Vermont news

• Southwestern Vermont Health Care raises $225,000

  07-12-2017 23:22 via vtdigger.org
  News release — Southwestern Vermont Health CareDec. 6, 2017
  Contact:Ashley Brenon JowettCommunications & Marketing SpecialistPhone: 802.447.5019 | Fax: 802.447.5214
  [email protected]
  BENNINGTON, VT—December 6, 2017— Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) hosted a sold-out crowd of more than 330 people at the 8th Annual Harvest Ball on September 9 at the Hubbell Homestead in Bennington. The event raised over $225,000.
  Dartmouth-Hitchcock was the title sponsor o
  
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• With Franken departing, Sanders calls on Trump to follow

  07-12-2017 23:20 via vtdigger.org
  Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., outside the U.S. Capitol. File photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDiggerWASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. said Thursday that President Donald Trump should “think about resigning” over allegations of past sexual misconduct.
  Sanders made his comments on “CBS This Morning” early Thursday when he was asked about his call for Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., to step down amid reports of misbehavior toward women.
  Sanders said there is a need for a &ldq
  
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• Governor Scott visits Barton Christmas tree farm

  07-12-2017 22:47 via vtdigger.org
  News release — Vermont Agency of AgricultureDec. 6, 2017
  Contact:Trevor Audet
  [email protected]
  Barton, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott and Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts visited the Vermont Christmas Tree Farm in Barton Wednesday to highlight the importance of these businesses to the rural Vermont landscape and economy. After touring the farm with owners Bill and Sue Tester, Governor Scott cut three trees, two for his offices in Montpelier and one to bring home. T
  
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• Scott sees potential ‘economic boon’ in climate change

  07-12-2017 22:10 via vtdigger.org
  Gov. Phil Scott at a news conference Thursday. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDiggerGlobal warming is undeniably taking place and could prove an “economic boon” for Vermont, Gov. Phil Scott said Thursday.
  Scott said, however, that the warming of the Earth’s climate also carries negative effects for the U.S. and other countries.
  “Climate change is going to happen — it’s happening,” he said. “When we look across the U.S. and see that climate patterns have
  
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• Blue Cross and Blue Shield offer Medicare Part D prescription plan

  07-12-2017 21:52 via vtdigger.org
  News release — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of VermontDec. 7, 2017
  Contact:Kathy McNallyCoordinator, External AffairsBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
  [email protected](802) 371-3205
  Berlin – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) reminds Vermonters of its high-ranking Medicare Part D prescription drug plan options.
  BCBSVT, in a joint venture with three other New England Blue plans, contracts with the federal government to offer prescription drug coverage, called Blue Med
  
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• New carbon tax proposal would lower power rates

  07-12-2017 21:47 via vtdigger.org
  Rep. Sarah Copeland Hanzas, D-Bradford, pitches a carbon dioxide pollution tax Wednesday in Burlington. Photo by Mike Polhamus/VTDigger
  In the wake of record-setting fall temperatures, two Vermont lawmakers announced Wednesday that they will seek a tax on propane, natural gas, heating fuel and gas. The so-called carbon tax is designed to curb fossil use and carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change.Money collected from the tax would be used to significantly lower electricity rat
  
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• Leahy announces $3,000,000 grant to help Vermont children

  07-12-2017 21:32 via vtdigger.org
  News release — Senator Patrick LeahyDec. 7, 2017
  Contact:Charlotte Blend(802) 861-2580
  [email protected]
  South Burlington 12/7/17 – Senator Patrick Leahy will join Lund for a press conference on Monday December 11th at Lund’s Hoehl Family Building at 50 Joy Drive in South Burlington at 11am. The Senator will announce the 5 year, $3,000,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families to establish the Vermont Family Rec
  
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• Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation publishes annual report

  07-12-2017 21:18 via vtdigger.org
  News release — Brattleboro Development Credit CorporationDec. 7, 2017
  Contact:Jennifer Stromsten
  [email protected]
  BRATTLEBORO, VT – The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) & Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) have published their 2017 Annual Report, the first combined Annual Report from BDCC & SeVEDS. The report documents the programs and projects, planning and partnerships that characterize the work of the region&
  
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• Health officials: Time to get your flu shot

  07-12-2017 20:51 via vtdigger.org
  News release — Vermont Department of HealthDec. 6, 2017
  Ben Truman | Public Health Communication Officer
  [email protected]: 802.951.5153Mobile: 802.316.2117
  http://healthvermont.gov
  BURLINGTON – Vermont health officials say we may be in for a rough flu season, and are advising people to get their flu shot to protect both themselves as well as others, such as children too young to be vaccinated.
  “Especially now, during the holiday season of crowds and gatherings of
  
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• Mary Evslin: ‘I depend on VTDigger to unearth the details.’

  07-12-2017 20:23 via vtdigger.org
  Our readers are passionate about their news — and they step up to make sure that VTDigger’s high-quality, investigative journalism keeps all Vermonters informed and educated about important issues facing our state.
  Please join Mary Evslin and others in supporting our annual fund campaign. We need you to make sure that we can keep digging!
  Be a Digger Champion. Donate nowMary Evslin 
  VTDigger is essential to me and to Vermont. Nowhere else can I get the objective in-depth inform
  
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• Welch joins majority of House Dems to vote down Trump impeachment

  07-12-2017 19:58 via vtdigger.org
  Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., outside the Capitol in Washington. File photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDigger
  WASHINGTON — Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., voted with the majority of House Democrats Wednesday to kill a measure to impeach President Donald Trump.
  Though Welch is “quite sympathetic” to the arguments in the impeachment resolution, he said he voted against it because he believes the best way to hold Trump accountable is to allow an investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller
  
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• LISTEN: Vanishing Vermont: Peacham Photographer's Book Captures 'Last Of The Hill Farms' dlvr.it/Q4s0lN https://t.co/ACcAF1htJp

  07-12-2017 19:54 via twitter.com
  
  LISTEN: Vanishing Vermont: Peacham Photographer's Book Captures 'Last Of The Hill Farms' dlvr.it/Q4s0lN https://t.co/ACcAF1htJp
  
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• LISTEN: Rutland Mayor Allaire Addresses City's Challenges, Vision dlvr.it/Q4rt8V https://t.co/8u3E8lMzx9

  07-12-2017 19:38 via twitter.com
  
  LISTEN: Rutland Mayor Allaire Addresses City's Challenges, Vision dlvr.it/Q4rt8V https://t.co/8u3E8lMzx9
  
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• Burlington Mayoral Candidate Culcleasure convicted in 1990s for cocaine charges

  07-12-2017 19:14 via vtdigger.org
  Infinite Culcleasure, independent candidates for Burlington mayor, seeks the endorsement of the Progressive Party. Photo by Cory Dawson/VTDiggerBurlington mayoral candidate Infinite Culcleasure was jailed on felony cocaine charges in the early 1990s, news clippings and court documents show.
  Culcleasure is running as an independent for the mayor’s office against Carina Driscoll, an independent former state representative and stepdaughter of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Driscoll and Culcleasur
  
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• House Speaker Johnson On Education Funding, State Carbon Tax And Paid Family Leave dlvr.it/Q4rdGn https://t.co/xwCZzjZbnn

  07-12-2017 19:04 via twitter.com
  
  House Speaker Johnson On Education Funding, State Carbon Tax And Paid Family Leave dlvr.it/Q4rdGn https://t.co/xwCZzjZbnn
  
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• ‘The Bachelor’ films opening scenes in Manchester

  07-12-2017 19:02 via vtdigger.org
  “The Bachelor” filmed an opening segment for its spin-off production “Bachelor: Winter Games” in Manchester this week. The “Winter Games” spinoff will be filmed somewhere in Vermont though a location has not been announced. Photo by Holly Pelczynski/Bennington Banner(This story by Cherise Madigan was published in the Bennington Banner on Dec. 7, 2017.
  MANCHESTER — Manchester reveled in its moment before the television cameras this week on Main Street, wh
  
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• Ibex Outdoor Clothing to liquidate

  07-12-2017 17:53 via vtdigger.org
  (This story by John Lippman was first published in the Valley News on Dec 1, 2017.)
  WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Ibex Outdoor Clothing, struggling in a rapidly changing retail environment, said it is shutting down, liquidating and seeking a buyer for its remaining assets.
  “Ibex will fully wind down its current operations sometime in February of 2018,” the company said in a news release on Dec. 1.
  The move comes after the White River Junction maker of outdoor apparel laid off 12 emplo
  
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• License plate debate causes concern, confusion

  07-12-2017 17:30 via vtdigger.org
  Vermont license plates are produced at Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans. Vermont Department of Corrections photoEliminating front license plates on most vehicles in Vermont would save a lot less money than some initially thought, according to a new report.
  The state Department of Motor Vehicles estimates that producing only one plate for cars and light trucks would reduce its annual expenses by $111,000 due to reduced costs for materials, manufacturing and postage.
  State lawma
  
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• Vanishing Vermont: Peacham Photographer's Book Captures 'Last Of The Hill Farms' dlvr.it/Q4ppQv https://t.co/fvrqiD3MT3

  07-12-2017 15:12 via twitter.com
  
  Vanishing Vermont: Peacham Photographer's Book Captures 'Last Of The Hill Farms' dlvr.it/Q4ppQv https://t.co/fvrqiD3MT3
  
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• Rutland Mayor Dave Allaire joins us on today's show for a look at his first nine months in office and the hurdles t… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…

  07-12-2017 14:52 via twitter.com
  Rutland Mayor Dave Allaire joins us on today's show for a look at his first nine months in office and the hurdles t… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
  
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• Give today and get a signed Sabra Field book.

  07-12-2017 12:05 via vtdigger.org
  Dear friends,
  Thanks to the generosity of our readers, we have raised $167,245 for our annual fund drive so far. We are grateful to the many readers who have made a commitment to support VTDigger.One of our supporters is Vermont artist Sabra Field who made a gift during our Spring Fund Drive. Sabra then asked us to join her for a retrospective show at Middlebury College. More than 100 people came for a fascinating conversation about truth, news and art. Afterward, Sabra volunteered to do anythin
  
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• State to spend $31 million on Act 46 school district mergers, so far

  07-12-2017 11:44 via vtdigger.org
  Financial analysts say the state will spend $31 million over a three-year period on tax incentives to towns for school district mergers.In fiscal year 2019 alone, taxpayers will subsidize $16.1 million in tax breaks for towns that merge school districts.The Joint Fiscal Office says that will be the high water mark year for the incentives. The amount needed for tax breaks will decline in the outgoing years because of the structure of the incentives. In the first year, towns get an 8 cent tax brea
  
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• Burlington Progressives endorse Driscoll in mayoral race

  07-12-2017 11:17 via vtdigger.org
  Carina Driscoll and Infinite Culcleasure, independent candidates for Burlington mayor, vie for the Progressive Party endorsement.Photo by Cory Dawson/VTDiggerBurlington Progressives endorsed Carina Driscoll in the race for mayor.
  Driscoll announced her candidacy on Monday. She is a former state representative and Burlington City Councilor, and Sen. Bernie Sanders’ stepdaughter. Driscoll is running as an independent against incumbent Mayor Miro Weinberger, a Democrat, and Infinite Culcleasu
  
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• WATCH LIVE: VTDigger panel discussion on Lake Champlain cleanup

  07-12-2017 10:22 via vtdigger.org
  
  Join us on Thursday, December 7 at 5:30pm for a panel discussion about the clean up of Lake Champlain.
  Toxic blue-green algae blooms have led to the closure of Lake Carmi and beaches on Lake Champlain. In 2016, a bloom threatened the water supply for the city of Burlington.About 42 percent of the phosphorus pollution comes from the state’s 1,100 dairy farms. Paved parking lots, stormwater systems and dirt roads also contribute to the problem
  
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• Vermont lowers sales tax estimates for online and out-of-state purchases

  07-12-2017 03:34 via vtdigger.org
  Rep. Janet Ancel, D-Calais, is chairwoman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. File photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDiggerIn the coming months, Vermont will sharply reduce estimates for online and out-of-state sales tax payments.
  In a little-noticed change lawmakers passed this year, the amounts that people are told to use when calculating tax are being cut in half, effective for the 2017 tax year.
  “The thought was that by reducing the table” with which the substitute sales
  
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• Vermont eases the squeeze on online, out-of-state sales tax

  07-12-2017 03:34 via vtdigger.org
  Rep. Janet Ancel, D-Calais, is chairwoman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. File photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDiggerIn the coming months, Vermont will sharply reduce estimates for online and out-of-state sales tax payments.
  In a little-noticed change lawmakers passed this year, the amounts that people are told to use when calculating tax are being cut in half, effective for the 2017 tax year.
  “The thought was that by reducing the table” with which the substitute sales
  
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• Vermont eases the squeeze for substitute sales tax

  07-12-2017 03:34 via vtdigger.org
  Rep. Janet Ancel, D-Calais, is chairwoman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. File photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDiggerVermont’s struggle to collect sales and use tax from its residents takes a new turn in the coming months, with a sharp reduction in what taxpayers who don’t keep track of purchases will be expected to pay.
  In a little-noticed change lawmakers passed this year, the amounts that people are told to use when calculating tax on out-of-state, online and catalo
  
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• House advances gun package as Senate mulls own changes

  07-12-2017 02:42 via vtdigger.org
  Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt. File photo by Kristopher Radder/Brattleboro ReformerWASHINGTON — The House advanced a package of changes to federal firearms laws Wednesday that includes a controversial measure easing restrictions on carrying concealed guns across state lines.
  Meanwhile, a Senate committee took testimony on two bills that have some support across party lines: One would strengthen the national background check system; the other would crack down on devices that increase the firing ra
  
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• Julie Moore: Clean power for clean water

  07-12-2017 01:05 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Julie Moore, the secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.
  There’s been a lot of conversation lately around how to fund long-term clean water efforts in Vermont. Having personally worked on waterway cleanup in Vermont for 15 years, I am deeply aware of the long-term nature of the challenges we’re facing. We are a small state with a big task ahead of us and while this work is not insurmountable, finding solutions that have broad-b
  
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• David Zuckerman: Uniting against abuse

  07-12-2017 01:00 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Vermont Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, a Progressive from Hinesburg.
  Public revelations of sexual assault and misconduct against women and children, such as those making headlines over the last few months, are deeply disturbing. How can anyone think such actions are OK? My hope is that we are leaving behind a time of impunity for abusers, who believed their actions would never be reported or given proper consideration.
  These assaults have torn the fabric of
  
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• Sandra Levine: An innovative climate policy for Vermont

  07-12-2017 00:55 via vtdigger.org
   
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Sandra Levine, who is a senior attorney with the Conservation Law Foundation in Montpelier.Recent oil spills, short-sighted decisions and global climate talks highlight clearly that we still have a long way to go to meet our climate change goals. The Keystone oil spill destroyed farmland and threatened drinking water. Just days later, Nebraska regulators approved the route for an expanded Keystone pipeline. This will carry even more toxic oil acr
  
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• Governor says he’ll sign legislation allowing marijuana possession

  07-12-2017 00:53 via vtdigger.org
  Gov. Phil Scott speaks at a press conference. File photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDiggerGov. Phil Scott says he will stand by his commitment to support legislation that would legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana in Vermont.
  “I made that commitment. It’s a libertarian approach,” the governor said Friday during an interview on Vermont Public Radio’s “Vermont Edition.”However, he said that before supporting a measure to set up a regulatory and tax sys
  
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