Vermont news

• Universal primary care plateaus in committee

  18-05-2018 23:57 via vtdigger.org
  House Appropriations Chair Rep. Kitty Toll, D-Danville. File photo by Anne Galloway/VTDigger
  The 2018 legislative session was a roller-coaster ride for advocates of universal primary care in Vermont.
  Supporters celebrated when the primary care bill, S.53, advanced with public financing mechanisms built in. And they rallied behind the bill when state legislators questioned the feasibility of taxpayer-funded health care.Get all of VTDigger's political news.You'll never miss a political story with
  
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• The Deeper Dig: $5.8 billion in 15 minutes

  18-05-2018 23:54 via vtdigger.org
  Jane Kitchel, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, with Agency of Education CFO Emily Byrne, in 2016. Photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDiggerBefore adjourning last weekend, the Vermont Legislature passed a budget for the 2019 fiscal year. Gov. Phil Scott says he’ll veto it over a disagreement about the use of one-time money, but the general framework is not likely to change.Get all of VTDigger's political news.You'll never miss a political story with our weekly headlines in your inbox.
  
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• State board sends ed secretary recommendations to Scott

  18-05-2018 23:38 via vtdigger.org
  Former Education Secretary Rebecca Holcombe. File photo by Bob LoCicero/VTDigger
  The state appears to be on its way to filling the vacancy left by the abrupt resignation of Rebecca Holcombe as the state’s Secretary of Education.
  The State Board of Education at its regular May meeting approved three candidates for the post, and voted to authorize board chair Krista Huling to forward the recommendations to Gov. Phil Scott for his consideration. Get all of VTDigger's political news.You'll nev
  
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• Republican rift leads to farm bill defeat in House

  18-05-2018 22:59 via vtdigger.org
  Normally an opportunity for bipartisan cooperation, the farm bill was defeated by Republican infighting. File photo by Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger
  WASHINGTON — A rift within the House Republican caucus over immigration tanked a major agriculture bill on Friday.
  The House failed to pass the farm bill, a key piece of legislation that addresses federal agriculture programs.Get all of VTDigger's political news.You'll never miss a political story with our weekly headlines in your inbox.Daily
  
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• Vermont Technology Alliance presenting ‘Let’s Tech Together’ event

  18-05-2018 22:50 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Technology AllianceMay 17, 2018
  Contact:Jeff CoutureVermont Technology [email protected]
  Vermont Technology Alliance Presenting “Let’s Tech Together” Event May 23 Featuring Vermont AgTech Innovators
  May 17, 2018
  The Vermont Technology Alliance is presenting a “Let’s Tech Together” networking event with a focus on agriculture technology on Wednesday May 23, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Queen City Brewery in Burlington. This session
  
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• Avram Patt to run for state rep in Lamoille-Washington District

  18-05-2018 22:47 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Avram PattMay 17, 2018
  Contact:Avram Patt(802) [email protected]
  Avram Patt has announced that he will be a candidate for State Representative from the Lamoille-Washington District, a two-member district comprised of Morrisville, Elmore, Woodbury and Worcester, He filed petitions to have his name appear on the August 14th Democratic Primary ballot earlier this week. A resident of Worcester, he previously represented the district in 2015-16.
  “I’m committ
  
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• NJ man sentenced to 54 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute drugs in Rutland County

  18-05-2018 22:43 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — United States Attorney District of VermontMay 17, 2018
  Contact:Tim AtkinsonUnited States Attorney’s Office, District of [email protected]
  The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated today that Richard Torruellas (a.k.a. “Scoob”), 23, of Jersey City, New Jersey, was sentenced today to 54 months imprisonment by United States District Court Chief Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford sitting in U.S. District Court
  
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• State board of education joins school districts

  18-05-2018 22:41 via vtdigger.org
  Krista Huling, right, is chair of the State Board of Education. File photo by Bob LoCicero
  The State Board of Education has reassigned the Blue Mountain Union School District to Orange East Supervisory Union to avert an administrative crisis that would have left the east-central Vermont district without anyone to pay the bills on July 1.One of the state’s smaller school districts, with 400 students in one K-12 building, Blue Mountain Union includes the towns of Ryegate, Wells River and Gro
  
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• Alex R. Farrell announces campaign kick-off for state Senate seat

  18-05-2018 22:24 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Farrell for State SenateMay 16, 2018
  Contact:Alex R. [email protected]
  Event hosted at Halvorson’s on Church Street on May 24th at 6:00 PM
  Burlington, VT – Today, the Farrell for State Senate campaign announces it will hold a formal campaign kick-off on May 24th, 6:00 PM, at Halvorson’s on Church Street. The event is free, open to the public and to the press.
  Full details of the event can be found below.
  Who: Farrell for State Senate C
  
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• Nationally recognized speakers to present at Howard Center conference

  18-05-2018 22:17 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Howard CenterMay 17, 2018
  Contact:Martie [email protected]
  BURLINGTON, VT— Howard Center’s day-long conference on May 22, “Opiates: Scientific, Political, and Social Perspectives,” will feature nationally recognized experts Drs. Carl Hart, Stefan Kertesz, and Sally Satel who will offer presentations throughout the day. The day will begin with introductory comments from Al Gobeille, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human
  
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• Artist Richard Klein to give free talk at Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, May 31

  18-05-2018 22:13 via vtdigger.org
  Brattleboro Museum & Art CenterMay 17, 2018
  Contact:Erin [email protected], ext. 113
  BRATTLEBORO, VT – Have you ever watched a bottle float down a river? How often do you think about all the glass in the waste stream? Artist Richard Klein’s current installation at Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC), “Bottle in the River,” uses repurposed glass objects to create work that explores how we interact with nature and the passage of time.
  
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• Get Growing: The Spring Gardening Show dlvr.it/QTKn1W https://t.co/0NIeyhEXCX

  18-05-2018 21:59 via twitter.com
  
  Get Growing: The Spring Gardening Show dlvr.it/QTKn1W https://t.co/0NIeyhEXCX
  
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• Bill to protect state forestland axed in late-session maneuver

  18-05-2018 20:48 via vtdigger.org
  Once vast tracts of forestland are being cut up, a process called parcelization. Photo by Ellen Bartlett/VTDigger
  In an unusual floor maneuver in the waning hours of the year’s legislative session, Sen. Robert “Bobby” Starr, D-Essex-Orleans, called for the removal of several portions of a bill he had written following months of testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee, which he chairs.
  Starr’s move was aimed primarily at axing provisions in the bill to protect va
  
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• Nonprofits concerned about impact of tax bill

  18-05-2018 19:50 via vtdigger.org
  Rep. Janet Ancel, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger
  Proposed changes to Vermont’s income tax code have nonprofit leaders concerned about the future of the large donations on which they rely.
  In the income tax bill, H.911, passed by the Legislature late Saturday evening, Vermonters would no longer be able to deduct charitable contributions on their state income taxes. Instead, donors would get a 5 percent tax credit on donations up to a total of $
  
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• Give now to meet the Home Stretch Challenge!

  18-05-2018 18:39 via vtdigger.org
  Dear Readers,
  We are in the home stretch with only $55,000 left to raise to make our $200,000 goal. And some very generous friends of VTDigger have agreed to match every gift dollar-for-dollar until we reach our goal.
   
  Your gift will be doubled by generous friends of VTDigger!
   
  If you’ve been holding out, now is the time to give to support excellent investigative journalism. All gifts, whether $5, $500 or $5,000 will be matched until we get to our goal. Can you help us to end t
  
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• YWP: ‘Night swimming’

  18-05-2018 17:45 via vtdigger.org
  Young Writers Project, an independent nonprofit based in Burlington, engages young people to write and use digital media to express themselves with clarity and power, and to gain confidence and skills for school, the workplace and life.Check out the most recent issue of The Voice, Young Writers Project’s monthly digital magazine. Click here.Each week, VTDigger features a writing submission – an essay, poem, fiction or nonfiction – accompanied by a photo or illustration from Yo
  
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• SCOV Law Blog: Defendant seeks time served credit due to pretrial curfew

  18-05-2018 17:30 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This piece from the SCOV Law Blog is by Eric Fanning. 
  State v. Byam, 2017 VT 47Defendant/convict Dale Byam appeals a trial court’s denial of his motion seeking credit for time served while he was under pretrial conditions of release. SCOV affirms — but let’s look at the facts of the case first.Get all of VTDigger's criminal justice news.You'll never miss our courts and criminal justice coverage with our weekly headlines in your inbox.Daily
  Sundays onl
  
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• Andrew Perchlik declares candidacy for Washington County state Senate seat

  18-05-2018 16:09 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Andrew PerchlikMay 09, 2018
  Contact:Andrew [email protected]
  Continuing a long commitment to civic and community engagement in Washington County, Andrew Perchlik announced his campaign for the State Senate today.
  Andrew Perchlik is seeking to be an active senator on the economic and community issues of Washington County. “My collection of Vermont experiences with low-income homeowners, with high-tech energy companies, as a volunteer
  
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• Southwestern Vermont Health Care announces Centennial Community Day schedule

  18-05-2018 16:02 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Southwestern Vermont Health CareMay 16, 2018
  Contact:Ashley Brenon JowettCommunications & Marketing SpecialistPhone: 802.447.5019 | Fax: [email protected]
  BENNINGTON, VT—May 16, 2018—Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) is proud to announce the schedule of activities for Centennial Community Day, a celebration of its 100th anniversary, presented by Mack Molding, Jerome Construction, and The Bank of Bennington. The event is schedule
  
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• Leahy statement on EPA funding request hearing

  18-05-2018 15:59 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Sen. Patrick LeahyMay 16, 2018
  Contact:Jay Tilton202-224-2667
  Opening Statement of Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies SubcommitteeHearing to “Review the Fiscal Year 2019 Funding Request and Budget Justification for the Environmental Protection Agency”
  Witness:EPA Administrator Pruitt
  May 16, 2018
  Thank you Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Udall.This is an important hearing to review the budget request for the Envir
  
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• FEMA assessing damage from May 4 storm

  18-05-2018 15:55 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Emergency ManagementMay 16, 2018
  Contact:Mark Bosma, VEM, 802-839-6717
  Preliminary Damage Assessment begins Thursday
  Step toward requesting federal disaster declaration
  WATERBURY, VT – On Thursday, May 17 Vermont Emergency Management, the Vermont Agency of Transportation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other partners will begin verifying damage caused by severe storms on May 4. The Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) will determine if the state qualif
  
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• Back the business beat

  18-05-2018 15:30 via vtdigger.org
  Last week, we shared with you an audio postcard from one of our ink-stained veterans, Dave Gram, sharing his thoughts on why it’s so important for Vermonters to support VTDigger. Today, we have a short video shout-out from one of our newest reporters, Xander Landen. Xander may be young, but he’s already proving to be invaluable in our newsroom covering the business and economy beat and making sure that all of us can understand the complexities of the legislative budgeting process.
  &n
  
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• The Moral Rot That Threatens America

  18-05-2018 11:45
  There is only one core task for everyone in Trump’s United States: Keeping the Republic, despite him.
  
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• Air Force head says F-35 loss could ground Vermont Guard

  18-05-2018 05:20 via vtdigger.org
  The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter/Creative Commons photo
  Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said Thursday that the Vermont Air National Guard would likely be grounded if F-35s are not based at the Burlington Air Guard Station.
  During questioning by Sen. Patrick Leahy at a U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, the Air Force head told lawmakers, “If the F-35s don’t go to Vermont, the F-16s will eventually age out, and it’s highly likely that Vermont will no longer have a flyi
  
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• Legislators drop 37 bills on Scott’s desk, bracing for vetoes

  18-05-2018 03:34 via vtdigger.org
  Gov. Phil Scott. File photo by Anne Galloway/VTDigger
  With dozens of bills arriving in Gov. Phil Scott’s office on Thursday, the push for him to sign them is officially underway.Legislative leaders are hoping the governor will reconsider his veto threats, drop his pertinacious stance on no new taxes and fees, and sign into law a number of progressive laws passed by the House and Senate, often with overwhelming support. Get all of VTDigger's political news.You'll never miss a political stor
  
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• Domestic violence coalition calls for legal changes during special session

  18-05-2018 02:34 via vtdigger.org
  Autumn Watersong, of the Vermont Network against Domestic and Sexual Violence. File photo by Erin Mansfield/VTDiggerVermont’s domestic violence coalition is calling on lawmakers to revise the state’s relief-from-abuse statute to require law enforcement to remove firearms from households where such an order is in force.The call comes in the wake of the apparent murder of Anako Lumumba, a 33-year-old South Burlington nurse who was allegedly killed by her boyfriend Leroy Headley, 36, wh
  
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• Corey Parent & Dylan Giambatista: Reaching across the aisle

  18-05-2018 02:26 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by state Reps. Corey Parent, R-St. Albans, and Dylan Giambatista, D-Esssex Junction. Parent represents the Franklin 3-1 District in the Vermont House and is the ranking member of the House Energy and Technology Committee. He is a candidate for a Franklin County Senate seat in 2018. Giambatista represents the village of Essex Junction in the Vermont House and serves on the House Education Committee. He is a candidate for re-election in the Chittenden 8-2 Di
  
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• John Hughes: Tobacco program money at risk

  18-05-2018 02:22 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by John Hughes, MD, of Shelburne, who is the medical director for the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Vermont.
  It’s a rare opportunity when we are handed money we weren’t expecting to save lives. And when we are, we should use it to its fullest. The Vermont Legislature allocated an extra $1 million this year to fight tobacco. I hope the Legislature and governor will not change that wise decision during the special legislative session.
  A thousand V
  
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• Ben Mitchell: Israeli killing in Gaza is a crime

  18-05-2018 02:18 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Ben Mitchell, of Bellows Falls, a Democratic Socialist who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House seat.The pictures from Gaza are chilling and unambiguous. For weeks now, Israeli snipers, shooting from the safety of well-defended, distant positions, have been killing and maiming unarmed, peaceful Palestinian demonstrators. The snipers shoot from behind a buffer zone of open ground and two fences, one of barbed wire. The snipers fires me
  
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• Welch on farm bill: ‘A total abdication of our commitment to rural America’

  18-05-2018 01:37 via vtdigger.org
  U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., speaks at the Vermont Farm Show earlier in 2018. File photo by Bob LoCicero/VT Digger
  WASHINGTON — Vermont’s congressman, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, announced on Thursday that he will not vote for the farm bill in the House this week, saying the omnibus agriculture bill, once a model of bipartisan cooperation, has been hijacked by political interests.
  “It’s a huge disappointment and a total abdication of our commitment to rural America,” We
  
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• Scott signs drug-import bill but offers no guarantees

  18-05-2018 00:44 via vtdigger.org
  Gov. Phil Scott. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger
  Although Vermont now has a law calling for importation of cheaper prescriptions from Canada, officials caution that such a program may never become reality.
  Gov. Phil Scott has signed S.175, which orders the state Agency of Human Services to design a prescription-drug importation program linking Vermont with Canada in order to create “significant” cost savings for consumers.Get all of VTDigger's health care news.You'll never miss our
  
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