In the 11th hour, the House agreed to the Senate’s funding structure, with a payroll tax of 0.44%, with at least 75% of the tax required to be paid by employers.
‘Childcare affordability’ bill will increase costs for some families
Historian/columnist George Will invokes Vermont presidential election history
“My idea is as the Ethan Allen Institute goes, so goes Vermont. And then as Vermont goes, so goes the nation,” Will said.
Vermont’s soaring solar spree is trickier than you think
As the state pushes toward its solar goals, what environmental questions must be examined?
State bans TikTok on state-owned devices
Digital services secretary Shawn Nailor cited U.S. intelligence agencies assessments “about the potential for Chinese intelligence and security services to use Chinese information technology firms as routine and systemic espionage platforms against the United States and allies.”
VT Headlines: Communities begin preparing for a drastic influx of homeless Vermonters
Shelburne garbage truck catches fire; Housing crunch magnified by older Vermonters looking to downsize; UVM faculty union alleges unfair labor practice over switch to new educational software
Vermonters in UVM freshman class up 8% – but still less than one in five
About 40% of UVM students will pay no tuition this fall, and Vermont resident enrollment is up.
CLG: DOJ just Biden their time
Migrant influx further taxes broken housing systems; Terrorist watchlist members caught in migrant influx; Dominion Voting Systems pressed on role in Tucker Carlson firing
State judge wavers on jailing ‘youthful offender,’ so feds charge him with armed robbery
Vermont’s ongoing lack of a secure holding facility for youthful offenders almost meant freedom for an 18-year-old alleged arm robber and drug criminal from Brooklyn – until the feds stepped in.
New trapping, coyote hunting regs get public hearings
The coyote-hunting regs would limit to 100 the number of coyote hunters using dogs. They also would limit each hunter to four dogs or fewer, and require the dogs to wear tracking/control collars.
House panel picked for Franklin County impeachment probe
A House panel to investigate possible impeachment proceedings on a Franklin County’s state’s attorney and sheriff has been selected.
Vermont desperately needs a Taxpayer Bill of Rights
To cover all this drunken sailor activity by the supermajority, the Democrats and Progressives are just asking you to, as always, “pay just a little bit more.”
Bill meant to help unions organize might ban DEI training mandates
A bill intended to be union-friendly “exemplifies how trying to regulate speech is a double-edged sword that creates unintended consequences,” an advocacy group says.
VT Headlines: Who pulled trigger on Sierra, Fuentes?
One man is dead, another in critical condition from gunshot wounds suffered Friday night in Brookfield. Whodunit?
Prisoner who died in local jail OD’d on drugs he concealed
The cause of Jones’s death was acute mixed drug intoxication including fentanyl, heroin and cocaine, and the manner of death was an accident.
Warner: Biden laptop revelations leave big questions unanswered
Having double-minded men and women administering two-standards of justices is nothing new in American politics.
Corrections disbands inmate work crews, prison industries
Department officials attribute the decline in work crew sentences to the success of criminal justice reforms, including Justice Reinvestment I and II initiatives.
Overseas vote-by-email bill clears VT House, Senate
A bill approved by both the Vermont House and the Senate would allow registered voters living outside the United States to cast absentee ballots via email to a secure portal established by the Vermont Secretary of State.
Wilson: I apologize for the acts of many legislators
Ensuring a sustainable, realistic budget wisely appropriated for the good of all must be a primary goal. This did not happen this session.
Unexplained ‘excess deaths’ rise in VT during pandemic
A Burlington scientist asks the Vermont Dept. of Health to bring more clarity to the high rate of age 15-54 heart disease deaths by correlating with their vaccination status.
Former CNN producer and VT man may be nearing civil settlement in child sex abuse case
A former senior producer for CNN television admitted luring a Nevada woman and her adopted pre-teen daughter to Windsor County to have sadomasochistic sex with the girl.
Evslin: Why artificial intelligence will lead to job growth
And why job loss from AI is still a problem.
Teens die in motorcycle, side-by-side crashes
On opposite sides of the state, teenagers lost control of their vehicles, resulting in crashes and death.
Brookfield shooting victims had fentanyl arrest records
In August 2019, both Sierra and Fuentes were arrested along with a third Springfield MA resident, Luis Martinez, on charges of trafficking fentanyl into the state.
VT Headlines: Wildlife officials work to combat rabies outbreak in Chittenden County
New mental health treatment facility opens, and others are in early stages; Missing Bennington man found dead
Bossange: Need for 40,000 new homes a myth
The real danger here is that the “24,000 job vacancy” myth feeds the “40,000 new homes needed” myth, creating a false sense of urgency.
Roper: Unrepresentative, under-qualified legislature gives itself a massive pay raise
The Vermont House and Senate often disagree on what priorities should be or the best way to pay for a program, but on this point they heartily agree: they themselves deserve a lot more money.
Hango: Failure to exempt veterans’ pensions drives skilled workers out of state
The Legislature just budgeted tens of millions of dollars to create new state jobs. Too bad it couldn’t have kept more retired military instate by exempting their pensions from taxes.
McGuinness: VTDigger falls short on investigative journalism integrity
VTDigger has presented a biased perspective on gender-affirming industry ‘shield laws,’ H.89 and S.37, into law on May 10th by Governor Scott.
Adjourned! Guv, House & Senate leaders praise accomplishments of 2023 Legislature
Gov. Scott, Speaker Krowinski, and President Pro Tem Baruth weigh in with a trio of public statements.
Legislature to vote today on $8.53 billion budget
Before the hoped for adjournment today, lawmakers must vote on a proposed $8.53 billion budget.
Proposed labor law would make Vermont one of few states to ban captive-audience meetings
Vermont lawmakers are seeking to give workers increased protections when it comes to collective bargaining and union organizing through a bill that has passed in the Senate with a number of changes since it was introduced.
Video: Tourists, don’t do this when you visit Vermont
Vermonters will help visitors if they’re in distress. Just don’t expect them to be all warm and fuzzy. Oh, and creemees.
Fleeing state police cruiser, drunk driver hits, kills motorcylist: police
An Enosburg man was charged with his fourth DUI after he allegedly fled police pursuit in his pickup truck, which crossed the center line and struck an oncoming motorcylist, killing the driver.
Warner: In New Hampshire, Donald Trump breaks CNN…again
I decided to watch the Louder With (Steven) Crowder coverage and play along to the drinking game with a nice Temperanillo and cigar.
VT Headlines: Colchester teenager arrested for stabbing 19-year-old
Burlington fire crews knock out flames at homeless encampment; Vt. agencies to drop rabies vaccine amid Chittenden County outbreak; Vt. holds state auction
Biden Laptop, Part Two: Corruption timelines, and details of Biden family crime
Marco Polo describes the Biden “mob” family as essentially four packs. Throughout the years they have had multiple brushes with the law, engaged in obvious nepotism, and shown disdain for law enforcement.
House overrides Scott veto of S.5
The House overrode Gov. Scott’s veto of S.5, despite warnings of unfairly penalizing rural Vermonters and supporting the natural gas industry.
Biden corruption, bribery, foreign influence
The White House and FBI oppose investigation and transparency involving corruption allegations against Biden family.
House joins Senate in giving Legislature a big raise, benefits hike
Six Democrats and every Republican voted against S.39. Roll call provided.
VT Headlines: What changes will people see as COVID public health emergency ends?
Vt. regulators to crack down on synthetic cannabis; Corrections commissioner denies records appeal, keeps ID of out-of-state prison bidder secret
Letters: End of emergency housing means hundreds will die / Fed court could impact S.5 / Dem hypocrisy on fossil fuel
10% to 30% of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness will die as a result.
Teen arrested for Murder 1 attempt in Burlington
Drugs, gunfire and breaking through an apartment wall led to a Burlington arrest for an April 29 shooting.
Vermont – founded by a militia – just banned militias
Vermont wouldn’t be Vermont without Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys militia.
Funding door closes on homeless hotels
The State’s pandemic-era ‘homeless hotel’ program will end July 1, barring any last-minute deal if the governor vetoes the budget.
Drag devotional at Vermont State House
Justin Marsh, a/k/a Emoji Nightmare, reads “Just Add Glitter” to the Vermont House of Representatives this morning.
Dog shooting in Fairfield
A dog on the loose was shot May 9. Game wardens are investigating.
Roper: “Only cost pennies” Clean Heat Standard talking point is observably false
Vermont already has a two-cent excise tax on heating oil, kerosene and dyed diesel. It raises about $5 million per year. So, a per gallon surcharge on home heating fuels would have to raise about sixty times that amount to pay for the Clean Heat Standard mandates, or $1.20 per gallon. That’s just math, folks!
With House veto override set for Thursday, S.5 poll shows Vermonters opposed
A poll conducted last week shows Vermonters oppose S.5 – especially if it increases home heating fuel prices.
Outnumbered but unrestrained, GOP lawmakers bash legislative pay hike
“The senator that presented the sheriff’s bill initially stated there’s no other group in the state of Vermont that can give themselves raises the way that the Caledonia Sheriff did. And lo and behold, we’re doing it to ourselves,” Rep. Mark Higley said.
Keelan: Is it a good deal or a bad deal?
“Let us hope that the ghost of no SVHC Trustee will ever come back and say if only I had done my job.”
New report on Hunter Biden Laptop exposes government, Biden family corruption in detail
A new report shows the info on the Hunter Biden laptop is legit and damning to the Biden family and the government officials who covered for them.
VT Headlines: Officials concerned about those unhoused after hotel program ends
State declines to prosecute former Vt. teacher in lewd conduct case; Brattleboro Union High School to rebrand with new mascot; Coyotes on the prowl
Vax requirement at border ends Friday
Vaccination requirements to cross land ports of entry and ferry terminals into the U.S. will end on Friday.
In Senate hearing about abuse litigation, a Vermont mom’s story cuts through
A bill in the State House would limit the ability of abusive ex-spouses from continuing abuse-by-lawsuit.
California mayor says he has the solution for homelessness
Maybe this California mayor’s “accept help or get cited” approach would work in Vermont. Maybe it wouldn’t. The question is: what local or state government strategy WOULD work?
Bear sighting in suburban Shelburne – police issue advice
Bear sightings are increasingly common in Vermont. Now they’re even visiting a suburban Shelburne neighborhood.
Governor Phil Scott announces BIPOC business and workforce development program
The new partnership provides technical assistance and development services to Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) business owners and professionals statewide.
McGuinness: Passage of H.89 and S.37 ‘Shield Bills’ based on emotions, not evidence
While listening to Committee testimony and Floor readings on H.89 and S.37, I heard witnesses and legislators toss the words “evidence-based” like pizza dough, except there was no crust.
High school has cause to keep ‘Rebel’ nickname
The ‘rebels’ to whom the mascot name refers are the Revolutionary War-era Green Mountain Boys, rebelling against British colonial authority.
Homeless hotel funding to end, barring last-minute decision in Legislature
A State of Vermont letter went out to ‘homeless hotel’ residents on May 2, warning most of them to be out by the end of the month. The rest will have until the end of June.
Klar: The Utility of Pollution
Allocating harm where it does the most good.
Thieves steal rare coins, then spend them in local stores: police
An alleged cocaine user is among the three NEK men arrested in connection with the burglary of a Derby home, in which about $30,000 of rare coins were taken.
Senate overrides Scott veto of S.5
S.5 clears its highest hurdle – the veto override vote in the Vermont Senate.
VT Headlines: Wind spreads Lyndonville house fire to day care
37 child care center leaders: Over 100 programs could close in the next year; Government contractor blows whistle on radical ESG policy appearing in schools, businesses
Alleged murderer of Fern Feather used grappling hook, bedsheets in prison break attempt
In a battle between razor wire and bed sheets, the razor wire won and Seth Brunell was unable to escape.
McClaughry: The Climate-Conscious Transportation Game
The red hot policy issue in the state right now is S.5, the (un)Affordable Heat bill passed by the Democratic supermajority in the House and Senate. Gov. Scott vetoed it last Thursday.
Smith: Understanding S.5 – it’s all about gas
Founder of anti-natural gas plant group says S.5 is all about establishing market share for fracked gas.
Man admits pointing loaded gun at feds
A Springfield, MA man who pointed a loaded gun at a Border Patrol officer has pleaded guilty.
S.5 veto override vote set for this week
The S.5 veto override will come before the House later this week.
Senate OKs 16-year-old voting, local office holding in Brattleboro
No more “oligarchy of older Vermonters,” one senator announced as the Senate voted 16-8 to allow teens to vote in local elections and hold local office in Brattleboro.
Roper: Talking point that Clean Heat bill will help the poor is a cruel lie
This program is extremely expensive and extremely regressive. It will cause a lot of pain for Vermont’s most vulnerable citizens, and will achieve exactly NOTHING in regard to solving Global Warming.
VT Headlines: Schools changing routes, school times due to bus driver shortage
Fuel returns to Morrisville-Stowe Airport, operations remain; Vermonters across the state participate in ‘Green Up’ day out of reach
Phone scammers use AI to imitate your friend’s voice
Scammers are making use of voice cloning and artificial intelligence software to grab quick voice recordings that are used to create messages impersonating family members, friends, and coworkers.
Church hit by gunfire / Rutland drug bust / Career crook jailed without bail
Gunfire that struck the First Baptist Church in Groton may have been the result of practice shooting at a nearby stump dump.
Ireland raises eyebrows with new proposed hate-speech law
Barring amendment or rejection, a pernicious new bill restricting free speech is set to become enshrined in Irish law. Under it, mere possession of material deemed “hateful” by the state could result in prison time for those accused, if the state suspects the material is intended for dissemination.
In Vermont visit, ‘Planet of the Humans’ filmmaker exposes corporate capture of environmental justice
Gibbs exposes dangers and deceptions within the “green” energy-related movement hijacked by corporations and investors out to make a profit.
Your letters: Control adrenaline is flowing steadily / ‘Woke’ decline / Cannabis control board overwhelmed
The control adrenaline is flowing steadily, and will until their goal is reached. They cannot stand the freedoms guaranteed by the Vermont Constitution and the U.S. 2nd Amendment.
Thurston: Deconstructionism destroying our culture
When I emigrated to this country, at age 27, I spoke French as my mother tongue and Dutch as a second language. I knew a few medical terms in English but was unable to order my groceries at the store.
House accepts Senate changes to gun control bill
House and Senate have agreed on H.230, this session’s signature gun control bill. If vetoed by Gov. Scott, it faces a likely override vote.
Retired pharmacist: lethal dose not “swallowing a magic pill, lying down, and dying”
Reporting of side effects isn’t required under Vermont’s “ostrich-head-in-the-sand” aid-in-dying law.
Vermont ACLU leader calls for rethinking prison prioritization
As a Vermont legislative panel continues a long-range look into the state’s prison system – and its facility needs – calls to rethink the state’s incarceration practices have entered the equation.
BILL WILSON, AA, ALDOUS HUXLEY & LSD
Wilson believed an acute alcoholic, such as himself, now abstinent over twenty years, could not achieve and maintain sobriety, without experiencing a “spiritual awakening.”
Town of Hartford struggles with identity politics
The Town of Hartford Select Board has adopted a new committee to assess the town for its racial and marginalized persons scorecard.
Senate approves pharmacy Covid-19 vaccinations for five-year-olds
The House version of H305 allowed pharmacy techs to administer Covid-19 vaccinations to adults only.
VT Headlines: Prison reform advocates rally at Statehouse
Vermont Democrats say they won’t pass paid family and medical leave this year; Vt. officials defend homeless hotel transition
Emergency Mask Forum May 12 in Burlington
The Covid Federal Emergency is scheduled to end on May 11. However, approval for face masks and other emergency authorized products is expected to continue.
Formal veto of S.5 cites progress already made, check back confusion
S.5’s ‘check back’ language is confusing, easily misconstrued, and contradictory to multiple portions of the bill, Gov. Scott said in his veto letter.
Property dispute leads to shooting, arrest
During an argument, Morrell produced a .22-caliber revolver and shot Temple one time in the torso, police say.
Three die in head-on crash
Three local people died in a head-on crash on Rte. 14 in Albany Thursday.
House launches impeachment investigation against Franklin County Sheriff, State’s Attorney
The House announces beginning of impeachment proceedings against two Franklin County elected officials.
VT Headlines: Scott administration defends plan to end motel program
Sheriff reform bill advances in Vermont; Police say 2 suspects wanted in downtown Burlington shooting; Vt. doctor reacts to medical aid-in-dying law expansion to non-residents
Bill would mandate all firearms licensing, registration and insurance
Vermont is a gun registration-free state – but that would change if a bill introduced yesterday becomes law.
Huge underground power transmission line proposed for Northeast Kingdom
A transmission line carrying twice the output of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant would run underground from the Canaan to Lunenburg.
Truth and reconciliation commissioners talk plans and new hires
The commission has three years to gather testimony from Vermonters and research past and current harm done by the state. It will then present a report to the Legislature in June 2026.
Roper: Vermont’s legislature is blowing big bucks on failed experiments.
Census data shows blue states losing people and income to red states.
Mermel: A Loss for the American Church
Dr. Stanley was the founder of In Touch Ministries, the author of over 70 New York Times best-selling books, and the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta for 49 years.
Governor Scott undermines parental rights
Whether the patient comes to Vermont or receives services from a Vermont provider via telehealth while residing in another state, they can access abortion throughout pregnancy.
Vermont Habitat Stamp Raises $450,000 for Conservation in Fiscal Year 2022
In fiscal year 2022, the Vermont Habitat Stamp funded land acquisition in Wallingford to expand the Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area.
Young Wildlife Belong in the Wild
Picking up young wildlife can do more harm than good, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and it is also against the law.
S.5 uses sticks when carrots are what’s needed, Scott says
Spending thousands of dollars on a new heat pump or paying more for heating fuel “doesn’t seem like much of a choice to me,” Scott said.
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