Vermont news

• State and accused reach plea deal in Sheffield murder

  28-04-2018 01:37 via vtdigger.org
  Creative Commons photo by walknboston via Flickr
  Keith Baird, of Sutton, who was scheduled to go on trial next week for his role in the murder of Mary “Pat” O’Hagan, struck a plea deal with the state on Friday.
  In exchange for pleas of no contest to charges of burglary and kidnapping, the state dropped the murder charges against Baird. Baird was sentenced today in Caledonia County Superior Court in St. Johnsbury, to a 15-30 year sentence for the burglary charges. He will be sen
  
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• Senate OKs $5.86 billion budget

  28-04-2018 01:14 via vtdigger.org
  Sen. Jane Kitchel, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. File photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger
  The Senate gave preliminary approval on Friday to a $5.86 billion budget proposal that would prioritize spending on the state’s mental health system, restore funding to programs that serve vulnerable Vermonters and make investments in workforce development.Facing no debate on floor, the budget received unanimous support and is expected to pass on a second vote next week. Get all of VTDigg
  
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• House expands addiction treatment for inmates

  28-04-2018 01:09 via vtdigger.org
  Annie Ramniceanu, the Corrections Department’s mental health system’s director. File photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDigger
  Six weeks after the state Senate voted to enhance opioid-addiction treatment for prisoners, the House is pushing to expand the program even further.
  Representatives on Friday gave final approval to a version of S.166 that says Vermont inmates should be able to receive medication-assisted treatment behind bars even if they had not been undergoing such treatment befor
  
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• Ray Stout: Affordable for whom?

  28-04-2018 01:05 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Ray Stout, of East Montpelier, who is director of organizing and operations for the Vermont State Employees Association.
  Gov. Phil Scott, who are you making Vermont more affordable for?
  In recent weeks, I have noticed a significant disconnect between our current governor’s rhetoric about making Vermont more affordable and his actions, which are making Vermont less affordable and less attractive for many of those who are already here.
  While the cur
  
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• Philip Hoff, Governor Who Steered Red Vermont to Blue, Dies at 93

  28-04-2018 01:03
  The first Democrat elected to lead the state in more than 100 years, Mr. Hoff steered a liberal course in the 1960s.
  
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• Philip Hoff, 93, Governor Who Broke G.O.P. Grip in Vermont, Dies

  28-04-2018 01:03
  The first Democrat elected to lead the state in more than 100 years, Mr. Hoff steered a liberal course in the 1960s.
  
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• Christina Rainville: New federal tip law creates risk for Vermont employers

  28-04-2018 01:00 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Christina Rainville, who practices in the areas of employment law, civil litigation, and criminal defense as senior counsel at Ellis Boxer & Blake in Springfield.
  When you leave a tip to thank the person who works in a restaurant, bar, hotel or tourist industry, can the owner of the business take your tip and use it to pay kitchen staff, managers and supervisors who do not receive tips? Do tips belong to the employee who was given the tip, or do the
  
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• Bill Schubart: Identity politics

  28-04-2018 00:55 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Bill Schubart, a regular commentator for Vermont Public Radio and a former board member of the Vermont Journalism Trust, the umbrella organization for VTDigger.org. This piece was first aired on VPR.
  I’ve recently learned I’m a “privileged, cisgendered, white male.”
  This feels somewhat alien to me still — but it’s new so I’m willing to try it on and figure out what it means in today’s definitional taxonomy
  
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• Gov. Phil Scott’s public schedule for April 28-May 5, 2018

  28-04-2018 00:52 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Office of the GovernorApril 27, 2018
  Contact:Ethan [email protected]
  Governor Phil Scott’s Public Schedule: 4/28/18 – 5/4/18
  Saturday, April 28
  11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  VTC Apprenticeship Graduation
  Vermont Technical College, Judd Hall, Randolph Center, VT
  6:30 – 9:00 PM
  Lamoille County Distinguished Citizen Dinner
  Charlmont Restaurant, Morrisville, VT
  Sunday, April 29
  No public events scheduled
  Monday, April 30
  12:00 – 1:00 PM
  Brattlebor
  
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• Con Hogan: Where we live

  28-04-2018 00:50 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Con Hogan, of Plainfield, who is a former member of the Green Mountain Care Board. He was secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services from 1991 to 1999.
  On April 12, I sat down in front of the TV, to watch the Boston Bruin’s first game of the NHL playoffs. A classy old timer came onto the ice to sing the national anthems of Canada and the United States. As our “Star Spangled Banner” was being sung, I experienced a hitch in my thr
  
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• UVM assistant professor launches directory of U.S. social enterprises

  28-04-2018 00:47 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — UVMApril 26, 2018
  Contact:Jon Reidel, [email protected], 802-656-8206
  An increasing number of Americans are choosing to support businesses committed to addressing social issues in their community. Finding organizations dedicated to creating positive social change has proven challenging, however – until now. The launch of Weaver’s Social Enterprise Directory marks the release of the first publicly available, online directory of over 1,000 social enterprises throu
  
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• House committee approves funding for water clean-up

  28-04-2018 00:47 via vtdigger.org
  A biker and walkers enjoy a warm April day along the Burlington waterfront, with Lake Champlain in the background. Photo by Bob LoCicero/VTDigger
  The House Ways and Means Committee approved its version of the beleaguered bill S.260, amended to include funding — still only partial, and much delayed — for the state’s federally-ordered water clean-up efforts.
  After a week of weighing imperfect solutions — and wrangling with Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore,
  
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• UVM awards seven REACH grants to support faculty research

  28-04-2018 00:36 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — UVMApril 26, 2018
  Contact:Jeff Wakefield, [email protected], (802) 578-8830
  The Office of the Vice President for Research has announced the 2018/19 winners of the REACH Grant Program.
  REACH grants of up to $30,0000 are designed to promote innovative research, scholarship and creative projects that enhance UVM’s reputation as an incubator for cutting-edge ideas; encourage faculty members to reach the next level of achievement in their research trajectory; and le
  
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• Vermont students install ‘litter art’ show at Burlington International Airport

  28-04-2018 00:33 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Chamber of CommerceApril 25, 2018
  Contact:Ronda BernsVice President of TourismVermont Chamber of CommerceP.O. Box 37, Montpelier, VT 05601802.229.2259 [email protected]
  Students from eight schools across Vermont have installed an art show at the Burlington International Airport, on display until June 1. More than 70 pieces are made from litter students collected and repurposed into works of art.
  The display is free and open to the public, on the second floor
  
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• NCLR’s Vermont Rural Pride convening to focus on issues faced by LGBT people living in rural communities

  28-04-2018 00:27 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — NCLRApril 26, 2018
  Contact:Lauren Gray, NCLR [email protected] / (215) 983-3099
  NCLR says, “We’ve learned that a common assumption—that LGBT folks living in rural communities would move out if they could—is flat-out wrong” and “our role as a national group is not to dictate agendas to rural communities, but to listen and identify ways to assist work that is being done”
  PLAINFIELD, VT—Tomorrow, the National Center for Lesbian
  
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• Leahy, Shelby map bipartisan accord on appropriations process

  28-04-2018 00:25 via vtdigger.org
   
  Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., are trying to revive a more deliberative process for spending bills. File photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDigger
  WASHINGTON — Short-term resolutions and late-in-the-game omnibus spending bills have become common in the Capitol of late.Get all of VTDigger's political news.You'll never miss a political story with our weekly headlines in your inbox.Daily
  Sundays only (Weekly Wrap) Email me stories on these subjects... Business New
  
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