade watchers weigh in on transgender, CRT issues
Reporter Aaron Warner asked some direct questions of two women at Saturday’s LGBTQ ‘Pride Parade” in White River Junction. They answered in kind.
Wet July means powdery mildew in garden
The region’s wetter-than-usual July is seeing an increase in powdery mildew while home gardeners and landscapers around the state are seeking a remedy to save plants.
Fernandez: Free scoops of propaganda at Ben & Jerry’s
What the media did not report last week is that Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in 1995 hired a well-known anti-Zionist activist. She is now Chairman of the Board at Ben & Jerry’s.
Flemming: Sacrificing the sick to Vermont’s Green Energy plan
“So much of my work involves impacts to minorities, and I don’t mean necessarily the BIPOC populations. I mean people who are in the minority compared to everything else. And so, what we are doing in Vermont is a policy of sacrificing people,” Annette Smith of Vermonters for a Clean Environment told a Vermont Climate Council Subcommittee July 21.
Stella: school board should unMask the kids
“Todd and I are trying to make final decisions about our children’s education, and do not want our children suffocated by masks. Masks impair communication, breathing and have adverse physiological impacts.”
UPDATE: Crystal Lake drowning victims identified
The bodies of a man and woman were recovered in Crystal Lake in Barton this morning. They apparently drowned after leaving a pontoon boat Saturday.
Evslin: U.S. must walk the vaccination walk
by Tom EvslinThe US government talks the talk about Covid vaccination but doesn’t walk the walk. The CDC and the FDA say “get vaccinated” but they don’t act as if they really […]
Opponents silence GOP’s Felker on FB, steal his signs
Earlier this week the Progs kicked a Burlington GOP candidate off a prominent Facebook page. Now the Progs are stealing his signs, campaign manager Brad Broyles says.
Burlington businesses offer ‘safety escorts’
Faced with growing crime and less police protection, the Burlington business community is taking downtown safety into its own hands – peacefully.
Water Cooler: State colleges mandate vax / Just back from P-town? Get tested / Cops apologize for Essex arrest / UVM applications up / Teen pleads innocent to attempted murder
Hot headlines from VT media: teen pleads innocent to attempted murder. Provincetown visitors should get tested. State colleges will require student EUA Covid vaccination.
Levine leaning toward masking students this fall
More details are expected next week, but Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine seems to favor masking Vermont public school children this fall.
Revenue surplus adds $52 million to pension fund
A revenue surplus powered by a resurgent state economy has added $52 million to the state pension fund.
CRT/Equity Townhall 7/30 in Brattleboro
Friday, July 30 at 6:30 pm four speakers will take to the stage at The Whetstone Church in Brattleboro for a two hours discussion on Critical Race Theory/Equity.
Licata: persecution in Burlington
Religion, reason, and fair elections are all victims of the ideological persecution now being perpetrated on a Burlington City Council candidate.
Endangered Species Act foils e-car manufacturing
A rare plant could become the spotted owl or snail darter to bedevil the electric car industry.
2019, 2020 Game Wardens of the Year recognized
Two Vermont State Game Wardens were recognized by Governor Phil Scott and Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter today in Montpelier for their exceptional performance. Warden Asa Sargent of Hartland received the […]
Felker calls for ‘positive policing’
Burlington’s business community shouldn’t need to pay for their customers’ safety escorts because the anti-police City Council has defunded law enforcement.
Water Cooler: Montpelier postpones homeless decision / Nuclear waste storage / renewable natural gas / free food $$ extended / GOP opposes vax passports / coke bust
Hot media headlines from around the state.
Abortion at 17 – and still regretting it
My abortion represents the 99% of abortions performed. Even so, for me, It was an indescribable horror, nothing to be celebrated or cheered in favor of. That is MY experience.
Burlington GOP candidate blocked on local Facebook page
In Burlington, social media operators cancel a gay Republican candidate for City Council. Soooo ‘inclusive.’
Roper: OF COURSE the rent is too high
The next time a politician laments on the campaign trail that the rent is too high, take a moment to see if their voting record helped make it so.
From Baghdad to Berlin, VT: Iraqi immigrant serves in VT National Guard
Ali Aljarah emigrated to Vermont with his family from Baghdad, Iraq, after anti-U.S. militia targeted his family with bombs.
VT to get $60 million in opioid settlement
Vermont’s cut of a national legal settlement with opioid manufacturers is about $60 million.
Waiving pitchforks on Front Porch Forum
A university professor scheduled to speak at s Friday night public gathering on CRT was called “an open white supremacist” on Underhill’s Front Porch Forum. Another speaker, organizer of a Jan. 6 bus ride to Washington D.C., was called a ‘traitor.’
School choice at last! New Hampshire pays tuition to private schools
Across the Connecticut River, state tuition may now go to private schools. What’s stopping Vermont?
