Ex-CIA boss gets Ukrainian cellphone firm directorship; Israel strikes ‘landmark’ air defense deal; Columbia suspends anti-Israel student groups for ‘threatening rhetoric and intimidation’
CLG: U.S. launches new ‘self-defense’ strike in Syria – Pentagon
Sheriff’s Department almost DOUBLES number of officers
One county sheriff has added staff and expanded services. How did Ryan Palmer do it?
We can be thankful for Vermont’s wild turkeys
The Thanksgiving turkeys on our tables this holiday originated from native wild turkeys whose populations have been restored across much of North America thanks to scientific wildlife management by state fish and wildlife agencies.
VT Headlines: In 2024, general use fluorescent lightbulbs will no longer be sold in Vermont
Vt. Criminal Justice Council takes testimony in case of Franklin County Sheriff; Vermont officials on the hunt for new type of tick in Vermont; Vermont receives more fed. funding for flood cleanup
Vermont to learn about apprenticeships from Austria
Austria and Vermont share more than just the Von Trapps.
Roper: How to pay for administering the Carbon Tax on home heating fuels? With an Excise Tax on home heating fuels!
These people have no shame.
Crips gang member shot dead in Burlington
A member of the violent Crips gang was shot to death in Burlington Sunday night. Another man also died in the Decatur Street shooting.
Edson, who led police on two-week manhunt, pleads innocent
The career criminal who fled police for two weeks in late summer has pleaded innocent in federal court to armed robbery-related charges.
Feds release low-risk, homeless sex offender
Burlington Probation and Parole will supervise the homeless, low-risk sex offender released November 9.
Francois Clemmons in assisted living home, needs community support
Longtime friends of Francois Clemmons are providing financial support for the well-known singer, performer and teacher now residing in an assisted living facility.
Stone: The ongoing censorship of Conservatives and Republicans
Exposing the coordinated global effort to censor and propagandize public opinion against the right under the guise of human rights.
Three shootings, two dead last night in Burlington
Two men were shot in the head Sunday night in the second of three separate episodes of illegal gunfire last night in the Queen City.
Vermont publishes roadmap for ‘age-friendly state’
Age Strong VT is intended to serve as a roadmap for building an age-friendly state.
Fire set in Police Dept. lobby, a week after ambulance stolen by OD’er
Last week’s theft of an ambulance by the person it was sent to rescue may not have been a new low for Burlington, after all.
LaMarche: Karen Paul’s stagnant schemes
With nearly two decades of experience in government, Paul could only afford to give Burlingtonians more of the same decline.
Roper: NBC’s GOP debate was actually pretty good
But the top candidates shouldn’t participate in it any more.
Volunteer activist Scott Presler joins Norquist, Scott Brown at GOP convention Nov. 18
Also in attendance with Presler will be Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, along with former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown.
VT Headlines: Neighbors save man from burning house in Richford
Protesters in Burlington call for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war; River conservation forum highlights resident questions about flood preparedness; St. Johnsbury hosts Scouting Salute to Veterans Parade
Pope fires bishop critical of LGBTQ reform
Pope Francis’ actions are causing tensions to rise, with Catholics upholding conservative Church teachings even being branded schismatics by some.
VT police oversight board bans reporting illegals to ICE – or does it?
Illegal immigrant advocates want the State of Vermont to continue to refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials. It’s unclear if a state criminal justice council agreed last week.
190 years ago tonight, Leonid shower produced “the night the stars fell”
190 years ago tonight, an intense meteor shower had Vermonters wondering if it was the end of the world.
Letters: Ammo sale ban bill introduced
Two U.S. senators have introduced a bill to ban bulk ammunition sales.
Cops praised for cracking big cases
The EB-5 fraud and high seas murder for insurance money made Vermont news headlines. Last week, the U S. Attorney’s Office gave credit where due.
Bananas: GOP 3 – Return of the Son of Ramaswamy
Gone are the days of pasty conservative men. We are left with two Indians, an African American, an obese guy and another guy wearing high heels. If that’s not representative of modern America, I don’t know what is!
McClaughry: Guardian Angels for Rutland?
A citizens’ group concerned about street crime gathered recently in Rutland, where city police are down three officers and prosecutors complain how their hands are tied.
Triad Weed: How Chinese Marijuana Grows Took Over Rural Maine
Chinese foreign nationals are exploiting Maine’s lax marijuana laws by establishing legal ‘grows’ in rural areas.
VT GOP chair reposts tweet of Trump telling people not to vote
“I did repost this,” Paul Dame said. “But this represents one of the problems that Donald Trump has posed as a candidate. It is incredibly foolish to tell people not to vote because you ‘have plenty of votes’.”
Two more die by gunfire this week
Both victims appear to have taken their own lives. In both cases police were nearby.
VT Headlines: Exodus of Burlington businesses stoke fears of economic decline
Milton Police warn of man posing as town employee; Final FEMA Disaster Recovery Center closes in Barre; Derby ministry that housed Ukrainian refugees is downsizing
Grok: Amid rising homicides, Vermont says its Red Flag Law is model for the nation
The red flag law allows a judge to temporarily remove a gun from a person considered dangerous. It hasn’t reduced homicides – and if we’re honest, that was never the intent.
New Montpelier homeless shelter to open
A new homeless shelter will open near the Ret. 2/302 roundabout in Montpelier later this month.
Stossel: How did all these ‘hungry’ people get so fat?
“We’ve spent more on the War on Poverty than all the military wars combined in the United States without any success,” says Rachel Sheffield.
Video: 5 mysterious unsolved crimes from Vermont
While it’s generally very quiet and tranquil here, make no mistake about it – Vermont has a fair share of strange and mysterious crimes.
Fernandez: HAMAS and social media
With their favorite war cry of “Allahu Akbar”, or “God is Great,” resounding repeatedly, the murder of 1400 Israelis, 31 Americans in the October 7 genocide was chronicled online by the proud killers
Restoring Our Faith speakers speak out on Hamas/Israel
As we learned at the summit, amid these vicious attacks and violent antisemitism in our midst we must continue to work together to restore faith in God: the one true God, who is love and not hate, life and not death.
On opening day of Deer Rifle Season, hopes of bagging the big one
Come dusk Friday night, lights will flicker on in thousands of deer camps in the hills, dales, and deep woods throughout rural Vermont as hunters gather for Vermont’s unofficial sixteen day holiday otherwise known as Deer Rifle Season.
Victim of gun theft arrested for negligent firearms storage
Two juveniles stole his gun. The theft was reported. Now he’s looking at prison time for leaving the gun on a shelf in his house.
DEI pushes critical believing, not critical thinking, former UVM prof says
“The main thing that the critical social justice types want to get you to do is to buy into what they want you to believe and to not question it,” Dr. Kindsvatter told the crowd.
New NIH director asked point-blank if U.S. should uncover origin of Covid-19
Should our government leave no stone unturned to discover the origin of the Covid-19 virus, even if the path leads to Wuhan, China? The new National Institutes of Health director faced this question at her nomination hearing.
Gillam: Law enforcement needs strong legislative leadership
Leniency undermines the rule of law and perpetuates a cycle of crime harmful to both perpetrator and victim alike. It is time for Vermont Legislators from all parties to stand up.
Warner: Mental health’s DSM: Science or Scientology?
We may need to scrap the DSM and start over. As someone who has several family, friends and clients who struggle with mental illness I couldn’t agree more.
VT Headlines: Police looking for driver who struck construction worker on Vermont interstate
As evictions rise, those seeking help face an uphill battle finding shelter; Road salt pollutes Vt. waterways. Why aren’t more towns curbing its use?; 10 Vermont dairy farms get USDA grants
Grand Isle issues Town Clerk/Treasurer letter to “cease and desist” from personal purchases
The letter, sent on behalf of the full selectboard, centers on a large load of crushed stone that was picked up on behalf of Boutin and delivered to her home on Adams Landing Road this summer.
Hinesburg Fire Department plans controlled burn
The Hinesburg Fire Department will be conducting a staged burn for training purposes on the corner of Route 116 and Hollow Road.
Psych eval required for 3-time St. Johnsbury arrestee
Brandon R. Clough, 42, was ordered to undergo a mental evaluation Tuesday following his third arrest in 24 hours, including separate assault incidents
Gov. Jim Douglas joins the St. Johnsbury Band to honor veterans
This concert is by donation and will benefit the St. Johnsbury History & Heritage Center.
State must triple rate of new home construction, Scott admin says
The Scott administration hopes adding more housing to the market will lower one of the root causes of homelessness: exorbitantly high rental rates.
Westford, Stowe voters reject spending, Berlin says yes and no
Voters yesterday rejected a wastewater project in Westford and a $39 million school project in Stowe.
UVM payload mission blasts off tomorrow for International Space Station
DNA extraction in zero gravity is the mission of a UVM research project aboard the International Space Station.
VT Headlines: Leaders update lawmakers on hotel-motel program
Stowe voters turn down $39M school bond; Westford neighbors vote down building new wastewater system; CCV spotlights 1st-generation students with ‘Free Degree Promise’ event
National Guard readies Waterbury Armory for sale
At a special meeting in August, the Vermont Board of Armory Commissioners decided it was time to address the fate of the Waterbury Armory.
Roper: The Hamas/Israeli conflict exposed a horrible flaw in how we’re educating our own kids
How all that happened was what we were never supposed to forget. But we are living and watching an alarmingly similar Nazi-like attitude develop today in America.
Klar: Normalizing evil
The fastest-growing religion in America is “none,” according to a 2021 Pew Research Center poll.
At cannabis stores, Health Dept. provides 3,000 free lockable storage bags
Cannabis is in the top three of accidental child overdoses.
Keelan: New housing by publicity never works
The State Agency of Housing and Community Development has not ignored the crisis. However, its solutions resemble placing one’s thumb in the dike.
218 years ago today, Montpelier became Vermont’s capital
Montpelier chosen as a capital for its central location? Kinda… but mostly it was about the money.
Man with 23 arrest, probation/parole violations arrested for Church Street assault
More tales of ‘catch and release’ from Vermont law enforcement.
Released by judge after punching hospital staff, man attacks off-duty cop, police say
Vermont needs more options to protect the public from mentally disturbed violent offenders, Burlington’s police chief says.
GOP demands paper ballots, audits, voter ID
A member of the Vermont GOP Special Election Committee praises a national resolution supporting paper ballots, limited voting time periods, auditable balloting, and voter identification.
Out-of-state drug dealers used juveniles to sell drugs in Rutland, police say
A 72-year-old man has been charged in a Monday night shooting in Rockingham. Also, federal court records say youths are being used to sell drugs in Rutland.
School superintendent: Accused killer, principal won’t be in school
Neither an accused teenage killer nor the Burlington High School principal will be returning anytime soon.
VT Headlines: State announces new winter rules for unhoused Vermonters
Burlington High School principal remains on paid leave after pulling fire alarm; GSA allocates $6.3M for upgrades at federal building in St. Albans; VT’s first all-natural forest burial site
McClaughry: Estonia a model for Vermont?
Post-Soviet Estonia is awash in a spirit of freedom and independence. At last we are free! We can learn, create, build, trade, and make our country a prosperous democratic republic! AND THEY HAVE.
NAACP: Youth brains not fully developed, don’t try 14-year-old as adult
“We know that boys like this 14-year-old Black child are not inherently valued by a system and dominant culture that will determine the fate of his humanity,” the Rutland NAACP statement says.
Moose hunt culled herd, reduces tick threat
Moose management goals were informed by years of monitoring data and extensive research on moose and winter ticks from the northeastern U.S. and Canada.
CLG: No elections now -Zelensky
U.S. and UK oppose anti-Nazi resolution at UN; Pentagon confirms U.S. spy drones over Gaza; Pandemic ‘had lasting impact’ on brain health of people aged 50 or over
Vermont abortions reached historic low in 2021
Vermont’s 2021 abortion statistics were published online as part of the state’s full vital statistics report in September 2023. The report is available on the website of the Vermont Department of Health.
Vermont gained 3,000 people last year
Net migration slowed in 2022 compared to the Covid Diaspora of 2021. And the Palmetto State is the favorite new home of departing Vermonters.
Heroin Highway ring leader sentenced
Eric Colson III, 25, was told he will be under federal supervision for four years once he is freed from the 68-month prison term imposed in the high-profile trafficking case.
Mail handler: Sanders, Welch, Balint postal demands show disconnect with reality
Both Sanders and Welch voted to steal what little profits the USPS had and transfer them to the US Treasury to fund their own little unrelated projects.
State police target 90-100 MPH speeders
When a reporter noted that “10 years ago I could go by a state trooper at 78 and get pulled over,” Scott answered, “10 years ago we didn’t have the level of crime we have now.”
Shannon joins mayoral race, sets up Democrat caucus battle
Shannon and City Council President Karen Paul will vie for the Democratic nomination at the Burlington Democratic Caucus on December 10.
Education headlines: School mascots, administrator sabbaticals, college staff cuts, mental health
High legal fees for school mascot fights are a top headline in the 802 Ed newsletter this week.
Trooper injured, cruiser damaged in 11-mile chase of Burlington man
Running over tire deflation device wasn’t enough to stop the fleeing suspect.
Expert’s video shows Covid crimes against Americans
We have witnessed not just the crime of the century, but the greatest crime ever perpetrated in human history, with those responsible yet to face criminal charges.
Accused arsonist dies of apparent suicide/ Prohibited firearms/ NH homeless burned in propane fire
Homeless men huddled in a cold car in New Hampshire suffered burns when propane torch fumes exploded.
VT Headlines: Vermont’s oldest store is restored and ready for business
Palace Cinema 9 in South Burlington to close; PCB mitigation underway Bellows Falls Union High School; Killer dust decimated the ranks of Barre granite cutters
Naomi Wolf is Packin,’ Preachin’ and Prayin’
I read Facing the Beast in one day. Sometimes a mother just has to cut out from kids, work, chores and life. Hands down, Wolf’s best chapter name is ‘Dear Conservatives, I Apologize.’
The dairy farm decline – when and how
The great, historic switch from Jersey cows to Holsteins explained
Back-to-back poor acorn crops mean hungrier bears
Hold off on the bird feeders this month – those backyard bears may be even hungrier now.
104-year-old SOBU woman worked in Pentagon in WWII
Today, Guyette works out on a stationary bike and refuses to take ‘maintenance’ prescription drugs.
Former US senator Scott Brown & band to play at GOP state convention
When he’s an old man, Scott Brown will be able to tell his great-grandkids that he played the Vermont State Republican Convention.
LaMarche: The big scary MAGA myth
For a party that prides itself on progress, the Democrats’ approach is not only disingenuous, it’s abusive and anti-progress.
Klar: Milking cows for methane
With revolving-door regulatory oversight for corporate profit now the obvious norm in America, who on earth would drink milk tainted with chemicals that synthetically alter how cows digest grass?
Suicide linked to National Guardsman homicide
A Brownington man who worked with slain National Guardsman Gunnar Watson was found dead by suicide.
VT public schools: Where talking llamas teach kids the “F” word
These kids were exposed to an F-bomb dropping llama, which is a lot more preferable to being isolated and restrained in a locked, padded closet covered in your own excrement for hours on end like the students in Fair Haven.
DMV offices close/ Balint withdraws MTG censure/ UVM freezes instate tuition
DMV offices and some online services will be closed for some or all of next week.
Last Smugglers Notch stuckage/ Teen died of gunshot to torso/ Montpelier fire not suspicious (yet)
The final Stuckage took place with snow on the ground. And, more details on the shooting death of a Shelburne teen and the fiery destruction of a Montpelier lumberyard.
Vermont Muslim shares thoughts on Israel-Palestine Conflict
“America is a place of freedom and beauty where people from all walks of life can live together in peace,” the vice-president of the Islamic Society of Vermont said.
Evslin: “Proportionate Response” encourages escalation
That which doesn’t kill the enemy makes him stronger.
Essex schools say U.S. society based on genocide, slavery, white privilege
The Essex-Westford School District defines equity as “Distributing resources, power and decision making to marginalized groups or individuals in order to redress marginalization.”
Phineas Gage: The remarkable tale of an altered brain
Phineas Gage’s case remains one of the most influential in the field of neuroscience, even more than a century and a half after his accident.
2A group builds war chest to challenge gun control laws in court
A Rutland gun shop has donated $2000 the an unprecedented effort to challenge Vermont gun control laws.
Former UVM prof to speak on Diversity, Inclusion & Equity effect on children
Former UVM prof Aaron Kindsvatter believes teaching DEI on schools can harm the psyches and development of children.
VT Headlines: Dept. of Corrections pulls security clearance for health contractor with opioid diversion record
Trial underway for woman charged in murder of Vt. pro-cyclist Mo Wilson; Stowe voters to consider $39M school bond; Gov. Phil Scott sounds off on spate of suspicious death investigations
Fire ravages Montpelier lumberyard, destroys fire truck
The lumberyard fire was the second major blaze in the downtown Montpelier commercial district within the last week.
Construction of I-89 walk-bike bridge in South Burlington set for 2024
The $14.5 million project, which would see a bridge for cyclists and pedestrians stretch over Interstate 89, has been in development for years now and aims to address one of the riskiest tracts of road in the state.
Vermont AG opposes parent op-out for LGBTQ books for 2nd graders
These books “portray elementary school age children falling in love with other children, regardless of sexual preferences,” and include terms like “intersex flag,” and “[drag] king.”
Sanders, Welch, Balint demand plan for Montpelier Post Office
Postal workers are getting cold inside and outside the open-air trucks are the temporary replacement for severely damaged Montpelier post office.
Vermonters for Vermont Initiative Townhall on Energy, Nov. 14 in Rutland
A panel of five experts on the topic will discuss Global Warming Solutions Acts, Home heat, Carbon Tax, Fossil Fuels, and the Energy Grid and more.
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