Vermont news

• 2018 Personal Income Tax Season Officially Opens Jan. 29

  22-01-2018 22:29 via vtdigger.org
  For Immediate Release
  Contact: Kate Strousse
  Executive Assistant to the Commissioner
  Vermont Department of Taxes
  (802) 828-3763 or [email protected]
  2018 Personal Income Tax Season Officially Opens Jan. 29
  Montpelier, Vt., Jan. 22, 2018—The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that they will begin accepting federal returns on Jan. 29, one week later than last year, to ensure the security and readiness of its tax processing systems and to assess the potential impact of recen
  
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• UPDATED: Congress moves to end shutdown

  22-01-2018 21:49 via vtdigger.org
  Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at a rally outside the Capitol hours before the shutdown deadline. Photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDiggerWASHINGTON — Congress passed a short-term spending bill ending a government shutdown Monday after the Senate spent the weekend paralyzed in a political stalemate.
  The Senate and House approved a three-week spending package Monday, paving the way for the government to reopen after a three-day shutdown.Get all of VTDigger's political news.You'll never miss a politi
  
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• Senate advances bill to end shutdown

  22-01-2018 21:49 via vtdigger.org
  WASHINGTON — Lawmakers in Congress reached a deal Monday to break a stalemate that shut the federal government down over the weekend.
  Many Democrats changed their positions Monday to support a package that funds the government through Feb. 8 after Republican leadership offered assurances that if no deal is reached on a broader immigration package by then, the chamber will take up a bill to extend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.Get all of VTDigger's political news.You'll
  
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• LISTEN: Winter Weather: The Weird, The Wacky And The Wonderful dlvr.it/QCJCk0 https://t.co/BZVwQodGIA

  22-01-2018 20:32 via twitter.com
  
  LISTEN: Winter Weather: The Weird, The Wacky And The Wonderful dlvr.it/QCJCk0 https://t.co/BZVwQodGIA
  
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• Scott signs bill legalizing marijuana in Vermont

  22-01-2018 20:22 via vtdigger.org
  Gov. Phil Scott signed into law a bill legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, making Vermont the first state to pass a legalization measure through legislation rather than a voter initiative.
  In a letter notifying the Legislature, Scott expressed “mixed emotions” about signing the bill, which allows possession of specific amounts of marijuana by people 21 or older.
  Scott had previously said he would sign the bill, which he called “a libertarian approach.”
  &ldq
  
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• Scott has ‘mixed emotions’ about signing marijuana legalization bill

  22-01-2018 20:22 via vtdigger.org
  Gov. Phil Scott signed into law a bill legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, making Vermont the first state to pass a legalization measure through legislation rather than a voter initiative.
  In a letter notifying the Legislature, Scott expressed “mixed emotions” about signing the bill, which allows possession of specific amounts of marijuana by people 21 or older.
  The bill takes “a libertarian approach” that he can live with, Scott says.“I personally be
  
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• Fish & Wildlife biologists to lead wildlife walk at Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area on Feb. 10

  22-01-2018 18:40 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Fish & Wildlife DepartmentJanuary 22, 2018
  Media Contacts:Doug Morin 802-793-3837
  Tom Rogers 802-377-2628
  VICTORY, Vt. – Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is excited to host a wildlife viewing tour at Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area. Doug Morin, a wildlife biologist with the department, will lead this wildlife-based exploration of a truly unique part of Vermont. The tour is scheduled for February 10.
  Doug Morin is a habitat and wildlife biologis
  
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• Leahy announces increase to homelessness funding as advocates prepare to conduct annual homelessness survey

  22-01-2018 18:34 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Sen. Patrick LeahyJanuary 19, 2018
  Press Contact:David Carle202-224-3693
  WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, January 19, 2018) – With a government shutdown looming, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Friday announced that Vermont will receive $4.6 million in fiscal year (FY) 2017 Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition Program awards, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program designed to help communities reduce homelessness. This includes a more than $200,000 increa
  
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• Leahy statement on the Trump shutdown

  22-01-2018 18:30 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Sen. Patrick LeahySaturday, January 20, 2018
  Press Contact:David Carle(202) 224-3693
  Statement Of Senate Appropriations Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Trump Shutdown
  Senate Floor
  Mr. President, months ago, President Donald Trump called for a government shutdown, and through his leadership of chaos and his inability to govern or keep his word, he got exactly what he wanted.
  Make no mistake, it is the Majority’s responsibility to produce a bill to send to the
  
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• New guidebooks provide resources for modern wood heating in Vermont schools and affordable housing

  22-01-2018 18:26 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont State Wood Energy TeamJanuary 22, 2018
  Contact:Emma Hanson, [email protected]://fpr.vermont.gov/
  MONTPELIER – The Vermont State Wood Energy Team is pleased to announce the availability of two new resources for modern wood heating.
  A Practical Guide to Modern Wood Heating: Successful Conversion to Wood Heating for Schools in Vermont and A Practical Guide to Modern Wood Heating: Successful Conversion to Wood Heating for Affordable Housing in
  
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• Norwich University Center for Global Resilience & Security awarded grant from High Meadows Fund

  22-01-2018 18:21 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Norwich UniversityJan. 22, 2018
  Contact:Daphne Larkin [email protected] us on Twitter @NorwichNews
  NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Norwich University’s Center for Global Resilience & Security was awarded $2,500 from the High Meadows Fund for Resilient Vermont network planning.
  The Center for Global Resilience and Security (CGRS) is a Norwich University research center of excellence dedicated to the advancement of the interrelationships between human res
  
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• St. Albans’ In Good Taste announces participating vendors

  22-01-2018 18:15 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Franklin County Regional Chamber of CommerceJanuary 22, 2018
  Contact:Lisamarie Charlesworth, Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce(802) 524-2444 or [email protected]
  St. Albans, VT – In Good Taste returns to St. Albans City Hall in the heart of downtown St. Albans on Friday, January 26, 2018. Organizers are busy prepping for a successful event.
  It’s the Vendors Who Make the Event Sparkle
  Shining a spotlight on local growers, producers and food artisans give
  
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• BCBSVT Snow Days get Vermonters moving in 2018

  22-01-2018 18:09 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of VermontJanuary 19, 2018
  Contact:Megan Peek(802) 764-4858
  Berlin, VT – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) will celebrate getting out into Vermont’s beautiful winter by hosting four Snow Days events in 2018. Snow Days feature free access to cross-country skiing and/or snowshoeing trails, and free rentals on a first-come, first-served basis in an effort to encourage physical activity during the winter months. BCBSVT will als
  
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• February concert celebrates St. Michale’s College professor who fled Nazis

  22-01-2018 18:00 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Saint Michael’s CollegeJanuary 19, 2018
  Media Contact:Nathaniel G. Lew, [email protected], 802-654-2284
  VERMONT TO DEBUT MUSIC BY “LOST COMPOSER”
  Montpelier, VT – Jan. 19, 2018 – Three of Vermont’s finest choral ensembles will join forces in Feb. 2018 to perform the works of Richard Stoehr, including worldwide debuts of his choral works. Stoehr [pronounced “shtir”] was a Viennese-trained composer who taught at Saint Michael’
  
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• Vermont unemployment rate declines to 2.8 percent in December

  22-01-2018 17:55 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Department of LaborJanuary 19, 2018
  Contact:Mathew Barewicz(802) [email protected]
  The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for December was 2.8 percent. This reflects a decline of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised November rate. The national rate in December was 4.1 percent. As of the prior month’s preliminary data, the Burlington-South Burlington Metropolitan NE
  
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• USDA grant supports Vermont State Colleges System’s Distance Learning Network

  22-01-2018 17:49 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — USDA Rural DevelopmentJan. 19, 2018
  Contact:Pollaidh [email protected]/vt
  MONTPELIER, Vt. (January 19, 2018) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded the Vermont State Colleges System a $388,988 grant to enhance their distance learning capabilities. Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that USDA is awarding grants for broadband projects to increase access to job training, educational and h
  
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• 17-year-old charged with Brattleboro bank robbery; boyfriend, 18, as accessory

  22-01-2018 17:13 via vtdigger.org
  Angel Baker, 17, of Rockingham, is believed to be the girl in this screen capture, which was taken from surveillance footage inside a Citizens Bank branch in Brattleboro that was robbed Thursday. Photo courtesy Brattleboro Police
  (This story by Harmony Birch was published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Jan. 20, 2018.)
  BRATTLEBORO — Angel Baker, a 17-year-old from Rockingham, was caught on camera for an alleged bank robbery, and even though a number of people identified her when her picture
  
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• Retirement Plan for Vermont's Small Businesses To Launch By Next Year dlvr.it/QCGcLg https://t.co/uA4jNT3ZHx

  22-01-2018 16:26 via twitter.com
  
  Retirement Plan for Vermont's Small Businesses To Launch By Next Year dlvr.it/QCGcLg https://t.co/uA4jNT3ZHx
  
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• UPDATED: ICE raids Days Inn in Colchester

  22-01-2018 14:22 via vtdigger.org
  This story was updated on Jan. 22 at 11:13 a.m.
  Immigration and Customs and Enforcement raided a Days Inn hotel in Colchester last Thursday in the first sweep of migrant workers in Vermont.
  ICE detained 14 construction workers, according to Will Lambek of Migrant Justice, a group that supports undocumented workers.
  The raid was conducted at 5 a.m. on Jan. 18. Lambek said other construction workers who were not included in the sweep notified Migrant Justice.
  The migrants were working for a contra
  
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• ICE raids Days Inn in Colchester

  22-01-2018 14:22 via vtdigger.org
  Immigration and Customs and Enforcement raided a Days Inn hotel in Colchester last Thursday in the first sweep of migrant workers in Vermont.
  ICE detained 14 construction workers, according to Will Lambek of Migrant Justice, a group that supports undocumented workers.The raid was conducted at 5 a.m. on Jan. 18. Lambek said other construction workers who were not included in the sweep notified Migrant Justice.The migrants were working for a contracting firm in the area. Lambek did not release Inf
  
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• UVM College of Arts and Sciences looks to eliminate non-tenured faculty positions

  22-01-2018 03:17 via vtdigger.org
  UVM Provost David Rosowsky. Photo by Morgan True / VTDiggerThe UVM College of Arts and Sciences is considering the elimination of 25 percent of all full-time non-tenured faculty and 40 percent of part-time non-tenured faculty over the next five years, according to an internal UVM communication.William Falls, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, announced the proposed faculty cuts to department heads in an email dated Jan. 18.The reduction in force would be in response to new budgeting m
  
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• Governor Phil Scott’s Public Schedule for the week of Jan. 20

  22-01-2018 02:51 via vtdigger.org
  Governor Phil Scott’s Public Schedule: 1/20/18 – 1/26/18
  Saturday, January 20
  No public events scheduled
  Sunday, January 21
  No public events scheduled
  Monday, January 22
  7:30 – 9:00 AM
  Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast
  Doubletree Hotel, 1117 Williston Road, South Burlington, VT
  Tuesday, January 23
  1:00 PM
  Governor’s Budget Address to the Joint Assembly
  Vermont State House, Montpelier, VT
  Wednesday, January 24
  8:30 – 9:30 AM
  Open Door
  
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• Gov. Phil Scott’s public schedule for the week of Jan. 20

  22-01-2018 02:51 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Gov. Phil ScottJan. 19, 2018
  Contact:Ethan T. LatourAsst. Director of Policy and CommunicationsGovernor Phil [email protected]
  Governor Phil Scott’s Public Schedule: 1/20/18 – 1/26/18
  Saturday, January 20
  No public events scheduled
  Sunday, January 21
  No public events scheduled
  Monday, January 22
  7:30 – 9:00 AM
  Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast
  Doubletree Hotel, 1117 Williston Road, South Burlington, VT
  Tuesday, Ja
  
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• Vermont U.S. Attorney’s Office collects over $160 million in civil and criminal actions for U.S. taxpayers in FY 2017

  22-01-2018 02:32 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — U.S. Attorney’s OfficeFriday, January 19, 2018
  Vermont U.S. Attorney’s Office collects over 160 million dollars in civil and criminal actions for U.S. taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2017
  U.S. Attorney Christina E. Nolan announced today that the District of Vermont collaborated with other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect $156,032,317.29 during Fiscal Year 2017. Of this amount, $22,154.00 was collected in criminal actio
  
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• Vermont U.S. Attorney’s Office collects over 160 million dollars in civil and criminal actions for U.S. taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2017

  22-01-2018 02:32 via vtdigger.org
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFriday, January 19, 2018′
  Vermont U.S. Attorney’s Office collects over 160 million dollars in civil and criminal actions for U.S. taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2017
  U.S. Attorney Christina E. Nolan announced today that the District of Vermont collaborated with other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect $156,032,317.29 during Fiscal Year 2017. Of this amount, $22,154.00 was collected in criminal actions and $156,010,163.2
  
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• Mayor Miro Weinberger’s public appearance schedule for the week of Jan. 22

  22-01-2018 02:28 via vtdigger.org
  News Release – Mayor Miro WeinbergerJanuary 19, 2018
  Contact:Katie Vane802.734.0617
  Mayor Miro Weinberger’s public appearance schedule for January 22 – 26, 2018:
  Monday, January 225:00 pm Board of Finance Meeting – Conference Room 127:00 pm City Council Meeting – Contois Auditorium
  Tuesday, January 23No public appearances scheduled
  Wednesday, January 248:00 am Mornings with Miro – The Bagel Café, 1127 North Ave
  Thursday, January 25 – Friday, Janua
  
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• Thibault tops list to replace Williams in Washington County

  22-01-2018 02:16 via vtdigger.org
  The names of three nominees will be forwarded from the Washington County Democratic Committee to Gov. Phil Scott to fill the post of Washington County state’s attorney for the remainder of the term. The nominees, from left, are Stephen Craddock, a longtime lawyer in Washington County, Ashley Hill, a deputy state’s attorney in Washington County, and Rory Thibault, interim Washington County state’s attorney. Thibault was the top choice among the party caucus Saturday.MONTPELIER &
  
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• John Moran: Reclaiming democracy through the living wage

  22-01-2018 01:05 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by John Moran, who was a four-term state representative. He lives in Wardsboro and blogs at johnmoranvt.blogspot.com.
  Out-of-control money breeds power, which breeds money, which breeds more power. This increase in power and wealth for America’s richest intensifies income inequality and transmutes our democracy into an oligarchy. We can begin to reclaim universal unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit happiness by creating economic justi
  
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• Sue Minter: Penguin plunging for Special Olympics

  22-01-2018 01:00 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Sue Minter, who is the president and CEO of Special Olympics Vermont. She is a former legislator, Irene Recovery Officer, secretary of Transportation, and Democratic candidate for governor.
  On Feb. 3, I will run through snow and ice with over 1,200 Vermonters to jump into Lake Champlain for the annual Penguin Plunge. This will be my first time taking the plunge, which is the largest annual fundraiser for Special Olympics Vermont — a statewide orga
  
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• Jonathan Elwell: An effective plan for carbon pricing

  22-01-2018 00:55 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Jonathan Elwell, who is from Brattleboro and a junior political science/international relations major at Carleton College in Minnesota. He volunteers as a campus representative for Our Climate, a carbon pricing advocacy group.
  Climate change debates are often framed in the context of tipping points — temperature benchmarks where global warming and all its effects will accelerate and become significantly more difficult to mitigate or reverse. Fortu
  
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