Vermonters dream big as Powerball jackpot reaches $1.7 billion; September marks Suicide Prevention Month; Orleans County Fair kicks off
VT Headlines: Loss of SNAP funding prompts closure of Northeast Kingdom food shelves
Amazon to Milton? Local officials hope so
‘Workers will most likely patronize Milton Diner, Dunkin’ Donuts, Adam’s Table, Hannaford’s and all the other wonderful places in Milton,” Steady said.
Blotter: Undercover op leads to Brattleboro drug bust
Ryan struck a woman with a can of soup and then hit her in the head with a phone, causing injuries, police say.
Vermont’s bear population estimate is above goal for fourth consecutive year
New research will explore why.
Judge drops stabbing suspect bail from $20,000 to $2000
Previous rulings by judges had kept Lackie, who has a lengthy criminal record, jailed. The stabbing victim’s wife testified she would feel unsafe if he was released.
U.S. Forest Service approves 72-miles for the Velomont Bike Trail in Vermont
Unlike a thru-hiking route, the Velomont is designed as a multi-use system with mountain biking as a central focus, weaving together public and private lands across the spine of the Green Mountains.
Soulia: Act 21, VT’s $1M medical debt jubilee
Act 21 appropriates $1 million for fiscal year 2026. That money goes from the State Treasurer to a nonprofit debt buyer, which purchases old hospital accounts for pennies on the dollar and then cancels them. Patients who qualify — Vermont residents with incomes under 400 percent of the federal poverty line (FPL), or whose debt exceeds five percent of household income (with no income limit) — get letters saying their debt has been forgiven.
Bank robber sentenced for buying guns for drug dealers in return for cocaine
18 of the firearms were handguns that Loewe provided to his drug dealer in exchange for crack cocaine.
High winds, drought spell near-critical fire risk for Thursday
The highest danger period will be from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, when winds are strongest and humidity lowest.
Scenes from Burlington Labor Day Parade
Activists for illegal immigrants and Palestine joined anti-Trumpers paraded through Burlington Monday. Photographer Troy Austin was there.
Burlington utility lost $951,000 due to REC reporting failure
The Commission’s letter observed repeated issues across various cases, impacting both BED’s role as an energy efficiency utility and a distribution utility.
Newport Elementary completes green infrastructure project to improve water quality
The project, first identified in the 2016 Memphremagog Stormwater Master Plan managed by the Memphremagog Watershed Association, is now known as the Newport City Elementary School Green Schools Initiative. It supports ongoing efforts to meet Lake Memphremagog’s Total Maximum Daily Load requirements for phosphorus reduction and the Tactical Basin Plan workplan for the watershed.
Vermont doctors declare victory in restoration of LGBTQ data
On Jan. 20, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to remove all statements that “promote or otherwise inculcate gender ideology.”
Blotter: Six arrested, 18 detained in Royalton drug raid
Cocaine, guns and suspects seized in Royalton drug raid.
Lawmakers gather across VT to speak, listen to public
Organizers say the forum is an opportunity for Vermonters to hear about plans to address affordability and other challenges facing families across the state.
VT Headlines: Man accused of chasing children with machete in Brattleboro
2 suspects plead not guilty in deadly Church Street assault; A Vermont animal sanctuary proves that roosters can live peacefully after cockfighting; Vermonters share concerns over new COVID-19 vaccine regulations
Vermont a part of labor and industry pushback against proposed home care changes
The rollbacks would undo an Obama-era change, reverting regulations to those drafted in 1975. The impact would include removing overtime protections as well as the $7.25 federal minimum wage requirement for home health workers. The agency says the move would improve costs for home health care providers and stimulate growth in the struggling industry.
GOP leaders hold legislative forum in Ludlow Thursday, September 4
The GOP leaders who held the line on property taxes and stopped the Clean Heat Standard say there’s much more to be done. They’ll dish, listen and take questions at a forum in Ludlow Thursday, 6 PM September 4.
Passenger trains to Montreal are in the works — what does it mean for Vermonters?
The biggest hurdle? Clearing passengers who board the train before they cross the border.
Klar: The skinny on whole foods
What they are, and why consumer demand is heating up.
Does Mt. Mansfield look like its namesake, or more like another famous Vermonter?
Regardless of identity, the Mountain endures.
Fireovid: SpeakVT’s checklist for the new school year
Vermont summers pass quickly, and here we are in another school year.
Church Street killers attacked the wrong person
The beating stemmed from a report – that proved false — that Kastner earlier had struck Taylor’s mother, Katie Bollman, over a $400 dispute and the Aug. 11th incident was retaliation.
One Vermonter died by overdose for every two days in 2024
DEA 2024 report shows fentanyl less ‘pure’ due to Chinese manufacturers concerns -but no less deadly.
Soulia: Dark money in Vermont: It’s not coming from AFP
The Affordable Heat Act raised costs, the PUC confirmed it, and the real outside cash is already funding Vermont’s media and advocacy landscape: they just don’t like competition.
VT Headlines: Champlain Valley high schooler starts poker club to empower girls
Northfield commemorates Labor Day with annual parade; Labor Day rally in Burlington highlights workers’ rights and political divides
Campaign for Vermont seeks answers to rising housing, school, health care costs
Non-profit seeking to grow VT’s middle class updates its research priority list for 2025.
AG Clark wins in Vermont Supreme Court against Meta’s Facebook and Instagram
It’s likely the battle isn’t over.
Roper: “People experiencing Progressive policies”
Some on the Left call for abandoning “woke” language.
Shelburne Sgt. Kapitanski to close out case
The Shelburne Police officer charged with an on-duty fatal cruiser-bicycle crash last year has apparently struck a deal with the state to resolve his reckless driving case, Vermont Superior Court records show.
Legislative wrap-up in Barre September 18
Orange and Washington County lawmakers review how the actions of the 2025 Legislature affect Vermonters’ safety and prosperity.
Two arrested for murder in Burlington’s Church Street homicide
A New York man and a South Burlington teen are being held without bail at the Vermont Department of Corrections.
Will Trump invoke Insurrection Act for Chicago?
Trump “stands ready to help and assist any community that wishes to be liberated from these criminal elements that are such a dire threat to the freedom and tranquility of the American people,” Miller said.
Eye-gouging road rage in Winooski leads to charges
Bushway told officers the pain was “a ten out of ten” before losing his vision.
Burlington gang member sentenced for shooting into crowded apartment
Abdiaziz “Drill” Abdhikadir was sentenced to 5-7 years, with credit for time served, for shooting in 2022 into an apartment occupied by the family of a man he allegedly murdered five months later.
Sheriff under investigation by State Police over spending, finances
The investigation comes — by coincidence or otherwise — as two top ranking deputies departed the sheriff’s department.
VT Headlines: Colchester man arrested following violent road rage assault
Two recovering after late-night rollover crash in Burlington; Canadian tourism falls; Vermont holds out hope for fall season
Sarah George to seek re-election in 2026
Even in cases involving repeat offenders, cash bail is often posted by non-profits, and the suspect walks free without losing their own cash, George said.
AG Clark ‘plays no role in immigration enforcement’ while issuing anti-ICE press release
Clark’s latest anti-Trump press release noted the detaining for possible deportation of illegal immigrants living in ‘the Northshire,’ an unofficial name for the Bennington County area. Press reports say that on August 25 ICE detained two Jamaican women working as home health aides and living in Manchester.
Newport man arrested for ‘credible’ bomb threat against high school
Cypher Aiken, listed as age 25 by Newport police, was charged with domestic terrorism and threatening a civilian population with mass destruction and mass killings, according to Chief Travis Bingham.
Charles F. Orvis, Vermont’s angling visionary
Vermonters have always been an innovative breed, and yet most of the Green Mountain State’s iconic manufacturers built their companies elsewhere. Henry Wells, co-founder of both American Express and Wells Fargo, left Thetford for New York, as did Elisha Graves Otis of Halifax, founder of Otis Elevator. John Deere left Rutland for Moline, Illinois. One Vermonter, however, managed to achieve iconic status without leaving his hometown of Manchester.
Vermont hesitant to remove gender ideology from federal education materials
Human Services Secretary Jenney Samuelson: “Just to put some of the facts out there, the PREP program does provide information for adolescents and youth, particularly around STI [sexually transmitted infection] HIV, prevention and prevention of unintended pregnancies. It is not a school-based program, so it is not offered in the schools.
Plans for a municipal septic system are underway in Jericho
Reliance on on-site septic and well water signifies that a place “is frozen in amber, ain’t nothing gonna happen here again, it is what it is, nothing’s gonna change,” said Chris Campany, executive director of the Windham County Regional Planning Commission.
Illegal immigrant held by feds for daylight shooting at Barnes & Noble
The shooting followed a confrontation at a Burlington bar, Red Square on Church Street, between Wilson and the victim over a mutual female friend about 2 AM that morning, the investigation revealed.
Wanted woman overdoses, crashes car
Palmer was administered Narcan and transported to Central Vermont Medical Center, where she was later released. She initially provided officers with a false name, and further investigation revealed the vehicle and license plates were stolen.
Legislature passed youth crime, anti-stalking, corpse abuse laws this year
Quick list of criminal justice laws passed by Montpelier this year.
Franklin County drug dealers face the Feds
John “Fluffy” Lapan, 41, of St. Albans appeared in U.S. District Court on Monday afternoon for a federal criminal complaint that he was involved in three controlled drug purchases in February, according to an affidavit from the St. Albans City Police.
Meanwhile, Jonathan J. Letourneau, 36, also of St. Albans is named in a separate criminal complaint for a charge of knowingly and intentionally distributing crack cocaine in Franklin County in January, records show. He is due in federal court later.
Federal funding loss leads to major cuts at Vermont Public – but organization was already in the red
According to the organization’s official announcement, the elimination of 15 positions stem directly from a $2 million shortfall caused by a recent federal rescission bill that eliminated key funding for public broadcasting.
VT Headlines: Lake Champlain water levels are down significantly amid drought
A Manchester family searches for direction after ICE raid takes one of their own; NBC5 gets a sneak peak at brand new Burlington High School campus
Letters: Democrats, act your age/ Make Sex Great Again
For all our modern focus on sex, it seems our increasingly secular world is having less of it—and it’s declining decade after decade. MSGA!
Page: AI hallucinations and digital mirages
Unpacking the hype, limitations, and the dawn of the human comeback.
Warner: A.I. equals artificial integrity and a massive cost to consumers
We are witnessing the build-up of Orwell’s Ministry of Truth in our monthly power bills, replete with hydro-electric memory holes.
VT Headlines: Amidst work stoppage, bus company brings in replacements for start of school in Windham County
Champlain Valley Fair tries for square dancing world record, hundreds dance in the rain; Lyndon Institute students to fix Miller’s Run Bridge barrier after it took a heavy hit; First Robotics Vermont recruiting elementary and middle schoolers at Champlain Valley Fair
Vermont lowest ranked state for gold-diggers
With a total score of just 4.38/10, Vermont ranks as the state least likely to be labeled a ‘gold digging’ hotspot. Despite having a relatively solid average annual income of $66,330, the state’s small population means there are only 16,000 millionaire households and no billionaires.
SHORTS: Gone Guys, Wells River water hauling, and Old Growth Forest conference
Gone Guys exposes disengagement, isolation of Vermont boys; Wells River hauling water from New Hampshire after oil spill; Old Growth Forest conference next month
Victim identified in fatal Church St., Burlington beating
Ten days after his death, Scott Kastner, 42, was identified Tuesday as the man that died following a vicious beating at Burlington City Hall Park, city police said.
19-year-old in prison faces sex assault charge as juvenile/ fatal crash
A silver ring with engravings was recovered at the scene of a Derby Line car vandalism, and police are seeking information about its owner.
Salmon’s success bodes well for Winooski River health, but flooding and federal cuts stir fear
Scientists say the fish are a reliable measure of lake and basin ecological health.
Water finds a way: Ruins of 200-year-old Cabot dam to be cleared
The Clark Sawmill Dam collapsed during the flooding that hit Vermont in 2023, punctuating years of back-and-forths about its future.
Former Chief Supreme Court justice writes true crime thriller about Clarence Darrow murder trial in VT
Nearly a century ago, America’s most famous defense attorney, Clarence Darrow, came to Vermont to fight for the life of a convicted murderer. Now, that forgotten chapter of legal history is the focus of a new book from the Vermont Historical Society.
Bean’s Creemees & Snack Shack to Host Barry T. Chouinard Memorial Labor Day Motor Show on 8/29
The Barry T. Chouinard Memorial Northfield Labor Day Motor Show is set to take place on Friday, August 29, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at 470 North Main St., Northfield, VT 05663 at Bean’s Creemees and Snack Shack!
Suggested (but not required) donation of $15 per car to be donated to the Veteran’s Place in Northfield!
Keelan: Young Marine saw racial segregation up close
Much progress has been achieved over the past six decades in addressing discrimination, but as a nation, we cannot say it is behind us.
Balint claims no corporate PAC $$, but fed records raise questions
In the first half of 2025, “Courage PAC,” linked to Balint, received thousands in donations from PACs connected to major corporations, per its latest FEC report.
VT Headlines: Haskell Free Library inspires VT play about borders and belonging in the Trump era
Grants available for child nutrition, farming education in Vermont; Old McDonald Farm offers sweet rewards for kids at the Champlain Valley Fair
Barrier stops another truck from smashing covered bridge
Perhaps no other Vermont landmark except Smugglers Notch is more prone to trucking mishaps than the Millers Run Covered Bridge in Lyndonville.
Regulator reduces proposed health insurance rates
GMCB said it ordered insurers to “lower their assumptions about hospital price increases” as part of its order. The board also is requiring hospitals to reduce their costs.
Pipe bomb suspect detained in Colchester case
Now Feds have him in custody, court says
Soulia: “Don’t get re-arrested” dropped as Condition of Release
Why it was dropped remains unanswered. But the numbers are clear: Vermont courts leaned on Condition 3 the hardest in the very year before it was eliminated, and now the one safeguard Vermonters assumed was non-negotiable is gone.
Homeless hold Burlington ransom – City must act, downtown business owner urges
The letter describes an atmosphere of declining safety for employees and patrons alike. Buttenheim said she has lost three long-term employees in the past six months, each citing the environment around City Hall Park as a reason for leaving.
Fed disaster $$ sought for July 10 flooding – third straight year
“The damage from last month’s storm impacted small towns with limited financial resources,” said Governor Phil Scott.
VT Headlines: $3 million public transit shortfall requires changes
State tourism officials hope new branding will boost tourism.
Health care of the future? Newport hospital expands telehealth
The grant will support new equipment and technology enabling patients to see doctors and specialists through telehealth. A new law requires insurers cover telemedicine.
Thayer seeks GOP party post/ finding a bear dog/ chapel restored
Thayer promised to deliver more information on his background and why he’s running in the next two months.
UVM provides free tuition to 255 VT resident freshmen
Women freshmen still outnumber men 60% – 40%, although the gap narrowed by two percent this year. Also, the old Holiday Inn site on Williston Road is now student housing.
Roper: Vermonters should help Mainers Pass Voter ID
Requiring ID to vote is one of those commonsense issues everybody (or almost everybody) agrees is a good idea. According to polling over the years, Americans consistently support voter ID laws by 70 to 80 percent or more, with majority support across the political spectrum.
Woman died of blunt force trauma to head, not gunshot
Bennington police concluded no gunfire had taken place at the hospital.
Police chief haircut video raising tempers in Woodstock
Last Woodstock chief demoted in part for his haircuts
Illegal immigrants busted in Alburgh linked to international fraud group
Drove SUV on railroad into Vermont, police say
CLG: Pentagon directs National Guard troops in D.C. to start patrolling with guns
Clinton judge blocks Trump from releasing Epstein files; FBI raids John Bolton’s home, office in probe over sending classified documents to family; EU leaders want to overthrow three European governments – Budapest
No school closing surprises, Future of Public Education panel agrees
“We need to bring in community voice early, before there is a push. Too often, boards have made a decision and then enlisted the community,” Castle said.
Man shot and killed by cops in Springfield had prior drug arrest
Police say Crary accelerated toward the officers, who were standing outside their cruisers.
Woman shot in head, left at hospital
Bennington police were notified that a woman had been dropped off at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington with a significant injuries including head injury believed to be a gunshot wound.
Scott administration prepares plan to return state employees to offices
Supporters of state employees working from home say it helps hire and retain high-skilled workers, particularly those in the IT field.
Vermont among 20 states suing Feds over Victims of Crime Act grant restrictions
The Justice Department has declared that states will not be able to access Victims of Crime Act funding unless they agree to support the administration’s immigration enforcement.
VT Headlines: 1,181-pound giant pumpkin takes the gold at Champlain Valley Fair
Milton, Vermont, native Robert Gordon takes home Thunder Road Flying Tigers Triple Crown Title; Why a new gas pipeline into New England may (or may not) lower energy bills
A nine-year-old from Ludlow bought the first share in a new ski area 70 years ago—it was named Okemo
The seeds of Okemo were planted during the Great Depression, when State Forester Perry Merrill—often called the “father of Vermont skiing”—pushed to create recreational forests.
Officer-involved shooting leaves man dead in Springfield
Valley Street is a frequent crime scene in Springfield, which in recent years has had a particularly intense drug abuse and trafficking problem.
Suspected White River Jct. murderer has lengthy drug, firearm record in Connecticut
Drew pled guilty in 2021 to a firearms charge that carried a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Gervais: Why town caucuses in Sept. matter for Vermont Republicans
The caucus is the on-ramp for participating in the Vermont Republican Party. An organized town has delegates to the county committee, and the county committee has delegates to the state committee.
Amazon driver steals leaf blower, police say
Police say the driver stole a leaf blower after delivering a package. Have you seen this Amazon driver?
Crime-ridden Burlington’s mayor blames Scott for not being ‘strong partner’
‘I think it’s easy to blame others when some of your strategies are failing,” Scott said when asked if Mulvaney-Stanak is blame-shifting.
Blotter: Dead body, injured person found after disturbance in Hartford
Police said the case began at about 3:50 a.m., when a 911 caller reported a disturbance at a home on Verna Court, off VA Cutoff Road. Responding Hartford officers found one victim deceased at the scene and a second suffering injuries described as non-life-threatening.
VT Headlines: Burlington Oktoberfest returns in a new venue after being cancelled last year due to EEE virus
Vermont man arrested in CT after reportedly fleeing after domestic dispute; UVM Men’s Soccer opens season as defending champions; students excited for team spirit
State funding helps build permanently affordable homes for refugees, asylum seekers
Downstreet Housing & Community Development and the Central Vermont Refugee Action Network (CVRAN) on Wednesday announced the opening of Randall Apartments, a newly renovated building that now provides four permanently affordable homes for New American families.
Cohen: Against all odds
Dan Cohen remembers celebrating with an unlikely Vermont governor-to-be in 1972.
Roper: If Phil Scott is pro-school choice, here’s his chance to prove it
Will he opt Vermont in to Big Beautiful Bill’s tax credit/scholarship program?
Fraud warning issued by US Marshals in Vermont
The U.S. Marshals in Vermont issued a warning Wednesday to local residents to be aware of several imposter scams involving individuals claiming to be U.S. marshals, court officers, or other law enforcement officials in an effort to try to collect a court fine.
Letter: Pastors believe revival coming
“This Friday and Saturday, Aug 22 & 23, we are stepping into a doorway that we believe will mark the future of our state and region.”
Sale of bear paws, gall bladders illegal, hunters warned
Bear gallbladders are sought by some Asians for their medicinal properties, according to a Canadian wildlife official interviewed by CBC. They create an acid beneficial to the immune system.
Scott letter to Bondi: You’re wrong, VT is not a sanctuary state
Vermont: illegal sanctuary state, or complying with federal law?
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