Blaise in trouble again for drugs

Thomas “T.J.” Blaise, 44, was found with nearly one pound of cocaine following a motor vehicle stop by Vergennes City Police on Tuesday night, records show.  A digital scale was found under the driver’s seat, along with a large amount of currency loose inside a bag and more concealed in a sock, HSI said.

Death penalty for NEK Border Patrol case

One new count charges Youngblut “with malice aforethought, unlawfully killed” Maland by shooting him while he was engaged in the performance of his duties. The second new charge maintains Youngblut carried a firearm during a crime of violence – the murder alleged in count one of the new indictments. She used a Glock model 23 .40-caliber pistol, the indictment said. One of the previous charges has been amended to say that Youngblut actually shot at two Border Patrol Agents that were with Maland.  The new indictment identified them only by the initials “J.M” and “D.W.”

Soulia: Estimating VT’s real-feel tax burden

On paper, Vermont’s tax burden appears moderate: according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), the combined state and local tax burden ranges from 6.3% for the wealthiest households to 10.6% for the lowest-income earners. But when actual Vermonters break down their paychecks and monthly bills, the numbers often feel much higher—sometimes pushing into the 30–40% range before factoring in basic living costs like housing, fuel, and food.

Schools should share services, not consolidate, advocate says

Since 2010 Vermont has consolidated from 271 school districts down to the current 119. Act 73 contemplates further consolidation down to 10-20 regional school boards. At the same time, spending has accelerated to the point that Vermont now spends 79% more than the national average and outcomes have been declining since this latest consolidation effort. Yet Vermont students now rank below average for performance.