Vermont news

• The Deeper Dig: Lessons learned from the ’61 standoff

  22-06-2018 23:37 via vtdigger.org
  Author Stephen Terry at his home in Middlebury. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDiggerAs the budget standoff in Montpelier reaches into the summer, a common refrain among analysts is that it’s the closest Vermont has come to a government shutdown since 1961. That year’s legislative session lasted a record 210 days, as a governor who pledged to avoid tax increases faced off against a Senate leader with his own priorities.Get all of VTDigger's political news.You'll never miss a political sto
  
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• Health Experts Say 'Gaming Disorder' Is Real. What It Means For You And Your Kids dlvr.it/QYC89F https://t.co/truNimtukB

  22-06-2018 22:10 via twitter.com
  
  Health Experts Say 'Gaming Disorder' Is Real. What It Means For You And Your Kids dlvr.it/QYC89F https://t.co/truNimtukB
  
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• UPDATED: Governor and House nearing deal to break deadlock

  22-06-2018 21:50 via vtdigger.org
  Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson negotiated the deal with administration officials. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger
  Editor’s note: This article updates the specifics of the spending deal and the position of the parties involved in negotiations.
  Gov. Phil Scott has agreed in principal to sign a property tax rate increase this year in exchange for contingent funds to pay down rates in 2020, according to lawmakers briefed on the deal with Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero. G
  
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• Governor and House nearing deal to break deadlock

  22-06-2018 21:50 via vtdigger.org
  Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson negotiated the deal with administration officials. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger
  Gov. Phil Scott has agreed in principal to sign a property tax rate increase this year in exchange for contingent funds to pay down rates in 2020, according to lawmakers briefed on the deal.The outlines of the deal — negotiated by administration officials and Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero — are also laid out in document distributed to lawmakers. Ge
  
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• YWP: ‘Civil Rights Speech’

  22-06-2018 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: Late filing, missing paperwork grounds to dismiss suit

  22-06-2018 17:30 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This piece from the SCOV Law Blog is by SCOV Law editor Andrew Delaney.
  Quinlan v. Five-Town Health Alliance, Inc., 2018 VT 53
  A medical malpractice complaint generally requires a certificate of merit. You might think this isn’t a big deal. After all, it’s just a one-pager (or so) that says the lawyer or plaintiff has consulted with a medical expert and the medical expert has said the case has merit. But it’s a big old deal. We’ve written about it bef
  
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• State Troopers Release Plan For How They'll Handle New Pot Law dlvr.it/QY9Vwq https://t.co/NAw9XAWpgt

  22-06-2018 16:39 via twitter.com
  
  State Troopers Release Plan For How They'll Handle New Pot Law dlvr.it/QY9Vwq https://t.co/NAw9XAWpgt
  
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• Howard Center opens registration for Zoe’s Race

  22-06-2018 16:00 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Howard CenterJune 20, 2018
  Contact:Martie Majoros(802) [email protected]
  Zoe’s Race: Online Registration Open for 2018
  BURLINGTON, VT—Online registration is open for Zoe’s Race 2018. This annual fundraiser that helps make homes accessible for children and families will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Sunday, August 26, at Oakledge Park in Burlington.
  NEW THIS YEAR: To celebrate the anniversary, race organizers have added a 10K option to th
  
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• Con Hogan Award Winner Brings Research on Finland’s After School Programs Back to Vermont

  22-06-2018 14:31 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — The Vermont Community FoundationJune 20, 2018
  Contact:Zoe PikeThe Vermont Community [email protected] ext. 285Holly Morehouse, co-founder and executive director of Vermont Afterschool, Inc., used the $15,000 Con Hogan cash award she received last year to continue her research on youth programs in Finland that willinform her work here in Vermont. Finnish students have among the highest test scores in the world while having one the shortest school days.
  
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• Protect Our Power partners with the Institute for Energy and the Environment

  22-06-2018 14:00 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Law SchoolJune 20, 2018
  CONTACT:Ben Jerveyoffice: 802-831-1228cell: [email protected]
  Steve [email protected]
  Protect Our Power and Institute for Energy and the Environment Partner for a More Secure and Resilient Electric Grid
  SOUTH ROYALTON, Vt., June 20, 2018— The Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEE) at Vermont Law School has entered into an agreement to work with Protect Our Power on timely and critica
  
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• New report suggests current standards for PFOA levels are unsafe

  22-06-2018 10:36 via vtdigger.org
  Jenny Kelly, who lives about 700 feet from the former ChemFab site, believes PFOA contamination is the cause of her chronic health issues. File photo by Mike Polhamus/VTDigger
  BENNINGTON — Vermont officials are poring over a long-awaited government report on the toxicity of chemicals like PFOA, hoping it will lead to more effective regulation and environmental cleanup responses.
  The Environmental Working Group, also reacting to the release, said the report “concludes that the ‘
  
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• EPA sets new standards for PFOA contamination

  22-06-2018 10:36 via vtdigger.org
  Jenny Kelly, who lives about 700 feet from the former ChemFab site, believes PFOA contamination is the cause of her chronic health issues. Photo by Mike Polhamus/VTDigger
  BENNINGTON — Vermont officials are poring over a long-awaited government report on the toxicity of chemicals like PFOA, hoping it will lead to more effective regulation and environmental cleanup responses.The Environmental Working Group, also reacting to the release, said the report “concludes that the ‘minima
  
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• Scott administration attempts to quell state workers’ shutdown fears

  22-06-2018 10:07 via vtdigger.org
  Tax Commissioner Kaj Samsom, right, with Gov. Phil Scott. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDiggerAs concerns over the growing threat of a government shutdown swirl among state employees, heads of state agencies and departments are attempting to quell their fears.Top officials in Gov. Phil Scott’s administration who oversee thousands of employees are telling workers that an agreement on a spending package will be reached before a government shutdown would take effect on July 1. Get all of VTDigger
  
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• For second year, Sanders earns more than $1M

  22-06-2018 09:52 via vtdigger.org
  Sen. Bernie Sanders. File photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger
  WASHINGTON — For the second year in a row, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ income topped six figures.
  A recent financial disclosure report shows the junior Vermont senator made nearly $1.06 million in 2017. Most of his income — $885,767 — came from advances and royalties, according to the report filed in May.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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• Senate sends ‘Budget 3.0’ to House with $19 million divide

  22-06-2018 05:30 via vtdigger.org
  The Vermont Senate debates legislation in March. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger
  Senators unanimously approved the third budget proposal of the session on Thursday, leaving a $19 million gap between the Legislature’s proposal and the governor’s plan to keep property taxes level.The deadline to avoid a government shutdown is nine days away. 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)
  
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• Randy Brock: Vermont’s dysfunctional tax system

  22-06-2018 04:06 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Sen. Randy Brock, a Republican from Swanton who represents Franklin County and Alburgh in the Vermont Senate, and is a member of the Senate Finance Committee. He previously served as Vermont state auditor and two terms as a member of the Senate.
  On Thursday, the ongoing battle between the governor and the legislative leadership moved to the Senate floor. A new budget and tax bill, H.16, passed unanimously. It contains the Senate’s latest compromis
  
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• Supreme Court decision clears way for state tax on internet sales

  22-06-2018 02:19 via vtdigger.org
  The nine justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. Photo by Franz Jantzen/SCOTUSWASHINGTON — A decision handed down by the United States Supreme Court Thursday clears the way for Vermont to collect taxes on internet sales from companies that do not have a physical presence in state.
  In a 5-4 ruling, the high court overturned a decades-old case that had barred states from requiring companies without a brick-and-mortar presence to charge sales tax.
  The Vermont Tax Department estima
  
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• Christine Hallquist: Scott is not leading

  22-06-2018 01:00 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Christine Hallquist, a Democratic candidate for governor who is the former CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative.
  For the second time, Phil Scott has vetoed the budget passed by the Legislature. The original budget presented to the governor had near unanimous tri-partisan support. I do not believe that the governor is striving for compromise — his opposition to a budget bill that was so overwhelmingly supported by the Legislature puts the responsibi
  
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• Christine McGowan: Vermont’s new working landscape

  22-06-2018 00:55 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Christine McGowan, who is the Forest Program director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund. 
  Sawmills were East Burke’s first industry, bringing brave and adventurous souls to the northern reaches of Vermont to work, establish farms and, eventually, build the local school, church and meeting house that would become the village of East Burke. It wasn’t until the mid-1900s that residents began to think about building a tourism industry ar
  
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• John Klar: Preserve sensible slaughter traditions

  22-06-2018 00:50 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by John Klar, a Vermont grass-fed beef farmer, and an attorney and pastor who lives in Westfield.
  Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets faces difficult times, as anemic milk prices and public outcry over water pollution from dairy farms converge upon the agency responsible for regulating both. But after a period of wrangling over the extent Vermont should regulate the sale of meats slaughtered on-farm, Vermont’s small farmers appear
  
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