An outspoken Vermont chief of police has announced his retirement. George Merkel isn’t happy with how he and the Vergennes Police Department have been treated.
Vergennes police chief Merkel retires, amid “continuing and unwarranted disrespect”
Man shot by police still hospitalized
The Ludlow police officer who shot a man on his second month on the job is cooperating fully with investigators.
Another truck blocks Smugglers Notch, AKA ‘Dead Horse Hill’
For at least the third time this summer, a truck got stuck in Smugglers Notch this morning, blocking traffic for hours.
Primary results: voters ‘cure’ defective ballots for first time; Dems outpoll GOP by more than 3-1
Only 600 Progressives cast ballots in the August 9 primary. However, 102,408 cast Democratic ballots, outpolling the GOP by more than 3-1.
Keelan: Me and Rip Van Winkle
Vermont’s Rip Van Winkle fell asleep after 9/11 and just woke up, to discover the waking nightmare gun violence, drug overdoses, a housing crisis, a pandemic and (apparently) rampant racism in the once-bucolic Green Mountain State.
Geriatric emergency medicine accredited at VT hospital
The second-oldest state in the nation now has at least one hospital with an accredited Geriatric Emergency Department.
Water Cooler: Vermont granite to support Lady Liberty / Big fire at SoBu condos / homeless encampment in Burlington park
Barre, Vermont granite will be added to the base of the refurbished Statue of Liberty in New York harbor.
Dame: Progressive Horse Hair Worms
Like a parasitic worm, Vermont Progressives have taken over the body politic of the Vermont Democratic Party.
Former Progressive House leader appointed by Dems to run for House
Vermont’s climate policy could be a major campaign issue in the surprise rematch of two 2020 general election contestants for the Middletown Springs (etc.) House seat.
Burlington waterfront gunfire continues / shot Brookfield man, alleged shooter ID’d
The latest shooting on Burlington’s waterfront moved south about a half mile from Friday night’s episode at the skate park.
Woman walking dogs attacked by bear
Lee stated that she tripped on a stone wall as the bear charged her. She then felt pain on her upper left leg and realized the bear was on top of her and had bitten her.
Daughter of VT criminal judge arrested for DUI, resisting arrest
Both the adult daughter and the elderly parents of a Vermont criminal court judge have run into trouble with the law.
Rockingham burglars caught on video
A man-woman couple of burglars sans the usual hoodies, sunglasses and masks were caught on video breaking into a Rockingham home. If you know them, police would like to hear from you.
Almost a week late, primary vote certification scheduled for this afternoon
The state-level vote certification of the August 9 primary had been delayed due to software problems with the 2022 redistricting of Vermont House and Senate districts.
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Mon, Aug 22
A Montpelier man helped kill renowned Massachusetts mobster Whitey Bulger, brother of FBI director.
Blam! Blam! Blam! Weekend shootings in Brattleboro, Brookfield and Burlington
Another weekend of people shooting people, this time in Vermont communities starting with the letter B.
Alleged car thief gouges cop’s eye
A man with a lengthy criminal rap sheet tried to gouge the eyes of the Burlington cop that apprehended him. Both were treated for their injuries.
Constitutional Republican Wilson advises: register to vote, kick out the Progs
In the last legislative session, during a time of recovery, Democratic/Progressives/Socialists forced programs and laws to make big government bigger and more invasive, ignoring our constitution and laws, a House candidate for Northeast Kingdom towns says.
No vax, no ride?
By mid-century, the seven-score-years Era of the Passenger Car may be over. What will happen to civil liberties then?
Senate candidates Ram, Watson endorsed by Labor Council
The increasing influence of Vermont’s political left was on display at the AFL-CIO annual meeting Saturday at the Old Socialist Party Labor Hall in Barre.
Montpelier prostitution repeal gets 2nd reading Wednesday, public opinion welcome
The Montpelier City Council may vote Wednesday night on the proposed repeal of its anti-prostitution ordinance.
Tynio: Dame to blame for Madden fiasco, but it’s time to move on
“Paul Dame failed to inform voters of candidate deception, opting instead to underestimate the consequences of Madden’s bid for office. He has now publicly blamed me and Ericka Redic for his failure, a narrative being perpetuated by media outlets on both the left and right,” Anya Tynio writes.
McClaughry: Ask candidates for Legislature these questions….
Fair, timely questions to ask someone running for the Legislature if/when they knock on your door.
Church embezzlement
Embezzlement strikes rural Vermont church.
At $250 mil, UVM cracks top 100 in research $$
A quarter of a billion dollars. That’s how much research money UVM raked in during the last fiscal year.
Water Cooler: Slave shackles sold at Rutland gun show, NAACP complains
A gruesome reminder of the days of state-sanctioned slavery was on sale at a Rutland gun show – and denounced by local black activists.
Borysenko banned from Twitter for outing educators’ CRT violations
New Hampshire law prevents teaching CRT. When Williamstown native Karlyn Borysenko complained, Twitter banned her.
Veterinary opioid killing Vermonters
As the State of Vermont commits millions more to drug treatment and prevention, a new opioid compound is killing Vermont drug users.
Quebec offers 5th vax shot
The Province of Quebec will make available a fifth shot of the Covid-19 vaccine/therapeutic.
GOP chairs agree with Madden: he’s not a Republican
Mr. Madden openly admits his original intention was to decline the Republican nomination if he won the primary and run as an Independent. In the event, he failed to follow the requirements for nomination as such and now pretends “we have a lot in common.”
Klar: Human Rights Commission racialized landlord-tenant dispute
The stretches made by this shameful “investigation” are truly worth a read by Vermonters, John Klar says. Get a bag of popcorn and settle in.
As drought-plagued western farmers plow under crops and sell livestock, Vermont “abnormally dry”
The severe drought out west is severely reducing food production. And 18% of Vermont is in ‘moderate drought,’ with most of the rest ‘abnormally dry.’
Del Trecco: Understaffed VT hospitals struggling with inflation, patient placement, violence
“I have been working in health care for my entire career and I have never seen a set of circumstances so complex and severe,” the VAHHS Prez said. “This is not normal.”
No vax required for schoolchildren
It’s official – Vermont schools won’t require students to receive a Covid-19 vaccination.
AG nails another opioid settlement
Another big settlement with an opioid maker – but will the money really help fight drug abuse?
Guv unveils plan to address violent crime
A statewide workforce crisis and other factors have resulted in a spike in criminal activity, Gov. Phil Scott said before outlining his response plan.
Man shot by cop in Burlington arrested; gunfire went through pant leg of police officer
Tasing didn’t stop the suspect from charging at police with a knife.
New car annual costs exceed $10K
Just owning and operating a new car now costs more than $10K on average, for the first time in U.S. history, AAA says.
Ludlow officer who shot suspect graduated from police academy in July
A Ludlow police rookie and his trainer were involved in the shooting of suspect Michael Mills of Cavendish, who moments earlier had twice rammed their police cruiser with his car.
Man shot in head by Ludlow cop was talking suicide
Both Vermont men shot by police in the last week were talking suicide. Both were hospitalized following the shooting. As of this morning, neither are dead.
Zero-interest loans for BIPOC Vermonters
The Vermont Community Loan Fund hopes its new BIPOC-only fund will shrink the Wealth Gap.
Quad-vaxxed Jill Biden, Gen. Austin, Pfizer CEO all get Covid / Canada working on digital ID / Rosary ‘extremist symbol
Atlantic Magazine writer calls the Catholic Rosary an “extremist symbol.” Sort of like the cross?
Water Cooler: Covid still seen as threat in Montpelier schools
Montpelier school officials aren’t ready to declare victory over Covid-19, the Montpelier Bridge reports.
Free AC on a shaky power grid
President Biden’s plan to give away energy-efficient air conditioners may be a relief during heat waves – unless power grid’s increasingly shaky status requires rolling brownouts or blackouts.
State troopers victims of hate crime
A homeless man was charged with Hate Motivated Crime following a tumultous encounter with state troopers of ethnic origins.
“Uncouth militia” victory over Brits and Hessians at Battle of Bennington led to victory at Saratoga
For some combatants, the fight was personal. Former friends who had grown up together in Vermont found themselves facing off with each other.
Super-abundant bear population bodes well for hunters
Vermont’s bear population is four times as large as it was just 50 years ago. And they will be relatively easy for hunters to find when the season starts in two weeks.
Burlington to vote Nov. 8 on new high school, tech center
The Burlington School Board decided Monday to ask voters for $165 million to build a new high school and tech center. Here’s the school district announcement of that decision.
Family ambassador, anti-hazing coordinator, full-time sub among 153 Burlington school job openings
The Burlington School District is short 153 educators – mostly non-classroom teachers – with August 31, the first day of school, just two weeks away.
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Tue, Aug 16
Kick out the Franklin County sheriff candidate who kicked a man in the groin, residents say.
Burlington violent crime explosion explained
Studies show no connection between gun laws, gun ownership, and crime, a Williston Ph.D. says.
Redic: Expect integrity, transparency, accountability
In the name of kindness and generosity, government can demand more and more of its citizens’ hard-earned income.
Active shooter threat training in Colchester
Train now to survive an encounter with an active shooter, Vermont law enforcement officials say.
UPDATE: Primary election software snafu should be fixed by Friday, Sec State hopes
The state’s contractor has been unable to resolve an administrative technology issue impacting the office’s ability to generate reports based on the official return of votes submitted by Town and City Clerks.
‘Inflation Reduction Act’ cuts Medicare costs of prescription drugs, insurance premiums, Scott says
Spend less on prescription drugs, spend more spent on other necessities of life – that’s how the ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ may affect Vermonters.
Have you seen Sophia Garner?
A 14-year-old girl has been missing since yesterday from her Rutland home.
Second shooting by Vermont police in three days under investigation
For the second time in three days, a Vermont police officer on Monday shot someone in the line of duty.
Bananas: Antifa Changing Name To Protifa After Realizing They Love Fascism
Who wants to be anti-anything? Besides, if it walks like a fascist duck….
Three more Burlington shootings – Smokies patrol downtown Saturday night
Burlington suffered three shootings in three days – one of them by a police officer. State police helped an understaffed BPD patrol downtown Saturday night.
With first day of school just days away, VT schools almost 3000 educators short
Vermont’s schools are short almost 3000 educators, with the first day of school just days away.
Wardsboro murder suspect charged with disorderly conduct, released two days earlier
The alleged murderer of a Guilford mom had been in police custody just two days before the August 9 stabbing death.
Water Cooler: Burlington homeless pods underway / blessed are the cheesemakers
The city of Burlington’s experiment with micro-housing swelling numbers of homeless people is underway.
VT GOP grapples with unexpected House race outcome
The Vermont State GOP Committee went on record Saturday with a statement of non-support for reluctant House nominee and self-described independent Liam Madden of Bellows Falls.
Dame compares Madden to ‘outsider’ Trump; Madden explains acceptance decision to Redic, her backers
“I want to emphasize that I made a mistake in my interpretation of election law, in assuming I could run as an independent if I won a primary and then declined the nomination,” Liam Madden said.
GOP blames Secretary of State candidate for delay of voting results
Election software problems related to redistricting have postponed today’s scheduled certification of Vermont State Senate primary election results.
Wells River school fire just latest flare in simmering dispute between locals, ‘flatlander’
The flames which burned the historic schoolhouse in Wells River on July 18 may be symbolic of a smoldering hostility between the building’s owner and the broader village community.
Learn to train new hunters at Parro’s August 30
Vermont Fish & Wildlife offers hunting instructor training at a Waterbury gun shop.
Motorcycle 107 MPH / truck fire causes severe burns / Fatal crash
42 MPH over the I-89 speed limit gets a Milton driver a hefty fine, points on his license, and a day in court.
McDonald: At 9 months, ‘all systems are go’ for a baby
All the unborn baby needs is one breath of air and it’s off to the races – a new living, breathing member of the human race.
Eshelman: Abracadabra at Mar-a-Lago
Show The People the documents, Mr. Attorney General.
3 Letters: Madden Maddens / ‘Era of Big Government’ NOT over / Open letter to GOP Chair Dame
News flash: the era of big government is over – not.
Masks optional when school opens
The memo leaves the option of masking to parents, unless the child is showing symptoms and is being sent home, at which point the nurse will have discretion to require a mask: “Staff and students should be permitted to exercise their own or their family’s decision-making to wear a mask in school settings.”
VT Watercooler: still no Windham County Senate results
It’s been three days and still no word on the outcome of the Windham County GOP Senate race. As of this writing, the Senate tab on the SOS Election Night Results page is still down. Officials blame a snafu related to redistricting.
Who is Liam Madden? Anti-war activist, solar developer, Idea Sex Lab CEO
Meet GOP House Liam Madden: raised in Vermont’s two extremes of wealth and poverty, the son of a father who struggled with addiction joined the Marines Corps, became a leader in the anti-war movement, solar power entrepreneur, and CEO of the Idea Sex Lab.
McClaughry: Reduce $31 trillion national debt with tax hike, spending cuts, CBO says
The Congressional Budget Office says interest costs will become the fastest-growing category in the federal budget, thanks to growth in both debt base and interest rates.
When Bill Russell came to Bradford
Celtics great Bill Russell was at the peak of his career in 1965 when he spoke to the Lions Club in Bradford.
Dame: Madden victory shows GOP attractive to independent voters
“In every single race that Democrats were given a chance, they chose the candidate furthest to the left and repeatedly rejected their moderate or centrist candidates.”
‘Elevate Vermont’ to help Small Tech get bigger with federal $$
A new program will spend state revenue to help instate Small Tech get big grants from the feds.
Letters: Conservatives must Get Out the Vote / Hold GOP leadership accountable / Article 22 confusing
Letter writers react to primary results (or lack thereof) and the confusing upcoming statewide referendum.
Covey: Recent physical attacks on hunters followed years of propaganda
With terms like sadist, psychopath, and abuser used to describe community members, it is no wonder that such an event has now occurred twice. The surprise, perhaps, is that it took so long.
Baumgartner: As public schools indoctrinate, homeschooling has led to success for generations
Just as parents educated children at home for generations before the modern age, so can parents today. They must exercise confidence and look to themselves and their own knowledge to aid their children.
First responders learn the art of the drone at UVM
With help from FEMA, Vermont’s first responders learned how to use drones for rescue work.
Redistricting cause of Senate page snafu on election website, SOS says
“Our vendor has, so far, been unable to correct an issue with a narrow subset of how Senate races are appearing from Election Night Reporting (ENR), as a result of redistricting,” SOS spokesperson Eric Covey said.
Budd proposes amendment to hire more Border Patrol, ICE agents instead of IRS agents
87,000 more agents sounds like a swell idea – if they’re stopping illegal immigration on the southern border. Auditing American taxpayers, not so much, a Congressman says.
Cannabis entrepreneurs launch cannabis farm tours
The cannabis tour bus – an old school bus – will meet customers at local bars and then bring them to nearby cannabis farms. Legal retail sales in shops begin as soon as October 1.
Green Pork
“But organized green interests want your money; voters want a warm feeling from being told they’re doing something about climate change (as long as it doesn’t involve a carbon tax).” – Holman Jenkins
VT Watercooler: Vandalism suspect to undergo mental health eval
Robbie Mafuta, charged with breaking about three dozen windows Tuesday morning in Burlington, must undergo a mental health evaluation, a judge said.
Brattleboro woman busted for benefiting from prostitution
A 63-year-old Brattleboro woman was arrested yesterday for involvement in human trafficking.
Bananas: This Week in Fake News
Among the elites of Windham County, Vermont, black lives no longer matter as much as Ukrainian lives, fake news Johnny Bananas reports.
Vax freedom advocate poses questions to Bernie, Covid-19 boss
Today at 5PM, Bernie Sanders is hosting a Live Q and A with White House COVID-19 response coordinator, Dr. Jha. Alison Despathy chimes in.
Wheel: what I did at the polls when I discovered my name was already checked off
I grabbed my phone and said to the worker, “I’m going to go potentially save you a lot of trouble” as I walked out the door.
Madden will accept GOP House nomination, Redic announces vigorous Libertarian campaign
“Liam let me tell you – you have messed with the wrong broad,” Redic said. “You have underestimated the will of the Republican Party in Vermont. And it will be to your detriment.”
Water Cooler: Sarah George, Zuckerman, Siegel, Montpelier mayor win Dem nomination
Democratic voters yesterday had a few surprises of their own in what Secretary of State Jim Condos rightly called a “once in a generation primary.”
Malloy, Madden, Benning, Scott win statewide GOP races
A pair of unknown ex-military men walked into the Vermont political arena months ago, and last night walked away with the party nominations for U.S. Senate and Congress.
Secretary of State explains why Dominion vote tabulator memory cards replaced prior to primary election
Vermont election officials explain why they switched memory cards on Dominion vote counting machines before the primary.
Parton: In November, towns should check machine voting results with sample hand count
I am suggesting and encouraging all Town and City Clerks, City Councils, Select Boards and Boards of Civil Authority institute a policy to hand count one sample race after the 2022 General Election vote in November.
Swanton teen dies on highway
A 17-year-old life is over following a Franklin County crash. The victim was not wearing his seat belt.
Guilford woman murdered
A Wardsboro woman repeatedly stabbed a Guilford woman, whose body was found on a logging road in Wardsboro.
Little libraries connect readers to their neighborhoods
During the pandemic especially, Waterbury residents spending more time at home came to appreciate the little lending libraries around town – and even added to their ranks.
Benning: On to the Big Game!
GOP Lt. Gov. nominee Joe Benning: “Yesterday, we sent a message that the Vermont Republican Party is not a party of divisive rhetoric or extremist ideology.”
Recent Comments