Gov. Phil Scott says the pension reform bill doesn’t do enough to make Vermont’s pension funding plan sustainable.
Guv vetoes “unsustainable” pension reform bill
No vote on universal school lunches a tough call, Rep. says
Voting no on the universal school lunch bill was a tough call for an Orange County mother and lawmaker.
McClaughry: Nuclear power revival?
With some climate hawks admitting closing nuclear power plants wasn’t such a hot idea, John McClaughry of the Ethan Allen Institute expresses hope for a nuclear power revival.
Vandalism linked to ‘hate,’ Feather murder, Fox coverage of school webinar
Last’s week Burlington Pride Center vandalism is an example of the same ‘hate’ that led to a murder of a transgender person and critical news coverage of a Burlington school webinar last month, LGBTQ leaders say.
VT Water Cooler: Econo Lodge OD arrests, some Abenaki question ‘recognized’ tribes, Covid #s high statwide
Headlines from around Vermont say Covid cases are pretty high – even if getting it isn’t the big deal it used to be.
News about news coverage, the 404 Error, obits, etc.
We’re growing our news coverage, promoting a good talk show, welcoming obits, and explaining that 404 error sign.
Chittenden: Beta flap shows need for flexible regs
With every regulation, there are places where the rules don’t work – like an airport, where you can’t put parking behind their buildings (because that’s where the planes go).
Quiros gets 5 years for EB-5 fraud
Ariel Quiros was sentenced to five years in prison, more than three time the sentence imposed on fellow EB-5 fraudsters William Kelly and Bill Stenger.
Police seek man in Grand Isle drug-related shooting incident
Police are seeking a young man in his 20’s named “Taye” for his role in a drug-related road-rage and gunfire incident in Grand Isle April 22.
Handling young wildlife harmful, dangerous, and illegal
Handling young wildlife is bad for them AND you – no matter how lost or cute the furry little thing looks.
SHORTS: school mask lawsuit proceeds / VT diesel stars shine / adjournment, maybe
It’s unclear when the Legislature will adjourn or whether Gov. Phil Scott will veto the Clean Heat Standard, if it reaches his desk this year.
Senate passes Clean Heat Standard with change demanded by Scott
The Vermont Senate today passed the Clean Heat Standard, which will raise the cost of heating with oil and gas in Vermont.
Klar runs for Senate, Rutland senators leaving
John Klar of Brookfield will run for the Vermont Senate as a Republican against Democrat incumbent Mark MacDonald.
VT Water Cooler: Police ‘citizen review’ board / Quiros sentencing / Air Guard deploys
Ariel Quiros faces sentencing today for EB-5 fraud.
SHORTS: Townshend yard signs / vax passports for Dem fundraiser
SHORTS: big news in small bites, including controversial yard signs in Townshend and required vax passports at a big Democratic Party fundraiser.
McClaughry: EVs and child labor
Amory Lovins tells John McClaughry his concern about child labor and EV batteries is right on – at least for now.
Kerrin: Burlington Progs pushing legal prostitution on Vermont
Prostitution legalization is being pushed by an out-of-state group with the help of Montpelier lobbyists and Burlington Progressives.
Springfield Inmate dies of suicide / sex assault / fatal crashes
Another Vermont inmate has died by apparent suicide.
Four-year-old left in freezing car at night for six hours
The child walked into a Willard Street, Burlington store on crying and asking for their dad. The shivering child was wearing only shorts, a t-shirt, and winter boots with no socks.
Kauffman: no-one is listening to parents
The Vermont Family Alliance questions why parents are being kicked out of the village regarding their children’s “reproductive liberty” decisions.
Biden homeland security boss creates ‘disinformation governance board’
The Biden Administration’s security strongman Alejandro Mayorkas has created a board to ‘protect’ Americans against ‘disinformation.’
VT Water Cooler: Pride Center vandalized / Housing crisis turns employers into builders, realtors
UVM Health Network stops work on building new psychiatric care beds, and BHS announces new $181 million plan to build new building.
McClaughry: Ghosts guns and murderers
Ghost guns account for one percent of murders, prior offenders for 90%.
Sexton: GOP platform should hold officials, candidates accountable
Sexton has submitted an amendment to the VT GOP platform to hold elected Republican officials and candidates accountable for their vote or support of Article 22 (formerly Prop 5).
State plans 7000+ antlerless deer harvest
Last year’s antlerless deer harvest was smaller than expected, due to the pandemic and other factors.
Democrat for Congress pro-nuke, anti-reparations
A conservative Democrat in the race for the open Vermont seat in Congress says ‘defund the police’ is “one of the stupidest slogans I can remember.”
Flying chair’s not in Kansas anymore
Photos, video link of unsecured chair flying out of bed of pickup truck on I-89 and striking window of a state police cruiser.
Yacovone: Let lawmakers work from home
Forcing legislators to work at the Statehouse in this age of remote work makes little sense, a Morrisville lawmaker says.
Deer poaching ring in court
Five Windsor County men are charged with poaching 14 deer.
Top Scott official Pieciak leaving job
Dept. of Financial Regulation Commissioner Mike Pieciak, who updated Vermonters on the status of Covid-19 at weekly press conferences, is leaving state government.
Scott signs bill removing safeguard in end-of-life lethal drug law
Bills extending social services to at-risk non-citizen youth and waiving safeguards to dispensing end-of-life drugs were signed yesterday by Gov. Phil Scott.
Senate removes THC limits and jail time for heroin possession, creates Youth Council and $1000 child tax credit
Bills passed in the Senate this week remove legal barriers to getting high and create an advisory Youth Council.
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Wed, Apr 27
Peter Welch DOES have a primary opponent – an activist from Brattleboro.
First GOP debate May 14
GOP candidates for the party nomination for Congress and the U.S. Senate will debate in Milton May 14.
Driven by rising oil prices, Vermonters burn more wood
With heating oil prices up 25% between February and March, Vermonters with wood heat backup systems are stocking up now.
Evslin: Neither high energy costs nor dependence on Russia are acceptable
A few smart moves here in the U.S. will reduce CO2 emissions, energy costs, and reliance on oil from Russia and other bad actors.
German shepherd shot, game warden investigating
A German shepherd was shot in Tunbridge, and a distracted driver dies from injuries resulting from a crash on I-89.
Prices soar as avian flu hits 1-in-10 egg-laying hens nationwide
Avian flu is driving up the cost of eggs nationwide. Vermont poultry production has yet to be hit with the disease.
Angry birds in a time of twits
Thunk – thunk – thunk – it’s the sound of an angry bird world.
Burlington prostitution bill to get House committee vote Thursday
A House committee is scheduled to vote Thursday on Burlington’s proposed legalization of prostitution.
Shorts: traveler nurses 3X as costly / Bernie bashes Bezos, the Pandemic Profiteer / Green light for Southern Connector
One-paragraph news items – Bernie on the pandemic profiteers, the high cost of ‘traveler’ nurses, Burlington City Attorney leaves after less than a year, and more.
Letter: Progressives obfuscate over flag, Fern Feather
Progressives are all about storytelling, and the story isn’t true, a Burlington man says.
Guard praises expanded list of ‘burn pit’ cancers
A Vermont National Guard general and an enlisted man died of cancer believed to be related to exposure to toxic ‘burn pits’ overseas.
U.S. Senator: Give nations billions for climate change “or we’ll look like jerks”
John McClaughry reports that a ‘climate hawk’ U.S. senator from New England says that unless we give billions to foreign countries for climate change adaption, “we’ll look like jerks.”
VT Water Cooler: Walmart evacuated / Greenup Day / senator won’t run
Is ANYONE running for governor?!
No more Pledge of Allegiance for Planning Commission
No more honoring Old Glory for the Springfield Planning Commission – with one member dissenting.
Conspiracy to kidnap / Selling unauthorized flea powder / Waterboarding / Drug possession
Hazing by waterboarding by Norwich rugby players conspiracy to kidnap a Danville man found dead a day later, drug possession, and selling unauthorized British flea powder.
‘Race Marxism’ critic James Lindsay to speak in Vermont May 13-14
A nationally-known opponent of Race Marxism will speak in Vermont May 13-14, a week after the film “Whose Children Are They?’ airs in Williston.
Woman jailed after disrupting school board meeting, police say
A woman known for her anti-Covid 19 policy yard signs was arrested and jailed after she (police and local press say) disrupted a Townshend school board meeting.
Biden undercuts Ukrainian refugees, VT aid group finds
In typical Biden reverse-Midas touch fashion, a new federal program to streamline Ukrainian refugee immigration is having the opposite effect.
Musk buys Twitter
Elon Musk buying Twitter is the biggest national and global headline of the day – but not the only eye-opener: see stories on Ebola and Durham subpoenas.
House-approved ‘rental registry’ will reduce available housing, Lefebvre warns
A House-approved bill requiring state registry of rental units won’t expand housing, as promised – quite the opposite, Rep. Samantha Lefebvre says.
Water Cooler: Walk for eating disorders / Vermonter locked down in Shanghai / shelter pod pushback / who should own Burlington airport?
Those proposed homeless shelter pods are getting pushback in Burlington.
Most Dem Congress hopefuls don’t own gun, Balint has never fired one
Only one of the Democratic candidates for Congress admits to owning a gun.
Knife-wielding shoplifter highlights need for legal reform, police chief says
A bold shoplifter last week threatened Burlington store employees with a knife.
A third of VT school superintendent jobs turning over
The rapid turnover of Vermont school superintendents continues.
Long weekend of gunfire, shooting, threats
Dangerous gun incidents struck Grand Isle, Springfield, White River Junction, and Burlington this weekend.
U.S. lab, Wuihan agree to destroy secret files
A lab in Galveston and the Wuihan biolab have agreed they can destroy all data arising from their collaborative work.
Patrissi: Doctor, ex-cop Meyers unwelcome at Dem debate
“Deafening silence” describes how the four invited candidates in the VT Digger April 13 Congressional debate reacted when asked to advocate for the inclusion of fellow candidate Louis Meyers.
Looks like vetoes for budget, pension bill
Gov. Phil Scott did not use the word “veto”, but the implication was clear – he will veto both the budget and the pension bill if his concerns are not addressed before they reach his desk.
Redic for Congress marches in Maple Festival parade Sunday
Ericka Redic, candidate for Congress, and supporters will be marching in the St. Albans Maple Festival parade Sunday.
VT Water Cooler: Treating eating disorders / aggressive shoplifting in Burlington
WCAX continues its series on the treatment – or lack of it – for eating disorders in Vermont, and NBC5 describes a more aggressive form of shoplifting in Burlington.
McClaughry: Un-elected officials would set heating fuel ‘tax’ rate
Since when do appointees set tax rates?
Digger won’t print pastor’s letter protesting Prop 5 freebie ad, cites ‘misunderstanding’
VTDigger says a Sheldon letter writer critical of their providing free advertising to a pro-Prop 5 group “may have a misunderstanding of this matter.”
States launch ‘border strike force’ to challenge Biden on lack of enforcement
New Hampshire, but not Vermont, has joined a 26-state initiative to slow illegal immigration.
Malloy pro-life, pro-2A, pro Constitution
GOP Senate candidate Gerald Malloy of Perkinsville has been telling Vermonters about his pro-life, pro-Second Amendment campaign platform since throwing his hat into the ring in March.
Despite warchest, Welch voting record leaves him vulnerable to centrist Nolan
Senate candidate Rep. Peter Welch has millions more campaign cash than any of his challengers, but his voting record could prove problematic against a strong centrist candidate.
James O’Keefe tells the Veritas at Dartmouth
Mainstream media reporting on Project Veritas is the journalistic equivalent of the fox telling you its thoughts on the farmer’s dog.
Keelan: Legislature seems out of touch
What Vermonters DON’T need from the Legislature is added stress on our police shortage and energy costs.
Holy Cow! History: Hinesburg and the Great Hiney Wine Hoax
Hiney Wine started as a gimmick for a Dallas, Texas DJ in 1981. Pretty soon some folks were positive it was named after a certain Chittenden County town.
Gov signs Burlington, Essex charter changes, Abenaki tax exemption
Burlington, Essex charter changes and Abenaki property tax exemption among bills signed into law by Gov. Phil Scott this week.
Scott, Balint at odds over budget priorities
The Senate and Gov. Scott disagree on the proposed budget, and the governor isn’t afraid to veto the budget if necessary.
Vax exemption bill dead this year
H148 would eliminate the religious exemption for required immunizations prior to enrollment in a school or child-care facility.
Bill targets police interrogation tactics
Another cop control bill sponsored by a Chittenden County senator will be reviewed in the House today.
VT Watercooler: School administrators fleeing VT / Sanders may run for prez in 2024
From Burlington City Hall to the White House in Washington, D.C.?
Has VTDigger been paid for Prop 5 freebie? Anti Prop 5 group wants to know
Has VTDigger kept its promise to seek payment for a freebie ad it gave to a pro-Prop 5 group?
Roper: Senators admit Clean Heat Standard is a carbon tax
Just before approving the Clean Heat Standard bill, two key Vermont senators agree: John McClaughry got it right, it really is a carbon tax.
Bought gun, swapped it for drugs / tractor theft / police cruiser collision
Bought the gun in Vermont, traded it for drugs with a Massachusetts drug dealer.
EB-5 fraudster Kelly sentenced to 18 months
Like fellow EB-5 fraudster Bill Stenger, William Kelly has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
Correction: GOP critic NOT mayor of Montpelier
The mayor of Montpelier is NOT the author of an op-ed criticizing the VT GOP over H659.
Bucknam: H659 supporter wrong about GOP ‘pure hatred’
It’s not ‘hatred’ to oppose a bill that allows children to make serious, lifelong changes to their bodies without parental permission.
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Wed, Apr 20
Vermont actor busted on the Big Island, and a Milton dad left a four-year-old in a car for six hours – these headlines and others from VT media.
Levine addresses vax injury concerns
Vermonters who suspect they’ve suffered vaccine injury should tell the CDC and keep seeking medical opinions, Health Commissioner Mark Levine said Tuesday.
Thayer: Public school parents, claim your right to know
Parents of school children need to know and claim their right to know what the8r children are learning.
Burning bush updated
Moses and the Burning Bush, as imagined for the Woke Age by Dan Jeffries.
Transgender murder victim had similar violent encounter in 2021
Fern Feather was either the aggressor or the defender in a violent altercation over a year ago in Morristown, according to local police reports.
BHS varsity bass fishing team going to nationals
A squad of bass fishermen from Burlington High School will head to the nationals in Alabama this June.
Imprimus: The Continuing Importance of Thomas Sowell
Today’s public charter schools, which often have predominantly low-income black and Hispanic student bodies, are successors to the high-achieving black schools that Sowell researched more than 40 years ago.
Kayakers drown / ATV fatal / truck hits ambulance
Two Massachusetts men died after their kayak capsized on cold, choppy Lake Seymour.
Gunfire in Burlington park / Sex offender released
Burlington’s third ‘gunfire incident’ of the year took place Good Friday morning in City Hall Park.
State police admit mistaking identity of alleged shoplifter
An April 15 Vermont State Police press release misidentified an alleged Rutland shoplifter.
State trooper punched his dog, committed perjury, police say
A state police detective punched his family dog and then lied about it under oath, state police say.
The Winooski Dome: How this mill-town was almost sealed in a bubble
In the midst of a global energy crisis, Winooski’s ingenious city planners applied for a $55,000 federal grant to study the possibility of constructing a dome over the city.
BHS parents not notified about gay rights walkout
Burlington High School administrators still haven’t told parents the Gay Student Union walkout on March 11, or their role in it, a concerned parent says.
Covid cases climbing among UVMMC employees
Last week, 140 employees tested positive, about nine times the 15 cases of two months ago.
Dame: H715, the Upcoming Mystery Tax
The Clean Heat Standard would intentionally make every kind of home heating fuel more expensive – but we just don’t know how to calculate the increase, or what the total amount will be.
VT Watercooler: Montpelier mayor says GOP sells hatred / sex offender released
An iconic South Burlington diner reopens under new management.
Assault follows teenagers’ car chase through Putney / Fatal crash in Benson / Road rage in St. Albans
Bad driving and bad behavior lead to tragedy and charges stemming from incidents on Vermont highways.
23 on terror list stopped at southern border
Headlines and news you won’t see in most of the national media.
Coming Events: Roper to speak in Manchester / public school expose film / Symposium / GOP work meeting
Rob Roper of the Ethan Allen Institute will speak on Vermont’s climate agenda at the Manchester Library.
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