Vermont news

• Blue Cross, MVP block public advocate from testifying

  21-07-2018 13:01 via vtdigger.org
  Mike Fisher, the chief health care advocate for Vermont Legal Aid, testifies in front of the Legislature in 2017. Photo by Erin Mansfield/VTDigger
  Vermont’s two largest health insurance providers are seeking to block a report and testimony from the state’s chief health care advocate at upcoming hearings on rate hikes.
  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and MVP Health Care filed motions with the Green Mountain Care Board this week requesting an order barring Mike Fisher, the state&
  
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• Jeremy Hansen announces candidacy for Northfield-Berlin House seat

  21-07-2018 05:35 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Jeremy HansenJuly 20, 2018
  Contact:Jeremy Hansen802-279-6054
  Jeremy Hansen, an associate professor of computer science at Norwich University, the founder and chair of Central Vermont Internet, and the vice chair of the Berlin Selectboard announced today that he hopes to fill an open seat to represent Northfield and Berlin in the Vermont House. He will kick off his campaign with an informal “meet and greet”, potluck, and farmers showcase between 4PM and 7PM on Sat
  
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• Sanders introduces resolution to protect American democracy from Russian meddling

  21-07-2018 05:31 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Sen. Bernie SandersJuly 19, 2018
  Contact:Josh [email protected]
  WASHINGTON, July 19 — Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a resolution Thursday to force members of the Senate to go on the record in accepting the assessment of the U.S. intelligence community that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election and the looming threat of Russian interference in this year’s midterm elections.
  The resolution also calls for the Senate to c
  
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• Welch, Pingree introduce legislation to limit warrantless property and vehicle searches near border

  21-07-2018 05:28 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Rep. Peter WelchJuly 19, 2018
  Contact:Kate Hamilton (Welch)(202) 440-3340
  Victoria Bonney (Pingree)(202) 577-8541
  WASHINGTON – Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), joined by Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), today introduced legislation to narrow the broad zone of DHS authority in the vicinity of U.S. borders.
  Under current regulations, the Department of Homeland Security has wide latitude to conduct traffic stops and warrantless property searches within 100 miles of the U.S. borde
  
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• Vermont Community Foundation announces 15 grants through Spark! Connecting Community grants program

  21-07-2018 05:25 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Community FoundationJuly 19, 2018
  Contact:Zoe PikeCommunications AssociateThe Vermont Community [email protected] ext. 285
  Suggested Tweet – Spark! Connecting Community Grants Program @VermontCF announces 15 grants to nonprofits across the state. Read more: http://ow.ly/tVJo30l1NvY #npvt #OppGapVT #VTCommunities
  The Vermont Community Foundation Announces 15 Grants to Nonprofits Across the State Through Its Spark! Connecting Community Gra
  
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• Noelle MacKay named chief operating officer at Regulatory Assistance Project

  21-07-2018 05:19 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Regulatory Assistance ProjectJuly 19, 2018
  Media contact:Rebecca Wigg, communications director, RAP(802) 498-0714; [email protected]
  MONTPELIER — The Regulatory Assistance Project has named Noelle MacKay as chief operating officer.
  MacKay oversees all aspects of RAP’s operations including leading strategic planning; identifying opportunities for development; and recommending strategies to improve the organization’s impact.
  “Noelle’s passion an
  
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• UVM receives $1.25 million DOT award to help form Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center

  21-07-2018 05:14 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — UVMJuly 19, 2018
  Contact:Jeff Wakefield, UVM, 802-578-8830
  University of Vermont in collaboration with the University of Maine and others will create a highly competitive University Transportation Center (UTC) called the Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center (TIDC). TIDC aims to help save taxpayer dollars by extending the life of our transportation assets, including bridges, roads and rail.
  The U.S. Department of Transportation will provide as much as $14.2 million
  
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• Free sunscreen dispensers now at state parks

  21-07-2018 05:08 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Department of HealthJuly 19, 2018
  Media Contact:Ben TrumanVermont Department of Health802-951-5153 / 802-863-7281
  Sunscreen Dispensers at State Parks Make It Easy to “Stay and Play Longer”
  BURLINGTON – Summer in Vermont is in full swing, and people will be able to stay and play longer, safe under the sun – thanks to free sunscreen stations being installed in Vermont State Parks and several other recreational areas.
  “We are always looking
  
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• Killington Resort hosts the FOX US Open of Mountain Biking Races

  21-07-2018 05:01 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Killington ResortJuly 19, 2018
  Contact:Kristel [email protected]
  Killington Resort Hosts the FOX US Open of Mountain Biking Races: Downhill, Enduro, Gromb Bomb, Best Whip and Adaptive Ride on August 1-5, 2018.
  Spectator Access is Free for all Races, the Vendor Village and Concerts by Rustic Overtones and Fishbone
  KILLINGTON, VT (July 19, 2018) – Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest mountain resort in Eastern North America and a POWD
  
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• Marshfield Town Forest Stewardship Committee seeks public input

  21-07-2018 04:56 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Stranahan Town Forest CommitteeJuly 13, 2018
  Media Contacts:Rich PhillipsChair, Stranahan Town Forest Committee(802) [email protected]
  Kate ForrerCommunity Forestry Outreach SpecialistVT Urban and Community Forestry ProgramUniversity of Vermont Extension(802) [email protected]
  Drew Pollak-Bruce, CPRPAssociate PlannerSE Group(802) 735-9144 (o) | (303) [email protected]
  Marshfield – The Tow
  
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• Vermont unemployment rate holds at 2.8 percent in June

  21-07-2018 04:51 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Department of LaborJuly 20, 2018
  Contact:Mathew Barewicz, (802) [email protected]
  The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for June was 2.8 percent. This reflects no change from the revised May rate. The national rate in June was 4.0 percent. As of the prior month’s preliminary data, the Burlington-South Burlington Metropolitan NECTA was tied for the fourth lowest unemployment rat
  
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• College of St. Joseph announces new 3-year accelerated degree program

  21-07-2018 04:46 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — College of St. JosephJuly 20, 2018
  Contact:CSJ admissions officecsj.edu/degreein3(802) 776-5205
  Rutland, VT – College of St. Joseph has announced a program that will enable students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in just three years, joining a growing number of colleges offering the shorter path as a way to save students money, and allow them to enter the workforce sooner. CSJ’s Degree in Three accelerated track will be available to students beginning
  
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• Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth celebrates Old Home Day

  21-07-2018 04:42 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Division for Historic PreservationJuly 20, 2018
  Contact:William Jenney, Regional Historic Site AdministratorVermont Division for Historic Preservation802-672-3773; [email protected]
  Plymouth Notch, Vt.–The President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site is proud to present Plymouth Old Home Day on Saturday, Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This century-old tradition features craft and farm demonstrations, wagon rides, music, chicken barbecue, and many other
  
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• The Deeper Dig: EB-5 cleanup leaves investors anxious

  21-07-2018 04:34 via vtdigger.org
  Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan announces a $2.1 million settlement of the state’s investor fraud case against developers Ariel Quiros and Bill Stenger at a press conference last week in Newport. Photo by Alan J. Keays/VTDigger
  The Deeper Dig is a weekly podcast from the VTDigger newsroom. Listen below, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.The two latest steps in the fallout from Vermont’s EB-5 scandal h
  
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• Lou Magnani: Act 250 Commission hearing format is flawed

  21-07-2018 04:31 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Lou Magnani of Wells, who has lived in Vermont since 1972 and is now retired.
  I attended the two-hour July 11 meeting of the Commission on Act 250 in Manchester. Naively, I expected to have an opportunity to express my thoughts on the current state of Act 250 and changes I would propose.
  I went to express my complete dissatisfaction with the fact that Act 250 permits an entire industry, the slate quarrying business, to circumvent the Act 250 process. It
  
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• James Ehlers: Get money out of politics

  21-07-2018 04:26 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by James Ehlers, who is a candidate for governor and the executive director of Lake Champlain International. He is a U.S. Navy veteran, a water quality and public health advocate, and an environmental and veterans affairs adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders.When Citizens United opened the floodgates to unlimited money in politics, many on the left finally opened our eyes to how corrupt the system had become. The voices of the people are being drowned out by cor
  
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• Walt Amses: Full disclosure (gasp!)

  21-07-2018 04:24 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: Walt Amses is a writer and former educator who lives in North Calais.
  The extraordinary heat and humidity of early July have flown south on the wings of a fast-moving cold front, returning the north country to more typical temperatures and humidity levels after the nearly unprecedented episode of sultry. Consequently, I find myself bobbing around in my usually chilly glacial pond in water that feels like a Bavarian hot spring.
  In fact, while the air is refreshingly cool whil
  
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• State Board begins statewide tour hearing Act 46 concerns

  21-07-2018 03:39 via vtdigger.org
  Members of the State Board of Education listen to local school officials and resident who turned out for an Act 46 meeting in Newark.
  The State Board of Education got an earful from northern Vermont school officials this week during the first of three regional meetings being held to get local feedback on the last phase of Act 46, the school district consolidation law.
  Over 150 districts have already merged voluntarily into 39 new unified school districts under the controversial law. But three ye
  
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• Water quality experts warn Welch about lake conditions

  21-07-2018 02:29 via vtdigger.org
  Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., tours St Albans Bay with a Vermont . Photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDiggerST. ALBANS BAY —A rubber black bumper squeaked in between two bobbing boats as leaders in Lake Champlain cleanup efforts explained to Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., how wind patterns can impact blue green algae blooms.
  Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge director Ken Sturm recalled a decades old wastewater slogan: “Dilution is the solution to pollution.”
  “That’s not really what
  
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• Anti-marijuana groups call on officials to close marijuana gifting ‘loophole’

  21-07-2018 00:44 via vtdigger.org
  Marijuana buds. Creative Commons photo
  Anti-marijuana activists are urging Vermont lawmakers and state prosecutors to crack down on the companies and individuals who “gift” weed to customers in exchange for other purchases, and for a profit.In the advent of recreational legalization, entrepreneurs and opportunists have started giving “free” marijuana to customers who pay inflated fees for other products or services as part of the same transaction.Get all of VTDigger's cri
  
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