Vermont news

• Hartford proposal on insensitive remarks watered down before vote

  14-04-2018 12:00 via vtdigger.org
  John Hall speaks during a committee meeting, before he became chairman, in Hartford on Nov. 14, 2017. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley News
  This article By Matt Hongoltz-Hetling was published by the Valley News on April 13.Hartford — A proposed policy that would hold Selectboard members accountable for making offensive comments about race, gender and other such topics has been watered down, as town officials seek consensus on the sensitive issue.Get all of VTDigger's political news.You'll ne
  
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• State workers seek to block Labor Relations Board appointment

  14-04-2018 02:16 via vtdigger.org
  An image posted to the VSEA Facebook page.
  Days after losing a labor dispute with Gov. Phil Scott’s administration, the union representing state employees is seeking to block confirmation of the governor’s newest appointee to the state Labor Relations Board
  Ahead of Senate confirmation proceedings, the union is questioning Karen O’Neill’s neutrality on labor matters, citing her long career in corporate management and work with a law firm representing management in labor d
  
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• Burlington CEDO Director Noelle MacKay is leaving

  14-04-2018 01:27 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Office of Mayor Miro WeinbergerApril 13, 2018
  Contact:Katie Vane802.734.0617
  Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces CEDO Director Noelle MacKay is Departing City to Accept Position as Chief Operating Officer of the Regulatory Assistance ProjectMacKay to Conclude Successful Tenure on May 25; City of Burlington to Conduct Open Search Process for Successor
  Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced that Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) Director Noel
  
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• Sanders to hold three Senior Town Meetings in Vermont Saturday

  14-04-2018 01:19 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Sen. Bernie SandersApril 13, 2018
  Contact:Sanders’ office at 800-339-9834
  BURLINGTON, Vt., April 13 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will hold three senior town meetings throughout Vermont on Saturday to discuss issues facing older Vermonters. The meetings will be held in Montpelier, Newport and St. Albans.
  The series of town meetings will include a discussion on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, as well as the high cost of prescription drugs, affordable
  
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• Welch introduces bill to protect Mueller

  14-04-2018 01:16 via vtdigger.org
  Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., is cosponsor of a bill to protect special counsel Robert Mueller. File photo by Bob LoCicero/VTDigger
  WASHINGTON — As rumors swirled Friday that President Donald Trump was preparing to dismiss a top Department of Justice official, lawmakers took steps to defend the special counsel and his probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
  Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., introduced a bill in the House Friday with Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., that would protect special coun
  
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• Mayor Miro Weinberger’s public appearance schedule for April 16-20, 2018

  14-04-2018 01:15 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Office of Mayor Miro WeinbergApril 13, 2018
  Contact:Katie Vane802.734.0617
  Mayor Miro Weinberger’s public appearance schedule for April 16 – 20, 2018:
  Monday, April 165:00 pm Board of Finance Meeting – Conference Room 126:00 pm City Council Meeting – Contois Auditorium
  Tuesday, April 17No public appearances scheduled
  Wednesday, April 188:00 am Mornings with Miro – The Bagel Café, 1127 North Avenue – Burlington Police Chief Brandon d
  
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• Garrison Nelson & Jane Stromberg: Vermont — the Mississippi of the North?

  14-04-2018 01:05 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Garrison Nelson with Jane E. Stromberg. Nelson is the Elliott A. Brown Green and Gold Professor of Law, Politics and Political Behavior at the University of Vermont. His latest book, “John William McCormack: A Political Biography,” was reviewed in October in VTDigger. Stromberg is a junior at UVM studying political science and environmental science. She is president of UVM’s student Renewable Energy Network.
  The news stunned
  
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• Deborah Bucknam: Allowing non-residents to vote equals voter suppression

  14-04-2018 01:00 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Deborah Bucknam, of Walden, who was the Republican candidate for attorney general in November. She is a graduate of Vermont Law School in private practice in St. Johnsbury and past vice chair of the Vermont Republican Party.
  Secretary of State James Condos’ principal obligation is to ensure Vermont’s constitutional mandate “that all elections ought to be free and without corruption” is enforced. Secretary Condos’ directives
  
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• George Plumb: NewVistas development would ruin communities

  14-04-2018 00:55 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by George Plumb, who is a member of the board of Better (not bigger) Vermont. He lives in Washington, Vermont, which is only a few miles from the proposed NewVistas development.
  The NewVistas Foundation, a Utah nonprofit corporation, and its founder, David Hall, have proposed a long-term plan to construct a 2.88-square-mile, up to 20,000 residents, mixed-use industrial, commercial and residential development in rural areas of the towns of Royalton, Sharon,
  
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• Administration calls teachers union’s statewide health proposal ‘great news’

  14-04-2018 00:52 via vtdigger.org
  Secretary of Administration Susanne Young. File photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger
  The administration of Gov. Phil Scott is calling the decision by the teacher’s union to embrace a statewide health benefit “great news,” but wants immediate action on its cost-containment proposal before hashing out long-term changes.The Vermont-NEA made a major concession this week in its dispute with the administration over healthcare benefits when the union put forward a plan that would shift de
  
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• Brad Smith: The case for neurodiversity

  14-04-2018 00:50 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Brad Smith, who is executive director of the Vermont Learning-Support Initiative, a Hardwick-based nonprofit offering strategic support to diverse learners who aspire to a college degree. He taught writing at Johnson State College for many years, and has a child with learning issues who is a recent college graduate.
  Doing anything special for Neurodiversity Day on April 15?
  OK, so this might be the first you’ve heard of it. Being something new, it
  
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• New barricades for (old) parkway proposal

  14-04-2018 00:33 via vtdigger.org
  Recent rendering of the Champlain Parkway plan. City of Burlington.
  BURLINGTON — Just when it seemed the way was clear for construction to begin on the Champlain Parkway — first proposed as the Southern Connector in 1965 — a coalition of citizens has called for a new environmental review of the project. And if the Federal Highway Administration doesn’t respond to the request within 90 days, the coalition says it will file suit in federal court.
  Members of the Pine Street
  
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• UPDATED: Governor will pursue ‘any and all legal avenues’ to keep Sawyer locked up

  14-04-2018 00:30 via vtdigger.org
  Gov. Phil Scott speaks to reporters Tuesday. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger
  Gov. Phil Scott says he is working with law enforcement and prosecutors to “identify any and all legal avenues to keep” Jack Sawyer, accused of planning to shoot up a high school in Fair Haven, in custody after a Vermont Supreme Court that could lead to his release.
  The governor weighed in on the pending criminal case in a strongly worded statement issued late Friday afternoon, hours after receiving a lette
  
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• Breaking: Governor will ‘pursue all legal avenues’ to keep Sawyer locked up

  14-04-2018 00:30 via vtdigger.org
  Gov. Phil Scott speaks to reporters Tuesday. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDiggerGov. Phil Scott says he is working with law enforcement and prosecutors to “identify any all legal avenues to keep” the keep Jack Sawyer, accused of planning to shoot up a high school in Fair Haven, in custody in light of a Vermont Supreme Court that could lead to his release.The governor made the statement in a strongly worded release issued late Friday afternoon.
  “Based on the evidence in the public
  
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• The Deeper Dig: Ashe and Johnson’s endgame

  14-04-2018 00:15 via vtdigger.org
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  Windham CountyLast month, Gov. Phil Scott sent legislators a memo targeting 15 bills that he said he&rsquo
  
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