And as for some of the findings in this Joint Resolution, the fact that 241 of the 251 deaths due to COVID19, for which race and ethnicity are known, 96% are white, non-Hispanic people. According to the US Government Census, Vermont is 94.2% White. So it does not appear that any population disportionately has seen deaths because of systematic Racism.
Ingalls: Opioid abuse, not racism, is Vermont’s public health emergency
Vaccine passport ban introduced
A bill to ban vaccine passports has been introduced into the Vermont House of Representatives.
Scientists avoid ‘awkward’ Wuihan question
Investigative reporter Nicholas Wade claims the virology community and the mainstream media failed to raise awkward questions about the official stories of COVID’s origins.
Spiny Softshell Turtles recovering
Many anglers, boaters, and other outdoor enthusiasts along the shore of Lake Champlain in Addison County, Vermont, and elsewhere, may not be familiar with the Spiny Softshell turtle with its melodious Latin scientific name Apalone spinifera.
Angler drowns after fall into water
Vermont State Troopers received a call at 2:30 pm May 19 that a man had fallen into Otter Creek in Mt. Tabor while fishing. James Woods, 67, of Rutland was pulled from the water by a witness who observed the fall.
With Israel under rocket attack, Sanders seeks to block missile, bomb sales
With Israel under rocket attack by the Palestinian military, Sen. Bernie Sanders has introduced a resolution to block $735 million of future sales of precision-guided munitions to Israel.
Rural Vermont opioid addiction, domestic violence related
Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, Rebecca Stone began researching a pair of different epidemics plaguing rural Vermont: opioid addiction and domestic violence.
Licata: Don’t be nervous, liberals
You have been trained to like lots of spending and the coercions necessary for government dependency. From Lyndon Baines Johnson to Barrack Obama, that was the deal. At the bottom of it all is a system built on 10s of trillions of dollars of government debt and unfunded liabilities; and the deconstructionist, Marxist-laden Postmodern Critical Race Theories that permeate today’s Democrat and Progressive Party’s. You wanted to keep all the power for yourselves.
Skylark: Three things that should not be political
The 1998 book “Happiness is A Serious Problem” by Dennis Prager says we have a moral obligation to friends, coworkers, and family to maintain a happy attitude out of respect for them, even when you don’t “feel like it.”
‘Bonnie & Clyde’ cited for armed robbery
Andrew Coyle, 29, of Ferrisburgh was cited on suspicion of assault and robbery, and aggravated assault. His fiancée, Marissa Tallman, 26, also of Ferrisburgh, was cited on a count of accessory aiding in the commission of a felony.
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Wed, May 19
Don’t miss breaking news! Vermont Daily Water Cooler is a roundup of important headlines from around the state.
UFOs – three possibilities
Many are speaking out about UFO sightings for over half a century. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) inserted language in a bill recently for the classified UFO information be released by June. This may be the impetus for current revelations. It could also be the reason why retired military are also speaking out about their experiences.
Forest fire threat
Fire officials request that people be extremely careful with any outdoor fires, especially over the next several weeks as warmer and dry weather is projected in the forecast. Warm afternoon temperatures, low relative humidity, and gusty, dry winds encourage the spread of wildfire.
Cyberthieves shake down police departments
But when the hackers have struck police departments, cybersecurity experts say, they pose a particularly serious threat to public safety.
Scott signs environmental, race-related bills
Gov. Phil Scott signed legislation for clean water and racial ‘equity.’
Condos defense of S15 full of errors, Roper says
A point by point refutation of claims made by the Secretary of State regarding the content and potential impact of S.15 on Vermont elections by Rob Roper, president of the Ethan Allen Institute.
Windham NH results show voting machines can’t be trusted
I believe the preliminary results of the forensic audit of the Windham, NH voting machines as configured on November 3, 2020, show the aging Diebold ES2000 Model A Voting Machines cannot be trusted.
Essex school district won’t pursue Liz Cady ‘conflict of interest’
The Essex-Westford School District Monday night declined to pursue allegations of ‘conflict of interest’ made by two citizens against Liz Cady, who was elected to the board in March after running on a platform of school choice and inquiry about the district’s ‘racial equity’ program.
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Tue, May 18
Don’t miss breaking news! Vermont Daily Water Cooler is a roundup of important headlines from around the state.
New law opens door to legalized prostitution
A bill that opens the door to legalization of prostitution passed the Legislature this month and was signed into law by Gov. Phil Scott.
Judd wants court to preserve ballots in contested Barre election
Brian Judd, who is contesting the Barre City Council election he officially lost at City Meeting March 2, tomorrow will seek a court injunction to prevent the City from throwing out the paper ballots after the 90-day deadline expires, he said today.
Attack of the Liberal Beast
The new liberals are also gunning to cancel our First & Second Amendments. Achtung! No more gender-based toilets or nouns. Nein! True social progress demands you support transgenderism, even if California Republican Governor Hopeful, Caitlyn Jenner, knows exactly what she’s talking about.
Winooski rep wrong: white Covid death rate highest
The fact that 241 of the 251 deaths for which race and ethnicity are known (1 death has no association) are in white, non-Hispanic people does not appear to matter to many elected (and sadly public health) officials who seem to be focused only on “systemic racism” and what they declare as health care disparities in POC.
McClaughry: three lawsuits that will change Vermont education
In three lawsuits currently in process, plaintiff parents ask that public funds follow their children to the school of their choice.
NEK armed robberies connected?
Detectives with the Vermont State Police say they are working to determine whether any of the five cases of armed robberies across the Northeast Kingdom since late last year are connected.
Lewd & lascivious at swimming hole
The Vermont State Police is investigating a reported incident of lewd and lascivious conduct that occurred in the vicinity of the Bolton Potholes swimming area off the Bolton Valley Access Road on Sunday afternoon, May 16.
Scott lifts mask mandate for vaccinated people
Governor Phil Scott announced Friday that because Vermont has already hit its necessary vaccination threshold with over 60% of the population receiving at least one dose, it will move into Step 3 of the Vermont Forward Plan more than two weeks ahead of the anticipated schedule.
Justifiable homicide diluted?
Changes to state law about justifiable homicide signed into law May 13 by Gov. Phil Scott could remove legal protections from citizens defending some attack victims, critics say – including Gov. Scott himself.
See nova in the northern sky
A nova star should be visible this week in the clear night sky above Vermont and upstate New York’s North Country.
Election Integrity Forum May 18
The Chittenden County GOP will hold an Election Integrity Forum Tuesday, May 18 at 7 pm.
Arrested for illegal game, gun possession
Vermont State Game Wardens executed a search warrant in Middlebury on May 14 for evidence of turkey and deer being illegally possessed, firearms illegally possessed, and evidence of stolen property, police reports say.
Perfect Broadband the enemy of the good
s it ok that my 104 pound wife had to load me into the wheelbarrow after I had a seizure outside in the snow, to get me inside so that she could hike to the top of the neighbor’s field to call the doctor?
Cady faces ‘Conflict of Interest’ complaint tonight
The Essex Westford School District Board will hold a special meeting via Zoom on 6:30 pm Monday, May 17 to discuss a Conflict of Interest complaint brought against School Board Member Liz Cady because she questions the district’s ‘racial equity’ program.
VT Liberty: ‘What it’s like to be a cop today’
“Through my years as an officer, I have never seen any officer discriminate because of wealth, color, religion or sex. Believe me if I did, I would step in and correct it,” said a letter from a 20-year Vermont police officer. “Here is a saying that is true: no-one hates a bad cop worse than the good ones.”
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Fri, May 14
Don’t miss breaking news! Vermont Daily Water Cooler is a roundup of important headlines from around the state.
UVM students reno Kent’s Tavern
In cooperation with the Vermont Division of Historic Preservation, UVM gave a group of civil engineering students an important task to prepare renovation plan for one of Kent’s Corner buildings.
Evslin: urban Progs stop rural broadband
You’d think Progressives would be all in for a plan to use a fraction of federal Rescue funds to assure that every Vermont family regardless of income or location had a chance to get connected immediately to the broadband service they need to participate in the post-pandemic world. You’d be wrong!
Community member wanted for Burlington police chief search committee
Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger is seeking applications for a community member to serve on the search committee for a new police chief.
Middlebury College joins must-vax club
Norwich University, Bennington College, Champlain College, and St. Michaels College will require students to receive the Covid-19 vaccination as a condition of enrollment for the fall, 2021 semester.
Roll call: House won’t wait for study on secure voting
An amendment to postpone implementation of universal vote-by-mail until after a 2023 election security study was rejected by the Vermont House of Representatives May 12 by a 39-99 vote. The House went on to approve the underlying bill, S15.
State denies Memphremagog ‘lake in crisis’
Despite garnering thousands of signatures, a petition submitted to have Lake Memphremagog designated a “lake in crisis” was rejected by the Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.
Police group backs VT ‘thin gray line’
A large Massachusetts-based police labor organization stands behind the ‘thin gray line’ of the Vermont Department of Corrections.
Fireovid: veto S15, vote-by-mail bill
Do you want to give up your voting rights? No? Well then, we have ONE option left to kill this bill. We have to convince Gov. Scott to veto it, and we have to convince Republican legislators to oppose any effort by Democratic legislators to override the Governor’s veto.
Support police, VT Liberty, 802 events tomorrow at State House
The Vermont Liberty Network will gather at noon on the State House steps on May 15, and at 2 PM on May 16 at Leddy Park in Burlington, to address constitutional violations that have been committed by our government under COVID, organizer John Klar said.
China’s winning the propaganda war – and Vermont is playing along
The People’s Republic of China’s propaganda war paints the U.S. as a declining nation and blames us for starting the global Covid-19 pandemic, China policy expert Gordon Chang reports in the May 5 issue of Strategika, a Hoover Institute publication. Vermont’s elected officials in Washington and Montpelier have done little to fight either claim.
CFV: VT economic recovery needs capital, workers
Acquiring capital has always been a challenge for Vermont. We don’t have many deep-pocketed families willing to invest millions of dollars in startup ventures like the former merchant cities of Boston and New York or the gold-rich investors of northern California. Fortunately, what we do have is proximity to financial markets.
Keelan: racial progress, no thanks to CRT
Has there been progress in correcting the injustice of what took place on the shores of Virginia in 1619? Yes, but it was not accomplished by having classes on indoctrination defining Critical Race Theory. Much was accomplished through education and example.
Klar on Cady: CRT proponents oppose dissent
Cady’s case is instructive of the coercive pressure exerted by CRT radicals against those who dare question the hasty implementation of this novel, race-based “theory.”
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Wed, May 12
Don’t miss breaking news! Vermont Daily Water Cooler is a roundup of important headlines from around the state.
McClaughry: George Till, salesman for the Service Tax
I think Rep. Till would be startled to learn that quite a few of his average constituents use tax preparation services and investment advice, and almost all of them use plumbers, electricians, lawn mowers, auto mechanics, driveway plowers, computer techies, tailors, accountants, taxi drivers, lawyers, tutors, music teachers, delivery drivers, loggers, excavators, barbers, cosmetologists, manicurists, day care operators, babysitters, gravediggers, and as many as 140 more service occupations.
ACLU wants to stop Medicaid school police funding
The ACLU and the Disability Law Project of Vermont Legal Aid want the Vermont Agency of Education to stop letting school districts fund school police with Medicaid reimbursements.
Universal mailed ballot bill passes House
S15, universal mailed ballots, passed the Vermont House 119-30 Tuesday.
VT abortion amendment will tie hands of future legislatures, analyst says
Proposal 5, the proposed Vermont Constitutional amendment to establish unrestricted abortion, is meant to tie the hands of future legislatures who might want to build safeguards into Vermont abortion law.
Critical Race Theory “important aspect” at Essex schools
The Essex – Westford School District views controversial Critical Race Theory as an “important aspect” in its racial equity program, Erin Maguire, the district’s Director of Equity and Inclusion, said at a May 4 school board meeting.
Four VT colleges require student vax this fall
Norwich University, Bennington College, Champlain College, and St. Michaels College will require students to receive the Covid-19 vaccination as a condition of enrollment for the fall, 2021 semester.
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Tue, May 11
Don’t miss breaking news! Vermont Daily Water Cooler is a roundup of important headlines from around the state.
Funny money passed in Derby
Authorities are warning local businesses about counterfeit money being circulated in the Derby area.
Scott unconcerned about vax discrimination suit
Gov. Phil Scott isn’t worried about the lawsuit filed May 10 to prevent discrimination against people who decline Covid-19 vaccination.
Guv proclaims ‘Inclusion’ – but what does it mean?
Yesterday Gov. Phil Scott issued a Proclamation of Inclusion and declared May 9-15 Inclusion Week. For several years now Vermonters have been told incessantly about “Inclusion.” Now some are telling Gov. Scott and the Legislature, ‘you keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
Editor: Sanders practices thrift on national defense
Sen. Bernie Sanders – born-again budget hawk – has announced the Senate Budget Committee will hold a hearing tomorrow on “Waste, Fraud, Cost Overruns, and Auditing at the Pentagon.”
Roper: Climate Council wants “buttload” more pay
The Vermont Climate Council, the 23-member climate change task force whose numbers have swollen with the incorporation of a multitude of outside subcommittee members, want more money for themselves in their efforts to make your life less affordable.
Paycheck protection tax dead
The Vermont Senate Finance Committee included language repealing a provision of a law passed earlier this session that would have subjected forgiven 2021 PPP-Paycheck Protection Program loans to Vermont income tax.
Burlington mandates rental housing weatherization
The Burlington City Council last night ruled last night that all rental housing must meet “stringent” weatherization standards.
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Mon, May 10
Don’t miss breaking news! Vermont Daily Water Cooler is a roundup of important headlines from around the state.
Senator protests Corrections ban on ‘thin gray line’ flag
A Vermont state senator objects to a recent Vermont Dept. of Corrections ban on the ‘thin gray line’ flag meant to show support for corrections officers.
Scott admin would spend $200 mil on carbon reduction
Vermont will receive $1 billion through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This funding presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immediately accelerate “no regrets” climate action work. Governor Scott’s proposed ARPA budget calls for $200 millionover three years to facilitate direct, strategic, and measurable emissions reductions.
Why turtles cross the road
Vermont’s turtles will be on the move this spring, and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking for the public’s help in keeping them safe. Female turtles will be looking for places to deposit their eggs, sometimes choosing to lay them along the shoulders of roads, which can bring them into the path of motor vehicles.
Gassetts: Non-citizen, 16-year-old voting bills violate Constitution
Some of our present Vermont lawmakers have proposed and voted on two bills that will change the Vermont State Constitution. Rather than following the lawful process laid out to amend the State Constitution, they are flagrantly usurping The people of Vermont, those they are elected to represent.
802 Freedom to hold picnic May 15
Saturday, May. 15 at 2:30 pm 802 Freedom will be hosting an event at the Vermont State House in Montpelier.
Fireovid: Petition opposes 16-year-old vote
You likely know that the Vermont House passed a bill (H.361) to allow 16-year-olds in Brattleboro to vote in municipal elections and to serve on town boards. Crazy?
Riley Allen named to energy court
Governor Phil Scott has appointed Riley Allen of Montpelier to serve as a member of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
Frenier: Pandemic exposes need for school choice
The forced remote learning fiasco imposed on Vermont public school students this past year highlighted the lack of common benefits available from the state’s education system.
House Committee relieves employers of heavy UI burden
Removing 2020 from calculation of the Unemployment Insurance fund will help to hold employers harmless from certain costs related to the pandemic and government-mandated shutdowns, while also ensuring the unemployment trust fund remains solvent and UI claimants are not negatively impacted.
Mother was not perfect
This is the first year in my adult life that I won’t be faced with a difficult, heartbreaking choice: picking out the perfect Mother’s Day card for my not-so-perfect mother.
Mazur: do BLM supporters know?
Liberals and Progressives herald Black Lives Matter (BLM) with signature flags and lawn signs. How many really know their ideology and how it’s deluding a whole generation?
Drive-through diplomas again this year in Charlotte
Not everyone’s happy with Charlotte Central School holding drive-through graduation ceremonies – again.
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Fri, May 07
Don’t miss breaking news! Vermont Daily Water Cooler is a roundup of important headlines from around the state.
China biggest exporter of fentanyl, killer of 130 Vermonters in 2020
China – once the victim of foreign powers exporting opium – is now the biggest exporter of fentanyl, the synthetic opiate that killed about 130 Vermonters in 2020.
Vax discrimination suit goes to court May 10
On March 2, Jim Hogue of Calais, Emily Peyton of Putney, Karen Eddings, Morningstar Porta, Kathleen Tarrant, and Deborah Dailey filed for an immediate emergency injunction in US Federal Court against Gov. Phil Scott, Attorney General TJ Donovan, and Health Commissioner Mark Levine “to halt orders, rules and enforcement regarding the lifting of quarantine solely for those who vaccinate” and other measures.
2021 lawmakers claim $653,184 in at-home expenses
A $75/day home expense benefit created for the 2021 Zoom Legislature has resulted in $653,184 of claims through May 4, state officials say.
Shepard: RINOs for Biden – are you happy now?
I think it is time to check in with a few of those RINOs. We need to ask folks like Mitt Romney, Governors and former Governors Charlie Baker, Larry Hogan, Phil Scott, John Kasich, Rick Snyder and others, like John Bolton, Jeb and George W. Bush, Carly Fiorina, Jeff Flake, Colin Powell and Cindy McCain if President Biden has been their kind of Republican.
Legislature OKS minority student suspension task force, migrant child Medicaid
The Vermont House yesterday passed S16, creation of the Task Force on School Exclusionary Discipline Reform. The goal of the task force is to reduce minority suspensions and expulsions from Vermont schools.
Police still seek cause of Williamstown church fire
State police now know where it started, but they still don’t know what started the fire that destroyed a 250-year-old Williamstown church.
Richford man charged with hate crime after truck attack
A Richford man is facing charges including attempted murder with a hate-crime enhancement following an incident that occurred Wednesday morning, May 5, outside a private residence in town.
State protection of sex orientation/identity must continue, Scott says
“There is still more work to do to ensure all Vermonters, regardless of identity, feel safe and protected in our state,” Gov. Phil Scott said after signing the ‘gay panic defense’ bill.
Three Vermonters play for Lake Monsters
As the Vermont Lake Monsters inaugural Futures Collegiate Baseball League season quickly approaches, the former Minor League New York–Penn League team’s roster is beginning to take shape and the team posted its first three players all with Vermont connections: pitchers Leif Bigelow of Guilford, Owen Kellington of Plainsfield, and Middlebury’s Evan Stewart.
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Wed, May 05
Don’t miss breaking news! Vermont Daily Water Cooler is a roundup of important headlines from around the state.
Election Integrity Forum May 18
The Chittenden County GOP will hold an Election Integrity Forum Tuesday, May 18 at 7 pm.
Bill would let candidates draw campaign salary
H363, a bill introduced into the Vermont House on Feb. 26, would “permit a candidate for statewide office to receive a salary from the candidate’s campaign funds.”
Police: father murders daughter
State Police say James Perry Jr., age 70, of Newbury, shot and killed his daughter Karina Rheaume, 38, of Newbury Monday afternoon, May 3.
Spearing and shooting fish a South Hero spring ritual
Islanders have been catching fish with spears and guns since those tools have been around. And while that may sound unorthodox to some, learning about these fishing techniques and the techniques used around them is quite intriguing.
Man falls 150 feet down mine shaft
CORINTH–A man who fell approximately 150 feet down a mine shaft on Saturday night was injured and taken to the hospital after emergency responders performed a technical nighttime rescue.
Would-be kidnappers of 13-year-old girl sought
At about 4:15 p.m. May 1, near the intersection of West Main Street and Canal Street in Vergennes, two unidentified males in a vehicle tried to abduct a 13-year-old girl as she was walking home.
Vermont Daily Water Cooler for Tue, May 04
Don’t miss breaking news! Vermont Daily Water Cooler is a roundup of important headlines from around the state.
How did YOUR representative vote on 16-year-old voting in Brattleboro?
H.361 would the Brattleboro charter to allow 16-17 years olds (and 15 years olds if they will turn 16 by election day) to vote in municipal elections and serve on town boards, such as the select board, according to an Ethan Allen Institute analysis.
Page: Uppity women speak out!
None of this cliquey high school drama stuff mattered to Lefebvre, who saw Vermont electoral integrity at stake and realized that she was elected for such as time as this. Worn out by her insistence, and desperately seeking a unanimous vote, Hanzas blinked first.
Explanation of “no significant abnormalities” in VT election audit
Secretary of State’s Office: “This audit, like those before it, shows clearly that there is no underlying manipulation of the programming or systemic inaccuracy in the tabulators. They were, again, shown to be extremely accurate when the ballot is properly marked by the voters.”
Lawmakers don’t trust towns with TIF
Last week, the Vermont House killed the project-based “Tax Incremental Funding” (TIF), a funding source for small towns.
Worker shortage due to pandemic, pot, depopulation
Everyone thought Vermonters would flock to these relatively high-paying, benefits-producing jobs. Compared to the long, irregular hours and low pay of farm labor and the service industry, these jobs were gold. But now, some employers who invested millions in Franklin County operations are looking elsewhere. There just aren’t enough workers.
Border Patrol reported forest fire approaching Franklin County
U.S. Border Patrol agents in mid-April reported a large forest fire in Canada rapidly moving towards the town of Franklin, VT.









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