Vermont news

• Lake Champlain Basin Program seeking boat launch stewards for 2018 season

  13-02-2018 18:18 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Lake Champlain Basin ProgramFeb. 12, 2018
  Contact:Meg [email protected]
  Grand Isle, VT – The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is hiring up to twelve boat launch stewards to work at New York and Vermont public boat launch access areas during the steward program’s 12th season. The stewards help to reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species by identifying high-risk boats for courtesy inspection and providing information about invasive species
  
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• 900% increase in blood infections at UVM Medical Center likely due to opioids cut with animal tranquilizer, study finds

  30-04-2024 23:30 via vtdigger.org
  
  The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington on Thursday, June 6, 2019. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger
  Monica Raymond, an infection preventionist at the University of Vermont Medical Center, said some of the wounds she sees are unlike anything she has seen before. “Some of these are very extensive, even down to the bone,” said Raymond. Two years ago, physicians at the UVM Medical Center began receiving more and more patients  with searing, necrotic fle
  
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• ‘A very hard way to make a living’: Herd departs Hartford’s last remaining dairy farm

  30-04-2024 22:12 via vtdigger.org
  
  George Miller comforts his wife Linda as their Jersey cows are loaded onto a trailer to be shipped to Canton, N.Y., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Harford, Vt. The Millers have farmed the land since 1907, when George’s great-grandfather started the farm. After the morning milking, the couple shipped their 27 milking Jersey cows and six heifers. The couple graduated from high school in June 1976 and by August were milking their own herd. They will continue to grow hay and sugar at the fa
  
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• Vermont Senate rejects Zoie Saunders as state education secretary

  30-04-2024 16:52 via vtdigger.org
  
  Education Secretary Zoie Saunders speaks at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Education Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger
  After a dramatic debate Tuesday morning, the Vermont Senate voted against the confirmation of Zoie Saunders as state education secretary.Saunders needed a majority of the 29-member Senate to approve her appointment, but 19 senators opposed it. Nine voted in favor of her confirmation. One senator was
  
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• After Vermont Senate rejects Zoie Saunders, Phil Scott names her interim education secretary

  30-04-2024 16:52 via vtdigger.org
  
  Education Secretary Zoie Saunders speaks at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Education Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger
  Updated at 11:07 a.m.After a lengthy and dramatic debate Tuesday morning, the Vermont Senate voted against the confirmation of Zoie Saunders as state education secretary — but the fight over her appointment appeared far from finished. Saunders needed a majority of the 29-member Senate to
  
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• After Vermont Senate refuses to confirm Zoie Saunders, Phil Scott names her interim education secretary

  30-04-2024 16:52 via vtdigger.org
  
  Education Secretary Zoie Saunders speaks at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Education Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger
  Updated at 4:16 p.m.After a lengthy and dramatic debate Tuesday morning, the Vermont Senate voted against the confirmation of Zoie Saunders as state education secretary — but the fight over her appointment appeared far from finished. Saunders needed a majority of the 29-member Senate to s
  
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• Ali Jalili: ‘Profiteering developers’ are our friends

  30-04-2024 16:01 via vtdigger.org
  
  This commentary is by Ali Jalili, a retired Foreign Service officer who served with the State Department all over the world, primarily as an economic officer. 
  Lt. Gov. Zuckerman makes it clear in his latest opinion piece that he doesn’t like “profiteering developers”, a term he uses pejoratively multiple times. Presumably he prefers developers who put in their time, effort and capital… out of the goodness of their heart? Those types of developers (e.g. Habita
  
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• Clare Wool: Let’s not halt progress toward a more equitable educational landscape

  30-04-2024 14:01 via vtdigger.org
  
  This commentary is by Clare Wool, chair of the Burlington School Board.
  As the chair of the Burlington School District School Board, I am fortunate to witness firsthand the profound impact of educational policies on our diverse community. Among these policies, Act 127 stands out as a beacon of progress in our continuous effort to achieve equity and finally address the inequity across Vermont’s schools. However, while we navigate the benefits of such transformative legislation, we als
  
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• Drs. Deborah Hirtz, Barbara Frankowski and James Metz: Vermont should protect children from toxic pesticides

  30-04-2024 13:01 via vtdigger.org
  
  This commentary is by Dr. Deborah Hirtz of Jericho, a pediatric neurologist; Dr. Barbara Frankowski of Jericho, a pediatrician and Dr. James Metz of Hinesburg, a pediatrician with a specialization in child abuse medicine.
  It’s often said that our children are our most valuable resource, but too many times, we underestimate how fragile that resource is. As physicians who have dedicated our careers to children’s health, we recently spoke out in support of H.706, which seeks to blunt a
  
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• Killington is the East’s largest ski resort. A developer wants to expand on that in a big way.

  30-04-2024 12:02 via vtdigger.org
  
  A proposed Killington resort village lodge to be called “The Crystal,” as rendered by the architecture firm of Moshe Safdie. Illustration courtesy Great Gulf real estate group
  KILLINGTON — Michael Sneyd may work in a tall office tower in Canada’s most populous city of Toronto, but he’d rather talk up the even bigger slopes of this small town in Vermont.“Killington has long been known as the largest ski mountain in the East,” he began a recent video call
  
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• Daniel Smith: A tribute to Ed Barron

  30-04-2024 12:01 via vtdigger.org
  
  This commentary is by Daniel Smith of East Montpelier. He is founding executive director of the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact and founding executive director of the Agritech Institute for Small Farms.
  The nation and Vermont have lost a noteworthy but unsung public servant, Ed Barron. Longtime staffer for Sen. Patrick Leahy, Ed was the go-to expert on the Hill for our nation’s nutrition programs. Over many years and as part of a number of Farm Bills, Ed worked to establish and im
  
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• Timothy J. Chant

  30-04-2024 02:17 via vtdigger.org
  
  Born Aug. 19, 1963Kingston, New YorkDied Feb. 25, 2024Warwick, Rhode IslandDetails of servicesVisiting hours were March 3 and a memorial service was March 4 at the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home in Warwick, R.I. A video of the service is on the funeral home’s website.Timothy J. “Timmy” Chant (60) of Warwick, R.I., a beloved husband, father, brother, educator, coach, and friend, passed away February 25, 2024. He shared 31 years of marriage with his best friend and wife,
  
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• As UVM pro-Palestinian encampment enters 2nd day, protestors call for action at commencement

  30-04-2024 00:25 via vtdigger.org
  
  Protesters attend a rally at a Palestine solidarity encampment at UVM in Burlington on Monday, April 29, 2024. Among the protesters demands is the cancellation of this year’s graduation commencement speaker U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON — University of Vermont students called for more protests at next month’s commencement if the university does not cancel its speaker, as a pro-Palestinian encampment ent
  
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• As UVM pro-Palestinian encampment enters 2nd day, protesters call for action at commencement

  30-04-2024 00:25 via vtdigger.org
  
  Protesters attend a rally at a Palestine solidarity encampment at UVM in Burlington on Monday, April 29, 2024. Among the protesters demands is the cancellation of this year’s graduation commencement speaker U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON — University of Vermont students called for more protests at next month’s commencement if the university does not cancel its speaker, as a pro-Palestinian encampment ent
  
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• Vermont Statehouse locks doors after receiving shooting threat

  29-04-2024 23:55 via vtdigger.org
  
  The Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, May 12, 2023. Photo by Natalie Williams/VTDigger
  The Vermont Statehouse locked its doors on Monday and set up patrols inside and outside the building after receiving threatening calls, officials said.Statehouse Sergeant-at-Arms Agatha Kessler said that, around 9:30 a.m. Monday, her office got a threatening phone call ­— about the same time Montpelier police dispatchers said they also received an active shooter threat against the Statehouse.The c
  
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• Aline Harter

  29-04-2024 23:36 via vtdigger.org
  
  Born Sept. 18, 1923McDonald, PennsylvaniaDied April 26, 2024Westmore, VermontAline B. Harter (Whitney) passed away peacefully on April 26 surrounded by family. Aline was born on Sept. 18, 1923 in the small town of McDonald, PA. She excelled in high school, attended business school, and shortly after moved to Chicago. There she worked as a secretary for CBS Radio. During a girls’ night out with her colleagues, she met her “Prince Charming” Jack Harter (a naval aviator in trainin
  
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• Former Bristol man gets 18 years in prison for plotting with mother to kill his stepfather

  29-04-2024 22:22 via vtdigger.org
  
  A former Bristol man has been sentenced to at least 18 years in prison for conspiring with his mother to kill her husband, who was also his stepfather.In a deal with prosecutors last year, Kory George, 36, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the 2019 death of David Auclair, 45.Kory Lee George. Vermont State Police photo
  Both the judge and the victim’s sister chastised George during the sentencing Monday in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in
  
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• Walter Carpenter: I support H.766 for the sake of physicians and patients

  29-04-2024 21:29 via vtdigger.org
  
  Dear Editor,I heartily support H.766, the bill to ease provider burdens, most notably the process our insurance companies have inflicted on us called “prior authorizations.” As someone who nearly died from a life-threatening disease largely because these prior authorizations kept standing in the way of care, I know what it means to be on the receiving end of this chokehold. I heartily applaud Rep. Alyssa Black (D-Essex), a primary sponsor of the bill, when she said “Payers
  
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• Phil Scott calls on Senate to push back confirmation vote on Zoie Saunders for education secretary

  29-04-2024 21:27 via vtdigger.org
  
  Education Secretary Zoie Saunders speaks at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Education Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on April 23. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger
  Facing a daunting confirmation vote Tuesday, Gov. Phil Scott on Monday called on the Vermont Senate to postpone its consideration of Zoie Saunders for education secretary.“I’m concerned about the prospects for a civil and fair Floor debate and vote at this time,” Scott wrote Senate leadership in
  
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• Citing ‘toxic’ debate, Phil Scott calls on Senate to delay vote on Zoie Saunders for education secretary

  29-04-2024 21:27 via vtdigger.org
  
  Education Secretary Zoie Saunders speaks at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Education Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on April 23. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger
  Ahead of a daunting confirmation vote scheduled for Tuesday, Gov. Phil Scott on Monday called on the Vermont Senate to postpone its consideration of Zoie Saunders for education secretary.“I’m concerned about the prospects for a civil and fair Floor debate and vote at this time,” Scott wrote Senat
  
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• Peggy Stevens: What new EPA rules mean for Lake Memphremagog and the Coventry landfill

  29-04-2024 20:34 via vtdigger.org
  
  This commentary is by Peggy Stevens of Charleston, a member of the advisory committee for DUMP — Don’t Undermine Memphremagog’s Purity.
  In recent weeks, the EPA has handed down two historic rules on toxic PFAS chemicals — the chemicals found in water and stain resistant fabrics and non-stick products like cookware, as well as literally hundreds of other commonly used household goods. These chemicals are proven to cause a multitude of health concerns, from reproductive an
  
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• Stephanie Gomory: On civil liberties, Gov. Scott gets a failing grade  

  29-04-2024 19:30 via vtdigger.org
  
  This commentary is by Stephanie Gomory, communications director for the ACLU of Vermont.
  The ACLU of Vermont recently published its Civil Liberties Report Card, a pass/fail assessment of Gov. Phil Scott’s record on civil rights and civil liberties during his most recent term, 2023–2024. The assessment gives the governor a failing grade across several categories, including education, drug policy, criminal justice, police accountability, homelessness and economic justice. As
  
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• Pat Suozzi: Pass S.146 this year to protect Vermont’s most pristine lakes

  29-04-2024 18:23 via vtdigger.org
  
  This commentary is by Pat Suozzi of Hinesburg, president of the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds.
  Last year the Vermont Senate passed S.146, a bill relating to the permitting of indirect discharges. What does this mean? It will mean more protection for our lakes and ponds. To protect Vermont’s high quality waters, those lakes that exceed the Vermont Water Quality Standards should be reclassified from B2 to A1 watersheds. A1 reclassification would better protect water quality, re
  
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• The future of fertilizer? Pee, says this Brattleboro institute

  29-04-2024 12:01 via vtdigger.org
  
  Rich Earth Institute sends a pump truck out to donors’ homes to collect urine to treat and turn into fertilizer. Photo courtesy Rich Earth Institute
  Kate Kampner is a reporter with Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program.When Peter Stickney walks along his cow paddocks in the morning, he notes the scattered patches of greener grass across the pasture. He knows what this means: It’s where his cows have peed.&n
  
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• Pro-Palestinian protest encampments spring up at the University of Vermont, Middlebury College

  29-04-2024 05:33 via vtdigger.org
  
  Students at a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Vermont on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Photo by Peter D’Auria/VTDigger
  BURLINGTON — Pro-Palestinian protestors pitched encampments at the University of Vermont and Middlebury College on Sunday, joining a surge of student activism at institutions of higher learning across the country. By Sunday afternoon, roughly a dozen tents had sprung up on the University of Vermont’s Andrew Harris Commons in Burlington. Ear
  
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• Libby Bennett and Rita Ramirez: Groundworks reimagines Morningside House

  28-04-2024 15:01 via vtdigger.org
  
  This commentary is by Libby Bennett, executive director of Groundworks Collaborative, and Rita Ramirez, board chair of Groundworks Collaborative.
  This has been a most challenging year for Groundworks, for the people we serve and for the greater Brattleboro community. The staff and board at Groundworks are committed to resiliency and to building and maintaining caring relationships — understanding that we all must do our part to build a stronger community. “Our part” at Gr
  
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• Young Writers Project: ‘Carefree honeybee’

  28-04-2024 14:01 via vtdigger.org
  
  “Imagine,” a chalk drawing by Grace Weinstein, from the YWP Media Library
  Young Writers Project is a creative online community of teen writers, photographers and artists, which has been based in Vermont since 2006. Each week, VTDigger features the writing and art of young Vermonters who publish their work on youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for 12- to 18-year-olds. To find out more, visit youngwritersproject.org, or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at sreid@
  
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• Rep. Mike Mrowicki: Mr. Schubart, please learn about the Vermont Youth Council

  28-04-2024 13:02 via vtdigger.org
  
  Dear Editor,A VTDigger column by Bill Schubart laments that: “We don’t include our young people in our decision-making that affects their future. There’s no formal recognition that provides agency for the voices of our young.”Schubart may be pleased to know about the Vermont State Youth Council.From their website: “The Vermont State Youth Council is a diverse group of 28 Vermont youth from each county responsible for annually advising the Governor and the Vermont Ge
  
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• Rep. Mike Mrowicki: Mr. Schubart, please learn about the Vermont State Youth Council

  28-04-2024 13:02 via vtdigger.org
  
  Dear Editor,A VTDigger column by Bill Schubart laments that: “We don’t include our young people in our decision-making that affects their future. There’s no formal recognition that provides agency for the voices of our young.”Schubart may be pleased to know about the Vermont State Youth Council.From their website: “The Vermont State Youth Council is a diverse group of 28 Vermont youth from each county responsible for annually advising the Governor and the Vermont Ge
  
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• Shelburne’s farming community voices concern over zoning regulation proposals

  28-04-2024 13:01 via vtdigger.org
  
  Jim Maille and his son, Benjamin, stand in their barn originally built in 1939 that houses the last family-owned dairy farm in Shelburne. Photo by Liberty Darr/Shelburne News
  This story by Liberty Darr was first published by the Shelburne News on April 25.With Shelburne in the thick of regulatory reform, members of Shelburne’s farming community — some of whom have called the town home for more than 100 years — are concerned over what some proposed changes could do to their lan
  
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