Despite raising heavy taxes, the Vermont Legislature has severely underfunded pensions while not reducing poverty. Solution: reduce programs, not taxpayer incomes.
Guy Page
Guy Page is the editor and publisher of the Vermont Daily Chronicle.
Whitworth: Climate Plan lacks biodiversity
Vermont climate planners care ONLY about emissions reduction. If biodiversity suffers, that’s not their problem.
Feed Maine seaweed to Vermont cows?
UVM is researching a way to feed Maine seaweed to Vermont cows.
Water Cooler: Burlington cops say bonuses not enough / fake pills contain fentanyl / school masking extended / Shumlin officials targeted in EB-5 scandal probe
Headline from VT media today – Those retention bonuses using federal $$ aren’t enough to make Burlington cops stick around. Good job, Burlington City Council! Whoyagonnacall?
Apple fest, “I do not choose to run” race at Coolidge home Saturday
Vintage apples, “I do not choose to run” race on tap at Coolidge Homestead Saturday.
Non-citizen ‘local’ voting affects statewide education funding
What happens in Winooski stays in Winooski? Not when it comes to local elections affecting statewide policy.
Silverstein: Why did ‘White’ people become ‘Other’ on Covid dashboard?
On September 24, VT Dept. of Health statistics showed the total number of white people testing positive suddenly decreased by 1800 people. The same day the number of ‘other’ rose by about 3000. A trained virologist and teacher wonders what explains this overnight change.
Despite leftist ‘cancel’ efforts, Charlie Kirk coming to Vermont
A leftist group that wants to abolish the police also wants to stop Charlie Kirk from coming to Vermont to talk about Critical Race Theory.
Flag Wave Thursday
A Celebrate America Flag Wave and Potluck will be held Thursday, Sept. 30 at the Essex Grange Hall on Rte. 15 from 4-8 pm.
Shepard: Overthinking Phil Scott
Vermont conservatives should fret less about ‘RINO’ Phil Scott and think more about regaining the Legislature. If that happens, they might see a more conservative chief executive, says former Vermont Senate colleague Mark Shepard.
Mazur: ’22 elections our only hope
There’s hope with the 2022 elections. The election can provide a roadblock to this socialistic destructive path and protect our borders. We get what we accept. Vote!
Water Cooler: free food ends, hospital staffing shortages loom, Stowe cop accused of sex assault
The free food program will end this week. A Stowe cop is accused of sex assault. And hospital officials worry about looming staffing shortages due to Covid-19 vax deadlines. These headlines and more from VT media today.
Biden plan to audit bank transactions over $600 concerns Scott administration
President Biden wants the IRS to audit every bank transaction of $600 or more.
GOP sues Winooski, Montpelier for non-citizen voting
Vermont and national Republicans are suing Montpelier and Winooski for letting non-citizens vote in municipal elections.
The last election wasn’t stolen – we need to make sure the next one isn’t either
The country will be deeply damaged if there is enough evidence of fraud that the result of the coming presidential election is legitimately in doubt.
Climate headline SHOULD have said, ‘July no hotter than usual’
When climate feds called this July “the hottest July on record,” the Associated Press duly trumpeted the claim. Oops. They missed 1935 (and several other years).
Border crosser returned to Canada “to prevent further introduction of Covid-19”
The Border Patrol caught one potential Covid-carrying fish in Derby Line. Too bad about the 12,000 who got away in Del Rio.
UVM supercomputer to study climate, ‘online misinformation’
A huge, new gob of data will help researchers using the UVM supercomputer study climate change and “the spread of online misinformation,” UVM said Sept. 27.
$60 mil climate, infrastructure bonds head to Burlington voters
Burlington’s mayor and the City Council want voters to approve $60 million in new borrowing to fix the streets, rehab Memorial Auditorium, and save the climate.
Many thanks to cartoonist Nitzakhon and Granite Grok (New Hampshire’s conservative news and commentary website) for allowing republication of this cartoon. Submissions from Vermonters are welcome.
Ashamed of eugenics, Middlebury College changes name of chapel
A former governor and major Middlebury College donor will have his name stricken from the school chapel, due to his strong advocacy for Vermont eugenics legislation in 1914. Better late than never!
Keelan: Carbon emissions & recycled toilet paper
I can’t imagine how much work and cost it must be for a publicly-traded company to extract its carbon emissions.
Water Cooler: pushback against ‘Vermont State University’ / BLM at Rice Memorial / Olympic finalist celebrated in Richford
While Vermont healthcare groups vaccinate migrant workers statewide, the Biden Administration is admitting thousands of unvaccinated Haitians. And why was a UVM dorm told to ‘shelter in place’?
‘Vax, test or attest – or lose your job’
“I feel like I have a gun to my head.”
Firing back at ‘Sad Remnants’ of GOP op-ed in VTDigger
Two very different Republicans – one from the Northeast Kingdom, the other from Southwestern Vermont – both ridiculed a superficial, highly partisan op-ed written by a former leader of VTDigger’s parent organization.
Steelmanning the Right
Rather than misrepresenting in order to malign, as Schubart does, I urge the Reader to employ the “steel man” technique and consider the strongest form of the right’s positions.
Ingalls roasts VTDigger former leader
Ingalls’ response to Bill Schubart’s critique of GOP included the observation that VTDigger is “an affinity space where old political hacks can gather.”
Vermont blacks suffer fewer Covid hospitalizations, deaths per capita than whites
Hospitalizations and deaths – the most accurate yardstick of harm by Covid-19 – shows white Vermonters have suffered more per capita than blacks. Listening to government officials and media, you’d think the opposite was true.
Escapee found, locked up
A New Haven man on the lam all month was found by South Burlington police yesterday.
Biggest-ever permanent hike in VT ‘food stamp’ payments begins Friday
The 21%, permanent boost in 3SquaresVT payments more than replaces the ‘temporary’ 15% hike implemented during the pandemic, and set to expire September 30.
Water Cooler: pandemic $$ to pay police bonuses / Spilled milk in highway rollover? / more remote learning in NEK / Stowe worker dies in zipline accident
A Stowe worker died in a zipline accident.
Cartoon by Nitzakhon
Cartoon by Nitzakhon, republished from http://www.granitegrok.com.
Boyfriend of woman who died of gunshot in car held on gun bust
The man in the car with Brittany Bouthiette when she died of a gunshot wound September 15 in Killington is being held on federal firearms violation.
Booster shots start today
Vermonters 80 and older may get Covid-19 booster shots, starting today.
Evslin: Vax mandates and abortion rights – you can’t have it both ways, Bernie
If government can’t tell people what to do with their bodies, it can’t tell them they have to be vaccinated.
Climate ‘consultant’ dismissing nuclear power owns solar power business
A consultant to the Vermont Climate Council won’t recommend carbon-free ‘next gen’ nuclear power as an option worth considering. Turns out he owns a solar power company. Draw your own conclusions.
PRC deadly weapons include bioweapons, nuclear weapons, fentanyl
Fentanyl, bioweapons, and nukes are among the PRC’s deadly weapons, China policy expert Gordon Chang told a Williston gathering September 11.
Driver dies after losing control of trailer
A pickup truck driver died after the trailer he was pulling went off the road.
EB-5 settlement $$ available in Newport
Grant money from the EB-5 Court Settlement is available to Newport businesses and organizations. Newport Renaissance, Take Two.
Hemorrhagic disease killing deer
A hemorrhagic disease is killing deer on Vermont’s borders – and may be here already.
Pandemic aid to businesses $4.4 million over – and may need to be paid back
A state agency disbursing federal pandemic relief aid to Vermont businesses may have paid out $4.4 million more than merited. And that money may need to be paid back.
Water Cooler: Some businesses got too much pandemic relief / why are grocery, fuel prices rising? / Burlington may restrict short-term rentals
Vermont’s auditor says some businesses got more pandemic relief $$ than they were entitled to.
Coolidge historian Shlaes to speak Oct. 2 at Coolidge home
Bestselling author Amity Shlaes will be the keynote speaker at the Ethan Allen Institute Jefferson Day Dinner Oct. 2 at the President Calvin Coolidge Historic Site in Plymouth.
Viral school vandalism hits central VT
Harwood Union High School has been stricken by ‘Devious Licks,’ a viral vandalism challenging sweeping the nation’s high schools.
Insight into Vaccine Hesitancy, Part 3: Personal Struggle
No, Gov. Scott, ‘lack of time’ isn’t why tens of thousands of Vermonters haven’t gotten the jab. It’s more likely their informed instinct for self-preservation.
Donahue: Eugenics, abortion, and who is worthy to live
Apologize for eugenics, push for abortion. Will our Legislature never learn?
Putnam: SLOW Government
As state and national government grow faster and faster, a Cambridge native and selectboard member praises the virtues of Slow Government.
Leftist Vermont union rejects carbon tax, gun control
The VT AFL-CIO voted Sunday to oppose gun control laws and carbon taxation. But don’t think they’ve gone all reactionary.
Water Cooler: celebrating Coolidge / Messner to retire / Keep Fletcher Library Free! / State colleges mull name change
Vermont media today report: noted Calvin Coolidge historian to speak; Fletcher library resists BHS merger; /vt state colleges ponder ‘university’ name
‘Threats’ against Prog Barre politician? Evidence says no
A police investigation belies the claim by a Progressive Barre City Councilor that she was ‘threatened’ after calling her city’s 9/11 American flag ‘intimidating.’ She did get an earful, though.
$7 mil grant to UVM could reduce chemo nerve pain, need for painkillers
A $7 million grant to the UVM School of Medicine could lead to breakthroughs in reducing nerve pain and opioid dependence for people receiving chemotherapy.
Insight into Vaccine Hesitancy, Part Two: Big Pharma
The FDA watches the pharmaceutical industry. The revolving door between government regulators and Big Pharma is troublesome to some vaccine hesitant Vermonters.
BLM flag pushback: and then there were four
Three more Essex-Westford school board members are now on record opposing flying the BLM flag on school property. Two board members supporting the flag are up for election next spring.
South Carolina fugitive stopped just miles from border
Wanted for attempted homicide in South Carolina, Philip Katon was apprehended while fleeing from justice in St. Albans – just a few miles from the Canadian border.
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Tue, Sep 21
Which nightclubs require vaccination? What really caused the SBHS lockdown? What happened in the cyberattack on Vermont radio stations? Vermont media report today.
UVMMC nurse says doctors dismiss possibility of vaccine reaction
A woman claiming to be a UVMMC nurse told a national TV audience last night that some doctors at the Burlington hospital won’t consider a Covid-19 vaccine reaction when faced with otherwise inexplicable symptoms.
Insight into Vaccine Hesitancy
Calmly and factually, a clinical nutritionist explains why many Vermonters won’t ‘take the jab.’ Part one of a three-part series.
Pro-CRT school board chair moves, won’t resign
The pro-CRT school board chair in Essex won’t resign even though she no longer lives in town.
UVM Power Prof joins with DOE research center
UVM renewable power systems scientist joins with DOE research center.
Save the spiny softshell turtles!
Volunteers needed to help prepare nesting sites for endangered baby turtles.
Fear elected Trump and Biden
Fear rules in electoral politics. And fear of the virus helped Gavin Newsom defeat the recall.
Barre man victimized 10-year-girl, made child porn
A Barre man coerced a 10-year-old girl to email him intimate photos. He then sold them on the Internet. He’s doing 10 years in federal prison.
Social Security broke by 2034
At the present rate, Social Security will be broke by 2034. And none of the fixes are easy.
Coast Guard sends Cuban refugees back to Cuba
The Biden administration Saturday returned Cuban boat refugees to Cuba.
IT glitch causes Health Dept. dashboard ‘false positive’
Nope, there weren’t 314 new cases of Covid last Thursday. Just an IT glitch.
State $$ to clean up ‘brownfield’ sites
$25 million in state money has been allocated to clean up enviromental disaster sites in Springfield, St. Albans and Burlington.
Water Cooler: Leaf blower ban in Burlington / Vermont ninja / the Giant Pumpkin / when Trump came to Burlington
Burlington’s leaf blower ban. A Democrat lawmaker remembers when Donald Trump campaigned at the Flynn in Vermont January 7, 2016. These and more headlines from Vermont media.
Bernie wants to cut government spending – in the military
Bernie Sanders decries government overspending – at least by the Pentagon.
Small towns want school choice
Parents in Mendon and Chittenden “understood the issues: that school choice is more equitable; that each child is different and has different educational needs– that without school choice, those needs will not be met.”
China AND American politicians threaten our sovreignty
Gordon Chang, a China expert frequently quoted in national publications, indicates that the Chinese Communists Party (CCP) has declared war against Americans. With current policies proposed by President Biden and his party, the CCP objective is on its way to fruition.
Helmetless Harley-riding teen dies
A 19-year-old teen, possibly under the influence and not wearing a helmet, died when his motorcycle struck a utility pole in the NEK.
Lawmakers from Planned Parenthood protest Prop 5 seminar
Democrat leaders’ caterwauling about a Vermont Right to Life seminar shows they fear health care providers demanding conscience protection. It also shows their fealty to Planned Parenthood.
Vermont to welcome 100 Afghan refugees
100 Afghan refugees – reportedly eager to find jobs – will be resettled in Vermont. Plenty of work here for people who want it.
Water Cooler: No mail in Williston / Hospital spending outpaces economic growth / ‘managing’ homeless camp in Burlington / arrests after school lockdown
Burlington tries to manage a homeless camp that will need to be moved when a new highway goes through it, anyway. If you build it, they will come.
Evslin: 9/11, COVID-19, and Civil Liberties
In the last two years many civil liberties have been curtailed. Where will it end?
Hansen: Masks for kids discouraged overseas – and with good reason
We can all agree that containing this virus must not inflict irreparable damage on the developing minds and bodies of children. Masks optional!
Cops: Newport man busted for coke, other drugs
Marsh was arrested after police found cocaine, other drugs, paraphernalia, and $14 grand in his truck.
The words of the CRT wizards stand on their heads
Who are the REAL purveyors of “a growing narrative coming from outside of our borders”? The parents complaining about CRT, or the Santa Monica High School grad pushing it?
Fatal in Sheldon
An Enosburg man died in a head-on crash in Sheldon yesterday.
Woman in car died by gunshot to head
Her boyfriend says she was despondent and shot herself. Police are investigating.
Here’s your chance to tell Legislature how to spend millions in federal money
More than $1 billion is coming to Vermont from the federal government. The Legislature is asking you how to spend it.
Fox News can’t take drone video from the border – now here’s America’s reporter, Sen. Ted Cruz
The Feds can’t control news coverage at the southern border.
Bumblebee an endangered Vermont species?
The Vermont Dept. of Fish & Wildlife wants to add the bumblebee to the endangered species list, and take the bald eagle off it.
Water Cooler: Louis Porter goes electric / Banyai forms Slate Ridge non-profit / Leahy & Simone Biles / why the hospital cleaning staff matters
Almost as much as nurses and doctors, the hospital cleaning staff keep people alive. The much-traveled Louis Porter adds yet another gig to his impressive resume. And will Slate Ridge become a non-profit?
2A supporters encouraged to attend speech by anti-gun professor
An anti-gun professor is giving a speech Sept. 21 in Springfield entitled “Do We Still Need an Armed Citizenry?” Guess what her answer is.
15 GOP caucuses meet today
Participation and enthusiasm at town GOP caucuses has picked up steam.
Ivermectin not available from VT chain drug stores
Due to heightened national demand or government restrictions – or both – ivermectin
Woman dies in car – autopsy planned
State police crime investigators want to know why a woman died in car Wednesday night in Killington.
Prayer vigil kickoff begins this Sunday in Barre
The annual 40 Days for Life prayer vigil outside the Barre Planned Parenthood begins Sunday, September 19. Rutland and Burlington also will see 40DFL events.
CVS no longer filling ivermectin prescriptions
Vermont pharmacy won’t fill ivermectin for Covid-19
Water Cooler: crack/fentanyl bust / school surveillance testing / BHS site choices
The Liberty Union Party does NOT want to be confused with lag-waving patriotic zealots. So it’s changing its name. That story and others in the Vermont media today.
Kaigle behind bars
A Burlington man accused in numerous assaults is now behind bars.
‘Buy Nothing’ group has 300 Winooski/Colchester members
“Buy Nothing” groups — places where members can ask and give goods and services for free — are growing daily, including in Winooski.
AG Donovan sues fossil fuel energy companies
Vermont is suing Big Oil for saying it’s to solve climate change.
Climate Council: Zero carbon emissions in VT won’t stop ‘extreme’ weather
A member of the Vermont Climate Council spilled the beans: even if Vermont gets to zero emissions, it won’t improve the environment at all.
UVM freezes tuition 4th straight year
UVM’s president wants to freeze tution for the fourth straight year and raise $$ to help low-income students.
Donovan stumbles to explain why abortion privacy right doesn’t apply to vax
Constitutional scholar and Vermont AG TJ Donovan eloquently defends abortion rights. Vax freedom rights? Eeuuh….not so much.
Harley driver dies on Rte. 7
A Harley rider died on Rte. 7 in New Haven yesterday when his bike crashed into the side of a min-van turning left into his lane.
Woman dies in fire
An elderly Highgate woman died in a house fire Sunday night. An overloaded power strip started it.
Masks on at State House
A strict masking policy is now in effect in the Vermont State House.
