Headlines from Vermont media.
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Mon, Feb 07
Homeschooling up 50%, public school choice in limbo
Home schooling is up 50% over pre-pandemic levels, and true school choice is down – as shown by the Agency of Education is fighting the dissolution of unified school districts.
MUST-READ! Krauss: Young soldiers and the false narrative of racial division
MUST READ: A flight to an Army graduation ceremony shows the author that America’s ‘terrible racial divide’ is a false narrative.
“No one deserves what Covid does” – Dartmouth ICU chief promises equal care
The ICU director at a New Hampshire hospital promises the best of care for Covid-19 patients – vaccinated or not.
UVM abandons Classics majors, adds School of the Arts
UVM Board of Trustees voted to establish a School of the Arts, eliminate majors in Greek and Latin, and combine physical science and human behavior in Earth Sciences.
Second fatal shooting last week also a young Massachusetts man
Two Massachusetts men died last week in Vermont of gunshots to the torso. State police see no link at present.
Benning: has public vitriol “crossed a line,” making new law necessary?
A Caledonia County Republican wonders if the current level of vitriol justifies passing a new law protecting public officials and employees from threats.
Green lobby targets Act 250 housing loophole
Most of the new housing built without stifling Act 250 review were tiny projects of just a handful of homes. Now an influential slow-growth lobby is criticizing that loophole.
Jeffries: The voice of his generation
It’s all a matter of perspective.
And because it’s Friday….
Because Bernie’s in it. Because it’s Friday. Five Times August updates an old 60’s protest song with “The Anti-Fascist Blues.”
Farm animals suffer barn fires, neglect
Winter can be tough on Vermont farm animals.
Water Cooler: Animal welfare bills / teacher sex assault of student / Toll to run for Lt. Governor /
The former chair of House Appropriations and sister of Sen. Jane Kitchell has thrown her hat into the ring for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.
Lawmaker asks if Prop 5 gives men equal right to stop abortion. No answer
A recent exchange between a Vermont lawmaker and an ACLU lawyer suggests that if Prop 5 is approved, men may be allowed to sue on a case-by-case basis to keep their unborn child alive.
Rich: send freedom-threatening legislators to prison, instead
A new Senate bill would intimidate Vermonters from expressing their views to their ‘public servants.’ How about prison for freedom-infringing lawmakers?
National debt tops $30 trillion as Biden continues borrowing and printing
Americans will be saddled with national debt of $30 trillion (and growing) for decades to come. ‘Long Covid’ indeed.
12 countries roll back all Covid restrictions/ Army to kick out those who refuse Covid shot/ Phil sees his shadow
All over Europe, the lights of health care freedom are coming back on.
Coyote, leghold, governance bills meant to disrupt and reduce hunting, VT Traditions says
A supporter of three hunting & trapping bills up for public hearing next week says Vermonters are moving beyond a ‘dominance mindset.’ A critic says the bills would disrupt and reduce hunting.
Scott supports re-opening prisons to family, recovery, church volunteer visits
Gov. Phil Scott says he wants prison inmates to enjoy visits from family and other visitors for the first time since the early days of the pandemic. But will his administrators in the Dept. of Corrections agree?
Swanton shooting victim was Massachusetts gang member
A 22-year-old Haverhill, MA man found shot to death in Swanton was a longtime gang member, according to his hometown newpaper.
Roper: Why all single-member legislative districts?
Single-member legislative districts best promote the representation of the voter by the elected lawmaker.
Scott: eliminate military retirement pay tax
Gov. Phil Scott and a bipartisan group of lawmakers want to eliminate the income tax on military retirement pay. Will their support be enough?
Water Cooler: Medical delay report delayed by Omicron / Cameras monitor highways for road safety / Foggy memory afflicts Covid sufferers
That report promised on how Covid-19 delayed much-needed medical attention? Delayed by Omicron.
Coming to post office near you…..
Vermont Daily Chronicle political cartoonist Dan Jeffries imagines a Wanted poster. Meanwhile, the Vermont Senate is considering a bill giving up to five years in jail for threatening (among others) school boards and other government officials.
Senate bill: up to 5 years in prison for threats to public officials
A Senate committee is taking a long look at a bill to expand criminal penalties to Vermonters who threaten school boards and other government officials. The ACLU says it could chill political speech.
Hartford CT drug dealer sentenced / MA man dies suspicious death in Swanton / Thieves stole Escalade catalytic converters
VT Crime update: catalytic converter thieves, Bay State man found dead in Swanton, (another) Hartford CT drug dealer busted.
Moore: Coming in from the left
A traditional Vermont liberal finds herself suddenly agreeing with people from the “other” side.
Rape culture at UVM
A social media site dedicated to exposing rape culture at UVM lists 340 reports of sexual assault.
Delta six times more viral load than Alpha: UVM study
UVM researchers found the deadly Delta variant has six times the ‘viral load’ of the original Alpha Covid-19 variant.
Burned out from lingering pandemic, frontline workers find faith an antidote
Frontline workers cope with panic attacks and compassion fatigue with faith, rest, and connections.
Correction: Prop 5 goes to House vote Tuesday
The Vermont House on Tuesday will vote on a constitutional amendment to enshrine unrestricted abortion.
Water withdrawal registry bill passes house
A bill to create a registry for anyone withdrawing 5000 gallons a water of day from Vermont surface waters has passed the House. The Senate’s been busy, too.
Water Cooler: Renters forced out / Burlington mayor hopes voters resolve police chief standoff / debt $30 trillion
Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger thinks – or at least hopes – city voters will toss out a few ‘soft on crime’ city councilors in March.
Small explains birth certificate gender change bill
A Winooski lawmaker who identifies as transgender explains getting into politics and the bill to changing gender ID on birth certificates.
Out-of-state nurses no longer face red tape to work here
Vermont has joined the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows nurses from out of state to practice in Vermont without additional licensing.
Bow-hunting beauty queen, former clean water lawmaker named to VT Fish & Wildlife Board
A lawmaker known for preserving water quality and a bow-hunting former Miss Vermont have been named to represent their counties on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board.
Thayer: Hard look at the Vermont House and Senate
The Vermont House and Senate continue to pile laws upon the people, resulting in inflated government and massive overreach.
Keelan: Nonprofits control taxpayer money, without much oversight
Vermont’s nonprofit sector is bigger than manufacturing, construction and tourism. For which it can thank the taxpayers.
Bananas: Master Class on How to New World Order When You’re Old
Resistance is futile! Get on board with the New World Order, says Johnny Bananas. It’ll be grand.
Teen arrested for threatening high school / Suspicious Swanton death / 120 MPH chase, crash
A Stannard teen is under arrest for making social media threats against Lamoille Union High School.
Scott leans toward gun bill veto
Gov. Phil Scott today signaled he would likely veto S30, which restricts gun rights.
Baby Turtle Time: Bills advance in committee
Like baby turtles marching to the sea, bills introduced into the Vermont Legislature have a poor survival rate. This week, several bills took steps to becoming law.
Water Cooler: Montpelier gets down ‘n dirty with ‘garbage juice,’ composting human remains / Welch, Gray lead in fundraising
Vermont lawmakers sure do talk about gross stuff sometimes.
Prog bill wants transgender therapy without parental consent
A bill sponsored by two Progressives would allow minors to seek transgender therapy without parental consent.
Dame: Dems pulling fast one on redistricting
House Dems are lining up testimony for town feedback on redistricting weeks before many town boards even have a chance to meet. Due diligence, or rush job?
Covid ‘real numbers’ higher among fully-vaxxed; Covid rate higher among ‘partially unvaxxed’
VT Stands Up breaks down Vermont’s Covid data. It urges more State transparency about the supposed
‘pandemic of the unvaccinated.’
Out-of-state drug dealer, stolen van driver busted after getting stuck on wintry rural road: police
A stolen, out-of-state UHaul was stuck on a rural Putney road Saturday night. Both driver and passenger were ushered out of the cold and into custody.
Evslin: Biden hiked price of oil, now Russia rolling in dough
The Biden administration quickly made oil and natural gas more expensive. Now war-mongering Russia is reaping the profits. Good job, Joe!
Trudeau hides from truckers, cites Covid / Illegal immigrants flown into NYC under cover of darkness / “I will die free”
Double vaccinated and boosted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tests positive for Covid. goes into hiding after massive trucker convoy and protestors arrived in Ottawa.
Burlington City Council refuses to confirm police chief
The Progs on the Burlington City Council wanted more control over discipline of police officers. Mayor Weinberger wouldn’t give it to them. So they scotched his popular pick for police chief.
House vote on Prop 5 as soon as Friday
The House could vote on Prop 5 as soon as Friday, ending the legislative process of efforts to enshrine unrestricted abortion in the State Constitution. The governor has no veto powers, but the voters do – and they exercised them as recently as 1986.
Bill bans tracking coyotes with dogs
A bill sponsored by the entire Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee would prohibit tracking coyotes with dogs.
Wolcott man sent to prison for Jan. 6 Capitol breach
Nicholas Languerand, living in Wolcott at the time of the Capitol breach, was sentenced in federal court to 44 months in prison for assaulting law enforcement.
Water Cooler: IT woes hold up help for low-income families / VT schools to get 100K N95 masks / Arts groups score big pandemic funding / It’s raining iguanas in Florida
The State of Vermont’s IT system is getting the blame (again) for sloooow delivery of money promised to needy families.
Prison guards, inmates suffering: UVM study
Volunteer groups want to help reduce the mental and emotional health crisis now plaguing the state’s prisons.
Student mental health crisis overwhelms schools, superintendent says
The growing amount, magnitude and complexity of student violence, vandalism, and sexualized and suicidal behaviors are overwhelming public schools.
Licata: No mas to ‘Critical Social Justice’
Liberalism is at risk of being replaces by this new illiberal era, in which there is an increasingly authoritarian definition of social justice.
Hansen: Mass delusion fuels data, policy disconnect
How does the ‘mass formation’ delusion affect Vermont? Med school grad and health care policy expert Meg Hansen discusses.
Fatal crash in Elmore / Barre drug, gun bust
An Elmore man died in a one-car crash Friday.
Many young Vermonters unaware of Holocaust
Almost half of young Vermonters know little about the Holocaust.
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Murad named Burlington Police Chief
Acting Chief Jon Murad is now the permanent Burlington Police Chief.
Menards retiring from New Beginnings
A celebration of 25 years of ministry by Rick and Carmen Menard of St. Johnsbury will be held Sunday 3-5 pm at Union Baptist Church in Waterford.
Gun bill passes House; guv veto unclear
S30, restricting the carrying and purchasing of firearms, passed the Vermont House today. A veto is possible.
Water Cooler: permanent solutions for homeless / Long-term care staffing shortage urgent / Bald eagle slams into window
Today’s hottest news from Vermont media.
‘Hero To Zero’ describes treatment of unvaxxed hospital employee
An unvaccinated hospital employee says she has been discriminated against and shamed.
Bucchieri: Prop 5 puts teeth in MEN’S reproductive rights
Some day a court may use Prop 5 to decide that making a man pay child support for a baby he wanted the mother to abort violates his ‘personal reproductive autonomy.’
Quebec bans unvaxxed from major retailers
Quebec has officially banned unvaccinated individuals over 12 from shopping at big box stores unless they are accompanied by a “health warden.”
Power experts discuss $2.2 billion grid upgrade, planned blackouts
Vermont power grid officials hope federal $$ will cover the proposed $2.2 billion upgrade. And they’re prepping for possible – they say very unlikely – planned blackouts.
Yacovone: If only there were a bill to help the lost souls
A veteran Vermont legislator and public servant regrets that there are human problems that legislation just cannot solve.
Fatal crash in Sheldon
A 34-year-old Sheldon man died in a crash yesterday. It happened right in front of an ambulance.
Master Class: How to Karen Like A Boss
Taking your Miss Bossy Pants game to the next level.
Some Vermont fire and rescue budgets, for your reading pleasure
Town spending on fire departments varies widely.
Slavery reparations, Abenaki land bills advance to committee discussion
Bills promoting slavery reparations and Abenaki land access and ownership will be reviewed this week by a Vermont House committee.
VT cannabis regulators reject doctors’ plea to reduce THC level
The state regulators of Vermont’s new cannabis industry won’t reduce the legal amount of THC – even though Vermont’s doctors say it is sending people to ERs with severe mental and physical problems.
News item: solons ponder mascot mandate
The Vermont Senate has tacitly decided there will be no mask mandate. But it might pass a school mascot mandate.
Burlington hires new police chief
Burlington hires new police chief – to be announced this afternoon.
Arnn: The Way Out
by Dr. Larry Arnn Here are two questions pertinent to our times: (1) How would you reduce the greatest free republic in history to despotism in a short time? and (2) How […]
Virginia man wins lifetime VT hunting, fishing license
A Virginia man won the annual lottery for a Vermont lifetime hunting and fishing license.
Dame: While Dems control State House, real school choice only for the wealthy
As long as Democrats have control of the State House, they will never give school choice to anyone but the wealthiest Vermonters.
Low turnout at ‘hybrid’ abortion amendment hearing
It was a small, comparatively laid-back crowd in the Vermont State House last night – for a public hearing on abortion.
VT hospital ICU doctor vents against vax refusers
The chief of critical care in Vermont’s largest hospital took to Instagram to express frustration with “entitled and privileged” vaccine refusers who expect life-saving care in the ICU.
Mascot wars move to Vermont Legislature
It was okay when the Rutland School Board abandoned ‘Red Raiders’ for ‘Ravens.’ But when it went back to ‘Red Raiders,’ the culture referees in the Vermont Legislature cried foul.
Water Cooler: another Cochran at the Olympics / Kidney donor needed / Queen City prostitution hearing / Farm supply chain woes
The fabled Cochran family is sending yet another generation to the Olympics in pursuit of skiing gold.
McGuinness: We must demand transparent Covid data
If Vermont hospitals collect vaccination data on patients, why can’t the Vermont Dept. of Health tell us how many Covid-19 deaths were unvaccinated?
Mazur: Hoovervilles and Bidenburgs
Similarities between Hoover and Biden increase as the U.S. descends from prosperity into – whatever awaits.
Late on the mortgage? State offers $30K of pandemic money
Federal ARPA $$ will provide grants of up to $30,000 per Vermont household towards overdue mortgage payments, utility bills, property taxes, and property association charges.
Backpedaling fast: OSHA withdraws vaccine and testing mandate
Another blow to the Biden administration as OSHA backpedals on its vaccine and testing mandate.
Home schoolers, school choice backers invited to free luncheon in Montpelier Thursday
Home schoolers and school choice supporters are invited to a free luncheon at Capitol Plaza in Montpelier tomorrow.
Fernandez: FBI foolery over synagogue kidnapping recalls Burlington B/D/S effort
Discussing the ludicrous statement from the FBI that the Texas synagogue hostage situation was not “related to the Jewish community.”
Despite NRA warning, gun bill advances to House floor
S30, which the NRA says infringes on constitutional rights to buy and carry firearms, has cleared a Vermont House committee and now goes to the full House.
Survey: VT state employee happiness, morale dropping
Morale and job satisfaction among Vermont state employees are dropping, according to a state survey.
Omicron on the wane, VT officials say
Total cases, ICU hospitalizations, and deaths from the Omicron variant are trending down.
Water Cooler: Two dozen VT-connected Olympians / Death at a gas station / Man accused in shooting death released to parents
Vermont will be well-represented in the winter Olympics in China.
New bill: multi-lingual state government
A new bill would require state agencies serving “substantial” numbers of non-English speakers to provide translated documents and interpreters.
Editorial: Prop 5 and our listening Legislature
Prop 5 will be decided by voters on November 8, not by a masked, Zoomed House committee tomorrow night.
McClaughry: Gov. Scott’s Diamond Mine
Phil Scott has hit the mother lode: vast amounts of federal dollars borrowed, at interest, from current and future taxpayers of our great Republic.
Scott appoints MVU hoop coach to Swanton House seat
Governor Scott has appointed of Matthew Walker to fill the Swanton-Highgate House seat vacated by Rep. Brian Savage.
Nurse haunted by instruction to treat late-term abortion survivor ‘like a specimen’
A retired surgical nurse details a horrific experience in California 48 years ago of being handed a breathing survivor of a late-term abortion – and then being told to ‘treat it like a specimen.’
Pension deal reduces liability; Senate considers tax on services
A Senate committee is considering taxing professional services.
Attempted murder suspect from Barton busted driving stolen Mercedes
A teenager from Barton caught by Connecticut police in a stolen Mercedes will be returned to Vermont to answer an attempted murder charge.
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