Some dangerous old sticks of nitroglycerin could have been someone’s final problem. But the state police bomb squad took are of it.
Bomb squad handles old nitro / Horse dies in crash
Burlington Progs unsafe, unreasonable
The central complaint against Progressives on the Burlington City Council is that they have become completely unreasonable, which is making the city unsafe.
Parental consent can be parental coercion, teen marriage ban sponsor says
Children deserve to be free of marriage, says the sponsor of a bill being discussed today in a House committee.
Homeland Security declares Covid, election ‘misinformation’ a terror threat
According to DHS, the real threat is ‘the proliferation of false or misleading narratives, which sow discord or undermine distrust in U.S. government institutions.”
Staats: caring deeply for the animals you hunt
A wildlife biologist and avid hunter and trapper tries to explain why these practices benefit nature. But will the critics listen?
Klar: Roe balanced lives of mother & child – not so Prop 5
John Klar says Roe V. Wade at least tried to balance the needs of both mother and child, and Prop 5 leaves the child totally unprotected.
Under ‘Clean Heat Standard,’ Vermonters in old homes will pay extra to stay warm
Many low to moderate income Vermonters – especially those living in older homes – will find it very difficult to pay for the higher cost of heating fuel.
Advisory board speechless on requiring Covid-19 vax of preschoolers, K-12
A state advisory board meeting met today to discuss requiring Covid-19 vaccination of preschoolers and schoolage children. But no-one did.
Final Prop 5 vote today; opponents rally at at noon
A group opposing Prop 5, the constitutional amendment to enshrine abortion, will be gather today at noon at the Vermont State House.
Senate committee would expand right to sue police
A bill receiving extensive, prolonged attention from the Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee would remove legal protections for police from lawsuits brought by perps, ‘social justice’ groups, and everyone else.
Second fatal shooting last week also a young Massachusetts man
Two Massachusetts men died last week in Vermont of gunshots to the torso. State police see no link at present.
Lawmaker asks if Prop 5 gives men equal right to stop abortion. No answer
A recent exchange between a Vermont lawmaker and an ACLU lawyer suggests that if Prop 5 is approved, men may be allowed to sue on a case-by-case basis to keep their unborn child alive.
Coyote, leghold, governance bills meant to disrupt and reduce hunting, VT Traditions says
A supporter of three hunting & trapping bills up for public hearing next week says Vermonters are moving beyond a ‘dominance mindset.’ A critic says the bills would disrupt and reduce hunting.
Swanton shooting victim was Massachusetts gang member
A 22-year-old Haverhill, MA man found shot to death in Swanton was a longtime gang member, according to his hometown newpaper.
Scott: eliminate military retirement pay tax
Gov. Phil Scott and a bipartisan group of lawmakers want to eliminate the income tax on military retirement pay. Will their support be enough?
Hartford CT drug dealer sentenced / MA man dies suspicious death in Swanton / Thieves stole Escalade catalytic converters
VT Crime update: catalytic converter thieves, Bay State man found dead in Swanton, (another) Hartford CT drug dealer busted.
Rape culture at UVM
A social media site dedicated to exposing rape culture at UVM lists 340 reports of sexual assault.
Water withdrawal registry bill passes house
A bill to create a registry for anyone withdrawing 5000 gallons a water of day from Vermont surface waters has passed the House. The Senate’s been busy, too.
Scott leans toward gun bill veto
Gov. Phil Scott today signaled he would likely veto S30, which restricts gun rights.
Baby Turtle Time: Bills advance in committee
Like baby turtles marching to the sea, bills introduced into the Vermont Legislature have a poor survival rate. This week, several bills took steps to becoming law.
Prog bill wants transgender therapy without parental consent
A bill sponsored by two Progressives would allow minors to seek transgender therapy without parental consent.
Dame: Dems pulling fast one on redistricting
House Dems are lining up testimony for town feedback on redistricting weeks before many town boards even have a chance to meet. Due diligence, or rush job?
Out-of-state drug dealer, stolen van driver busted after getting stuck on wintry rural road: police
A stolen, out-of-state UHaul was stuck on a rural Putney road Saturday night. Both driver and passenger were ushered out of the cold and into custody.
Burlington City Council refuses to confirm police chief
The Progs on the Burlington City Council wanted more control over discipline of police officers. Mayor Weinberger wouldn’t give it to them. So they scotched his popular pick for police chief.
House vote on Prop 5 as soon as Friday
The House could vote on Prop 5 as soon as Friday, ending the legislative process of efforts to enshrine unrestricted abortion in the State Constitution. The governor has no veto powers, but the voters do – and they exercised them as recently as 1986.
Bill bans tracking coyotes with dogs
A bill sponsored by the entire Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee would prohibit tracking coyotes with dogs.
Prison guards, inmates suffering: UVM study
Volunteer groups want to help reduce the mental and emotional health crisis now plaguing the state’s prisons.
Student mental health crisis overwhelms schools, superintendent says
The growing amount, magnitude and complexity of student violence, vandalism, and sexualized and suicidal behaviors are overwhelming public schools.
Fatal crash in Elmore / Barre drug, gun bust
An Elmore man died in a one-car crash Friday.
Gun bill passes House; guv veto unclear
S30, restricting the carrying and purchasing of firearms, passed the Vermont House today. A veto is possible.
‘Hero To Zero’ describes treatment of unvaxxed hospital employee
An unvaccinated hospital employee says she has been discriminated against and shamed.
Power experts discuss $2.2 billion grid upgrade, planned blackouts
Vermont power grid officials hope federal $$ will cover the proposed $2.2 billion upgrade. And they’re prepping for possible – they say very unlikely – planned blackouts.
Slavery reparations, Abenaki land bills advance to committee discussion
Bills promoting slavery reparations and Abenaki land access and ownership will be reviewed this week by a Vermont House committee.
VT cannabis regulators reject doctors’ plea to reduce THC level
The state regulators of Vermont’s new cannabis industry won’t reduce the legal amount of THC – even though Vermont’s doctors say it is sending people to ERs with severe mental and physical problems.
Despite NRA warning, gun bill advances to House floor
S30, which the NRA says infringes on constitutional rights to buy and carry firearms, has cleared a Vermont House committee and now goes to the full House.
Survey: VT state employee happiness, morale dropping
Morale and job satisfaction among Vermont state employees are dropping, according to a state survey.
Omicron on the wane, VT officials say
Total cases, ICU hospitalizations, and deaths from the Omicron variant are trending down.
New bill: multi-lingual state government
A new bill would require state agencies serving “substantial” numbers of non-English speakers to provide translated documents and interpreters.
Pension deal reduces liability; Senate considers tax on services
A Senate committee is considering taxing professional services.
Attempted murder suspect from Barton busted driving stolen Mercedes
A teenager from Barton caught by Connecticut police in a stolen Mercedes will be returned to Vermont to answer an attempted murder charge.
Rise of homeschooling topic at School Choice luncheon Thursday
The annual School Choice Week luncheon at Capitol Plaza will feature a strong homeschooling focus this year.
Benning, Thayer vie for GOP Lt. Gov. nomination
In both the Vermont Democratic and Republican primaries for the open lieutenant governor post, State House veterans are being challenged by grassroots activists.
Dartmouth cave to VT Antifa threats under investigation
A free speech group is investigating Dartmouth College’s decision to ban journalist Andy Ngo’s in-person speech in response to opposition by two Vermont Antifa groups.
Evslin: ‘Affordable housing’ must address Act 250
Why isn’t middle-class housing being built to meet the aching demand? Tom Evslin points to one BIG reason: Act 250 makes it unaffordable.
Speak out tonight against legal prostitution
Vermonters can speak out tonight against the push to legalize prostitution in Burlington and Vermont.
With price of average VT home $369K, Guv wants $145 mil to add housing
Gov. Phil Scott bemoans the high price of housing. His solution budgets lots of federal money.
Prop 5 abortion amendment public hearing at State House Wednesday
A public hearing on Proposition 5, the proposed enshrining of abortion in the Vermont Constitution, will take place Wednesday 6 pm at the Vermont State House and online.
Vermont media vie for advertising in Senate committee today
Will Vermont’s emerging online news media pry a lucrative form of advertising away from traditional newspapers?
Learn about Prop 5 at tomorrow’s Rally for Life
The annual Vermont Rally for Life will gather in Montpelier Saturday, January 22 – the 49th anniversary of Roe V. Wade.
Statewide mask mandate dead: news report
The leader of the Vermont Senate reportedly said a statewide mask mandate is going nowhere this year.
Bill increases daily board/commission pay from $50 to $125
A new House bill would raise the per diem pay for the growing number of state boards and commissions from $50 to $125.
Career Day, next year?
Career Day at Vermont schools could have a whole new look.
‘Green hydrogen’ heating fuel coming to Global Foundries
With help from VT Gas and UVM, Global Foundries will extract hydrogen from water and blend it into its natural gas lines.
Dartmouth Cancels Ngo Event after Vermont-connected Antifa Threats
A Portland, Oregon Antifa member offered cash to anyone who could assault journalist Andy Ngo at Dartmouth last night. In the face of threats, Ngo’s talk was held online at the request of college authorities.
Drug bust charges dismissed, records sealed
Update: records sealed after charges were dismissed.
Senate bill seeks vision, road test for drivers 75 and older
A new Senate bill would require drivers 75 and older to pass vision and road tests before having their licenses renewed.
Covid listed as “Cause A” on 26% of VT Covid death certificates
Covid was “Cause A” on 26% of all Vermont Covid-related death certificates from April 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021. About a third of all 440 deaths were confirmed Covid-related by laboratory testing.
Senate committee OKs easier access to lethal end-of-life drugs
A bill making it easier to obtain lethal end-of-life drugs has cleared a Senate committee and now goes to the full Senate for approval.
Bank robber busted
A Springfield man is the suspect in a string of local bank robberies.
Spend big fed $$ to overcome chronic worker, housing shortages, Scott proposes
Vermont’s housing and worker shortages aren’t going away. Time to hit them with unprecedented amounts of federal dollars, Gov. Phil Scott recommended Tuesday in his budget address.
Conserve 50% of all land in Vermont, Natural Resources chair says
The Global Deal for Nature would conserve half of the globe’s total land and sea area from development. A bill by the chair of the Vermont Natural Resources, Fish & Wildlife Committee would ensure that Vermont does its part. The committee will review the bill Thursday morning.
Peter McCullough calls Nass psych eval demand “unprecedented, unjustified, illegal”
A leading ‘dissident’ physician is defending Dr. Meryl Nass, the Maine physician ordered to undergo a psych evaluation after she prescribed hydroxychloroquine for a Covid-19 patient.
Poll: 43% of Vermonters disapprove of Biden’s work
President Joe Biden’s support has dropped by a full third among Vermonters since the November, 2020 election, a VPR-PBS poll says.
Former legislator dies after taking prescribed lethal drugs
Critics of an “update” to Vermont’s 2013 doctor-prescribed death law say a pandemic is a terrible time to remove safeguards intended to protect vulnerable adults from abuse.
Health declining in Vermont during pandemic, UVM study says
Vermonters’ health is declining during the pandemic – and not just due to Covid-19 itself, a new UVM study says.
New Vermont bills limiting abortion likely unconstitutional if Prop 5 passes
Three bills introduced by pro-life lawmakers would likely be ruled unconstitutional if an abortion-enshrining constitutional amendment is approved.
Rally for Life this Saturday in Montpelier
The annual Vermont Rally for Life will gather in Montpelier Saturday, January 22 – the 49th anniversary of Roe V. Wade.
Bill discourages jail time for parents with minor children
Lawmakers pushing decarceration are backing a bill discouraging jail time for parents of minors.
Doctor opposing vax mandate ordered to get psych evaluation
The State of Maine has ordered an outspoken anti-vax mandate doctor with Vermont connections to get a psych eval or risk losing her license.
Pension deal cuts $2 billion from $4.5 billion shortfall
There’s finally a deal to cut billions from the State of Vermont unfunded pension liability. Now just $2.5 billion to go.
Prostitution legalization bill introduced
A new bill proposing decriminalization of prostitution has been introduced into the Vermont House.
Thayer ponders run for lt. governor
A Rutland grassroots activist may run for lieutenant governor.
Bill targets ‘renewable’ status of Big Hydro
Hydro-Quebec – Vermont’s largest source of carbon-free electricity – shouldn’t be considered renewable power, say sponsors of a bill introduced this week.
Barre City legislators deny voters’ will on City Hall Park flag charter change
Little did Barre City voters know, when they voted almost 2-1 on a City Hall Park flag-flying ordinance, that their own legislators would quietly eliminate it months later.
The Peril of the Federal Billions
No-one – except John McClaughry – is asking what we will do when the flood of federal money ends.
GOP bill: no ‘safe spaces’ discrimination at government meetings
A Senate bill would end the practice of excluding participation at government meetings on the basis of race.
Donahue: Proposal 5 threatens health care provider conscience protection
Proposal 5 would protect any abortion, for any reason, until the moment of birth. Doctors and nurses whose consciences forbid them from taking the life of the unborn would have no protection.
Statewide mask mandate bill proposed
A group of lawmakers who last year wanted Gov. Scott to impose a mask mandate in high transmission areas now have introduced a bill to accomplish the same goal.
Rutland man indicted for drug trafficking, unlawful gun possession
A Rutland man has been using drugs to coerce women to perform commercial sex acts, and has ‘pistol-whipped’ multiple people, police say.
Balint promises big spending of federal $$, suing cops, unlimited abortion, Town Meeting changes
Sueing police and getting unlimited abortion into the state Constitution are part of Senate leader Becca Balint’s 2022 legislative agenda.
Less than 7% of VT inpatient beds in use for Covid
No Omicron tsunami has swamped Vermont’s 17 hospitals yet. A third of the state’s inpatient and ICU beds are unoccupied. Covid-19 accounts for 7% of inpatient beds, 14% of ICU beds.
Medellin, 34, charged with heroin dealing
Kassandra Medellin, 34, of Newport has been charged with selling heroin.
‘A Living Angel’
Tinsley the German Shepherd is the first bone-a-fido hero of the New Year.
Burlington Y requires vax AND masks
The YMCA of Burlington now requires everyone who enters to wear a mask and show proof of vaccination.
Mother and son shot in Holland
Mother and son in car found victim of gunshot wounds.
Strong: Faith not Fear
A Vermont legislator in the thick of the battle for vaccine and mask mandate freedom is also a pastor’s wife. And she has a word for Vermonters facing an uncertain 2022..
Knights of Columbus bring Nativity to State House lawn
Gather this Sunday, January 2 on the State House lawn to celebrate the Nativity and pray for Vermont.
#3 read story of `21: Covid kills more vaxxed Vermonters than unvaxxed for third straight month (November 30)
In November, for the third month in a row, Covid-19 killed more fully vaccinated Vermont residents than unvaccinated.
Letter: Participate as humans and not political parties
Political collectives of special interest are depriving humanity of its just priority.
Top News ’21: Essex student and CRT critic fired from lifeguard job (June 17)
It takes a village to attack a teenager.
Alex Katsnelson was fired by the Village of Essex Junction from his position as a lifeguard at the Maple Street pool due to his public opposition to Critical Race Theory as taught at Essex High School.
Top News `21: Brattleboro cops resign, PD down to two shifts (June 3)
In this June 3 news story, a slew of resignations in the past year had left the remaining Brattleboro cops exhausted, the town’s police chief told selectboard members. As a result, patrol coverage dropped from three shifts to two.
Rally for Life Jan. 22 in Montpelier
The annual Vermont Rally for Life will gather in Montpelier Saturday, January 22 – the 49th anniversary of Roe V. Wade.
Fireovid: Say no to gender fluidity and comprehensive sex ed in schools
Gender fluidity is a religion because it affirms that individuals have an identity which transcends physical reality.
Hunters take more than 15,000 deer
A smaller deer herd and challenging hunting conditions resulted in a lower than usual harvest this year.
CFV looks back at 2021 Legislature, looks ahead
Campaign for Vermont sees pension reform, water quality, and tourism, workforce and broadband development as crucial areas of improvement in 2022.
Burlington mayor: Council makes new police chief hire unlikely
Kinda hard to hire a new police chief when the Burlington City Council won’t let Mayor Miro Weinberger pay him/her enough or delegate authority to discipline officers.
GMP continues carbon-cutting customer rebates
Switching from fossil fuels to heat, drive, ride and mow will continue to save $$ for rebate-using GMP ratepayers in 2022.
Scott names Superior Court judges
Beth Novotny, Heather Gray, and Justin Jiron have been appointed to Vermont Superior Court judgeships.
Lawmakers, staff must test or show vax passport to enter State House
Vax passports or testing will be required of every lawmaker and State House staffer, under a draft plan approved yesterday. It will be “strongly recommended” for visitors.
Cited for embezzling more than $200K
A Waterford woman is due in court next month to face charges of embezzling over $200,000 from two St. Johnsbury companies.
