Gasoline is just the most obvious commodity shortage affecting Vermont consumers and industry.
Vermont feeling wartime pain at the pump, at the store, and on the assembly line
Jury trial change, senior tax exemption, cannabis regs, Clean Heat Standard, etc. survive Crossover
Civil trial lawyers love S178, allowing non-unanimous jury decisions. It and other better-known bills passed Crossover Friday. Part 1 today.
Montpelier nixes volunteer police chaplain
A local Baptist pastor with experience working with the mentally ill, substance abusers, and veterans won’t be the volunteer chaplain for Montpelier PD, after all.
Watercooler: Homeless pods in Burlington / UVM off to the Big Dance / microburst flattens Flatbread greenhouse / ferry prices up
Hot headlines from today’s Vermont media.
Spaulding and Montpelier square off at the Aud!
Being in “the Aud” for the big Montpelier-Spaulding semi-final last week brings it all back for a 1972 Northfield High cager.
Perrino plugs Nolan for Senate on Fox
One of America’s most savvy political analysts thinks 2022 might be the year for Republican Senate candidate Christina Nolan.
113 MPH on I-89 / Drunk hits police cruiser / Busted for two bank robberies
Teenager tops out at 113 MPH on I-89. 59-year-old woman U the I backs her car into a police cruiser. Police arrest Barre man for bank jobs in Essex and Burlington.
Condoms for kids now available in Vermont schools
Vermont public schools, in partnership with the largest abortion chain in America, must provide free condoms to students as young as 12 – even if their parents object.
Jericho woman met Mother Theresa in Calcutta, urges lawmaker to support unborn
Mother Teresa’s voice was soft as she spoke to us— I sat literally at her feet on the cool concrete and contemplated her gnarled hands and bare toes.
Obama tests positive for Covid
“Michelle and I are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted,” the former President said. “It’s a reminder to get vaccinated if you haven’t already, even as cases go down.”
Condos: Sunshine isn’t enough to combat election ‘myths’
Condos and Winters remind us that public faith in government has plummeted to its lowest level since the Nixon era.
House overrides veto of Brat 16-year-old voter bill
The House of Representatives today overrode Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of a bill allowing 16-year-olds to vote and hold office in Brattleboro.
Let’s hope so…..
Watercooler: homeless ‘pod’ coming to Burlington
Burlington will try a new tactic to serve its homeless population. That headline and others from Vermont media today.
Warner: a personal case for prayer
Aaron Warner was homeless and living in a friend’s garage when he decided to inquire of the Creator’s willingness to help.
Cops will leave VT if qualified immunity bill passes, Schirling warns
Legislators, who can’t be sued for the decisions they make on the job, are considering a bill to strip cops of the same protection. Vermont’s top cop predicts all-time low police staffing if S254 passes.
Scott to sign Ukraine assistance bill Tuesday at Freedom & Unity Vigil
Russian gasoline and liquor are driving Vermonters and other Americans less and less these days. All liquor store proceeds from the sale of Russian-made products for one week have been set aside for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.
Biden gives NH Planned Parenthood $500K, thwarts state defunding
The Biden administration has given NH Planned Parenthood $500K to offset the state’s defunding of the Granite State’s largest abortion provider.
Gas hits $5.19 in Johnson
Responses range from acceptance to blaming Biden By Guy Page Good news! You can still buy regular-grade gas for less than $4/gallon – if you drive to the Northeast Kingdom town of […]
Woman driver arrested for dragging cop 50 yards
The driver who allegedly dragged a state trooper at 20 MPH is now behind bars.
Keelan: so many crises, so little unity
Every issue crisis is framed as ‘number one.’ Our leaders focus on the loudest cause-seeker who has their immediate attention.
Even boring photos tells a story
Do as I say, not as I do?
$1.5 million State House cafeteria redesign panned
Should the Legislature spend $1.5 million in federal $$ to redesign the State House cafeteria? Gov. Scott thinks not but lawmakers say it will add much-needed space for committee rooms.
Big climate rally opposes Clean Heat Standard
Vermont labor unions oppose the Clean Heat Standard because it funds climate change programs “on the backs of the working class.”
Water Cooler: Exodus from Burlington Racial Equity Office / Winooski 100 years old / Homeless funding extended
100 years ago, prosperous, urban, one-mile-square Winooski concluded its lengthy divorce proceedings from rural Colchester – and promptly saw its industrial base go into a tailspin from which the Onion City has never fully emerged.
“First in the nation” household waste bill goes to House floor today
Another of the Vermont Legislature’s ‘first in the nation’ bills may add costs and reduce availability of household goods containing hazardous chemicals.
Judd: no transparency and integrity in transcribed Barre ballots
Problems feeding 133 paper ballots into Barre City voting tabulators at last Tuesday’s City Meeting led the City Clerk to have them transcribed onto other pieces of paper and then tabulated. Brian Judd questions the transparency and integrity of transcribing ballots.
Vermont law enforcement donates body armor to Ukraine
Vermont law enforcement agencies are teaming up to donate used and expired body-armor vests to military units in Ukraine.
Dartmouth canceled Ngo due to censorship, not safety
Dartmouth’s eleventh-hour cancellation of a student event featuring journalist Andy Ngo due to “safety” concerns was actually driven by censorship.
Redic: The right to bear arms and Ukraine
The assault on the right to bear arms, whether from Ukrainians or Vermonters, neither secures borders nor restrains “dangerous behavior.”
Point/Counterpoint on Postal Reform
Everyone agrees postal service is getting worse and worse. Two national experts discuss whether a bill passed by Congress will fix the real problem or just make it worse.
McClaughry: John Kerry talks climate amid Ukraine crisis
Sure hope the war and death in Ukraine doesn’t make Important People lose focus on climate change, John Kerry says.
‘Old growth’ forest tax break passes House
Climate change warriors have secured tax breaks to keep Vermont forestland undeveloped.
106 MPH in 55 MPH zone
A young man from South Burlington was stopped for speeding on I-89 in Winooski and then processed for DUI by state police.
West Virginia moves COS past half-way mark to Constitutional Convention
The Mountain State is all in on the Convention of States. The Green Mountain State? Not yet.
Federal bureaucrats busting your chops on passport, housing, taxes, etc.? Call Bernie
Stuck like a fly in the web of the federal bureaucracy? Call Bernie – or rather, call Bernie’s constituent affairs peeps. Politics aside, they might be able to help.
Barre married couple busted for drug, gun crimes
David Tom, 37, and Tiffany Fisk, 32, who are married and both of Barre, were charged with drug and gun crimes.
Water Cooler: Gas prices drive us to EVs? / Lost urn discovered / Loons rescued
Will high gas prices be an “incentive” to drive electric? Maybe – or maybe the cost of electricity will climb sky-high, too.
Scott would return $45 million in Ed Fund surplus to taxpayers, spend rest on tech centers
Scott’s plan for unexpected $90 million surplus in the state Education Fund: give half back to taxpayers in $250 checks this summer, and spend the rest teaching trades to young Vermonters enrolled in technical education.
Strong: Proposal 5 gives autonomous right to something that takes two people
Autonomy means “having the freedom to govern oneself or control your own affairs.” But, scientifically speaking, reproduction takes two people.
State law requires zero-emissions new cars by 2035 – because California says so
A Vermont law passed in 2006 requires state regulators to adopt California emissions standards. And California wants zero-emissions new car sales by 2035.
Coyote hunting, leghold trap bans may wait a year
Three controversial anti-hunting bills won’t make crossover and appear headed to summer study.
Snowmobiler facedown in stream, no feeling in legs
Too much speed on too much ice propelled a Connecticut snowmobiler facedown into a stream.
Water Cooler: Gas prices soaring / Caviar Emptor / privileged Vermonters / Bus drivers have new contract
For rural Vermonters who depend on the bus, a new labor contract ensures they can still get to work, the doctor, and the store. This story and others from today’s Vermont media headlines.
Virologist: COVID race stats need review
Although the dominant official and media narrative says Covid-19 harms more black people than white people, the actual data says otherwise.
Gun bill veto ‘compromise’ lets out-of-staters use high-cap magazines
A ‘compromise’ bill to the vetoed S30 was approved by Senate Judiciary today. It creates a seven-day waiting period, allows gun seizure without due process, and lets out-of-staters use high-capacity mags.
Bananas: How to be an anti-racist, Vermont style
Whiteness is an essential feature of systemically racist Vermont, particularly in winter, where the outdoor topography can be seen covered in soft blankets of snow, knitted by an equally racist Mother Nature.
Dame: this war is Putin’s fault, not Biden’s
Pretty refreshing to see a national leader grab for a rifle instead of a ride out of town. Would ours do the same for us?
Evslin: call the Russian Bear’s bluff
Vladimir Putin NEEDS to export oil and gas. If he didn’t, he’d have threatened to cut off NATO Europe weeks ago. Call his bluff.
Opioid settlement upped $1.2 billion
Vermont AG TJ Donovan and other AGs get another $1.2 billion out of Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family for their role in the opioid crisis. The Sacklers also must “express regret.” But the deal doesn’t send them to jail.
Mountain medic appointed to Vermont House
Mountain safety expert and former Lyndon State College Prof. John Kascenska replaces former Rep. Patrick Seymour (R-Sutton) who recently resigned.
McClaughry: Expanding parental choice in education
The Supreme Court said the state must pay tuition to sectarian schools, if that’s what the parent wants. Because, school choice. But the Vermont Senate Education Committee chair says students and staff must be “protected” from religious schools.
Poached deer search turns up 880 bags of heroin, meth
3000 rounds of ammo and 880 bags of hard drugs were seized by an alphabet soup of state and federal police agencies in the town of Athens. No word about the poached deer, though.
Refugee housing tax break considered
A bill giving a property tax break to homeowners providing housing to refugees has cleared the Vermont House and is now in the Senate.
Barre crack bust / 99 MPH on I-91 / Suicide on I-89
A traffic stop for a car registration violation in Barre led to a bust for possession of crack cocaine and fentanyl.
Water Cooler: Electric snowmobiles, masks off in Essex, Burl/SoBu bike path, Rice & Rutland in state hoop championship
Powerhouse Rice Memorial High School is, once again, seeking the state crown in boy’s basketball. And the masks come off in a big Chittenden County school district.
Russia: Ukraine destroying evidence of U.S. bioweapons program
Trucker convoy in DC area – that’s a fact. US bioweapons program in Ukraine – that’s a Russian claim.
Thayer: As gas prices soar, so does Progressive desire to tax more
Progressives will make our gas crisis worse, not better.
Jesses: Under Proposal 5, do Black Lives Matter?
Where’s the racial equity in black/white abortion statistics?
State $$ for your failed well or septic system
The State of Vermont is providing $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support low- and moderate-income Vermont homeowners in repairing or replacing their failed or inadequate on-site water or wastewater systems.
Granite Grok: Offensive words, take 3 million – ‘Gypsy Moth’
From now on, get used to protecting your trees from the annual infestation of the Spongy Moth.
Evslin: Stop buying Russian oil – and consider no-fly zone, too
Stop buying Russian oil? Heck yes! And, Tom Evslin won’t ‘just say no-fly zone.’
‘Criminal threatening’ bill gives politicians, gov workers more protection than general public
A ‘criminal threatening’ bill doubles the maximum sentence if the victim is a politician or government worker. S265 passed the Senate and is now in House Judiciary.
Strong stand against Homeland Security free speech crackdown
Rep. Vicki Strong is Vermont Strong on standing up to federal government encroachment on the Right to Free Speech. So far – with one cautious exception – she’s standing up alone.
Video: the kids are NOT alright
What have the pandemic restrictions done to our children? And why is talking about it taboo? Meg Hansen interviews expert Anna Runkle.
Water Cooler: Vermont Cannabis vs. tax-free NH / Jay Peak sale / Health insurance dispute
Randolph is supporting a ‘sister community’ in Ukraine.
Holy Cow! History: The President’s Love Child
Holy Cow! historian Mark Powell tells the story of a U.S. president who had a ‘love child’ during the Roaring Twenties.
St J fatal shooting update: Jeep driver struck woman in the head
The driver of a Jeep connected to a fatal shooting in St. Johnsbury is being held by NY cops for hitting a woman at the scene while the homicide investigation continues.
Divorce final on rocky marriage between Burlington, Yaroslavl
Mayor Bernie Sanders’ political marriage of convenience between Burlington and Yaroslavl, Russia thrived during the Cold War, but couldn’t survive the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
$1 to Ukraine for every Vermonter. Russian-state business banned. Goodbye, Karelia
Vermont’s support for Ukraine has gone way beyond removing Russian-made products from Vermont liquor stores.
Statewide school mask mandate lifted
Starting a week from Monday, Vermont school students will no longer be “directed” to wear masks by the State of Vermont.
Governor noncommittal about anti-hunting bills
Like a patient hunter, Gov. Phil Scott is taking his time before deciding whether to take aim at three controversial hunting bills.
Scott doesn’t back legal prostitution
The legalization of prostitution, now being pushed mostly by Progressives, is not “what Vermont needs at this point,” Gov. Phil Scott says.
Ukraine supporters gather at Montpelier post office
The crowd in front of the Montpelier post office is usually protesting some American government policy. Not today…..
‘Existential threat?’ Climate groups stand by NH Dems despite born-again pro-oil politics
Now that vote-hungry NH Democrats are calling for more drilling of domestic oil, Granite State climate groups are feeling left out in the cold.
Ukraine asks ICANN to delete all Russian internet domains
Deleting all Russian internet domains would significantly affect Russia’s ability to communicate online.
Water Cooler: ATV voting at Town Meeting / fed $$ to modernize dairy farms / Sarah George wants alleged killer returned to VT
Across rural Vermont, many towns decided at Town Meeting whether to allow ATVs to be driven on town highways.
Hartford CT drug dealer beat St. J host with .38 revolver, indictment claims
An alleged drug dealer from Hartford Connecticut beat the person he was staying with in St. Johnsbury, court records say.
Deer, moose management public hearing
Public hearings on all deer and moose management by Vermont Fish & Wildlife will be held later this month.
Climate plan all pain, no gain
The legislators fashioning this red-hot poker of a policy know just how painful it will be for their constituents.
Didn’t get your Vermont Daily Chronicle? Check your spam folder
Many faithful readers are distressed when Vermont Daily Chronicle doesn’t show up in their email inbox as promised. Solution: check your spam folder.
Your letters: $16K per student absurd
Letting parents choose how to spend their school taxes makes sense. And spending $16,000 per student doesn’t.
St. J shooting victim had criminal record
State police have identified the victim in Tuesday’s shooting outside of a St. Johnsbury hospital as Vincent Keithan, 44.
Grand Isle courthouse open full-time
A lack of police manpower kept the Grand Isle County Courthouse closed at least one day a week during the pandemic. It’s full-staffed now thanks to help from private contractors and sheriffs from nearby counties.
Water Cooler: Colchester OKs townwide sewer / New BHS would cost $207 million / More Town Meeting results
Town Meeting results, plus – what kind of people would leave their kid in the car while they went skiing? Not that couple in Killington, they told the judge.
Burlington OKs prostitution repeal, Progs keep Council control
Burlington voters approved removal of anti-prostitution language in the city charter, and kept the Progressives in control of the City Council.
32 towns OK retail pot stores, 7 say no
32 Vermont municipalities yesterday approved retail marijuana stores. Seven said no.
McGuinness: Levine admits adverse vax reactions. Education Secretary would ‘push the needle’ anyway
Lawmakers chuckle as Vermont’s senior education official talks about ‘pushing the needle’ to aggressively vaccinate rural Vermonters. Good one!
Nolan on Biden’s speech: “Damage already done”
by Guy Page Republican candidate for U.S. Senate and former U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan said that now that Democrat-led police defunding has ravaged communities in Vermont, it’s a little late for President […]
Meg Hansen succeeds Rob Roper as EAI president
Meg Hansen has been appointed the new president of the Ethan Allen Institute, Vermont’s free-market think-tank.
The Case for the Bible
The most bought, sold, read, distributed, studied, debated, argued, persecuted, and published book in all of human history describes how we got here and why we’re so messed up. And the Author doesn’t just leave us hanging.
ST J shooting: cops find CT vehicle, questioning occupants
Police are questioning the occupants of a silver Jeep with Connecticut license plates linked to yesterday’s shooting outside a St. Johnsbury hospital.
Dame: Dems plan tax relief for wealthy, not for nurses, seniors, and veterans
Plenty of tax relief for wealthy parents, but none for nurses, seniors and veterans – that’s the legislative majority’s plan, Paul Dame says.
Keelan: Burlington’s Hole in the Ground
Lack of an adequate policing, a gaping hole in the city, and vacating retailers have dulled the luster of Vermont’s Queen City.
Statewide prostitution repeal looms after today’s Burlington vote
Legislation pushed by Burlington lawmakers would repeal state prostitution laws, regardless of the outcome of today’s Burlington City Meeting vote.
One dead in St. J hospital parking lot shooting
A person has been found shot dead outside a St. Johnsbury hospital.
Achey: Why I voted no on the Clean Heat Standard
We soon learned we have no authority or ability to force out-of-state fuel dealers to buy Vermont credits. The only alternative was to stick a whole bunch of local mom & pop fuel dealerships with the mandate to buy credits.
Water Cooler: VT has highest % of LGBTQ / Balint changes campaign manager / Rutland rescinds mask ordinance
Masks mandates rescinded. Middlebury College suspends Russia abroad study. Becca Balint swaps campaign manager.
Bananas: Grand Opening of my new restaurant
Chek out the restroom graffiti in Johnny’s new communism-themed restaurant.
Your Letters: Climate crisis & vodka
By withdrawing support from two key pipelines, Biden assures Russia’s war-making treasury will be full to overflowing.
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