Bernie Sanders condemns the assassination of Charlie Kirk

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“Freedom and democracy are not about political violence,” said Sanders. “It is not about assassinating public officials. It is not about trying to intimidate people who speak out on an issue. Political violence, in fact, is political cowardice. It means that you cannot convince people of the correctness of your ideas, and you have to impose them through force. Every American, no matter what one’s political point of view may be, must condemn all forms of political violence and all forms of intimidation.”

FYIVT: Do voter ID laws suppress or protect?

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Trump’s proposed executive order has stirred a partisan storm. But step back from the slogans, and the evidence points to a simpler truth: voter ID laws may impose a minor hurdle for some, but they have not prevented record participation. Instead, they may serve a larger purpose—ensuring that every legitimate voter’s choice is protected, and that lawful ballots are not canceled out by unlawful or invalid ones.

Soulia: Why Peter Welch’s lightning analogy fails on voter fraud

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When Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) defended voting access on social media, he leaned on a familiar line: “More Americans are struck by lightning every year than commit voter fraud.” It’s a catchy sound bite. It suggests fraud is so rare that worrying about it is like worrying about unicorns. But what happens if we pull the numbers apart and look not just at perpetrators, but at victims?

Air National Guard base open house Sunday, September 7

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Attendees can expect an F-35 flyby, working dog demonstration, military band performances, Norwich Silent Drill Team, a “jaws of life” demonstration and guided access to aircraft and vehicles, plus opportunities to meet the pilots, mechanics, medics, engineers, and other professionals who serve in the Vermont National Guard.

Gov names former ICE public defender as state’s attorney

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Claire Burns was recommended to the Governor by the Caledonia County Republican Committee. Burns has worked in public defenders’ offices in Colorado and California, representing individuals at all stages of criminal proceedings, including those facing deportation at the Aurora ICE Processing Center, as well as at a juvenile detention center in Colorado, providing group and individual therapy.

Soulia: Act 21, VT’s $1M medical debt jubilee

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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.

Newport Elementary completes green infrastructure project to improve water quality

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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.

Commentary »

Sciortino: We need more classroom instruction time!

Herron: Decoding the Declaration’s rights before modern dictionaries watered them down

Roper: The VT Left would rather make a statement than a difference

Vermont, who is thy neighbor?

Ellis: Bernie Sanders, an origin story

Dame: Property tax revolt didn’t fade. It got focused.

Roper: Nothing’s funnier than politicians discussing ethics legislation

Swenson: Vermont’s fiscal reckoning is already here

Page: Burlington’s new Sanctuary District?

Keelan: Why I would not build residential rental housing