Vermont news

• Mental health agency declined to respond to calls before double homicide, lawsuit says

  05-05-2025 23:30 via vtdigger.org
  
  Matthew Gomes, appearing remotely from the Northeast Correctional Complex, is arraigned before Judge Michael Harris in Washington County Superior criminal court in Barre on Nov. 18, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTwo days before she was killed in November, allegedly at the hands of her son, Montpelier resident Mary Gomes made multiple calls to a local mental health agency about him — but an employee declined to visit her home, a new lawsuit alleges. The allegation was raised in
  
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• Brattleboro officials reduce defeated town budget, yet proposed taxes remain up by double digits

  05-05-2025 22:44 via vtdigger.org
  
  Brattleboro residents gather downtown for the year’s first-Friday-of-the-month Gallery Walk. Photo by Kevin O’Connor/VTDiggerBRATTLEBORO — Six weeks after residents defeated a forthcoming municipal budget for the first time in town history, local leaders are set to present a new proposal to a special Town Meeting this month.“When I run into anybody, they will say three things every time,” selectboard member Oscar Heller said Thursday at the last of eight budget-revi
  
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• Demoted Woodstock police chief files $5 million suit

  05-05-2025 22:13 via vtdigger.org
  
  Former Woodstock Police Chief Joe Swanson, left, listens while Woodstock Municipal Manager Eric Duffy testifies during a hearing before the Woodstock Village board of trustees on March 19, 2025, in Woodstock. Swanson has been on paid administrative leave since October 2024. He asked for the hearing about his job performance to be done in public. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsThis story by John Lippman was first published by The Valley News on May 3.WOODSTOCK — Former Police Chief Joe
  
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• Lawson’s Finest & the Vermont Community Foundation celebrate the Vermont Women’s Fund

  05-05-2025 18:53 via vtdigger.org
  
  The Vermont Community Foundation is proud to be home to the Vermont Women’s Fund, a statewide initiative dedicated to advancing gender equity through strategic philanthropy and community leadership.That shared commitment to progress was on full display at an unforgettable event, hosted by Lawson’s Finest tocelebrate International Women’s Day and the enduring impact of women in business, philanthropy, and community life.Led by La
  
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• Russell Frank: Let’s rethink our primary system

  05-05-2025 16:17 via vtdigger.org
  
  This commentary is by Russell Frank of Montpelier. Now retired, he worked for the state in the Agency of Human Services for 20 years.Every day each of us make judgments where we lack sureness about someone or some thing, or there is not a clear answer. Such as whether to have lunch with someone, which refrigerator to purchase, which job candidate to hire or where to go on vacation. One of the most important judgments we make is for which political candidate  we should vote.   
  
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• Morgan Crossman: Head Start is at risk and there is vital need for proactive funding solutions

  05-05-2025 16:11 via vtdigger.org
  
  This commentary is by Morgan Crossman, executive director of Building Bright Futures.As Vermont’s Early Childhood State Advisory Council named in the Federal Head Start Act, Building Bright Futures is deeply concerned about reports that the upcoming federal budget proposal may eliminate Head Start and Early Head Start. These programs are essential to meeting the basic needs of Vermont families.BBF is committed to ensuring that all of Vermont’s children and families have access to the
  
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