Also part of the early morning raid at the mobile home on West Hill Road were officers from Randolph and Burlington Police.
Williamstown postmaster charged for child porn
Burlington goes dark: Latest police news release lacking basic info
It is unclear why the press release is missing the standard information for a somewhat routine case. Is it due to poor drafting by BPD’s Public Information Officer? Or was the news release slashed by the red editing pen wielded by the Mayor?
Sex offender pleads innocent to numerous sexual assaults
Police arrested Rau on January 8 on two counts of aggravated sexual assault, voyeurism, soliciting prostitution, providing alcohol to a minor, and more.
Balint voted to not deport violent felons
51 Democrats joined Republicans in voting to protect their constituents. But Becca Balint stood with 158 Democrats who voted “nay.”
Vermont AG joins others questioning Walmart’s retreat from DEI
AGs from California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island also co-signed the sternly-worded letter.
Donkeys run loose in Montpelier
Market 32 crash caper culprit caught. And a Windham County woman arrested for failing to secure toddler in car seat.
Bananas: In LA, big win for equity hiring
The shocking news of yet another fire in California has been overshadowing the Cinderella story of the City of Angels slowly turning into the Isle of Lesbos.
COVID mask criminal case dismissed
One man, until Jan. 9, was still facing prosecution by the state for an alleged violation of the controversial COVID-era masking policy.
CLG: CA hasn’t requested help from Pentagon to fight fires
LA’s water chief ‘was aware of empty reservoir and broken fire hydrants months before fires’; California leads country in human bird flu with nearly 40 cases
Woolf: More people leaving Vermont than moving in
A thriving, prosperous state is a goal that all Vermonters can agree to. That goal is easier to achieve with a growing population. We don’t have that.
Police seek overdue hiker on Mount Pisgah
Vermont State Police are searching for a Craftsbury woman, Sue Mi Ko, 51, who failed to return from hiking in the Mount Pisgah area Thursday evening.
Soulia: Should Vermont consider a Stand Your Ground law?
In much of the world, and many states across the U.S., self-defense is seen as a fundamental right. In Vermont it’s…complicated.
Bryce: LA asleep at the switch
The LA Dept. of Water and Power aggressively touts sustainability, solar, EVs, hydrogen, and its pursuit of “100% clean power.” Did it ignore wildfire risk?
VT Headlines: Airport evacuated after alarm
Volunteers from a venerable social club deliver 25,000 meals.
New leader, new look for pivotal Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee
Teacher, Army officer, Emerge Vermont director, Navy pilot, and Lincoln homestead director comprise the backgrounds of members of a key Senate committee.
Harrison: We took a wrong turn. Now we’re getting back on course
The new Republican vice-chair of the budget-building House Appropriations Committee quotes Gov. Phil Scott: “We’re not here to worry about egos. We’re here to do what Vermonters need.”
Rape, stalking suspect on the lam
Wanted on six felony charges stemming from a December rape.
Friday at Four: our news staff talks up Legislature Week #1, Burlington mayor gag order on cops
Week #1 in the Legislature. Progressive mayor issues gag order on her cops. What the LA fires mean to Vermont. Please share on your social media.
BREAKING: Burlington Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak may speak – to some – media today on her gag order
Vermont News First was among those left off the invitation list.
LG’s office wall won’t have transgender book ban poster, but ‘somethin’ dead is going up on that wall’
After presiding over the Governor’s swearing-in as well as the Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Attorney General, Rodgers remarked that “I haven’t heard this much swearin’ since I was back on the farm.”
Vermont rated one of the best states to raise a family in
The report ranked each state in affordability, safety, education, pediatric health care and quality of life. The combined metrics determined states’ rankings.
Rodgers on “a clear path to the next level” as supporters celebrate new lieutenant governor
“It makes it so the Democrats have to negotiate,” Rodgers said to VDC shortly after entering his new office.
GOP senators chair three committees, VC five others
If the Legislature can be likened to high school (and it can), then committee chairs are the Big Men on Campus, setting the agenda and tone for the rest of the ‘student body.’
Roper: House Democrats circling wagons around Clean Heat Standard
Clean Heat Standard repeal kicked over to Committee controlled by those who made it law in the first place.
Bartley: Balancing reform, affordability, and Vermont’s future
It’s clear: Vermonters are calling for thoughtful reforms to keep our state affordable, functional, and equitable for all residents.
CLG: Biden approves $500M in military aid for Ukraine as Los Angeles burns
Supreme Court denies Trump attempt to stop sentencing in New York v. Trump; LA Mayor Karen Bass’s galling response to wildfires after cutting just 17.6M from FD
Duffy blocks public release of report about Woodstock Police Chief
Woodstock residents are not being permitted to read the investigative report they are paying for concerning management concerns within the village PD.
Rowell: Burlington mayor’s “dictatorial inclinations on full display”
Burlington resident to mayor: “This is how you mark Law Enforcement Appreciation Day?”
Locking people up will cost taxpayers lots of $$, Corrections committee chair warns
A brief introduction to the members of the 2025-2026 House Corrections and Institutions Committee
VT Headlines: School bus stuckage on Rt. 117
Vermont man recalls Carter visit. Rhodes Scholar headed to Oxford from Vermont.
Burlington mayor imposes gag order on police
Burlington’s Progressive mayor censors police statements about arrests.
Balsamic: New “Keep Off My Lawn Theory” explains natural disasters
A groundbreaking new climate theory has taken the scientific community by storm, suggesting that recent extreme weather events are simply the result of a divine entity telling humanity to “get off His lawn.”
Lawmakers OK tougher rules for off-duty police conduct
Vermont’s state tax burden is already the third-highest in the nation, according to a U.S. Census graph. The #1 state, North Dakota, taxes fracked gas extracted from the earth. “We don’t produce enough maple syrup to make much of a difference,” one State House pro-business lobbyist quipped.
Sarah George: double standard on public statements?
George’s statement calling the November 25, 2023 shooting of three Palestinian men in Burlington a ‘hateful act’ may have violated Vermont’s code of conduct for prosecutors.
GOP House reps named to chair or vice-chair 11 committees
House Republicans will have an enhanced leadership role in legislation about education, taxation, spending, housing and other important issues.
VT Headlines: Nationwide data breach affects student, staff information at Vermont schools
Vermont businesses worried about Trump’s proposed tariffs; Elmore-Morristown school district settles with feds over allegations of racial harassment
It’s official – John Rodgers is Lieutenant Governor
“I’ve been swinging a hammer for a lot of years,” laughed the lifelong farmer/contractor. “I think I can handle a gavel.”
National legal brawl may decide what types of cars Vermonters can buy
All sides expect President-elect Donald Trump to try to revoke states’ authority to adopt California’s strict rules on carbon emitted by vehicles.
Crimes and consequences across Vermont
To read more, go to Keepvermontsafe.com
Despathy: Bird flu PCR test can’t detect infections
As explained by its Nobel Prize winning creator, Kary Mullis, PCR is not intended to and cannot detect infections.
Page: Don’t preach to me, California
California, you strain at the gnat of EV mandates while swallowing the camel of the fiery destruction of millions of acres of woodlands.
Klar: Learning from ‘green’ Germany’s downfall
Germany’s once-envied efficient economy is in freefall
Soulia: Senator Harrison’s vision vs. VT’s challenges
Senator Harrison argues that Vermont is growing, but the data paints a more nuanced picture.
Royer Auto Sales manager pleads guilty in fraud case
James Royer pleaded guilty on December 19 to felony embezzlement and forged paperwork charges, along with two misdemeanors related to DMV title documentation.
Graydon Barron Stevens, 1952-2024
Musician, chimney sweep and outdoor enthusiast had a deep connection to his Vermont roots
Dem leader won’t answer question about Trump and Sanctuary State Vermont
Lt. Gov. (for one more day) David Zuckerman told VDC he will be a regular host on WDEV’s Vermont Viewpoint, the station’s 9-11 AM public affairs call-in show.
Police arrest suspect in Lyndon gas station armed robbery
Vermont State Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect who robbed a Lyndon gas station at knifepoint on Sunday.
Baruth re-elected to lead Senate
Brock told VDC in the hallway that “amidst conversations with the Republican caucus we determined that it would not be the proper action at this time to oppose Senator Baruth but that could be readdressed in the future. Do you know what pro tempore means in Latin? President for the time being.”
Krowinski wins House Speaker race
Before the ballots were distributed, several lawmakers praised Krowinski’s even temperament.
VT Headlines: Illinois driver crashes into school bus in Richford, VT, DMV says
Decker Towers gets reprieve from drug traffic, squatters; Miro on housing crisis; Norovirus prevention recommendations
Correction: Sen. Gulick a school board association regional representative, not a lobbyist
Sen. Gulick serves as an unpaid regional representative on the VSBA Board of Directors, representing the Western Chittenden Region.
Randolph man dies in collision/ TT overturns on black ice
Donald Price was not wearing a seatbelt when his eastbound Nissan Frontier struck a Subaru Outback driven by Cynthia Brown, 67, of Randolph.
Voluntary gun surrender, gun theft bills introduced
The program would provide criminal and civil immunity from liability to participating dealers for any harm resulting from the dealer’s acceptance, storage, return, or refusal to return the firearm.
Reynolds lawyer wants gag order on Burlington police
State’s Attorney Sarah George supports the gag order motion, Reynolds’ lawyer claimed. A joint filing by both defense lawyer and prosecutor is expected soon, he said.
Two-vehicle crash in Swanton sends four to hospital
The crash occurred around 10:26 a.m. at the intersection of Woods Hill Road and Bushey Road, according to Vermont State Police.
Letters: The Uni-party; Gun v. car violence
The manipulating hidden hands, and the double standard of the anti-gun movement
Despathy: What to do about that Bird Flu – Part 1
It is absolutely urgent Vermont revisit the history and existing body of avian bird flu science.
Randolph man dies in crash
The deceased was not wearing a seat belt.
Harvey named to vacant Castleton House seat/ GOP introduces Clean Heat Standard repeal/ Speaker chair up for grabs
Harvey is a 5th generation Vermonter born and raised in the Green Mountain State. Over a decade-long career in financial services, he held various roles at the New York Stock Exchange and its parent, Intercontinental Exchange, a Fortune 500 technology and data services company.
Legal use of force, self-defense aftermath workshops at Parro’s Jan. 15
Learn the four things that must be true to legally justify the use of deadly force.
Soulia: $1000 per bill introduced and you pay the tab
$1.2 Million Spent on Legislative Proposals in 2023-2024
U.S. Attorney for Vermont steps down
Nikolas “Kolo” Kerest, the U.S. Attorney for Vermont for the past three years, submitted his resignation Monday effective Jan. 20.
CLG: Congress defies snowstorm to certify Trump’s election
New Orleans terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar wore Meta Smart Glasses during attack; Biden issues sweeping offshore oil, gas drilling ban in 625M acres of federal waters ahead of Trump transition
VT Headlines: Dem leader Dandeneau steps down from top job
Elections have consequences for party leaders who lose a supermajority. Will House Speaker Jill Krowinski be next?
Winooski School District wants “sanctuary” status
The policy would prohibit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and potentially compromise access to any federal funds used to run the school.
BREAKING: Trudeau resigns
Big changes at the top this month south AND north of Derby Line and Highgate border crossings.
GOP could pick up one more House seat in Bennington challenge
The challenge stems from voter checklist errors that resulted in Pownal residents receiving ballots for the wrong House district, an issue brought to light after the November 5 election, in which Democrat Jonathan Cooper unofficially defeated Republican Bruce Busa by 23 votes.
CLG: Mask mandates return in multiple states
Ohio Gov. DeWine vetoes ‘medical free speech’ rights of doctors who dissent; Mysterious fog sweeping U.S. sparks bioweapon fears
Sibilia claims she’ll win if GOP backs her
As the challenger to incumbent House Speaker Jill Krowinski pleads for Republican support, an influential columnist and former GOP State Chair calls on the House GOP caucus to run their own candidate.
Adornay: Two roads diverge…
I was in Kenya during their last national election, in 2022. And it was scary. We are walking down that same dark road.
Big Oil sues Vermont on climate Superfund law
Vermont’s Secretary Agency of Natural Resources is now being sued on ‘both sides’ of the political spectrum for a law seeking to recover billions from Big Oil.
Celtics enforcer coached at Norwich in crazy ’60s
Thus, was the strange winter of the Vietnam War, D3 Norwich playing DI UVM, and a great 3-pt gunner whose long-distance baskets only counted for 2.
Roper: Randy Brock for Senate President Pro Tem!
And thoughts on the race for Speaker of the House
Ice fishing prospects abound in the Green Mountain State
VT Fish & Wildlife at the Yankee Show, Jan. 17-19; Hunters took more than 17,000 deer in 2024
Corrections Commissioner pulls plug on dangerous inmate release
With the loud public outcry this week, Deml said he ordered a further review of Breer’s case “due to my concern regarding the significant risk he poses to public safety and the Department’s ability to effectively supervise him in the community.”
Citing upbringing in Russian orphanage, judge sentences man who assaulted state trooper to 3 weeks in prison
After appeals for mercy from his family and employer, and despite the evidence justifying a harsher sentence, Judge Michael Kainen sentenced Robert Maximov, 28, of East Haven to 21 days in jail, citing his traumatic childhood in Russian orphanages as a mitigating factor.
Car crashes into supermarket, sparks fire
The suspect has said he’d rather be shot by police than arrested.
VT Headlines: Burlington rugby star debuts in Bristol, England
Burlington Dems name council candidates. Bucks for Barre building stir spending controversy.
Fleeing man tries to stab cops with needle
Aaron Montgomery, 35, of Springfield, who had an arrest warrant, also resisted arrest by kicking, spitting on, and attempting to bite officers.
Newborn and mother die in fire
The investigation is continuing into the origin and cause of the fire.
Newbury saffron farm sustains vision of experimentation
About half the shares of Calabash Gardens are owned by family and friends, and 39% are owned by people of color.
Legislature backing off Clean Heat Standard?
The legislature and the majority as a whole have reached a pivotal point where they will have to decide whether or not they want to attempt to implement the CHS by increasing taxes in fees or if they instead want to incentive the switch the energy transition with tax-breaks and “carrots,” Beck explained.
Roper: Legislature, resolve to cut spending in the new year
Since 2019, the year before Covid, the state budget has grown from about $5.8 billion to $8.5 billion. That’s a $2.7 billion spending increase in just 4 years.
Koch: “Scribblings” on education finance
The legislature should make education reform priority ONE for the next two years.
Las Vegas bombing suspect graduated from Vermont’s Norwich University
“We can confirm that the person identified in media reports completed an online degree in 2019 in strategic studies and defense analysis,” a Norwich spokesperson told VDC yesterday.
Special interests keep pushing the War on Carbon, Senate may have cold feet
Rather than take voters’ cue to slow down on expensive energy policy, EAN urges the Legislature to stay the course with the fossil-fuel to electricity transition at home and on the roads. But even leading climate hawks in the Senate aren’t so sure.
Beware the Wampahoofus
Vermont’s cryptid with particularly slanted views
VT Headlines: Drought means bare patches on iconic Brattleboro ski hill
Warm temps and low water at a nearby pond make for tough sledding in Brattleboro.
A Colchester community reflects on its first year as a village
It’s been a year since the Westbury mobile home park in Colchester became the Village of Westbury, the first village established in Vermont in nearly a century.
Roper: What’s to show for 25 years of Democrat/Progressive control
Let that be your New Year resolution: Hold your representatives in Montpelier accountable for what they are doing in your name and, ostensibly, on your behalf.
School Board to principals: Recite Pledge of Allegiance every day
The Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District Board (SVUESD) voted shortly before Christmas to have the Pledge of Allegiance recited every day.
Former school board lobbyist should not chair Senate Education, CFV warns
“This is an inherent conflict of interest to have a person employed, or even recently employed, by a lobbying organization leading a policy-making committee,” Kinsley said.
St. Albans man charged with animal cruelty in dog neglect case
For the Love of Dogs Vermont rescued the canine, who had lost about 77 pounds and was left w/o food, water, electricity, or heat for an extended period.
Klar: A New Year’s resolution (of political differences)
New Year’s 2025 celebrations augur the second inauguration of Donald J. Trump as president of the United States.
Low disposable income makes Vermont 5th worst state for work
Despite the highest workplace safety and a 37.8 hour work week on avg., Vermont ranks low due to a 48.46 happiness index and $15,263 average disposable income.
GOP State Senate leader: We won’t forget Vermonters
The new legislature needs to continue to focus on the difficult work of passing systemic change. VT voices deserve to be remembered and acted upon.
Keelan: VT nonprofits a new source of State revenue?
The Vermont nonprofit sector is one of the largest sectors of the State’s economy, measured by revenue generated and employees, yet is primarily unregulated.
Bossange: America’s lost political parties
If this past election proved anything, it confirmed the death of the national GOP, the unraveling of the Democrats, and the emergence of a new MAGA Party.
CLG: New Year’s ‘terror attack’ kills 10 people, injures 35 in New Orleans
Ukraine ends transit of Russian gas to EU; Canadian Teen Recovers From Severe H5N1 Bird Flu Infection; Fog Causing Mystery Illness Is Documented By Social Media
Furlough for dangerous inmate put on hold after public outcry
Breer has as a criminal history includes arrests for sexual assault, kidnapping, aggravated domestic assault and numerous violations of probation and parole.
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