Vermont news

• Utilities Talk Recovery Efforts As Thousands Remain Without Power After Fierce Wind Storm dlvr.it/PylcxM https://t.co/BH91gJLtZV

  01-11-2017 22:20 via twitter.com
  
  Utilities Talk Recovery Efforts As Thousands Remain Without Power After Fierce Wind Storm dlvr.it/PylcxM https://t.co/BH91gJLtZV
  
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• LISTEN: Utilities Talk Recovery Efforts As Thousands Remain Without Power After Fierce Wind Storm… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…

  01-11-2017 22:20 via twitter.com
  LISTEN: Utilities Talk Recovery Efforts As Thousands Remain Without Power After Fierce Wind Storm… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
  
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• Sen. Ingram apologizes for DUI, says she will continue to serve

  01-11-2017 22:15 via vtdigger.org
  State Sen. Debbie Ingram, D-Chittenden, front right, on the first day of the legislative session in January. File photo by Anne Galloway/VTDiggerBURLINGTON — State Sen. Debbie Ingram, D-Chittenden, apologized Wednesday for driving under the influence, saying she takes full responsibility for her actions and would like to put the incident behind her.
  Ingram, 55, was arrested Oct. 12 near her Williston home after leaving the road and crashing her car before continuing on and veering off the
  
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• Rutland Town nixes shift to town manager

  01-11-2017 21:55 via vtdigger.org
  RUTLAND TOWN — That didn’t take long.
  Just days after holding a meeting to hear the pros and cons of various forms of municipal government, the town’s Selectboard decided it isn’t the right time to make a change.
  The five-member board voted 4-1 this week to keep the current town administrator form of government.The board had been looking at different municipal government structures in the wake of the firing of Town Administrator Joseph Zingale in September.Mary Ashcroft,
  
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• Donovan backs overtime pay for low-wage workers

  01-11-2017 21:15 via vtdigger.org
  Attorney General TJ Donovan has joined eight other state attorneys general in seeking to protect overtime pay for working-class people who work more than 40 hours per week.
  The issue at hand is an overtime rule for salaried workers that former President Barack Obama’s Department of Labor attempted to implement. The rule raised the salary at which workers would not be eligible for time-and-a-half pay if they worked more than 40 hours in a week.
  Historically, the salary threshold under the U
  
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• UPDATED: Montpelier’s Mayor Hollar won’t seek another term

  01-11-2017 20:52 via vtdigger.org
  Mayor John Hollar and his wife, Jen, walk in the Montpelier Independence Day parade in 2015. File photo by Roger Crowley(This story was updated Nov. 1 at 9:30 p.m.)
  Montpelier Mayor John Hollar will not seek re-election in March, the three-term city leader said Wednesday.
  A lobbyist and attorney by trade, Hollar said he has no immediate plans to seek other political office, although he left the door open to a future role at the state or local level.
  An imbroglio last year involving City Manager
  
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• Montpelier’s Mayor Hollar won’t seek another term

  01-11-2017 20:52 via vtdigger.org
  Mayor John Hollar and his wife, Jen, walk in the Montpelier Independence Day parade in 2015. File photo by Roger CrowleyMontpelier Mayor John Hollar will not seek re-election in March, the three-term city leader said Wednesday.
  A lobbyist and attorney by trade, Hollar said he has no immediate plans to seek other political office, although he left the door open to a future role at the state or local level.
  An imbroglio last year involving City Manager Bill Fraser’s employment influenced the
  
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• News Match Challenge update: $8,000 to go

  01-11-2017 19:55 via vtdigger.org
  Dear Friends:
  Here are at VTDigger, we are excited to be heading into the final months of 2017 with a number of successes.
  The Vermont Supreme Court unanimously ruled that public officials who use private emails for government business are subject to the Vermont Public Records Act, ending the use of a loophole that completely undermined the public’s right to know law. VTDigger led the effort to support the case with an amicus brief on behalf of state news organizations.
  Our investigation i
  
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• Man wanted on murder, arson charges after Townshend fire

  01-11-2017 19:50 via vtdigger.org
  Vermont State Police investigators sift through debris Wednesday looking for clues into a Friday fire in Townshend. Authorities say two people whose bodies were found had been shot to death. Photo by Kristopher Radder/Brattleboro Reformer(This story is by Bob Audette of the Brattleboro Reformer, in which it first appeared.)
  TOWNSHEND — Police have issued an arrest warrant for a Massachusetts man in connection with the shooting deaths of two people whose bodies were found in the burned-out
  
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• LISTEN: Exploring Vermont's 'Hidden History' dlvr.it/PykCLm https://t.co/1tWL1dmXRy

  01-11-2017 19:04 via twitter.com
  
  LISTEN: Exploring Vermont's 'Hidden History' dlvr.it/PykCLm https://t.co/1tWL1dmXRy
  
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• UVM Medical Center offers storm cleanup safety tips

  01-11-2017 18:15 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — UVM Medical CenterOctober 31, 2017
  Contact:Annie Mackin(802) 847-2886
  Vermonters advised to follow safety precautions during storm cleanup
  UVM Medical Center offers tips for avoiding injury, staying out of the hospital
  BURLINGTON (VT) – After admitting several patients who sustained serious injuries while clearing debris from the storm that impacted Vermonters statewide, physicians and staff at The University of Vermont Medical Center are advising everyone to use cauti
  
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• Rutland Regional Medical Center receives ‘A’ for patient safety

  01-11-2017 17:57 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Rutland Regional Medical CenterNovember 1, 2017
  Media Contact:Peg Bolgioni, Marketing & Public Relations 802.772.2843 or [email protected]
  Rutland, VT. – The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit health care ratings organization, today released new Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. The Safety Grade assigns letter grades of A, B, C, D and F to hospitals nationwide based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms. Rutland Regional Me
  
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• Vermont 2018: A preview of political issues and solutions

  01-11-2017 17:51 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Indivisible CalaisNov. 1, 2017
  Contact:Indivisible CalaisBarbara Butler, [email protected], 456-8804Linda Schutz, [email protected], 229-6861
  A Panel Discussion Featuring ACLU-VT, VPRIG, VT Rights and Democracy
  CALAIS, VT – In advance of the upcoming Legislative Session, Indivisible Calais is hosting a panel discussion with presenters from three Vermont advocacy groups to offer a preview of what social, economic and environmental justice issues Vermonte
  
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• GMP crews continue significant progress restoring power

  01-11-2017 17:44 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Green Mountain PowerNov. 1, 2017
  Contact:Kristin Carlson, Green Mountain Power802-229-8200
  GMP Crews Continue Significant Progress Restoring Power to 111,750 Vermont Homes and Businesses After Massive Wind Storm
  § Crews have restored power to 111,750 homes and businesses§ 100 additional lineworkers joined more than 500 internal and external lineworkers and tree trimmers§ Crews will continue working 24/7 to restore power to 8620 remaining without power§ Up
  
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• VEC outage and restoration update – Wednesday a.m.

  01-11-2017 17:38 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — VECNov. 1, 2017
  Contact:Andrea Cohen, ManagerGovernment Affairs and Member RelationsVermont Electric Cooperative802-696-9036
  VEC Outage and Restoration Update – Wednesday a.m.
  Wednesday started with 6,383 VEC members without power. Crews are out in full force this morning working hard to get the power back on. At the height of the event we had a total of 22,015 member outages so we have made significant restoration progress. We now have help from crews who arrived last
  
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• November events and deals at Vermont resorts

  01-11-2017 17:19 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Ski VermontOct. 31, 2017
  Contact:Chloe ElliottCommunications Manager, Ski Vermont802-223-2439, [email protected]
  November is here and that means winter will soon be upon us. Get in the snowy spirit and take advantage of Vermont’s excitement for the days to come with resort offerings of festive events and money saving deals.
  EventsNovember 1-15 2017 – November Wine Series at Trapp Family LodgeJoin the Trapp Family Lodge during the month of November for their fo
  
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• Wardens arrest suspect in Northeast Kingdom moose poaching case

  01-11-2017 17:14 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Fish & WildlifeOctober 31, 2017
  Media Contacts:Col. Jason Batchelder, 802-828-1483; Sgt. Trevor Szymanowski, 802-751-0103
  IRASBURG, Vt. – Vermont State Game Wardens arrested a suspect in a high-profile Northeast Kingdom moose poaching case this weekend. Gerin Fortin, 20, of Irasburg was arrested on Sunday and charged with six counts of big game violations, including taking game by illegal means and in a closed season, and two counts of shooting from a motor
  
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• Agency of Natural Resources invites public comment on draft plan for Camel’s Hump Management Unit

  01-11-2017 17:08 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Department of Forest, Parks & RecreationOctober 31, 2017
  Media Contact:Jason Nerenberg,District Stewardship ForesterDepartment of Forests, Parks & RecreationAgency of Natural Resources(802) 879-6565
  The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) has recently completed a draft long-range management plan for the Camel’s Hump Management Unit, including Camel’s Hump State Park, Camel’s Hump State Forest, Robbins Mountain Wildlife Management Area, and Hun
  
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• Vermont Health Connect enrollment begins Nov. 1, ends Dec. 15

  01-11-2017 16:53 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Office of the Health Care AdvocateOctober 30, 2017
  Contact:Mike FisherChief Health Care AdvocateOffice of the Health Care AdvocateVermont Legal Aid
  [email protected]
  The Office of the Health Care Advocate Urges Vermonters to Act Soon and Reach Out with Questions
  Open Enrollment on Vermont Health Connect starts on November 1. The Office of the Health Care Advocate (HCA) encourages Vermonters to act soon to enroll in a 2018 Vermont Health Connect plan. The Ope
  
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• Medicaid review board lifts liver damage restriction on life-saving cures for Vermonters with hepatitis C

  01-11-2017 16:46 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Office of the Health Care AdvocateOctober 30, 2017
  Contact:Mike FisherChief Health Care AdvocateOffice of the Health Care AdvocateVermont Legal Aid
  [email protected]
  Office of the Health Care Advocate and Coalition Continue Advocacy to Ensure Treatment for All
  At its meeting on October 24, Vermont Medicaid’s Drug Utilization Review Board (DURB) voted to lift the liver damage restriction that currently prevents many Vermont Medicaid patients with&n
  
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• BCBSVT Medicare Part D Drug Plan receives highest five-star quality rating

  01-11-2017 16:29 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of VermontOctober 26, 2017
  Contact:Sara Teachout(802) 371-3254
  BCBSVT reduces its rates on its Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and is the only Vermont plan to receive a five-star rating for 2018 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
  Berlin – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) is pleased to announce its competitively-priced, highest-ranking Medicare Part D prescription drug plan options for 2018. BCBSVT
  
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• via twitter.com
  Mark Bushnell, author of "Hidden History of Vermont," talks about stories from the state's past on today's show: dlvr.it/PyZSNt #VT
  

• Senior meals site change in Bennington sparks criticism

  01-11-2017 11:55 via vtdigger.org
  MANCHESTER — Meals on Wheels of Bennington County is fielding criticism over its decision to stop serving lunches at Town Hall and invite seniors to attend meals in Arlington instead.
  Executive Director Ilsa Svoboda, who announced the decision last week, was confronted Tuesday by several seniors at the Manchester site, who sharply questioned the need to discontinue the service and the reasoning provided by Svoboda — that attendance was not high enough to justify the lease and other e
  
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• Google, Facebook and Twitter come under congressional scrutiny

  01-11-2017 11:45 via vtdigger.org
  Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., right, and Al Franken, D-Minn.,at a hearing. File photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDiggerWASHINGTON — Executives from Google, Facebook and Twitter testified before Congress Tuesday about their role in a massive Internet misinformation campaign pushed by Russian propagandists to influence the 2016 presidential election.The Senate Judiciary Committee grilled the tech giants about how their platforms were used by Russians to disseminate propaganda through fake news stor
  
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• Rob Roper: Repeal Vermont’s certificate of need laws

  01-11-2017 00:30 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Robert Roper, the president of the Ethan AllenInstitute. He lives in Stowe.
  Kevin Mullin, chairman of the Green Mountain Care Board, appeared on the WDEV radio program “Open Mike” (Oct. 11) to discuss certificate of need laws in the wake of a controversy regarding Copley Hospital and its highly successful orthopedic surgery center. Copley is, apparently, generating too much revenue as the result of being highly efficient, performing more sur
  
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• Jon Glascoe: The blame game

  01-11-2017 00:26 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Jon Glascoe, of Randolph, who is a screenwriter, a filmmaker and a Democrat.
  Amazon, the largest company in the world, has spent months soliciting offers from towns and cities throughout America for where to build their next empire. Virtually every state is bidding to become Amazon’s second home. Some are even offering to amend their tax codes to make themselves more attractive to the bosses in Silicon Valley. Light rail has been discussed to make
  
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• William Thwing: Carbon tax proven effective

  01-11-2017 00:23 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by William C. Thwing, of Bennington, a member of Bennington Climate Advocates and the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. This is based on his testimony at the Governor’s Climate Action Commission hearing in Manchester on Sept. 21.
  My name is Bill Thwing, I live in Bennington where I am a member of Bennington Climate Advocates which is a node of 350.org. I am also a member of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. We want to thank Gov. Scott and the members o
  
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