This is nothing less than a price control takeover of the Vermont dairy industry.
McClaughry: Return of the Hidden Milk Tax
Norwich student threatened to ‘make this place look like Columbine’
Student threatens to shoot up the school, slit throats and sexually assault women.
Springfield, MA man drives into river, busted for DUI, heroin possession
Under the influence, a Springfield MA man drove a truck into a river in Ripton, police say.
Big stink over Capitol public restroom bill
One member added that the bathroom might even be considered as a place to have a safe injection site. Oh my!
802 Ed: No mascot for Rutland / VT #1 in school counselor ratio / high schoolers learn to balance checkbook
The good news is that Vermont schools have the lowest ratio of students to counselors in the nation. The bad news is that mental health services are lacking amid a post-pandemic crisis.
Ukrainians to learn Patriot Missile system in Oklahoma
“O-O-Oklahoma, where Ukrainian missile forces train….”
Klar: VT Tech bans Randolph dad’s screening of trans-skeptical documentary
Vermont Technical College won’t allow the father of a girl who complained about undressing in front of a trans biological male to show a Matt Walsh film, calling it ‘discriminatory.’
Records show State’s Attorney Sarah George tries to have AG prosecutor towed during murder case spat
Parking Wars! While state prosecutors pursue murder cases she won’t touch, Chittenden County AG Sarah George tries to get their cars towed from the courthouse parking lot.
CVU girls play first game after ‘N word’ incident
A white CVU girls basketball team member used the ‘N word’ in a social media video she shot with a BIPOC family member.
120 MPH, crash, DUI charge
A Rutland man was drunk and driving 120 MPH shortly after midnight this morning when he failed to “navigate a corner on the highway,” police say.
Balint votes against condemning violence at anti-abortion facilities, churches
Rep. Becca Balint joined almost every other Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives voting against a resolution condemning violence against churches and pro-life pregnancy clinics.
Vermont House Bills
Number, sponsor and a plain-language description of every bill introduced into the Vermont House of Representatives in 2023 to date.
SHORTS: State IT bosses named / Sec State to create school civics curriculum / Biomass plant decom fund OK
New leadership for the State of Vermont IT agency. And a new civics curriculum to be promulgated by new Secretary of State Sarah Copeland-Hanzas.
Good Samaritan truck driver kidnapped at gunpoint
A truck driver who stopped to check on the welfare of a crash victim was forced at gunpoint to drive him to the Berlin Mall.
Property taxes to rise despite $65 million surplus
Property taxes will rise despite a $65 million surplus.
Dems plan $100 million mandatory paid family leave
Democrats’ mandatory paid family leave will require $100 million in new employer/employee taxes.
Yankee Sportsman’s Classic January 20-22
Plenty of fun and information and prizes at the Yankee Sportsman’s Classic January 20-22.
Solar panel recycling, 24/7 public restroom at Capitol proposed in House
Should the law require solar panel installers to have a recycling plan? And do the Capitol grounds need a 24/7 restroom? These questions and others raised in proposed House legislation.
High schoolers schedule Holocaust remembrance in Bristol
Two twins from Bristol have organized a Holocaust Remembrance Day. Never forget!
Hornblas: on school masks, stop passing the buck
In response to a public records request, the Vermont Agency of Education admitted it has no written evidence for mask safety.
Roper: Clean Heat ‘carbon tax 2.0’ has new name, new number
The shortform name for this year’s version of last year’s Clean Heat Standard bill is now the brazenly misleading “Affordable Heat Act.”
Public school advocates say religious school Supreme Court decision puts vouchers ‘at crossroads’
A new umbrella advocacy group wants equity protected as the Legislature debates court-mandated changes in the private school voucher system.
As lawmakers discuss gun control and climate bills, press must wait outside
Big bills come out of small committee rooms.
Scott administration to continue key issue briefings
Public safety, climate, housing, education and workforce, and healthcare are the subject of in-depth legislation briefings by the Scott administration.
Ice Fishing Festival in Barnard 1/28
Free ice fishing all day on January 28.
VT Headlines: Universal school meals debate heats up
Should the state buy breakfast and lunch for all students, or just those in need?
How to watch the Legislature from home
One of the silver linings of the pandemic: the Vermont State House is now more accessible to people who can’t or won’t visit in person.
62 years later, SMC grad delivers $6.5 million grant – courtesy of federal taxpayer
A famous alumnus delivers a huge grant to his Vermont alma mater – but taxpayers are paying for it.
Swanton drug dealer killed last February in attack by rival, who faces life sentence
One crack dealer tried to rob another crack dealer. As a result, one of them died, and the other faces a possible life sentence.
Another Baruth bill imposes more firearms restrictions
The session is just a week old, and already – as he promised last year – Sen. Phil Baruth has put his name on two gun control bills.
Vermont Senate Bills
Following legislation in the Vermont Senate.
East Montpelier man faces child, vulnerable adult sex assault charges
An East Montpelier man is being held without bail for alleged luring and sex assault of a child and sexual exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
’22 homicide rate highest in almost 30 yrs / High fuel costs slow weatherization / the Flash runs out of legal options
Ezra Miller, the disturbed actor who plays the Flash in the movies, will change his plea to stay out of jail arising from a burglary in Stamford, VT.
New Vermont prisons study shows decline in staffing, morale
Vermont prisons are understaffed, have low morale, poor mental health, and an overall lack of activities for inmates.
Despathy: Affordable Heating Act a cruel attack
This is beyond a racket.
Shaftsbury speeder gets $613 ticket
A 24-year-old Bennington man with a history of speeding got a big ticket Wednesday.
ACLU lobbies to end school choice in Vermont
Rather than allow Vermont’s fourteen approved independent religious schools to accept tuitioning students, many legislators would rather scrap tuitioning to independent schools altogether.
State’s Attorney Sarah George seeks assault charge against cop for response to spitting suspect
Recently released video footage shows a young suspect being restrained by a Shelburne police officer after spitting on him. Police violence, or acceptable use of force? You decide.
Feds take aim at gas stove emissions
Your blue-flamed gas stove is actually the source of danger emissions and ‘particulate matter,’ the federal government warns. Go electric!
Late-notice committee reorganization “dropped like a bomb on the stability of the House”
The presence of the super-majority is a risk to democracy by its very existence, says the new representative from Barre Town/Williamstown.
VT Headlines: School vaxxed student without permission – judge dismisses lawsuit
A Vermont public school that vaccinated a child without parental permission is legally immune from lawsuits because of the pandemic ‘federal emergency,’ a judge has ruled.
Miro wants state taxpayers to fund Burlington police, housing, homeless programs, public transportation, etc.
Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger today presented a lengthy list of funding requests for the Legislature.
Teacher shot in back by pellet gun
A teacher sustained superficial injuries Tuesday afternoon after being shot in the back, Barre police say.
Windham County GOP wants statewide election integrity committee
Many Republicans care about threats to election integrity, says a county chair calling for a statewide election integrity committee.
YouTube censors doctors, Heritage Foundation expert for ‘medical misinformation’ about Covid-19 at Vermont event
The explanation: “YouTube doesn’t allow claims about COVID-19 vaccinations that contradict expert consensus from local health authorities or the World Health Organization.”
The poorest town in Vermont is……
The poorest town in Vermont has a higher high school graduation rate than its wealthier neighbors.
Moderna to quadruple price of Covid-19 vax, and Bernie’s 😡
It costs Moderna about $2 to manufacture a dose of its Covid-19 injection. Now it wants to quadruple its asking price to $135.
Balint blasts GOP rules vote as ‘MAGA’ agenda
Rep. Becca Balint has lost no time targeting the House rules changes, which she fears will further the MAGA agenda in the U.S. House.
2023 Vermont Legislature Directory
Comprehensive listing of information about 2023-24 Vermont Representatives and Senators.
Brook: SARS-CoV2 deliberate U.S. creation?
Did Tony Fauci foresee almost every detail of the pandemic and pandemic response? Or did he actually help make it happen? Just asking….
VT Headlines: Rutland cops wearing body cams / Shelburne cop shoves driver / Burlington reduces parking requirements for new buildings
Queen City councilors say requiring less parking for new homes will create more living space and cut carbon emissions.
Burlington man arrested during suspicious death investigation
A Burlington man with more than 100 police engagements in recent years was arrested on outstanding warrants after police found him onsite of a suspicious death on Riverside Avenue.
Handcuffed suspect starts fire in back seat of police cruiser
After he was detained for threatening an ex-partner, a Craftsbury man set fire to the interior of the state police cruiser while handcuffed inside.
Hardwick man assaults woman, barricades home
A man known to police and possessing firearms assaulted a woman and then barricaded himself in their home.
Superabundant energy, declining population could mean a bright future
One of Vermont’s pre-eminent tech gurus thinks 2023 could be the start of something very, very good for the world.
Self Defense in Vermont
The logic is simple: criminals want easy victims, they do not want armed adversaries.
Opinion: House holdouts overcame both mob rule and Pelosi’s top-down approach
The House holdouts won out against the tyranny of the one and tyranny of the many.
AG Garland, Blinken, Mayorkas sued over wife’s residency
A heavy-hitting Vermont lawyer is taking a swing at some of the biggest names in the U.S. government.
Medicaid won’t pay for cavity treatment? Cheaper solution proposed
Approval of new procedure would make cavity treatment affordable under Medicaid.
Bananas: Predictions for 2023
Humanity seems to be playing chicken with stupidity at a record pace.
Paramilitary training ban, juvenile gun control, ‘Affordable Heat Act’ introduced into Senate
The Vermont Senate, under the President Pro Tem leadership of gun-control advocate Phil Baruth (D-Chittenden), is off to a fast start with gun control.
Ellis: Homeless issue spells danger for Democrats
The homeless don’t have a home because we, as a society, have not built enough affordable housing, blogger Kevin Ellis warns his fellow Democrats.
Klar: Don’t drink Bill Gates’ glyphosate Kool-Aid
Their corporate creators say new GMOs will save the world by sequestering carbon. Don’t be fooled, farmer John Klar says.
Burning car closes I-89 / Drunk driver flees scene / library vandalism/ Arrested, released three times in one week
Arrested three times, released “on conditions” three times. In one week.
VT Headlines: Distracted driving #1 cause of fatal crashes / Bread & Puppet silent on Ukraine
PUT DOWN THE PHONE! Highway deaths are up in Vermont, and distracted driving is the main reason.
Yankee Sportsman’s Classic Jan. 20-22
Vermont’s premier indoor event for outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen will be held at the Essex fairgrounds the weekend after next.
Who’s In The House? List of all 150 Representatives’ names, towns, party, committees and email addresses
With about a third of the Vermont House of Representatives comprised of new members, a list of all members and their contact information might be helpful.
Bill to ban universal mailed ballot introduced
The universal mailed ballot shifts responsibility away from the voter, and also sends ballots to the wrong address, a sponsor of H23 says.
VT Headlines: Bus fare coming back
Another relic of the pandemic – free bus fares – is on its way out, WCAX reports.
Opinion: Biden glorifies Jan. 6 / Rich to blame for climate change
Two former candidates from opposite ends of the Vermont political spectrum address Jan. 6 and climate change.
Johnson: Congress a rigged, uniparty dictatorship
The people of the United States elected 432 people to represent them in Congress, yet even before they start their first day at work they are completely controlled, unable to vote their conscience.
Koch: Congress a clown show
The tail continues to wag the dog, and the ten percent continues to deny Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California the votes he needs to get on with the people’s business.
Brooklyn man sentenced for cocaine dealing
14 months in federal for cocaine distribution.
Vermont sector leads northern border with illicit crossings
441 apprehensions, 135 gotaways in December alone.
Inmate in critical condition after brutal assault
A jailhouse assault sent a homeless man to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Scott cites long lines for slow EV charging, economic divide in inaugural speech
‘Officer Clemmons’ added flair and a climactic final note of the National Anthem to the inauguration of Gov. Phil Scott yesterday.
Krowinski boots Donahue from vice-chair seat, names committee chairs and members
Krowinski “adamantly denied it was because of my Article 22 advocacy, but her assorted rationales, as I told her, ‘didn’t meet the straight face test,” Donahue said.
Universal mailed ballots, dropboxes among departing Secretary of State’s top achievements
I am especially proud of how my team here at the Secretary of State’s Office responded during the global pandemic,” departing Secretary of State Jim Condos said.
Iri Sunij, South Burlington – immigrant, nurse, youth soccer coach
Second interview in a VDC interview series: a Bosnian immigrant and nurse who teaches soccer and life skills to Winooski children, including many children of immigrants.
Covid-19 vax foe, cardiologist McCullough weighs in on NFL cardiac arrest
The CDC has analyzed VAERS data on two prominent Covid-19 vaccines and flagged hundreds of ‘safety signals.’
Parent group sues Shelburne school over ‘BIPOC only’ affinity group
The school’s planned BIPOC Affinity Group is not open to all students and therefore violates the 1964 federal civil rights act, the lawsuit claims.
Armed break-in to ‘save’ patients at Valley Vista
A Lowell man with a 16-inch knife tried to force his way into a drug/alcohol rehab recover center.
VT Headlines: Trooper Rolex incident just ‘innocent coincidence,’ lawyer says
There’s no proof the Rolex a state trooper brought to a jeweler and the Rolex stolen from a state police barracks evidence locker are the same watch, says the lawyer for the suspended trooper.
Burlington Police Dept. down to 22 active patrol officers, crime rising
The Burlington Police Department has just 22 active patrol officers to provide 24/7/365 coverage in the state’s largest city, and crime is rising.
Dog stolen in Tunbridge
Tundra the Siberian husky was stolen from his Tunbridge home on Tuesday.
Saying hello to new lawmakers
Saying hello via video to four new lawmakers, including three who have served previously.
Bills dismissing misdemeanors, legalizing switchblades introduced
Toss out misdemeanor cases, legalize switchblades, and designate golf courses as protected areas – these ideas and others are among newly introduced legislation in the Vermont House.
Auditor uncovers $7 million in ineligible payments and law enforcement training problems, lists state efforts to help homeless
Last year, how well did the state’s well-funded programs work? Auditor Terry Hoffer offers a 2022 year in review.
Krowinski re-elected House Speaker, but not without pushback
A Republican lawmaker had her say before the Vermont House of Representatives – over her objection – re-elected Jill Krowinski as Speaker.
Mazur: Dems not proud to be Americans
It’s a serious national security problem when a majority of the people dislike this country.
Deer season yields 3.5 million servings of locally sourced, organic food
The bows and rifles of Vermont hunters yielded a bountiful harvest of organic meat for Vermonters facing rising grocery prices.
3-4 inches of black ice safe to walk, fish on
Warnings for warm winter ice-fishing.
Hospital’s solution to worker shortage: build them housing
Company-operated worker housing was a ‘thing’ back in the heyday of Burlington/Winooski area mills. Now it’s returning as large employers like UVMMC are struggling to find workers due to the housing shortage.
VT Headlines: pandemic contributed to closing, deconsecration of church
A church built in the 1890’s was already seeing declining membership. Then the pandemic hit.
Homeless man with drug arrest background won’t tell cops why he was shot
A man with a Massachusetts drug crime record was treated for gunshot wounds at a Newport hospital Tuesday morning. He’s not saying how he acquired them.
NH teenager fatally shot by cops
One police officer tased 17-year-old Mischa Fay as he threatened others with a knife, but another shot him in the chest.
School board, administrators bicker in Barre / St. Albans school board ponders citizen petition
A Vermont education newsletter says the tension is growing between elected school board members and their senior administrative appointees.
Legislature convenes tomorrow; Development, police bills introduced
With the opening of the 2023-24 Legislature still a day away, new bills already are rolling in.
Kauffman: With Article 22 passed, Baruth and others back minors’ transgender rights
Lawsuits are challenging laws that kick parents out of the village regarding their child’s reproductive experiences and choices.
Keelan: Self-reliant Vermont a relic of the past
Many citizens depend on the government and nonprofit organizations for food, housing, medical/dental, and addiction recovery services.
Recent Comments