An anonymous user had utilized the Department of Defense Self Helpline chat function to make threats against several middle and high schools across Vermont.
Defense Dept. chatline used to call in fake shooting threats to 12 VT schools
Guy Page
Guy Page is the editor and publisher of the Vermont Daily Chronicle.
Vermont Republican Lieutenant Governor bashes Trump administration
“As a Republican who supports women’s rights, LBGTQ community, local farmers and loggers, our manufacturers and other great Vermont businesses, the free press, United States Constitution and the rule of law, I am appalled with what the Trump administration is doing to our state and our country,” said John Rodgers to the crowd of around one thousand protesters gathered in Montpelier.
VT Headlines: Elementary school to close
Ripton Elementary School students will be bused to Salisbury.
With feds ready to pull $$, state doubles down on DEI
Legal precedent from court cases across the nation further establishes that Vermont is positioning itself unfavorably if its pro-DEI stance were put to the scrutiny of courts.
Turkish pro-Hamas detainee has 13 lawyers for VT hearing
Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, who is in America on a student visa, is currently detained at the Southern Louisiana Correctional Facility in Basile, Louisiana in a case that has drawn international attention for Free Speech reasons.
Barre barn fire kills almost 200 animals
Over 100 adult pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens plus 70-80 piglets were lost in the fire.
Committees grapple with bad weather fund for farms, rodent control, school reform and more
Collective bargaining for farm workers and good cause firing of employees are on the House Committee on General and Housing agenda.
State sticks with DEI despite Trump ban
“Nothing about this directive requires a change to our diversity, equity and inclusion practices, and we’re not going to change,” Clark and Saunders said.
Rodgers knocks Trump tariffs
“Vermonters cannot afford another $3800 a year to subsidize the President’s games,” Rodgers said.
Senate seeks hospital rate review transparency
The bill would require the Green Mountain Care Board to make public all materials in the record of a rate review proceeding.
Happening NOW: Pro-Hamas detainee court hearing in Burlington
Backed by ACLU lawyers, Rumeysa Ozturk is be the subject of a federal hearing in Burlington right now.
MAGA meets ‘Hands Off!’ on sidewalk at rally
The young man told VDC he had previously wandered through the crowd where he heard someone say “I hope he dies” and another person say “I hope they hang him.”
House leaders’ refusal to exempt military pensions stalls tax reform bill
Momentum ground to a halt on March 25 when Rep. Jed Lipsky (I-Stowe) proposed a floor amendment to add a military pension tax exemption to the package.
‘Tariff-iying’: Vermont economy could lose $1 bil to tariffs
Vermont’s typically steady economic boat won’t have as much federal money to keep her afloat if a stormy recession hits. Also, ‘Medicaid cuts’ talk explained.
Breaking: Parents’ Rights rally moved to Room 11 in State House
Wednesday, Noon – 1 PM in Room 11 of the Vermont State House.
Suspect in chef stabbing arrested
The former employee of Cafe Provence had been ordered to stay away from the Center Street restaurant, but he showed up about 4:30 p.m. Saturday and used a knife to attack the owner/chef multiple times in the head.
Inmate found dead in Newport once sued state for getting guard pregnant
Ingerson, who has a lengthy criminal record including at least nine felony convictions, was most recently sentenced in U.S. District Court in Rutland in January to two years in prison for a federal charge of possession of a Savage 20-gauge shotgun at his residence on June 7, 2023.
Scott vetoes latest budget adjustment bill
I’m hopeful the Legislature will stop sending me bills they know I will veto and instead send me a clean budget adjustment bill without controversial policy, so we can move forward with the many challenges we face,” Scott said.
Pushing back against proposed Amazon distribution center
Some neighbors and not-neighbors oppose the project for environmental, quality of life, anti-corporate, and anti-growth reasons.
Vermonter busted in Virgin Islands for death threats against Grand Isle prosecutor
Hoyte has a long history of making other threats to now retired Judge A. Gregory Rainville, former Attorney General T.J. Donovan and members of the Franklin County State’s Attorney’s Office, records show.
Vermont swiftwater rescue headed to Kentucky floods
The Vermont Coalition for Palestinian Liberation is going to the Indivisible rally, invited or not.
Contact Vermont House & Senate members
Names, districts and email addresses of every Vermont legislator.
Vermont Foodbank seeks $5 million amid lost fed $$, reduced donations
Carrie Stahler emphasized the importance of ongoing base support due to reduced donations and federal resources, particularly highlighting previous support through S. 310 for food security in disaster planning.
Detained pro-Hamas Turkish student routed through Vermont
Gov. Phil Scott’s “We should be ashamed” statement is at odds with a Homeland Security spokesperson’s claim that the arrest is “common sense security.”
Migrant Justice claims 2-3 ICE arrests per week, longer detention
The detainees are not gang members, as Vermont’s migrant population is not gang-connected, she said. Most of the detainees were arrested for failure to make court dates or otherwise comply with federal law and regulations.
Senate Clean Heat ‘soft repeal’ lacks votes, returned to committee
Senate Republicans showed they now have the swing to back a potential veto by Gov. Phil Scott of too-aggressive carbon reduction legislation.
Out-of-state drug dealer suspect charged with murder-for-hire/ Online child sex victim
A Hartford, CT man is charged with offering a confidential informant $10K to kill someone who had disrespected and stolen from him.
Government’s job to pick tax winners and losers, legislator says
Barre Rep. Wazazek: “The market picks winners and losers. And it’s the job of the Government to right size that. So yes we are picking winners and losers, because the market is already starting that dynamic for us, and it’s our job to make sure the right people are winning.”
New Yorkers, citizens of India charged in illegal entry into Vermont
Surveillance cameras later captured several individuals running toward the stopped vehicle in a gas station parking lot.
Clean Heat Standard repeal on Senate floor this AM
The Senate also is expected to focus heavily on finalizing its stance on the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Adjustment Act (BAA), a contentious issue following Governor Phil Scott’s veto of an earlier version last week.
Breaking: House to vote this morning on new homeless housing program
A new program to replace the state’s current emergency housing programs is up for a vote in the House this morning.
If Congress cuts funding, 10 Vermont legislators take the wheel
If federal cuts exceed 1% of the current budget, the Joint Fiscal Committee will execute a spending reduction and transfer plan.
Pickup truck strikes school bus with passengers
The 31-year-old driver of the pickup truck was traveling north when he experienced a suspected medical event.
Harrison: Guv checkmates Legislature
House passes stormwater revision, ’26 budget, yield bill, and housing and data privacy bills.
Friday at Four: Scott breaks homeless hotel logjam (or tries to)
Sometimes the Breaking News is the best.
Failure to continue Trump tax cuts would cost average VT family $2000+, AFP says
‘My warning to everybody who is thinking about letting these tax cuts fade into history: if you hit households who are already struggling to make ends meet with an unexpected loss of household income, you are going to be in for a whirlwind of a surprise when 2026 comes around,” Roper said.
Children Health Defense prez, National Guard general coming to State House
The president of a medical freedom advocacy group is coming to the State House next month. So is the leader of the Vermont National Guard.
No adjournment without school reform, Scott tells House
The Burlington charter change banning guns in bars, S.131, got an initial run-through in Senate Government Operations today
Secretary of State condemns Trump order for voter ID
“I think it’s something that Vermont could consider,” Sen. Brian Collamore (R-Rutland) said. “Certainly other states are.”
With Sen. Vyhovsky in Europe, vote on Clean Heat repeal delayed
Tanya is a left-wing State Senator in Vermont, a strong advocate for Ukraine, for democracy and for workers’ struggles,” wrote The Ukraine Solidarity Campaign on X in announcing Vyhovsky’s visit.
Marcotte: When Vermont accepted “not one red cent!” of federal disaster $$
I know some will say times are different, the challenges are greater. But is it just that we are different?
Vermont Gas pipeline, completed in 2017, applies for permit
A public hearing will be held Thursday for a Certificate of Public Good permit for a natural gas pipeline completed in 2017.
Homeless have died at higher rate in hotel/motel program, Scott official says
“If we saw this many deaths in any other program, there would be a desire for change,” Samuelson said.
Senate, amid fire scare, passes Medicaid for midwives, Office of New Americans
The Senate approved Medicaid coverage for doula (midwives) and provided a refund for the fee to take a driver’s test, under certain conditions. These bills and others now go to the House.
Real-life ‘Homeward Bound’ trio looking for one, new home
Reed the cat was unhappy until reunited with his two traveling companions.
Four Massachusetts ‘youthful offenders’ arrested after police raid in Montpelier
Two of the youthful offenders were 15 years of age, one was 17 years of age, and one was 18 years of age.
Big bail set for NEK, out-of-state drug dealer suspects
The arrests stem from a six-month-long investigation led by Officer Daniel Renaudette into drug trafficking activity along the VT Route 122 corridor.
ACLU defends First Amendment rights of Hamas activist – lively discussion ensues
“People that are gonna be watching this and hearing about this, could be taken as supporting a terrorist organization,” Rep. Zachary Harvey warned.
Serial offender Reynolds won’t stand trial
Court documents indicate that his attorney is currently working on securing him a placement at the Brattleboro Retreat, a short-term mental health facility.
Bill muzzling medical ‘truth’ passes Senate, now in House
What’s medically true would be decided by the Vermont Attorney General.
In Committee: School reform, budgets, geoengineering, masks in schools
Quick, brief overview of bills and topics under review this week by Vermont Legislature committees.
Bernie Sanders tries to leave ABC interview after question about AOC running for Schumer seat
SANDERS: No, you want to do nonsense. Do nonsense.
In Bennington, Town Meeting voters rejected non-citizen, non-adult voting
The eponymous county seat of politically blue Bennington County last November voted just as enthusiastically against Pres. Trump and for Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Becca Balint as the rest of the state.
FAF: Parro’s and the First Amendment/ Guy’s encounter in the State House/ Clean Heat ‘repeal’ goes to Senate floor next week
We talk about how the First Amendment and the Second Amendment protect each other. And about Guy’s confrontation by an angry legislator.
Legislator confronts, accuses editor after transgender youth committee meeting
No ideology – not Mari Cordes’, not mine, not Donald Trump’s, not Bernie Sanders’ – is so sacred that it may be allowed to suppress anyone’s right to speak and be heard.
Elementary school student brought 9 mm handgun, 67 rounds to school
The student announced it on social media, and his SM friends told adults at school.
Transgender advocates to testify Thursday at State House
Outright Vermont, in collaboration with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, developed the “Full Spectrum Educator’s Guide to Implementing LGBTQ+ Inclusive Sex Ed,” which is currently being implemented widely in Vermont public schools through the Vermont Agency of Education.
Clean Heat repeal tacked onto ‘legally unsound’ bill, up for committee review today
“S.65 is legally unsound because it contains internally conflicting standards and creates a regulatory morass likely to result in litigation,” says the Public Utilities Commission.
Goldendomevt.com now summarizes ALL State House floor, committee meetings
Every floor and committee meeting of the Vermont Legislature now has an AI-generated transcript, video, and summary. Bookmark THAT, news junkies!
Senate Crossover survivors include brake noise violation, medical debt relief, ‘synthetic’ campaign ad ban
The Senate will also consider J.R.S. 15, a joint resolution supporting Vermont’s transgender and non-binary community and declaring the state’s commitment to fighting discrimination and treating all citizens with respect and dignity, up for its third reading.
How VDC is growing, by the numbers
Thank you to every reader and/or viewer who has shared our posts! That’s what in the old-fashioned business world we used to call ‘word of mouth advertising,’ the very best kind.
SHORTS: UVM trustees pick Tromp as next president
Sole UVM prez finalist another former ASU leader. Traffic fatalities down. Barn repair $$ from State of Vermont.
Correction: Judiciary Committee members sponsor ban on gas-operated semi-automatic firearms
In fact, the AR-15 (which stands for Armalite Rifle, not Assault Rifle as often assumed), is a gas-operated firearm.
13 bills survive House Crossover on Friday
Like the baby turtles that have trundled across treacherous sands at least half the way down the beach to the surf without getting eaten, it’s a promising start.
NotTheBee: Transsurrection at the Vermont capitol
Again, Republicans are the weirdo culture warriors. not the people in their underwear storming the Capitol.
Friday at Four: Trans protesters disrupt deTrans talk
What does Wednesday’s event mean for the future of free speech? For the political futures of high-profile legislative leaders? And what was it like to get a call from Fox News?
Postal worker charged with pepper spraying supervisor
The incident followed a verbal altercation with her supervisor.
Senate seeks two-year delay of Clean Heat Standard fuel dealers’ registry
The Vermont Senate will vote next week on a committee plan to push back a Clean Heat Standard fuel dealers’ registry by two years.
Detrans organizer wants apology from VT Democrat leaders for ‘attack’ statement
“I would like to see a public apology from Vermont Senate and House Democrats for mischaracterizing our event as an attack on the transgender community,” Rene McGuinness said.
Federal education cuts won’t impact ‘25-’26 school year much, lawmakers learn
“Any cuts that might be enacted for FY twenty six wouldn’t impact schools till school year twenty six, twenty seven,” Bordenaro clarified.
Ethics bill would exempt Legislature from Ethics Commission oversight, watchdog group says
“This is exactly the opposite of what we should be doing. Vermont needs stronger ethics oversight for all three branches of government, not weaker.”
Page: State House leaders, don’t ever talk to me about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion again
Voting Vermonters now know that if you allow the shouters and screamers to drown out someone else today, you will stand by, holding the cloaks of those who do it to them tomorrow.
State House leaders defend transgender takeover of detrans event
On Wednesday, the People’s House was for the people who shouted the loudest – and that’s apparently okay with the majority leaders of the House and Senate.
Fugitive sex offender found in woods after years on the run
Moses has a criminal record dating back to 1979 and was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison for aggravated felonious sexual assault committed in the late 1990s. He was granted parole earlier in 2022 but failed to maintain contact with authorities.
Vermont Capitol Police Chief disagrees with emptying State House room during trans disruption
Poleway and two of his uniformed officers were standing in the corridor outside while Kessler delivered her ultimatum. They had not been asked by Kessler to remove the disruptive protesters, he said.
Breaking: Trans activists disrupt Vermont State House detransition talk
Detransition advocates forum interrupted in Vermont State House today.
House may postpone decision to ‘Raise the Age’ on juvenile crime
The vote follows a recent decision by the State of Vermont to not house 18-19 years olds at a proposed new secure juvenile facility in Vergennes. Also, Gov. Phil Scott and others have expressed strong concern about out-of-state drug gangs, aware of Vermont’s juvenile crime laws, using teenagers as drug debt enforcers, sometimes with deadly results.
Deputy sheriff’s cruiser smashes into Pulitzer Prize winner’s car
Troopers determined that Benoit was at fault for failing to yield the right of way to Moats before crossing the highway.
Measles confirmed in Lamoille County
First Vermont case in 2025. School-aged child had been traveling internationally. Not related to Quebec, Texas outbreaks
Climate activist tells Senate: if you must repeal CHS, keep fuel dealer registry
“If you’re a department or a grocery store selling propane in a canister, or kerosene for lamp oil, you are, in Vermont, a registered fuel dealer. That doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Matt Cota, a representative of the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association, told the committee Tuesday.
GOP senator mistakenly co-sponsors prostitution legalization
The Clean Heat Standard rally at noon Wednesday, March 12 isn’t the only grassroots gathering at the State House this week.
BREAKING: Bernie Sanders calls Oligarchy Tour song “reprehensible” and “distracting”
“Senator Sanders is focused on fighting oligarchy and ending authoritarianism in America. He found the song’s lyrics reprehensible and distracting from the crises that we need to be focused on right now.”
Convicted sex offender pleads guilty to new charges/ NEK embezzlement
Edward Cram, 70, admitted to felony charges of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child (second offense) and attempting to lure a child into a sexual act.
Trans singer defends ‘does your God have a…..’ song at Sanders’ Oligarchy tour
The chorus was picked up by many members of the cheering crowd – as its simple, repetitive nature suggests it was meant to be.
Free Help: SCORE Volunteers Mentor Vermont’s ‘Brave Small Businesses’
“It’s lonely to be an entrepreneur and lonely to be a boss, so it’s nice to have someone to talk to who has some knowledge about business,” said Furst.
Middlebury College under federal investigation for anti-semitism
“The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
Musk calls out Indivisible, other Dem-backed groups protesting Tesla
Vermont Dems push back against Musk in the courts and on the street.
VT Headlines: Burlington Seahorses take revenge on rival Rice
Hundreds gather for International Women’s Day protesting federal policies; Benefit hockey game to honor late border agent David Maland
Brattleboro man busted after Beantown bar shooting
The shooting came just five days after Burlington voters approved a ban on carrying firearms in bars and liquor-serving restaurants, in an effort to prevent or reduce such shootings. Both suspects are believed to have been carrying firearms with obliterated serial numbers, a crime under Massachusetts state law.
Covey: In hunting predators, what is ‘fair’?
Bill supporters have consistently stated their opinion that all the tools we use to hunt predators are “unfair”, and we shouldn’t be allowed to hunt them at all. Activism-driven bills like this are a waste of the legislature’s time, a waste of the taxpayers money, and a disservice to the people.
Father, infant die after car rear-ends fuel truck
Fatal rear-end crash on freeway Saturday morning.
Big local tax hikes among the nine school budget failures
Districts confirmed as having failed their initial votes for 2025 are Alburgh, Fairfax, Georgia, Ludlow-Mount Holly, Paine Mountain, Slate Valley, Springfield, Stamford, and Wolcott.
Dem lawmakers consider return to nuclear power
Also under consideration: no more renewable energy credit purchases for nuclear power, and regional cooperation to reprioritize nuclear power over off-shore wind.
Governor will veto Budget Adjustment Act over homeless hotel $$, he says
The looming budget impasse could further slow down the progress (or lack of it) being made by the 2025 Session in other areas, including housing, property taxation, and energy legislation.
Busted for firing rifle while driving through town/ My friend died and my Corvette is missing
Police determined that Vallender was operating the vehicle under the influence and was charged with DUI, reckless endangerment, and shooting from a motor vehicle.
Term limits supporters to rally behind COS resolution March 14
Advocates believe that an Article V Convention of States is a crucial step toward ensuring lasting change in Washington, D.C., and empowering state legislatures to take a more active role in governance.
VT Headlines: Central VT flooding, business closure, making peace with beavers
A Vermont school is flooded, UVM freezes hiring.
Cop had video playing when cruiser struck, killed bicyclist: VSP
Hayes, wearing dark clothing with no reflective items and no operating lights on his bike, had dismounted and appeared to be on the fog line when struck.
Legislature’s fix-this-now, fix-that-later plan for school funding
Five school districts? Nine? 12? 20? Depends who you ask.
Waving stick, stopping cars/ snowmobile club embezzlement
Lemery was the Treasurer of the Gihon Track Packer Snowmobile Club located in Eden. A lengthy investigation revealed Lemery had wired funds from the Club’s bank account into her personal bank account on numerous occasions, police say.
