Vermont news

• Senate panel won’t recommend Micheal Drescher for Vermont Supreme Court 

  29-01-2026 23:29 via vtdigger.org
  Vermont Supreme Court appointees Christina Nolan and Michael Drescher speak before the Senate Judiciary Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 13, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER — After receiving hundreds of emails about the governor’s two latest appointees for the Vermont Supreme Court, senators in the Judiciary Committee on Thursday failed to vote in favor of supporting Michael Drescher and voted unanimously to recommend Christina Nolan. The two nominee
  
  Read more

• Senate panel won’t recommend Michael Drescher for Vermont Supreme Court 

  29-01-2026 23:29 via vtdigger.org
  Vermont Supreme Court appointees Christina Nolan and Michael Drescher speak before the Senate Judiciary Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 13, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER — After receiving hundreds of emails about the governor’s two latest appointees for the Vermont Supreme Court, senators in the Judiciary Committee on Thursday failed to vote in favor of supporting Michael Drescher and voted unanimously to recommend Christina Nolan. The two nominee
  
  Read more

• Rutland City mayor Mike Doenges announces resignation

  29-01-2026 18:43 via vtdigger.org
  Mike Doenges. Photo courtesy of Mike DoengesRutland City Mayor Mike Doenges is stepping down from his post midway through his second term, he said Thursday.Doenges will remain in the role until Feb. 27, less than a week before Town Meeting Day on March 3, according to his announcement.
  The decision came after Doenges received a “once-in-a-decade” opportunity to return to his former employer in the technology sales sector, and he made the choice for the long-term benefit of him and h
  
  Read more

• Vermont schools are making headway to address chronic absenteeism, but rates remain stubbornly high

  29-01-2026 16:24 via vtdigger.org
  A kindergarten classroom. Photo via Adobe StockThe Maple Run Unified School District in Franklin County has made some meaningful progress toward addressing chronic absenteeism, a persistent problem for school districts since the Covid-19 pandemic.Bill Kimball, the district’s superintendent, said he’s seen a 17% decrease in the number of students considered chronically absent through the first quarter of this school year compared to last year.Meanwhile, more than two-thirds of the di
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Laura Hill-Eubanks: Quiet, please!

  29-01-2026 13:03 via vtdigger.org
  This commentary is by Laura Hill-Eubanks, a Vermont attorney with expertise in environmental law and policy. Vermont has a noise problem. There are a significant number of loud motor vehicles on our roads, and they are getting louder and the noise more pervasive. There are two main sources of loud motor vehicle noise. The first is the practice of modifying mufflers and exhaust systems on motorcycles, cars and trucks to deliberately increase their noise level. The second is l
  
  Read more

• Rubaina Anjum: What will you do when ICE comes for you?

  29-01-2026 01:04 via vtdigger.org
  This commentary is by Rubaina Anjum, a graduate student at the University of Vermont (UVM) studying economics and sustainability. She is a member of UVM Graduate Students United, United Autoworkers Local 2322. The views expressed here are Anjum’s and do not necessarily reflect those of UVM.A couple of weeks ago, I took the Amtrak Vermonter to Northampton, Mass., gazing out the window as the train wound its way through the snow-covered countryside. Our state’s picturesque landsc
  
  Read more

• Mary Sullivan: Honor Burlington’s vote on guns in bars

  29-01-2026 01:02 via vtdigger.org
  Dear Editor,Last March, more than 86% of Burlington residents voted to ban guns from bars because of the sensible and simple belief that guns and alcohol do not mix. This ordinance change will make our people feel safer while they enjoy everything downtown Burlington has to offer, including our great pedestrian mall and our wonderful restaurants and pubs.Unfortunately, we’ve yet to see it implemented. All charter changes must be approved by the Vermont Legislature before being e
  
  Read more

• Winter weather compounds Vermont’s shortage of blood donations

  29-01-2026 00:36 via vtdigger.org
  Photo via Adobe StockThe recent winter storm and extreme cold have worsened an already severe shortage of donated blood, according to the American Red Cross’s Northern New England Region. On Monday, following a winter storm that dumped up to 20 inches of snow across Vermont, the Red Cross canceled its blood drives in the state, forgoing the collection of 47 units of blood, according to Jennifer Costa, the New England region’s communications director for the organization.“
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Lawmakers weigh expanded consumer protections as fiber optic transitions spark concern

  29-01-2026 00:34 via vtdigger.org
  Spools of fiber optic cable seen at the NEK Broadband offices and warehouse in Danville on Sept. 3, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTalks between lawmakers and business leaders grew fractious Wednesday morning as the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee considered a bill intended to strengthen consumer protections for fiber optic utilities, particularly in rural areas. Sarah Davis, of Fidium Fiber, told the committee that such a bill was not only unnecessary but also
  
  Read more

Follow @NewsVermont_ on Twitter!