A Southern Vermont man charged with killing his girlfriend has been sent to a state psychiatric hospital.
Watercooler: Murder defendant found incompetent, sent to psychiatric hospital
EXTRA! EXTRA! Chronicle surpasses ONE MILLION Views for 2022
I never imagined a readership like this when in January, 2017 I started blogging about State House news for a small circle of family and friends.
Senators promise return of Clean Heat Standard
Presenters said Vermont has a shrinking window to take legislative action. They expressed concern about a vocal minority in the state that is doubtful or dismissive of climate change as a problem.
Steidler: Enviro elites ignore needs of postal drivers
Since the USPS announced its plans to replace its vehicles in February 2021, there has been a primal scream from the left for nearly all these vehicles to be electric. But there is seldom any concern about the welfare of postal workers.
Gay marriage, unrestricted abortion bills signed in D.C., Montpelier
In 1994, when he began serving in the Vermont State House, “I could not have dreamt this day would come,” Rep. Bill Lippert said after Joe Biden signed into law a 50-state gay marriage law.
40 cows die in Grand Isle barn fire
A propane torch being used to thaw manure led to a smoldering fire that destroyed a Grand Isle barn.
Progressive urges Democrat Balint to resign over FTX contribution
“They’ll probably just impeach Becca Balint anyway, so why wait? Tell Becca Balint to resign now!,” Ericson wrote.
McClaughry: Heating Oil Price Crunch
The cost of heating oil rose from $3.30/gallon last October to $5.46 this October. Inventories are at their lowest level since 2008.
Person of interest in Eden murder released by judge, skips court appearances
Released by a judge, a person of interest in a December 1 shooting death has failed to appear in court twice since.
Smuggler paid $2,000 to pick up illegal aliens in Derby, feds say
A Mexican national already in immigration removal proceedings now faces five years in prison after his arrest for trying to transport illegal aliens in Derby.
Watercooler: Global Foundries announces job cuts
WCAX reports that “inflation, continued high energy costs, and rapid interest rate increases” contributed to the decision to cut jobs at Essex Junction’s Global Foundries plant – the recipient of $50 million in federal funding in the last three years.
Winter swimming underway at Lake Willoughby
Lake Willoughby is cold and clear, with an emphasis on ‘cold.’ 40 degrees.
Thayer: Zuckerman has questions to answer
The media is not doing their job. They helped create this mess, a former candidate for lieutenant governor says.
Elderly couple die in Bethel house fire
The bodies of a man and a woman in their 70’s were discovered as firefighters sought to battle a fire at a home in Bethel.
Reproductive autonomy, anti-slavery amendments enrolled in Constitution
Speakers at today’s ceremony highlighted the national implications of Vermont’s constitutional amendments.
Klar: when populism and socialism marry
Increasingly, American mainstream media clamor against “Christian Nationalism.”
Banzhaf: Fusion power achieved – now, can it nudge Earth into a new orbit?
Fusion could ultimately provide limitless clean energy with almost zero pollution and no radiation or radioactive waste.
Obituary: Sister Mary Ella Provencher
Sister Mary Ella Provencher, a Barton native, died peacefully December 8 in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Former state police mental health worker gets 10 years for child sex assault
A former Northeast Kingdom social worker and Vermont State Police mental health worker will serve 10 years in Texas for assaulting a 13-year-old friend of his children.
Woman dies in Walden crash
An as-yet unidentified woman died yesterday after her car struck a guardrail and an oncoming vehicle.
McClaughry: Supreme Court has already ruled against local gun control ordinances
Sen. Phil Baruth, the new leader of the Vermont Senate, has publicly announced repeal of the Sportsmen’s Bill of Rights will be considered this session.
Watercooler: Burlington police oversight board to go to voters
Does Burlington need a Police Oversight Board? Will a Newport convent be converted into secular apartments & condos?
Illegal border crossings into VT up 676% in October, Border Patrol says
Swanton Sector Chief Border Patrol Agent Robert Garcia said agents apprehended 334 people from 19 countries in October, and the “upward trend continues.”
Bernie blames news media woes on (who else?) Big Corporations
Bernie Sanders says corporate-owned media aren’t doing enough to cover poverty or the climate crisis.
CLG: Twitter Files #4 shows how platform permanently banned Trump
Twitter changed its policies with the goal of permanently banning Donald Trump.
Rutland man held for robbery, heroin possession dies in prison
A man being held in prison after arrest in October on assault, robbery and drug possession charges died in a Rutland hospital Sunday afternoon.
Conflict between trans woman, students in parking garage sparks outcry
Social media video captures an argument between a trans woman and some Bradford area high school students in a Burlington parking garage. But what really happened?
Watercooler: Hiker dies after fall from Crawford Notch cliff
A photographer hiking with his wife plunged to his death in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
‘Trumpy white boys’ – School board member goes ballistic on Facebook
Vermont school districts are seeing one-sided implementation of the Bill of Rights.
Warner: ‘Died Suddenly’ examines early deaths in the age of Covid
Instances of myocarditis and pericarditis in young men were occurring among the vaccinated at staggering levels.
Evslin: Less rising seas, more sinking land
Huge populations supposedly threatened by rising seas are actually facing flooding due to sinking land.
Happy wags or stress signals? People learn pooch lingo
That happy-looking pooch may be trying to tell you he’s stressed out.
Finnie: Thanks for ‘Day of Infamy’ memoir
Former State House security guard urges Capitol flags be flown at half mast on Pearl Harbor Day.
Tarrant: current state constitution a ‘shim-sham show,’ historically speaking
Lincoln’s ‘better angels of our nature’ were absent when the Vermont State Constitution was amended in 1870, 1913, and 2022.
Arrested for stabbing in bar, Burlington man pleads innocent
The man arrested for stabbing Abubakar Sharrif to death in a Burlington bar Sunday morning has pleaded innocent.
House, Senate leaders disagree on paid family leave, while GOP leaders cite $29 million tax bill
At the moment, the Democratic leaders of the Vermont House and Senate don’t agree on the priority of mandatory paid family leave.
Brook: Ferguson study justifies any flu season as ‘pandemic’
A study by a ‘father’ of lockdown policy suggests the pandemic potential of a flu virus should be largely based upon the very high number of people who have either no symptoms or negligible symptoms. Huh?
Scott, Condos to formally enroll ‘reproductive liberty’ and anti-slavery amendments into Vermont Constitution
Unrestricted abortion will be included in the actual parchment of the Vermont Constitution next Tuesday.
As attacks on substations spread across nation, none reported in Vermont
Unlike four other states, Vermont has no known reports of recent, targeted attacks on power transmission substations.
50-bird flock in Lamoille County dead after avian flu outbreak
A small non-commercial flock of domesticated birds suffered an avian flu outbreak this past weekend.
Gay marriage law passes Congress, goes to Biden for signature
With just a fig leaf of religious protection language, a law enshrining gay marriage across the U.S. has been passed by Congress.
Watercooler: UVM protected basketball star from rape charge, lawsuit claims
Massachusetts, the No Killing Coyotes State, is now hiring the feds to kill the growing population of nuisance coyotes.
Burlington to keep state troopers downtown
State troopers will continue to support the understaffed Burlington Police Department.
Cannabis industry budding in White River Valley
A regulated legal market is a step in the right direction for a Chelsea marijuana producer who says “I’ve been a black-market grower almost all my life.”
Retired, fixed-income reader: “Give what you can, this website is priceless”
Sometimes the comments are as good as the articles…..
Balint elected to Progressive caucus leadership
She hasn’t even been sworn in as a U.S. House member, and already Vermont’s congressperson is in caucus leadership.
Welch opposes bill exposing iCOP covert surveillance of pro-life, pro-gun rights Americans
Some House members want to know if a covert surveillance program called iCOP is monitoring pro-life and pro-gun rights Americans.
Have you seen this shooter?
State police are looking for this armed man.
Bananas: North Pole predicts delays as Naughty List reaches record length
“We haven’t seen anything like this, well, since the days of Noah quite frankly,” said long-time elf and gift wrapper Ribbons N. Bowes. “That was a rough year.”
Williams: Vermont, the Biomedical Security State?
Since the pandemic, Vermont is looking more and more like what Dr. Aaron Kheriaty calls ‘the Biomedical Security State.’
New state guidelines provide ‘confidential’ gender ID, transition counseling to students
“Access to professional counseling on gender identity and gender transition shall be made available in a confidential manner to students in each school,” a proposed State Board of Education regulation says.
“No significant abnormalities or discrepancies” found in Secretary of State audit of November election
The audit consisted of running ballots from seven towns through tabulators different from the Election Day machines.
Unsafe lead levels plague Vermont school water faucets
One in every five taps tested at Vermont schools and childcare facilities was at or above the level requiring that it be removed, because it has a higher chance of harming children.
Springfield MA man, others busted in Springfield VT drug raid
A recent multi-agency drug raid in Springfield Vermont has yielded arrests of a Springfield MA man and several others.
Hartford, CT man gets 27 months for selling fentanyl
Caught with 1500 bags of fentanyl, some cocaine, and a loaded 9 MM, Torres will serve up to 27 months.
Agency of Education creates ‘Family Engagement Council’
“There is not a strong state-level mechanism for parent involvement in the development of Vermont education policy,” Secretary of Education Dan French said.
Burlington McNeil plant expansion runs afoul of Vermont Climate Council biomass group
The City of Burlington’s plans to expand the McNeil power plant could hit a brick wall in the form of a negative recommendation to the Vermont Climate Council.
Pandemic lockdown, alcohol blamed for unprecedented destruction in UVM residence halls
“Students’ access to some social development opportunities in high school were truncated by pandemic realities,” Caloiero said.
Watercooler: old Burlington High School to face the wrecking ball in January
A high school campus that has served Burlington high school students since the early 1960’s will be demolished early next year.
Balint names top aides
A former top aide for a Trump impeachment manager will serve as Rep. Becca Balint’s Chief of Staff.
Gift idea: Hunting or fishing license
For some, the perfect gift.
Insurance company hired to create voluntary paid leave for all Vermonters
Scott’s plan would give all working Vermonters access to affordable paid family and medical leave insurance by 2025. But will the Legislature make it mandatory?
Selecting the PERFECT Christmas Tree, by An Anonymous Husband
He will lug them one by one to the window, wishing for her early approval, but it will take many trips back and forth and frozen fingers before she relents and reluctantly settles for a Fraser fir.
County in England plans neighborhood lockdown to ‘save the planet’ from global warming
Former Eco-Health Alliance top official says Covid-19 created in Wuhan lab.
70% of Vermont 64 or older: the impact
As Vermonters age and the working population stagnates, the proportion of active wealth producers declines.
Watercooler: Burlington votes on ward redistricting
The Air National Guard will be performing nighttime drills, and Burlington’s Roman Catholic Bishop will speak on the US Senate floor. These headlines and others from Vermont media.
Burlington biomass power plant thrives, while Ryegate plant struggles
Generous ratepayers and government funding are a big reason why one Vermont wood-burning power plant is thriving.
Day of Infamy
The boy kneels on the thick wool carpet before the 1941 Zenith console radio, with its wood veneer cabinet impersonating fine furniture.
“Hold The Light”
Seemingly overshadowed by the imposing State House Christmas tree, many small candles burned bright in the darkness.
Punching above our weight, we need you in our corner
We like to think we punch above our weight, hitting tough subjects with questions and perspectives other Vermont media won’t touch.
Arrested for trying to sell Civil War-era grave markers
34 bronze markers from Civil War-era graves were stolen and attempted to be sold at a Williston recycling center.
Vermont classroom aide openings outnumber population of North Hero, 87 other towns
Vermont schools have been in session for three months and there are still job openings for teachers (200), food service (280), afterschool staff (400), and classroom aides (1000+).
Watercooler: food servers to get a raise?
The Vermont Legislature may give waiters and waitresses a raise this year.
126 MPH on I-89, 3 other 100+ MPH speeding busts since Thursday
Speed traps on I-89 caught three men traveling at over 100 MPH on I-89, while a county sheriff stopped a man driving 100 MPH on a 45 MPH rural road, police say.
Stabbing death in Burlington bar
A Burlington man was knifed to death early Sunday morning in what police called “a bar closing fight.”
Covid-19 injury candlelight vigil, Christmas Tree lighting at same time at State House
As Gov. Phil Scott reads ‘Twas A Night Before Christmas’ to children Monday evening, vaccine freedom advocates will hold a nearby candlelight vigil.
Despathy: Climate change & cobalt blood money
Vermont is aiding and abetting an industry with unethical, destructive and cruel practices beyond our comprehension.
Letter: China blackmailing Biden?
Top National Security officials say China is a serious threat, but Joe Biden’s doing little about it.
Targeted shooting victim identified
David Peatman, 66, died of a gunshot to the chest at his Eden home last Thursday night.
CLG: FBI met weekly with Big Tech ahead of 2020 election, FBI agent says
Is it election interference when the FBI meets with Big Tech before an election to discuss censoring ‘disinformation’?
Vermont religious schools no longer excluded from Town Tuition program
It took three years, a U.S. Supreme Court decision and some good local lawyering, but the Vermont Agency of Education finally admitted Thursday that parents from tuition-paying towns may send their children to religious schools.
Klar: Trans Randolph student admits staring at disrobing girls was “retaliation”
“The first thing I hear is “Rabbit, get out! What are you doing in here? Shut up!” and like “I don’t want you to see,” or whatever and so I retaliated at this point because this is the second time that they had been indescribably rude to me and my gender identity.”
21 GOP governors – but not Scott – call for end to military vax mandate
The pandemic may be over, but government mandates for military vaccination are in full force.
Recent bankruptcies highlight danger of cryptocurrency investment, DFR warns
With two big cryptocurrency exchange businesses abruptly filing for bankruptcy, Vermonters need to be wary, State of Vermont financial regulators say.
Watercooler: Divers found Dale Messier’s truck – but was Messier in it?
Despite finding Dale Messier’s truck 10 feet under Winooski River, investigators have not identified any human remains to determine that Messier, missing since 2006, was in the vehicle, Lisa Scagliotti reports in her Waterbury Roundabout/Valley Reporter news story.
Springfield, MA man arrested for assault on I-89
Someone claiming to be under assault while in a car on I-89 called the cops. Minutes later, state police had assault suspect Walter Jones under arrest.
Milton parents petition against school equity policy
The Milton school equity policy now under review discourages ‘misinformation,’ including ‘Election-related Conspiracy Theories.’
Targeted killing in Eden
A 66-year-old man is dead by gunfire following a late-night shooting.
G20 signs declaration for international vaccine passport
President Biden signed the declaration despite the promises made by his White House COVID-19 Response Team leader, Jeff Zients, who in April 2021 stated, “Let me be clear that the government is not now, nor will we be supporting a system that requires Americans to carry a [vaccination] credential.”
Vaccinated people represent most Covid-19 deaths now
CDC data show that about 6 in 10 adults dying of COVID-19 between April – August 2022 were vaccinated or boosted.
Baal distances self from Balenciaga
“I can’t be associated with this stuff,” the Mesopotamian deity said.
Scott: Springfield raids “will weaken a network of criminal activity”
Gov. Phil Scott praised the multi-agency efforts resulting in raids on three homes on drug-riddled Valley Street in Springfield.
Police raid three homes in Springfield
A multi-agency law enforcement effort resulted in anti-drug raids on three homes on Valley Street, a notorious location for drug dealers in Springfield.
Rail carries just 15% of Vermont freight, but more expected by 2045
The truck is still King of the Road for freight hauling in Vermont, but rail is likely to take a higher share in the next two decades.
Water Cooler: improving low BIPOC homeownership / 21 dead geese found
Been wondering why there’s a bar code on your vehicle inspection sticker? WCAX explains
State House Christmas tree lighting Monday
Gov. Phil Scott will read ‘Twas A Night Before Christmas’ for children attending the traditional lighting of the State House Christmas Tree on Monday.
Homeland Security re-ups ‘Faith-Based Security Advisory Council’
“Perceptions of government overreach continue to drive individuals to attempt to commit violence targeting government officials and law enforcement officers.” – Alejandro Mayorkas, November 30
Pastors respond to Leahy-Sanders support of gay marriage bill, no vote on religious liberty
“If a majority wishes to demonize or inflict prejudicial retaliation against people of faith, or ban public readings of scripture from the Koran, Torah, or Bible, that would be a violation of basic First Amendment principles,” John Klar says.
Gun bought in South Burlington found at MA site of double fatal shootout
The feds are cracking down on legal gun purchases used in a crime in another state.
Former Senate candidate Mermel joins EAI board
A former Senate candidate, a professor, and a conservative grassroots organizer have joined the Ethan Allen Institute board of directors.
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