If only…..
Rowell: Lawmakers not solving Vermont’s real problems
Vermonters face avalanche of new taxes
When Democrats won super-supermajorities in both chambers of the Vermont legislature in November’s election, they brought with them a host of legislative priorities that come with massive price tags for Vermont taxpayers.
Contaminated pot pulled from retail shops
The Cannabis Control Board has ordered fungi-filled product pulled from the shelves of five Vermont retail outlets.
Manchester, VT man arrested for Jan. 6 assault on cops
A Manchester man became the second Vermonter arrested for the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol
Bean: Enough with the armchair QBs, get in the game!
A young GOP candidate asks bitter critics of the Democratic win in November: did you volunteer for a Republican? Did you vote?
Trappers, Fish & Wildlife evaluate best practices
A trapping leader describes, in detail, how trappers and state wildlife officials cooperated on assessing best practices and equipment.
Whitworth: Vermont and the Sixth Great Extinction
Every current and planned Vermont wind turbine development is in forestland that our Agency of Natural Resources has designated “highest priority.”
Gassett: Town Meeting bill oppresses freedoms of Vermont citizens
The directives in this newly passed Bill H42 will oppress citizen involvement in local government.
Bennett: Sixteen below zero in the Rutland Cedar Swamp
The Scoutmaster said a night there in pup tents would make the boys “rugged.”
Children from Harlem visit Vermont in 1946, in forerunner of ‘Fresh Air Kids’ program
A Scottish-born pastor brought hundreds of Black children from Harlem to visit Vermont in 1946 with the help of legendary civil rights leader Adam Clayton Powell.
Wind chill as low as 45 below expected
Wind chill values could reach as low as 30 to 45 degrees (F) below zero tonight through Saturday.
Scott: State doesn’t require recipients to address root causes of homelessness
The State of Vermont offers homeless people help with the root cause of what put them on the street, but doesn’t require they accept the help in order to receive ongoing services.
Senate targets pregnancy centers
A majority of state senators have co-sponsored a bill targeting pro-life counseling service advertising as ‘deceptive’ and subject to government action.
Investigation continues into death after adults’ brawl at school basketball game
60-year-old Russell Giroux was driving home from the fight at the Alburgh Community Center when he stopped his car and called first responders, police say.
Term limits resolution introduced into House
Congress seems unwilling to impose term limits on itself. So a growing number of Vermonters are joining with citizens across America to call a Convention of States.
Sheriff, states attorneys face backlash
In today’s VT news headlines – A newly elected sheriff, a newly appointed state’s attorney, and another state’s attorney all face public criticism from other members of the criminal justice system.
Mermel: Fatal flaws appear in Clean Heat Standard
Since the state currently cannot stop the smuggling of fentanyl, it is unlikely it can stop fuel.
Video: Daisy Turner tells father’s first-hand account of the day Lincoln was shot
At age 100, Daisy Turner of Grafton – daughter of freed slaves, gifted raconteuse – told her family stories to folklorist Jane Beck.
Police seek Bennington fraud suspect
NBC 5 reports that state officials are striking back against Vermont’s growing mental health crisis.
S.39
A bill co-sponsored by two Vermont Senate chairs would make lawmakers eligible for the state employee health benefit plan ‘at no cost.’
Man dies after fight at school basketball game
A large fight between spectators of an Alburgh-St. Albans boys middle school game led to the death of one participant.
Illegal immigrant health insurance bill introduced into Senate
State law already provides health insurance for illegal immigrant children. A bill in the Senate would extend Medicaid coverage to all regardless of age and immigration status.
Burlington mayor stops special-duty policing at condos
“Of much greater concern is that any neighborhood in the City feels that they need to pay out of pocket for basic public safety services,” Weinberger said.
Updated: Man charged with Unlawful Fornication
Crimes of Unlawful Fornication and Lewd and Lascivious with a Child in Southern Vermont.
McClaughry: Facial recognition threat to privacy rights
Facial recognition data in government hands could lead to a staggering invasion of individuals’ most basic privacy rights.
Letters: Public school trends unacceptable
A young Milton man decides to run for his local school board, amid concerns about educators – not parents or school boards – deciding what shall be taught.
Roper: $383 million childcare proposal not ‘for the kids’
Finding ways to help more parents stay home to raise their own children is both better for the children and potentially less costly for the taxpayers. But it doesn’t create a long-term taxpayer funded voting block of unionized preschool teachers.
McClaughry: Seven top legislative issues of 2023
Shamelessly renamed ‘the Affordable Heating Act,” S5 will create a carbon tax and state bureaucracy to subsidize heat pumps and weatherization.
Committees to review shields for gender ID/racism teachers, abortion/transgender providers; free health insurance for legislators; paid family leave; gun control; Affordable Heat Act
Committees this week will review bills with added legal protections for abortion and transgender service providers and ‘academic freedom’ to teach gender ID and systemic racism in public schools.
With frigid weather forecast, outdoor Penguin Plunge canceled
Swimming in Lake Champlain in January – crazy. Swimming in Lake Champlain during a polar vortex – beyond crazy and just plain dangerous.
Gun rights group critical of Senate bill
Gun rights advocates raised concerns over the constitutionality of the bill following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in June which expanded the right of law-abiding gun owners to possess guns outside the home.
Ryan: Tyre Nichols and getting rid of the bad eggs
We have moved for well over two decades towards a “militarized” policing structure. That trend needs to be reversed and quickly. The general public should never be viewed by police as an “enemy”, which I believe at this point occurs far, far too often.
Former NEK police chief busted for child sex assault
Police say former Brighton PD Chief Jeff Noyes in 2017 drove the underage victim to a remote area and had sexual contact with her.
Covey: Hunting & trapping good for families, communities and wildlife
Hunting and trapping offer so much good that it’s not enough just to say, “I don’t approve.”
Galfetti: Affordable Heat Act Fairy Tale
The Affordable Heat Act is a fairy tale being sold to “folks who cannot afford to convert to expensive heat pumps or put up solar panels—the folks who live paycheck to paycheck or on fixed incomes.”
Haitian immigrant freezes to death north of Swanton Sector border
Immigrant dies of exposure before crossing into Swanton Sector. Gov. Scott selects permanent State’s Attorney for Orleans County. And a supervisory district does an apparent work-around a Supreme Court decision on flag waving.
Bill would remove tax exemption for lobbying, politically active churches / eliminate life without parole / free health care for all legislators
New bills in the Vermont Legislature would eliminate life without parole, provide free health insurance for all legislators, and remove the state tax exemption for churches engaged in lobbying and political activity.
Keelan: Now they are in my kitchen
The Takeawayers have already been in my toolshed, where I store my lawnowers, chainsaw, leaf-blower and weed-whackers.
‘Check Your Born Privilege’ sign explained at Rally for Life
“It’s just a reminder to them that, well, you’ve already been born,” the young Barre resident said.
Fatal stabbing in Rutland / Barre drug bust / Car, generator thievery
Fentanyl, crack and other drugs were seized by police from a Barre City home Saturday.
CLF is gearing up to sue Vermont over Global Warming Solutions Act
Vermont taxpayers are on the hook to pay both the defense and (likely) the prosecution legal bills for the inevitable lawsuit for not meeting carbon reduction goals. Yet at least one state senator has given that potential lawsuit a big thumb’s up.
Senate Dems offer boozy elbow-rubbing, starting at $50/head
VT Digger reports that someone in the Vermont Democratic Party thought it would be a great idea to charge $50 – $1000 for entry into a gin-drinking party with Vermont state senators. Proceeds would hire staff members for the senators.
Embezzled $700,000 from family logging company
Police say a family member stole large sums from a successful Addison County logging company.
Vermont spends to preserve historic buildings, documents
Preserving Vermont history costs money.
Legislator: If we love Vermont so much, why are we trying to change everything?
The wealthy will be able to enjoy our country farmlands and forests while the working class will be a new “servant class.”
LaBarge: What’s really behind the new Affordable Heat Act
This year legislators changed the name of the vetoed “Clean Heat Standard” to the “Affordable Heat Act” in an attempt to make it more palatable to Vermonters, wink, wink.
Memphis police video of Nichols death “shocks the conscience” of Vermont law enforcement leaders
Vermont police leaders respond with disgust at the murder of a Memphis man at the hands of five cops earlier this month. See the video, decide for yourself.
Vermont side judge busted for grand larceny
A Vermont side judge falsely claimed 352 hours of pay, state police say.
Who’s pulling her strings?
It’s a good question: Does Vermont House Speaker Jill Krowinski take directions from anyone? If so, who?
National School Choice Week observed at State House today
Students from private schools and home schoolers gathered today at the Vermont State House to celebrate National School Choice Week.
Don Turner – Milton businessman, fire chief, town manager, legislator
Milton is moving forward – thanks to public servants like Don Turner. Third in a series, “Vermonters Making A Difference.”
Sexton: Baruth says children old enough to decide gender surgery, but too immature to handle guns
Children old enough to choose life-altering surgery, too young to possess firearms?
Clean Heat Standard will have Vermonters paying 70¢/gal. more to heat their homes – at least
S.5, the Clean Heat Standard, represents for the average family a $500 per year carbon tax to stay warm in winter.
Vermont’s long-term care in crisis now
They’ve warned about the coming crisis at Vermont’s long-term care facilities for years. It’s here. Now.
Deputies join Orange County Sheriff Dept. exodus
As of today, the newly elected sheriff of Orange County will have no HQ staff and only half of the current deputies when he takes office next week.
Feds use AI to censor dissent on vax, elections
The government’s campaign to fight “misinformation” has expanded to adapt military-grade artificial intelligence to identify and censor American dissent on issues like vaccine safety and election integrity, according to grant documents and cyber experts.
Schools still short-staffed at mid-year
Vermont schools face 1,000 teacher and staff vacancies midway through the school year.
Scott betting on sports betting revenue
Gov. Scott hopes sports betting revenue will boost next year’s budget.
VT in bottom half of gun-buying states for 2022
In Kentucky, the ratio of firearm background checks to people was almost 1:1 in 2022. Vermont, not so much – about one in 13.
Vermont, other NE states chasing fed $$ for electricity transmission projects
An underwater powerline from Quebec to southern Vermont is among the New England power transmission projects seeking federal infrastructure funding.
Right to Life to hold final January march this Saturday
A young Student for Life will talk about being a pro-life activist in the post-Roe generation at the final Rally for Life Saturday.
Environmental group appeals construction of PFA treatment plant on Memphremagog
Don’t Undermine Memphremagog’s Purity (DUMP) has appealed a permit to build a PFA treatment plant near the Newport lake.
Philadelphia man sought in St. J. drug robbery murder
Police say Danny Daniels of Philadelphia is the fifth suspect in a drug-related murder in St. Johnsbury.
The Guv’s keeping his corner office
If the Legislature wants more space for committee rooms, it can stretch out to nearby state office buildings. But hands off the corner office, Gov. Phil Scott said.
Roper: $383 million price tag for childcare is a launch pad, not the ceiling
The $383 million acorn is destined to become a might oak.
State police investigate finances of Franklin County sheriff-elect; Caledonia County sheriff gave big exit bonuses
The financial dealings and staffing woes of Vermont’s county sheriffs are getting close scrutiny by media and authorities.
Video: Amy Hornblas, persistent foe of mask mandates, unmasks VT’s non-scientific policies
Persistent anti-mask mandate and health educator Amy Hornblas describes her battle with state and local education and health authorities over the Covid-19 public school mask mandate.
When Orange County sheriff leaves, entire staff will leave with him
In Chelsea, there’s a new sheriff in town – and a new staff, if he can find one.
House bill protects ‘academic freedom’ to teach about gender identity, racism
A UVM staffer and House representative has introduced a bill protecting public school educators’ rights to teach about gender identity and systemic racism.
Nine-year-old girl suffers cardiac event at Jay Peak resort
The cause of the nine-year-old girl’s cardiac event was unknown. She was taken to a local hospital, then to the pediatric unit at UVMMC in Burlington.
Burlington to vote on ‘carbon impact fee’ for large buildings
A carbon impact fee on large buildings will go to Burlington voters in March.
Rural towns optimistic but cautious about Phil Scott’s $3M plan
It’s an audacious idea – give very small towns with limited staff and no Town Planner the money they need to go after the big federal bucks themselves. But will they get it, and will it work?
Despite school tax transparency concerns, Scott signs Town Meeting bill into law
The traditional Vermont Town Meeting may be falling victim to legislative Long Covid.
Digging deep for all of the State of Vermont’s EB-5 scandal records
Let us see all the EB-5 records, a Vermont media organization today asked the Vermont Supreme Court.
Kelly: why did VP Kamala omit ‘Life’ from Declaration of Independence speech?
In a recent speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Roe. V. Wade decision, VP Kamala Harris left “life” out of ‘Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.’
Senate bill would add weight, ethnic hair styling to protected class
Vermont senators want to group discrimination against obesity and ethnic hair styles in the same category as race, gender, religion, etc..
Criminal Justice Council sanctions Sheriff Bill Bohnyak
Vermont’s police oversight committee stopped short of decertifying Orange County Bill Bohnyak for assigning investigative duties to a ‘Level II’ deputy, and instead sanctioned and reported him.
Bradley: Firearms possession a second-class right no longer
The U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 made it clear and the 2023 Vermont Legislature needs to understand:it is no longer constitutionally acceptable to infringe on the rights of honest and law-abiding citizens.
VT Headlines: Food distribution, Medicaid cuts coming / Recycling and composting goals unmet
The era of BFM (Big Federal Money) paying for everything is drawing to a close.
Scott on State House backup battery storage snafu: “….never contemplated it would be a fire hazard”
That big backup battery installed two years ago in the basement of the State House? Turns out it’s a fire hazard. Back to diesel-fueled backup power for the People’s House….
Abortion, transgender provider shield law introduced
With Article 22 now part of the Vermont Constitution, abortion and transgender rights advocates are pushing a long list of legal protections for abortion and transgender service providers.
Defense lawyer gets acquittal of police officer charged with assault, takes media to task
A Vermont news service wrote a ‘just the facts, ma’am’ report on a court clearing a St. Albans police officer of assault charges. His defense lawyer, however, had more to say.
Principal fired for Black Lives Matter comment receives $650,000 lawsuit settlement from school district
The unjustified firing was devastating and essentially ended a successful 20-year education career, former Windsor High School principal Tiffany Riley said.
Lesser: Vermont’s windmill-tilting Climate Action Plan
The Perfect Little Climate Conscious State intends to force ordinary Vermonters to upend their lives – and livelihoods – to accomplish nothing except climate virtue signaling and enriching the state’s green energy industry.
VT Headlines: racial remarks spark discipline
As Burlington announces its Net Zero carbon policy, Vermont schools practice zero tolerance for racial insensitivity.
Galfetti: Preventing ‘Verfornia’ no easy job for Scott
I salute a man who has managed to hold off the far left agenda with little support.
Organic dairy crisis, home schooling, sports betting on committee agendas
Legislative committees this week will review scores of important topics and bills.
Poor lighting, crime make commuters flee state park and ride
A state park and ride has become popular with crooks and less so with commuters.
Podcast #1: Shutting the doors on democracy, to keep everyone safe
In the interest of public health and safety, local and state government are literally shutting its doors to the public.
Bananas’ Guide to Men-Struation
The last word on men-struation. Period.
Snowmobile hits water bar, riders ejected
The snowmobile deflected off a nearby tree and collided with second tree on the opposite side of the trail.
Scott urges disciplined spending of fed $$ in $8.4 billion budget
Spending plentiful one-time federal money on new programs will just mean painful, forced budget cuts in the near future, Gov. Scott warned the Legislature on Friday.
Feds withhold info on airline pilot/arrhythmia. Vax connection?
The FAA has widened the acceptable range of heart rhythms acceptable for commercial pilots. An American Airlines pilot blames his in-flight heart attack on coerced vaccination.
VT Headlines: Police oversight dominates Prog public safety plan
Critics say a Burlington Progressive policing plan takes the ‘safety’ out of ‘public safety.’
Baldwin/Williams: McKibben magazine article on geoengineering ignores its danger
McKibben’s New Yorker essay ignores geoengineering’s long history, its differing covert and overt purposes, and its profoundly dysfunctional use as a dangerous mechanism for “climate control.”
Evslin: Average weather is not normal
There is scarcely ever a weather year that is average anywhere.
Vermonters deserve to know what the Clean Heat Standard is, does and will cost
A Vermont Climate Council spokesperson saying it’s impossible to put a pricetag on the new Clean Heat Standard was met with bobble-headed agreement from lawmakers.
LaBarge: Answer me this, D/Ps – what is Affordable Housing?
People can’t afford an apartment or house because they have to spend too much on health care, child care, property taxes, food, clothing, heat, electricity, internet, phone service, car registration, car insurance, garbage and recycling fees, gas for their cars, diesel, and sales and use taxes.
Stowe Holocaust survivor remembered
That was the Nazi ideology and terror: to strip away the humanity of the Jews and the many others, to attempt to take away dignity, and to ultimately, take away their very lives.
Carolyn Wakefield Fernandez
She will be remembered for her innumerable accomplishments and contributions to the community as well as her elegance, wry wit, and impeccable taste.
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