Vermont news

• Judge: Vermont Attorney General must pay $66,000 in legal fees for records denial

  04-07-2018 20:57 via vtdigger.org
  Attorney General TJ Donovan. File photo by Anne Galloway/VTDigger
  A Vermont judge has ruled the office of Attorney General TJ Donovan must pay nearly $66,000 in legal fees in three cases in which it earlier was found to have violated Vermont’s freedom-of-information law.
  The rulings from Judge Mary Miles Teachout in the civil division of Washington Superior Court could help cement a new doctrine in Vermont law — legislation passed in 2011 requiring a public agency to pay legal fees w
  
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• Court says AG must pay legal fees for records denial

  04-07-2018 20:57 via vtdigger.org
  Attorney General TJ Donovan. File photo by Anne Galloway/VTDigger
  A Vermont judge has ruled the office of Attorney General TJ Donovan must pay nearly $66,000 in legal fees in three cases in which it earlier was found to have violated Vermont’s freedom-of-information law.
  The rulings from Judge Mary Miles Teachout in the civil division of Washington Superior Court could help cement a new doctrine in Vermont law — legislation passed in 2011 requiring a public agency to pay legal fees w
  
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• House candidate angling for seat in Bennington district

  04-07-2018 20:31 via vtdigger.org
  Chris Bates, a candidate for the Legislature, calls himself ‘The Fishin’ Politician.’ Photo by Dave LaChance/Bennington Banner
  BENNINGTON — In his campaign for a Bennington 2-1 House seat, Chris Bates envisions a key role for the outdoors in boosting the area’s economy.
  That makes sense, because Bates is a small business owner in the industry and is a longtime host of radio and local television shows related to the outdoors. Today, he owns Outdoor Secrets Unwrapped:
  
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• High court hears arguments in defamation case

  04-07-2018 19:18 via vtdigger.org
  The Vermont Supreme Court next to the Statehouse in Montpelier. File photo by Roger Crowley/VTDigger
  A Northeast Kingdom man says in a lawsuit that a local weekly newspaper should not have run a story on its front page containing information from a bulletin shared by law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for him and his brother, terming them a “possible threat.”
  And, Garrett Cornelius contends in recent arguments before the Vermont Supreme Court, the Chronicle in Barton shoul
  
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• Bennington’s PFOA issue inspired national coalition

  04-07-2018 18:17 via vtdigger.org
  Representatives of community organizations dealing with PFOA or related chemical contamination are shown during a 2017 summit on contamination issues at Northeastern University in Boston. Courtesy photo
  BENNINGTON — Bennington wasn’t the first community to struggle with PFOA contamination of drinking water, but the town helped inspire a coalition of citizen groups that is demanding action to deal with perfluorooctanoic acid and related industrial chemicals.
  Shaina Kasper, director of
  
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• Brattleboro adapts to plastic bag ordinance

  04-07-2018 17:32 via vtdigger.org
   
  Hayley Labrecque, a shift leader at Hannaford Supermarket in Brattleboro, puts groceries into a paper bag. Photo by Kristopher Radder, Brattleboro Reformer
  Editor’s note: This story by Chris Mays was published by the Brattleboro Reformer on July 2.
  BRATTLEBORO — The town’s use of plastic bags is diminishing by the day thanks to a new ordinance.
  Plastic is no longer an option when picking up products at places such as the supermarket Hannaford on Putney Road.
  “Start
  
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• Feds make no promises on Vermont Yankee fuel removal

  04-07-2018 16:45 via vtdigger.org
  The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant in Vernon. Photo courtesy Vermont Business Magazine
  A recent meeting in Brattleboro brought together a variety of people with an interest in Vermont Yankee’s spent nuclear fuel – congressional staffers, state officials, regional activists and an administrator from the U.S. Department of Energy.
  But after a few hours of discussion, the end result was more uncertainty.
  Despite several legislative initiatives in the works, no one can say how long the rad
  
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• Norwich University Center for Civic Engagement to establish new collegiate chapters

  04-07-2018 16:00 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Norwich UniversityJune 28, 2018
  Contact:Daphne Larkin802-485-2886
  ~Girls Who Code, Habitat for Humanity, and Amnesty International to Join Campus~
  NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Norwich University’s Center for Civic Engagement will establish collegiate chapters of non-profit organizations Girls Who Code, Habitat for Humanity, and Amnesty International beginning this fall.
  Recently celebrating its 16th year, the Center for Civic Engagement is Norwich University’s hub of
  
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• Vermont artist to speak at Brattleboro Museum and Art Center

  04-07-2018 15:30 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Brattleboro Museum & Art CenterJune 28, 2018
  Contact:Erin [email protected], ext. 113
  Artist Robert DuGrenier to speak at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, July 12
  BRATTLEBORO, VT – The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) presents a free talk at the museum by artist Robert DuGrenier on July 12 at 7:30 p.m. DuGrenier will be discussing his current installation, “Handle With Care,” on view at BMAC all summer.
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• Castleton University to launch children’s fine arts program

  04-07-2018 15:00 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Castleton UniversityJune 28, 2018
  Media Contact:Jeff Weld(802) 468-6052
  CASTLETON, Vt. – Students in middle school and high school with a passion for fine arts will have an exciting new opportunity starting in the fall of 2019 thanks to an innovative new program at Castleton University. The Vermont Academy of Fine Arts at Castleton University is designed to provide students with an immersive experience in developing their passion for art, creative writing, music, or th
  
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• Barnet man sentenced in deer poaching incident

  04-07-2018 14:30 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Fish and Wildlife DepartmentJune 26, 2018
  Media Contacts:Sgt. Szymanowski802-751-0103
  Dennis Amsden802-289-0630
  Previously Convicted of Two Dozen Fish and Wildlife Crimes
  DANVILLE, Vt. – A Barnet man has been sentenced to two years in prison with all but 30 days suspended and ordered to pay $850 in fines after pleading no contest to five charges stemming from an October 2017 incident.
  Carl Sanborn, 49, pled no contest to five charges, including taking big game
  
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• Healthy Homes Vermont study to find link between energy and health

  04-07-2018 14:00 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Energy Investment CooperationJune 27, 2018
  Media Contact:Jeff [email protected]
  Medical and energy leaders launch joint study on link between energy efficiency and health
  June 27, 2018 – St. Johnsbury, VT – A Vermont study is being launched to identify the impact of energy-efficient homes on occupant health. The effort is the brainchild of a broad coalition of experts from Vermont’s healthcare, energy efficiency, state government, and
  
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• As ‘Abolish ICE’ gains steam, Sanders calls for restructuring

  04-07-2018 12:33 via vtdigger.org
  Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. File photo by Geoff Hansen/Valley News
  Sen. Bernie Sanders joined a growing number of lawmakers calling for a restructuring of immigration enforcement Tuesday.
  The Vermont Independent said he supports restructuring Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and other agencies as part of a more comprehensive reform effort in a statement Tuesday.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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• PHOTOS: Montpelier’s annual Independence Day celebration

  04-07-2018 06:01 via vtdigger.org
  The Montpelier Kiwanis Club replica of the Vermont Statehouse is missing its statue of Ceres — just like the real building. Photos by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger
  Crowds braved a record-breaking heat wave to pack downtown Montpelier’s streets for the capital city’s annual Independence Day celebration.
  The festivities kick off every year with Family Olympics on the Statehouse lawn, the Montpelier Mile race through downtown, and the parade. This year’s program featured floats fr
  
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• Facebook contact leads to sexual assault of 12-year-old

  04-07-2018 02:39 via vtdigger.org
  A contact made through the ubiquitous social media site Facebook, and ongoing online chats on Facebook Messenger and Snapchat, led to the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl in Burlington, according to court papers.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
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• When the fireworks are over, how about registering to vote

  04-07-2018 02:17 via vtdigger.org
  Early voting in a recent election in Brattleboro. File photo by Kristopher Radder/Brattleboro Reformer
  The 4th of July may have the bigger bang, but last Friday marked the start of that quieter expression of American democracy, primary season, and Vermont’s Secretary of State is urging Vermonters to vote early.
  “Voting is a great way to participate in our democratic process,” Secretary of State Jim Condos said in a press release noting that the voting season had begun, and urgi
  
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• Four against (one): Democrats take on absent Scott in gubernatorial candidates forum

  04-07-2018 01:57 via vtdigger.org
  Democratic candidates for governor, Brenda Siegel, Christine Hallquist, James Ehlers and Ethan Sonneborn, participated in a forum in Bennington sponsored by Rights and Democracy of Bennington.
  BENNINGTON — The four Democratic candidates for governor appeared together on a muggy evening in Bennington to outline all the ways in which they differ from the one gubernatorial candidate who wasn’t there: incumbent Gov. Phil Scott.
  Candidates Christine Hallquist, James Ehlers, Brenda Siegel
  
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• Four against (one): Democrats take on absent Scott in candidates’ forum

  04-07-2018 01:57 via vtdigger.org
  Democratic candidates for governor, Brenda Siegel, Christine Hallquist, James Ehlers and Ethan Sonneborn, participated in a forum in Bennington sponsored by Rights and Democracy of Bennington.
  BENNINGTON — The four Democratic contenders for governor appeared together on a muggy evening in Bennington to outline all the ways in which they differ from the one who wasn’t there: incumbent Gov. Phil Scott.
  Candidates Christine Hallquist, James Ehlers, Brenda Siegel and Ethan Sonneborn enga
  
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• Peter Berger: We don’t pledge allegiance to a man

  04-07-2018 01:05 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Peter Berger, an English teacher at Weathersfield School who writes “Poor Elijah’s Almanack.” The column appears in several publications including the Times Argus, the Rutland Herald and the Stowe Reporter.
  When I was a boy, every classroom in our school was graced with two framed portraits. I concluded that Washington was there because he was our first president, while Lincoln had earned his place by being our best president.
  I was wr
  
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• Susan Amestoy: Border crisis is time to come together

  04-07-2018 01:00 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Susan Amestoy, of Waterbury Center, an educator who is currently teaching English as an Additional Language.
  This past week’s reporting of the humanitarian crisis on our southern border, brought me back to another refugee emergency following the war in the Balkans.
  A horrific campaign to eliminate the Muslim population through ethnic cleansing and systematic rape forced millions of Bosnian Muslims to flee their homes and country. Unlike today, the
  
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• Mark Levine & Melissa Bailey: Preventing suicide in Vermont

  04-07-2018 00:55 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Vermont Commissioner of Health Mark Levine, MD, and , Vermont Commissioner of Mental Health Melissa Bailey.
  Several high-profile deaths by suicide, along with a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have put this public health issue in the spotlight once again. In Vermont, where suicide is now the eighth leading cause of death, we are working to put systems in place that help people before a crisis. At the same time, we need to
  
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