<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><channel><title><![CDATA[Vermont - Newslocker]]></title><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/</link><atom:link rel="self" href="https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rss/1000/" /><atom:link rel="hub" href="http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com" /><description><![CDATA[Find your latest news about Vermont with just one click. Don't miss out on anything happening in your region!]]></description><language>en-us</language><copyright>Copyright (C) 2026 newslocker.com</copyright><lastBuildDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:01:00 +0200</lastBuildDate><item><title><![CDATA[Affordable housing complex opens in downtown Waterbury]]></title><description><![CDATA[Local and state officials celebrate the opening of the Marsh House Apartments, a 26-unit affordable housing complex in the heart of downtown Waterbury, on June 3, 2026. Photo by Carly Berlin, Vermont Public/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.A new affordable housing complex will soon be home to more than two dozen residents in the heart of downtown Waterbury.Local and state officials celebra]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/affordable-housing-complex-opens-in-downtown-waterbury/</link><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/affordable-housing-complex-opens-in-downtown-waterbury/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The moral purpose of education]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Steve Deal, who is a retired naval officer living in Franklin County. He previously served as deputy chief learning officer for the Department of the Navy.Earlier this year, in a quiet decision no cable news network will cover, a small Swanton church issued a bulletin in which it said, &ldquo;The steering committee for Saint Mary&rsquo;s Academy regretfully announces that we are putting plans for a Catholic school in Franklin County on hold.&rdquo; The committee blamed no]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-moral-purpose-of-education/</link><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 01:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-moral-purpose-of-education/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Don’t buy the nuclear sales pitch]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,In response to Louis Varricchio&rsquo;s recent letter to VTDigger regarding the moratorium on nuclear energy passed 20 years ago, a few thoughts and facts might be in order.&nbsp;I was the lead lobbyist who worked for seven years to close the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant. I learned a lot about nuclear plants and those who promote them. This plant was old and leaking. We were told not to worry, everything was just fine. It wasn&rsquo;t.&nbsp;<br />
READ MORE<br />
Today, Vermont has the du]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-buy-the-nuclear-sales-pitch/</link><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-buy-the-nuclear-sales-pitch/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ex-sheriff’s deputy banned from police work over ‘trading cards’ of suspects]]></title><description><![CDATA[Illuminated police lights. Photo by Adobe StockA former Lamoille County sheriff&rsquo;s deputy has been banned by a state panel from police work in Vermont after being accused of using booking photos and other images to make &ldquo;trading cards&rdquo; of suspects who had been arrested.&nbsp;The same panel also agreed on a written warning to a member of the Rutland City Police Department who faced allegations of violating the state-required Fair and Impartial Policing Policy by contacting feder]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ex-sheriffs-deputy-banned-from-police-work-over-trading-cards-of-suspects/</link><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ex-sheriffs-deputy-banned-from-police-work-over-trading-cards-of-suspects/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[At Burlington Jazz Festival, curator Jason Moran turns spotlight to youth musicians]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jazz musician Jason Moran rehearses with members of the Vermont Youth Orchestra in Colchester on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTo understand what&rsquo;s different about this year&rsquo;s Burlington Jazz Festival, note the location of Saturday afternoon&rsquo;s performance featuring The Bandwagon: the A-Dog waterfront skatepark.The Skate Jam was the idea of, and stars, the festival&rsquo;s new curator &mdash; pianist, composer and bandleader Jason Moran, known in the mus]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-burlington-jazz-festival-curator-jason-moran-turns-spotlight-to-youth-musicians/</link><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-burlington-jazz-festival-curator-jason-moran-turns-spotlight-to-youth-musicians/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Celebrating and defending protest, America’s founding principle]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Former Greenpeace leaders and authors Andre Carothers and Annie Leonard. Photo by Brooke AndersonAs the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, two veteran activists are celebrating one of the country&rsquo;s foundational principles: the right to protest, as emb]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-celebrating-and-defending-protest-americas-founding-principle/</link><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-celebrating-and-defending-protest-americas-founding-principle/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Invest in journalism that makes a difference for Vermonters]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Reader,Our reporting begins where the official version begins to fray.&nbsp;A number doesn&rsquo;t reconcile, an answer arrives too smoothly, officials won&rsquo;t talk. And when we start asking questions, we keep digging until we find answers. Reader donations make this work possible.Until Saturday, June 6, your gift will also send a new book to a Vermont child through the Children&rsquo;s Literacy Foundation (CLiF).&nbsp;Will you help keep local news strong and support the news readers o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/invest-in-journalism-that-makes-a-difference-for-vermonters/</link><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/invest-in-journalism-that-makes-a-difference-for-vermonters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[William Eagan]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 12/04/1943Rutland, Vt.Died: 05/26/2026Colchester, Vt.On May 26, 2026, William (&ldquo;Bill&rdquo;) Edward Eagan, Jr. passed from this world. Or, as the man who prized saying things just as they are would have put it &mdash; he died.Bill entered the world on December 4, 1943, the son of Margaret Anne Garneau Eagan and William Edward Eagan. Separated by the ravages of war, like many of that era, father and son would not meet until well after Bill&rsquo;s second birthday. World-defining conf]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/william-eagan/</link><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/william-eagan/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hundreds of housing units in the works at closely-watched project in Burlington’s South End]]></title><description><![CDATA[A rendering of the South End Coordinated Redevelopment Project, courtesy of Andrew Foley, development director at Jonathan Rose Companies. Credit: GOA Architecture.This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.A long-awaited housing development that could bring hundreds of new apartments to a series of empty lots in Burlington&rsquo;s South End neighborhood is beginning to come together.The first phase of the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hundreds-of-housing-units-in-the-works-at-closely-watched-project-in-burlingtons-south-end/</link><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hundreds-of-housing-units-in-the-works-at-closely-watched-project-in-burlingtons-south-end/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lily Pierce finds her calling in sign language ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The expressive nature of sign language resonates with Lily, who is captivated by its ability to connect people and communicate emotion. &ldquo;Hearing people don&rsquo;t always connect that emotion with their words and expressions,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Learning ASL really changed my perspective and how I see communication.&rdquo;&nbsp;Lily&rsquo;s outlook was solidified when her American Sign Language (ASL) class took a full-immersion trip to Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., a school]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lily-pierce-finds-her-calling-in-sign-language/</link><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lily-pierce-finds-her-calling-in-sign-language/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[International trade organization adds to pressure on Hannaford to join Milk With Dignity]]></title><description><![CDATA[Supporters of the Migrant Justice&rsquo;s Milk With Dignity campaign march to the Hannaford supermarket in South Burlington in May 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont immigrant activist group Migrant Justice is set to begin negotiations with Hannaford&rsquo;s parent company over working conditions on Vermont dairy farms.&nbsp;The activist group has long pressured Hannaford, a major New England grocery chain, to join its &ldquo;Milk With Dignity&rdquo; program, an agreement that wo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/international-trade-organization-adds-to-pressure-on-hannaford-to-join-milk-with-dignity/</link><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/international-trade-organization-adds-to-pressure-on-hannaford-to-join-milk-with-dignity/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Leslie J. Matthews, PhD and Richard “Sandy” Hyde, PhD]]></title><description><![CDATA[Died: 05/07/2026Calais, VTDetails of service:There will be a celebration of their lives on Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 2 p.m. at the Maple Corner Community Center in Calais, VT. All are welcome.Leslie Matthews and Richard &ldquo;Sandy&rdquo; Hyde were longtime Vermont residents who wholeheartedly embraced the culture and environment of New England. Together for over 40 years, they hiked all the 4,000 footers of New England, and most of Colorados 14,000 footers. Leslie knew Vermont lakes and ponds]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/leslie-j-matthews-phd-and-richard-sandy-hyde-phd/</link><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 01:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/leslie-j-matthews-phd-and-richard-sandy-hyde-phd/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘A critical moment’: US Supreme Court lets Vermont continue suit claiming Meta hid harms to youth]]></title><description><![CDATA[Meta social media applications &mdash; Facebook, Messenger and Instagram &mdash; are displayed on an iPhone in March 2019. File photo by Jenny Kane/APTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Vermont officials can continue a consumer protection lawsuit against Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, the U.S. Supreme Court has indicated.&nbsp;In a brief, unexplained order last week, the nation&rsquo;s highest court elected not to take up Meta&r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-critical-moment-us-supreme-court-lets-vermont-continue-suit-claiming-meta-hid-harms-to-youth/</link><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-critical-moment-us-supreme-court-lets-vermont-continue-suit-claiming-meta-hid-harms-to-youth/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[US Education Secretary Linda McMahon tours Essex tech center, prompting protest]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited the Center for Technology, Essex on June 2, 2026. Photo by Corey McDonald/VTDigger.ESSEX JUNCTION &mdash; U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon paid a visit to the Essex-Westford School District&rsquo;s career and technology center Tuesday while dozens of protesters, including students, demonstrated outside the school.McMahon was in Vermont as part of her &ldquo;Returning Education to the States&rdquo; initiative, a tour of the country&rsquo;s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/us-education-secretary-linda-mcmahon-tours-essex-tech-center-prompting-protest/</link><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/us-education-secretary-linda-mcmahon-tours-essex-tech-center-prompting-protest/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As Vermont is a key link in global species movement, state and partners build out conservation networks and wildlife passages]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Merck Forest and Farmland Center in Rupert is situated between two vital migration corridors. Seen on Friday, May 8, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAs climate change pushes wildlife northward, conservation groups and state officials are trying to preserve a shrinking chain of forest corridors in Vermont that scientists say are critical to species migration across the Northeast.&nbsp;Conservationists say the fragmentation of the landscape through roads and development weaken links in t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-vermont-is-a-key-link-in-global-species-movement-state-and-partners-build-out-conservation-networks-and-wildlife-passages/</link><pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-vermont-is-a-key-link-in-global-species-movement-state-and-partners-build-out-conservation-networks-and-wildlife-passages/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Who governs Lake Champlain? ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Mark Naud, who is an environmental and land use attorney in Burlington.I have practiced environmental law in Vermont for 30 years, working on land, water and governance issues throughout this basin. I served as chair of the Vermont Citizens Advisory Committee on Lake Champlain&rsquo;s Future. And I will tell you something easy to forget when you are inside the daily work of environmental protection: What we have built around this lake is genuinely rare, and it works.&nbsp;]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/who-governs-lake-champlain/</link><pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/who-governs-lake-champlain/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former Rutland County school superintendent, husband deny underage drinking charges in teen’s death]]></title><description><![CDATA[Former Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union Superintendent Kristin Hubert, center right, and her husband John Henry Hubert appear at their arraignment in Rutland County Superior Criminal Court on Monday, June 1, 2026. The Huberts are charged in the 2024 death of Macy Piersiak for furnishing alcohol to a minor. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerRUTLAND &ndash;&nbsp; A former Rutland County school superintendent and her husband have pleaded not guilty to charges of enabling the drinking of alcohol by]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-rutland-county-school-superintendent-husband-deny-underage-drinking-charges-in-teens-death/</link><pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 01:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-rutland-county-school-superintendent-husband-deny-underage-drinking-charges-in-teens-death/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Peacham preemptively transferring ownership of its school building to town]]></title><description><![CDATA[Peacham village from the northwest. Photo by Ascended Dreamer via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.One Northeast Kingdom town took an unusual step to retain some control over its school&rsquo;s fate just as the state Legislature finalized passage of this year&rsquo;s landmark education reform bill on Friday evening.&nbsp;Around 40 Peacham voters unanimously approved an article authorizing the selectboard to purchase the town&rsquo;s elementary school building for the nominal amoun]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/peacham-preemptively-transferring-ownership-of-its-school-building-to-town/</link><pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/peacham-preemptively-transferring-ownership-of-its-school-building-to-town/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Debate over ICE masking bill complicates, for a moment, end of session in the Vermont House]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters and ICE agents in South Burlington in March 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWe&rsquo;re outta hereThat&rsquo;s all, folks.The Vermont Legislature adjourned for the year, and for the 2025-26 biennium, Friday night. Senators finished up their work just before 6 p.m., and the House followed suit two hours later. I&rsquo;m not complaining about the time. I was happy, in fact, to be on the road home with a sliver of daylight left.The House took longer to finish in part because i]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/debate-over-ice-masking-bill-complicates-for-a-moment-end-of-session-in-the-vermont-house/</link><pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/debate-over-ice-masking-bill-complicates-for-a-moment-end-of-session-in-the-vermont-house/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hateful words have consequences]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I want to thank everyone who has reached out after my storefront in Cavendish was vandalized with anti-Zionist graffiti.&nbsp;The messages, calls and offers of support have meant more than I can say. People from Vermont and beyond have written to tell me that seeing Israeli flags in my window gave them comfort, courage and a feeling that they were not alone. I did not fully realize how much that visibility mattered until others told me.I was shaken by what happened, but I am OK, and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hateful-words-have-consequences/</link><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 22:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hateful-words-have-consequences/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kathryn DeSutter]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 06/30/1991Mooresville, North CarolinaDied: 05/25/2026Burlington, VermontDetails of service:Friends and family are warmly invited to an open memorial gathering at our home on Friday, June 5, from 2:30&ndash;6:30 PM &mdash; come as you are, stay as long as you like.<br />
A Celebration of Life will follow in the coming months.<br />
In lieu of flowers, Kathryn asked that donations be made to The Janet S. Munt Family Room in Burlington, an organization that has helped our children and cares for the comm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kathryn-desutter/</link><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 22:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kathryn-desutter/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger launches campaign to send 400 books to Vermont children]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Reader,Today, VTDigger is launching a special five-day campaign in partnership with the Children&rsquo;s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) to help put 400 new books into the hands of Vermont children.Through Saturday, every donation to VTDigger will do double duty: support independent local reporting and provide a brand-new children&rsquo;s book through CLiF.Our goal is simple: 400 children&rsquo;s books from 400 readers. Will you join us?<br />
Donate &amp; send a book<br />
For some children, this will be]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-launches-campaign-to-send-400-books-to-vermont-children/</link><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-launches-campaign-to-send-400-books-to-vermont-children/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[We came for the skiing. We stayed because of the school.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jay Hachadoorian, a personal trainer who lives in Winhall.My wife, Christina, and I are not the people you&rsquo;d expect to write about Vermont education policy. We&rsquo;re personal trainers from just outside New York City. We&rsquo;re not policy wonks or lifelong Vermonters. We didn&rsquo;t come here with a plan.We came for a ski weekend in 2019, drove past a sign that said &ldquo;The Mountain School at Winhall,&rdquo; and Christina said it was her dream for our son to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/we-came-for-the-skiing-we-stayed-because-of-the-school/</link><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/we-came-for-the-skiing-we-stayed-because-of-the-school/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘The worst thing that has happened to me’: Honduran immigrant shares his experience of the South Burlington ICE raid]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jos&eacute; Estrada Jerez, 19, outside the Dorset Street house in South Burlington on May 17, 2026, where he and others had sheltered in place for hours during an ICE raid on March 11. Photo by Auditi Guha/VTDiggerWhen federal agents stormed into the house he had lived in just five months, Jos&eacute; Estrada Jerez said he and his uncle were on their knees, their hands raised in surrender.&ldquo;They burst in the door, their guns pointed at me and my uncle,&rdquo; Jerez said. &ldquo;I was alrea]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-worst-thing-that-has-happened-to-me-honduran-immigrant-shares-his-experience-of-the-south-burlington-ice-raid/</link><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-worst-thing-that-has-happened-to-me-honduran-immigrant-shares-his-experience-of-the-south-burlington-ice-raid/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Vermont rules ban wake surfing on Lake Fairlee]]></title><description><![CDATA[Herb and Kirsten Detrick, of Post Mills, Vt., take a ride on Lake Fairlee on Wednesday, May 27, 2028. Kirsten Detrick is a former member of the Lake Fairlee Association and also attended summer camp on the lake. The couple has lived full time on the lake since 2018. Vermont&rsquo;s Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules voted 5-3 last week to approve a proposal to expand rules governing wake sports in Vermont, banning the activity on Lake Fairlee and 11 other lakes where they were previo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-vermont-rules-ban-wake-surfing-on-lake-fairlee/</link><pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 15:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-vermont-rules-ban-wake-surfing-on-lake-fairlee/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[This Manchester mansion has history — and now the world’s largest private collection of 20th-century Vermont art]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dani Edgar, collections manager at Manchester&rsquo;s Southern Vermont Arts Center, hangs a William Dean Fausett painting that&rsquo;s part of &ldquo;For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection.&rdquo; Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerMANCHESTER &mdash; Lyman Orton arrived at a local auction six decades ago in hopes of furnishing his first house, only to spy a seemingly simple yet thought-provoking framed landscape.&ldquo;The whole idea that artists fell in love with the state and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/this-manchester-mansion-has-history-and-now-the-worlds-largest-private-collection-of-20th-century-vermont-art/</link><pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 14:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/this-manchester-mansion-has-history-and-now-the-worlds-largest-private-collection-of-20th-century-vermont-art/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[It’s time for Vermont to reconsider its outdated nuclear moratorium]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,As Vermont strives to meet its ambitious climate goals and transition to a clean energy future, we need to confront a glaring contradiction in our state policy: our moratorium on nuclear energy.Passed 20 years ago in a different era, this policy is increasingly out of step with modern science and the realities of grid reliability. Relying solely on intermittent wind and solar means Vermont must continuously import power from out of state. Green Mountain Power already imports nuclear]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-time-for-vermont-to-reconsider-its-outdated-nuclear-moratorium/</link><pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 14:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-time-for-vermont-to-reconsider-its-outdated-nuclear-moratorium/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘Delicious’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Beach,&rdquo; by Aiden Baker, 16, of Hardwick.Young Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sreid@youngwriters]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-delicious/</link><pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 13:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-delicious/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A federal program sends billions to pay for childcare meals. In Vermont, participation is plummeting.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Barbie Blanchard feeds one of her young charges during lunch at From Bottles to Busses day care in Rutland on Thursday, May 21, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.For Barbie Blanchard, who since 2002 has run a home-based childcare program in the Rutland area, providing meals for her charges has always been a given. Kids in her care get a carefully planned breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack every day.&ldqu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-federal-program-sends-billions-to-pay-for-childcare-meals-in-vermont-participation-is-plummeting/</link><pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 12:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-federal-program-sends-billions-to-pay-for-childcare-meals-in-vermont-participation-is-plummeting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[April jobs report points to a decrease in employment in the state]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Department of Labor in Montpelier. File photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDiggerEmployment in Vermont has been in a steady decline this year that got steeper in April.&nbsp;The latest monthly data shows the state lost 900 jobs last month, an estimated 0.3% reduction in employees on payroll compared with March. It was the largest drop so far in 2026.&#8203;&ldquo;The size of Vermont&rsquo;s labor force continues to steadily decline even as higher costs put pressure on household budgets acr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/april-jobs-report-points-to-a-decrease-in-employment-in-the-state/</link><pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 13:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/april-jobs-report-points-to-a-decrease-in-employment-in-the-state/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Legislature adjourns 2026 session that centered, again, on education reform]]></title><description><![CDATA[Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, gavels the House into adjournment at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, May 29, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; After a week of fits and starts with negotiations that at times dragged into the night, the Vermont Legislature adjourned its 2026 session on Friday, just shy of five months after lawmakers first filed into the Statehouse in early January.The Senate gaveled out for the year at 5:51 p.m., and the House clos]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-legislature-adjourns-2026-session-that-centered-again-on-education-reform/</link><pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 02:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-legislature-adjourns-2026-session-that-centered-again-on-education-reform/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[With two major vacancies, who will lead the Vermont House and Senate?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Democratic Majority Leader Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Chittenden Southeast, at the Statehouse in February 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTwo empty seats&nbsp;The leaders of both the Vermont House and Senate will not be running for reelection. So who will fill their shoes?&nbsp;Senate Majority Leader Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Chittenden Southeast, said she&rsquo;s running for Senate president pro tempore.&nbsp;Ram Hinsdale has served in the legislature for 14 years and is the first woman]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/with-two-major-vacancies-who-will-lead-the-vermont-house-and-senate/</link><pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 00:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/with-two-major-vacancies-who-will-lead-the-vermont-house-and-senate/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Legislature passes landmark education reform without forcing districts to merge]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison, a key architect on this year&rsquo;s education reform compromise speaks on the Senate floor at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&ldquo;It was actually not that complicated in the end.&rdquo;That&rsquo;s how Senate Education Committee Chair Seth Bongartz, D-Bennington, described the final steps toward the Legislature passing the year&rsquo;s landmark education reform bill Friday.While the final steps for H.955 may]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-legislature-passes-landmark-education-reform-without-forcing-districts-to-merge/</link><pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 00:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-legislature-passes-landmark-education-reform-without-forcing-districts-to-merge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Put the ‘public’ back in public lands]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Zack Porter, who has worked in public land management and advocacy for more than two decades. He co-founded Standing Trees in 2021.Did you know that you are a co-owner of more than 370,000 acres of Vermont?Vermont&rsquo;s state forests, parks and wildlife management areas, which total 6% of the state, are public lands and should be national examples of democracy in action. Sadly, in 2026, they aren&rsquo;t living up to this ideal.The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/put-the-public-back-in-public-lands/</link><pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 21:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/put-the-public-back-in-public-lands/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[More Vermont National Guard members are deploying to the region around Iran]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont National Guard soldiers wait for the start of a deployment ceremony at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho on Friday, May 29, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated 5:12 p.m.As tensions between the United States and Iran continue, more Vermont National Guard members are preparing to deploy to the U.S. Central Command region, a vast military area that includes the Middle East.Hundreds of guard members and their families gathered Friday at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-vermont-national-guard-members-are-deploying-to-the-region-around-iran/</link><pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 20:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-vermont-national-guard-members-are-deploying-to-the-region-around-iran/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers reach state budget deal with funding for UVM athletic complex]]></title><description><![CDATA[Senate, left, and House members of the budget conference committee meet at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated 7:37 p.m.MONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont&rsquo;s House and Senate passed a state budget Friday for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts in July.Agreement on the budget bill, H.951, came in the final hours of this year&rsquo;s legislative session. Overall, the House and Senate&rsquo;s compromise version of the budget totals $9.38]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-reach-state-budget-deal-with-funding-for-uvm-athletic-complex/</link><pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 18:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-reach-state-budget-deal-with-funding-for-uvm-athletic-complex/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘I finally won something here in Vermont’: Jury acquits gun-range owner of assault]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daniel Banyai, the former owner of a shooting range and paramilitary training site in Pawlet,looks on as the prosecutor speaks during Banyai&rsquo;s trial in Rutland County Superior criminal court in Rutland on Thursday, May 28, 2026. Banyai is facing charges stemming from a 2024 altercation with Pawlet Constable Thomas Covino. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerRUTLAND &mdash; A Rutland County jury has acquitted the owner of Slate Ridge, a former gun range and paramilitary-style training facility]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/i-finally-won-something-here-in-vermont-jury-acquits-gun-range-owner-of-assault/</link><pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 01:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/i-finally-won-something-here-in-vermont-jury-acquits-gun-range-owner-of-assault/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[At the end of the Vermont legislative session, progress happens in fits and starts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Anne Watson, D/P-Washington, yawns and stretches at her desk while listening on the floor of the Senate at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFits and startsIt can feel like the modern world is a shrine built to the capitalist god that is efficiency.But Montpelier, it seems, didn&rsquo;t get the message. The waning days of the Legislature are anything but efficient.&nbsp;Almost all of the year&rsquo;s lawmaking is now confined to extended]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-the-end-of-the-vermont-legislative-session-progress-happens-in-fits-and-starts/</link><pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 01:35:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-the-end-of-the-vermont-legislative-session-progress-happens-in-fits-and-starts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mike Pieciak runs again for treasurer — not governor]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak chats before a groundbreaking ceremony marking the beginning of construction of 40 affordable apartments at the Cambrian Way housing complex in Burlington in August 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak is running for a third term as state treasurer, he announced Thursday morning outside the Vermont Secretary of State&rsquo;s Office.&nbsp;Pieciak, who has been treasurer since 2023, was long rumored]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mike-pieciak-runs-again-for-treasurer-not-governor/</link><pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 22:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mike-pieciak-runs-again-for-treasurer-not-governor/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Medical examiner: Franklin County man died from stab wounds]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Vermont State Police cruiser pictured in January 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe death of a Franklin County man found dead in his home last fall was caused by stab wounds to the chest, according to findings the Vermont State Police released Thursday.Matthew Turner, 55, was found dead inside his Bedard Road home in Sheldon after first responders were called to the residence Oct. 7, according to state police. Investigators at the time described the death as suspicious but did not]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/medical-examiner-franklin-county-man-died-from-stab-wounds/</link><pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 22:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/medical-examiner-franklin-county-man-died-from-stab-wounds/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Inside Vermont’s prisons: What legislators didn’t see.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Richard Gagnon, who is currently housed at Southern State Correctional Facility.Charlotte Oliver&rsquo;s recent piece in VTDigger regarding her visit with Vermont legislators to Southern State Correctional Facility was cheerful and upbeat. One could get the mistaken impression that the prison&rsquo;s &ldquo;colorful cafe&rdquo; and &ldquo;hallways with shiny floors &hellip; like a school&rdquo; suggest an entirely benign place.&nbsp;Vermont prisons are warehouses for convi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/inside-vermonts-prisons-what-legislators-didnt-see/</link><pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 22:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/inside-vermonts-prisons-what-legislators-didnt-see/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont, 24 other states sue Trump’s Education Department over loan caps]]></title><description><![CDATA[The complaint argues that the Education Department, led by Education Secretary Linda McMahon, is not acknowledging or including all programs and professional degrees. AP Photo/Manuel Balce CenetaThis story by Adora Brown was first published by NOTUS on May 19, 2026.Dozens of states, including Vermont, sued the Education Department on Tuesday over the agency&rsquo;s finalized loan caps that would limit the federal funds available to professional degree-seekers.The limits officially go into effec]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-24-other-states-sue-trumps-education-department-over-loan-caps/</link><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 13:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-24-other-states-sue-trumps-education-department-over-loan-caps/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Burlington’s mayor plans to close $11 million budget gap for next year]]></title><description><![CDATA[Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak speaks at a press conference in Burlington in April 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBurlington is looking to close an $11 million budget gap without any layoffs in the upcoming fiscal year amid multiple financial challenges.Progressive Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak this week laid out for the City Council the expenses and cost savings in her proposal for a $112 million balanced budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year that starts July 1, up $5 million over]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-burlingtons-mayor-plans-to-close-11-million-budget-gap-for-next-year/</link><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 01:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-burlingtons-mayor-plans-to-close-11-million-budget-gap-for-next-year/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As Vermont lawmakers stare down adjournment, major bills are still in flux]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerHurry up and waitLast week, House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, told reporters that she thought lawmakers could finish up their work for the year this Friday. That proved not to be the reality, of course. Now, we&rsquo;re set to be back under the Golden Dome on Tuesday, if not all next week.There&rsquo;s still plenty left for lawmakers to do before adjournment. Here&rsquo;s where things stand.In t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-vermont-lawmakers-stare-down-adjournment-major-bills-are-still-in-flux/</link><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 00:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-vermont-lawmakers-stare-down-adjournment-major-bills-are-still-in-flux/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Behind closed doors, lawmakers and Gov. Scott near education deal without forced district mergers]]></title><description><![CDATA[The House of Representatives meets at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, April 17, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash;&nbsp;A deal between Republican Gov. Phil Scott and Democratic leadership on the year&rsquo;s massive education funding and governance reform bill appeared close Friday after a week of secret meetings.&nbsp;Both Democratic and Republican legislative leaders described a compromise on the closely watched bill that could be made public as early as Friday nig]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/behind-closed-doors-lawmakers-and-gov-scott-near-education-deal-without-forced-district-mergers/</link><pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 23:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/behind-closed-doors-lawmakers-and-gov-scott-near-education-deal-without-forced-district-mergers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Legislators reject Gov. Scott’s loosening of wetland protections]]></title><description><![CDATA[A view of Class II wetlands in Essex on May 22, 2026. Legislators have rejected Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s proposals around wetlands regulation, including reducing the buffer zone for housing. Photo by April McCullum/Vermont PublicThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.The Vermont Legislature and Republican Gov. Phil Scott are mired in a fight over how easy it should be to build housing near wetlands.On Th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/legislators-reject-gov-scotts-loosening-of-wetland-protections/</link><pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 21:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/legislators-reject-gov-scotts-loosening-of-wetland-protections/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s new farming legislation leaves small livestock operations vulnerable]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Caroline Sherman-Gordon, who is the legislative director of the farmer member-led nonprofit Rural Vermont.Municipal regulation of farming drew public attention in the Essex Junction duck case and the Orleans pig case, and became a farmer-led priority during the 2026 legislative session.For decades, the precedent was that farming was exempt from municipal regulation. In 2025, however, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that farming is not exempt from all local regulation. Inst]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-new-farming-legislation-leaves-small-livestock-operations-vulnerable/</link><pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 20:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-new-farming-legislation-leaves-small-livestock-operations-vulnerable/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gaelle Zya Desir]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 03/13/2025Burlington, VTDied: 05/13/2026Burlington, VTDetails of service:Please join us at Elmwood Meunier funeral home on Wednesday, May 27th at 11 a.m. for services. The service will be followed by the burial at Lakeview Cemetery on North Avenue. Please send any flowers and gifts to the funeral home.Ga&euml;lle Zya Desir arrived on March 13, 2025 joining her mother, Sabine Fayette in Burlington, VT.Ga&euml;lle faced many obstacles but was a true fighter. She was strong. Ga&euml;lle was]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gaelle-zya-desir/</link><pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 17:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gaelle-zya-desir/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawmakers hit pause on childcare licensure reform — for now]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jena Desautels and her daughter at Little Shepherd Child Care and Preschool in St. Albans City in January 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerLicensure limboHouse lawmakers have tabled an effort to introduce a new licensure system for childcare providers in Vermont, saying that too many questions remain unanswered.S.206, a bill that the Senate passed in March, would have introduced a rigorous, tiered system for licensing individual childcare staff. Many roles in the field would have seen]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-hit-pause-on-childcare-licensure-reform-for-now/</link><pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 00:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-hit-pause-on-childcare-licensure-reform-for-now/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Police department’s social media tactics lead to arrests — and criticism]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Morristown police cruiser in Oct. 2023. File photo by Natalie Williams/VTDiggerMorristown police turned the search for a wanted community member into a social media &ldquo;challenge&rdquo; Wednesday, offering five smash burgers and two chocolate shakes in exchange for tips leading to an arrest.<br />
&ldquo;As always, your winnings can and will be delivered to you discreetly if you wish,&rdquo; the department wrote on their Facebook page.The post garnered hundreds of reactions and shares. It was th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/police-departments-social-media-tactics-lead-to-arrests-and-criticism/</link><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 23:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/police-departments-social-media-tactics-lead-to-arrests-and-criticism/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jennifer Owen Adsit]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 12/17/1953Buffalo, NYDied: 05/15/2026McClure Miller Respite House, Colchester, VTDetails of service:A celebration of life will be held at a later date.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Jennifer Owen Adsit of Charlotte, VT passed away peacefully on Friday, May 15th at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, after a long, stoic battle with cancer. She was born in Buffalo, NY on 12/17/1953 to Alma C. and R. Mitchell McKaig Owen. Brother Mitchell C. Owen followed in 1954.Jennifer attended the E]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jennifer-owen-adsit/</link><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 23:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jennifer-owen-adsit/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Second Vermont man this year dies in Mississippi prison]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility, run by CoreCivic. Photo by Alan Keays/VTDiggerA second Vermont man this year has died in a Mississippi prison.&nbsp;Shawn Sears, 56, of Whiting, was found unresponsive in his cell Wednesday morning before medical staff attempted to give him emergency treatment, according to a press release from the Vermont Department of Corrections.&nbsp;&ldquo;Mr. Sears was subsequently pronounced deceased,&rdquo; the release said.&nbsp;Sears&rsquo; death comes as he]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/second-vermont-man-this-year-dies-in-mississippi-prison/</link><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 23:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/second-vermont-man-this-year-dies-in-mississippi-prison/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When clutter spills outside]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,In Vermont, community life can be shaped by what we observe but are not comfortable discussing openly. Problems can remain quietly visible for a long time. We might notice discarded items accumulating outside a community property, such as containers, furniture, tires, cars, unused baby toys and garbage. But what appears to be a property issue is often something more complex.Hoarding disorder is a recognized condition marked by persistent difficulty discarding possessions, regardless]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-clutter-spills-outside/</link><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 23:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-clutter-spills-outside/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hospitals need to cut spending drastically — but do their plans deliver?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Springfield Hospital in Springfield on Thursday, June 9, 2022. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWhen in 2024 a consultant sized up the state of healthcare in Vermont, the picture was stark: Vermont&rsquo;s hospitals needed major restructuring or they risked facing a collective budget deficit somewhere between $700 million to $2.4 billion by 2030.Last year, the Legislature formally tasked the Agency of Human Services with coordinating that restructuring work across hospitals, including a requireme]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hospitals-need-to-cut-spending-drastically-but-do-their-plans-deliver/</link><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 22:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hospitals-need-to-cut-spending-drastically-but-do-their-plans-deliver/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When prior authorization becomes prior aggravation]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Diane Roston, who is on the clinical faculty at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and is a physician at West Central Behavioral Health in Lebanon, New Hampshire.Imagine that when you go to pick up a refill, the pharmacist tells you that your insurance won&rsquo;t cover it.&ldquo;But I&rsquo;ve been taking this medicine for years: two 10 mg tablets in the morning and one in the afternoon. It works well. And it&rsquo;s generic,&rdquo; you say, surprised.&ldquo;I kno]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-prior-authorization-becomes-prior-aggravation/</link><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 21:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-prior-authorization-becomes-prior-aggravation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[House honors Norwich woman as investigators say little]]></title><description><![CDATA[Police have not released any additional information on Noel Neely, the 82-year-old woman whose death at her residence at 48 Douglas Hill Road in Norwich, Vt., on May 9 is under investigation. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsThis story by Alex Ebrahimi was first published in the Valley News on May 19, 2026.NORWICH &mdash; It&rsquo;s been more than a week since Vermont State Police identified Noel Neely as the 82-year-old woman whose death at her residence at 48 Douglas Hill Road on May 9 was]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/house-honors-norwich-woman-as-investigators-say-little/</link><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 01:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/house-honors-norwich-woman-as-investigators-say-little/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont House stops short of unmasking ICE, dividing House Democrats]]></title><description><![CDATA[Federal law enforcement agents in South Burlington in March 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont lawmakers originally looked poised to unmask federal authorities in the state. Then the Vermont House passed a bill Wednesday that stops short of its original ambition, in a move that divided Democrats.&nbsp;The bill, S.208, would create a statewide policy on masking and identification for local and state police officers. But the legislation would not apply to federal]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-stops-short-of-unmasking-ice-dividing-house-democrats/</link><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 00:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-stops-short-of-unmasking-ice-dividing-house-democrats/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont legislators look to fast-track a plan to lower what insurers pay hospitals]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Alyssa Black, D-Essex, on the floor of the House of Representatives at the Statehouse in May 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerReferential treatmentAs the legislative session races to a close, there is a lot of hurrying up and waiting for bills to reach their final form.&nbsp;In the healthcare world, one such bill, S.190, would fast-track the Green Mountain Care Board&rsquo;s ability to reduce the amount that two insurance groups pay hospitals for services, starting next fiscal yea]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-legislators-look-to-fast-track-a-plan-to-lower-what-insurers-pay-hospitals/</link><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 00:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-legislators-look-to-fast-track-a-plan-to-lower-what-insurers-pay-hospitals/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Journalist Jasper Craven on the toxic mix of militarism and masculinity]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Journalist and author Jasper Craven. courtesy photoVermont journalist Jasper Craven has spent a decade investigating and exposing the culture of toxic masculinity that pervades the American military.&nbsp;In 2018, he wrote a multipart expos&eacute; for VTDi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-journalist-jasper-craven-on-the-toxic-mix-of-militarism-and-masculinity/</link><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 00:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-journalist-jasper-craven-on-the-toxic-mix-of-militarism-and-masculinity/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawmakers attempt to reorganize supports for unhoused Vermonters while limiting motel use]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Ginny Lyons, D-Chittenden Southeast, explains a bill that seeks to establish a Vermont Homeless Response Continuum at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.The Vermont Senate unanimously advanced a bill to reform the state&rsquo;s response to homelessness, an issue that has remained entrenched in recent years a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-attempt-to-reorganize-supports-for-unhoused-vermonters-while-limiting-motel-use/</link><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 23:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-attempt-to-reorganize-supports-for-unhoused-vermonters-while-limiting-motel-use/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pharmacy closure leaves Woodstock without place to fill prescriptions]]></title><description><![CDATA[Stanley Borucki, of Chester, waits in the car outside Springfield Pharmacy while his wife picks up his prescription. The pharmacy closed last Friday, but the business allowed Borucki&rsquo;s wife inside to pick the medication up on Monday, May 17, 2026 in Springfield. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsThis story by Clare Shanahan was first published in the Valley News on May 18, 2026.WOODSTOCK &mdash;&nbsp;The pharmacy inside Ottauquechee Health Center on Pleasant Street is closed as of last F]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pharmacy-closure-leaves-woodstock-without-place-to-fill-prescriptions/</link><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 23:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pharmacy-closure-leaves-woodstock-without-place-to-fill-prescriptions/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s Act 181 reset is a chance to get it right]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Rob Riley, who is the president of the Northern Forest Center, an innovation and investment partner working across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York.&nbsp;Vermont hasn&rsquo;t just tweaked Act 181. It&rsquo;s rolled it back definitively.In a rare show of unanimity, on May 5 the House voted to scrap the law&rsquo;s most controversial provisions after a surge of opposition from rural communities who felt the state had gotten it wrong. This kind of reversal doesn&rsq]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-act-181-reset-is-a-chance-to-get-it-right/</link><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 23:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-act-181-reset-is-a-chance-to-get-it-right/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Credit card fees are a cost of doing business]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I appreciate Wes Hamilton&rsquo;s perspective on credit card fees in his recent letter to VTDigger, but I take issue with framing these as costs that must be passed separately to customers rather than simply as another cost of doing business.Like many local restaurants, Three Penny Taproom uses the Toast point-of-sale system. Toast charges 2.49%-3.69% per transaction, depending on the plan, in addition to a set monthly fee. While accepting credit cards may feel unavoidable in today&]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/credit-card-fees-are-a-cost-of-doing-business/</link><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 21:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/credit-card-fees-are-a-cost-of-doing-business/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sophia Parker: service before self]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sophia Parker is a force to be reckoned with. At 27, she has already spent seven years serving in the Vermont Army National Guard, earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing while working full-time, and continues to rehabilitate wildlife as a volunteer. She just started a new job as a nurse manager at Elderwood at Uihlein in Lake Placid, New York, an assisted living facility. She&rsquo;s drawn to the fact that folks make Elderwood their home, and the idea that she can impact their lives.&nbsp;So]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sophia-parker-service-before-self/</link><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 15:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sophia-parker-service-before-self/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sophia Parker: selfless service]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sophia Parker is a force to be reckoned with. At 27, she has already spent seven years serving in the Vermont Army National Guard, earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing while working full-time, and continues to rehabilitate wildlife as a volunteer. She just started a new job as a nurse manager at Elderwood at Uihlein in Lake Placid, New York, an assisted living facility. She&rsquo;s drawn to the fact that folks make Elderwood their home, and the idea that she can impact their lives.&nbsp;So]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sophia-parker-selfless-service/</link><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 15:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sophia-parker-selfless-service/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A new body will recommend how state government and Vermont businesses could adopt AI]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott created the Vermont Artificial Intelligence Economic Taskforce through an executive order on Monday. File photo by Michael Dwyer/APVermont&rsquo;s state government could be on its way to further adoption of artificial intelligence.Through an executive order, Gov. Phil Scott created the Vermont Artificial Intelligence Economic Taskforce on Monday. And first on its agenda, the body must present up to five recommendations within 90 days for how state government could adopt AI to be]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-new-body-will-recommend-how-state-government-and-vermont-businesses-could-adopt-ai/</link><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 00:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-new-body-will-recommend-how-state-government-and-vermont-businesses-could-adopt-ai/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington City Council rejects art donation from state-recognized Abenaki group]]></title><description><![CDATA[Left: the now-removed monument to Chief Greylock in Battery Park in Burlington. Right: the monument commissioned by the Abenaki Nation at Missisquoi to replace it. Photos courtesy of Burlington City CouncilThe Burlington City Council rejected a plan to put up a sculpture commissioned by one of the groups recognized as Abenaki by Vermont&rsquo;s state government after the proposal sparked a flurry of backlash, including from two Abenaki nations based in Quebec.At their meeting Monday, councilors]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-city-council-rejects-art-donation-from-state-recognized-abenaki-group/</link><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 00:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-city-council-rejects-art-donation-from-state-recognized-abenaki-group/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s primary care crisis demands real transformation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I always wanted to be a real doctor. I first lived in Vermont when I was at medical school at Dartmouth, graduating at the top of my class before training to provide comprehensive family medicine. I returned to rural Vermont 10 years later with the dream of being a small-town family doctor, but I soon realized that role didn&rsquo;t exist. Two years ago, I gave up and became a full-time hospitalist. I get paid more and I love my job, but it pains me to see my neighbors struggle unde]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-primary-care-crisis-demands-real-transformation/</link><pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 23:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-primary-care-crisis-demands-real-transformation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge concerned as Vermont Catholic diocese’s bankruptcy case hits $2M in legal bills]]></title><description><![CDATA[The steeple of the Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese&rsquo;s mother church, the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Burlington. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerA U.S. bankruptcy judge is voicing concern that the Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese has spent nearly two years and $2 million in legal bills to reorganize its depleting finances &mdash; yet still lacks a plan.The state&rsquo;s largest religious denomination filed for Chapter 11 protection in the fall of 2024 after a past series of priest miscon]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-concerned-as-vermont-catholic-dioceses-bankruptcy-case-hits-2m-in-legal-bills/</link><pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 22:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-concerned-as-vermont-catholic-dioceses-bankruptcy-case-hits-2m-in-legal-bills/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont is driving the next generation away]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Patrick Tester, an 11th-grade student at Lyndon Institute.&nbsp;Vermont is overrated. Many people likely will disagree with this and argue that the stars and clean air and nature make it incredible or even underrated, and these are all valid pluses about the state. Vermont has many beautiful qualities, but in my view, the downsides and shortcomings outweigh them a thousandfold.&nbsp;If you wish to travel almost anywhere in New York City, all you have to do is tap away $3,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-driving-the-next-generation-away/</link><pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 20:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-driving-the-next-generation-away/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[What 2,200 Vermonters told us about local news]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger Dirt Road News at trivia night at Babes Bar in Bethel on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger<br />
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s impossible to find anything. It&rsquo;s on a million different websites&hellip; or it&rsquo;s on Facebook, and Facebook is terrible at providing this information.&rdquo;<br />
We heard versions of this again and again from Vermonters this fall.Through our Dirt Road News project, VTDigger set out to listen to younger and rural residents across the state. From A]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-2200-vermonters-told-us-about-local-news/</link><pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 19:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-2200-vermonters-told-us-about-local-news/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After a long, cold winter, energy costs are soaring. Some Vermonters are reevaluating their options.]]></title><description><![CDATA[A fuel truck delivers propane to a home in St. Albans Town in January 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.For Lynn Knight, who lives in an 18th-century Georgia farmhouse with her partner and his 90-year-old mother, having a reliable heat source is non-negotiable.&nbsp;But starting next winter, Knight plans to switch from an oil furnace to a pellet boiler system. The cost of home heating oil has become unmana]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-a-long-cold-winter-energy-costs-are-soaring-some-vermonters-are-reevaluating-their-options/</link><pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 00:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-a-long-cold-winter-energy-costs-are-soaring-some-vermonters-are-reevaluating-their-options/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[It’s time to give LGBTQ+ youth agency over their own lives]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Amanda Rohdenburg, who is the senior director of advocacy and land stewardship at Outright Vermont.In Vermont, we pride ourselves on being a place where young people are valued, supported and allowed to succeed in life. Yet too many young people, especially LGBTQ+ youth, are forced to navigate systems that were not built for them. This unintentionally creates instability for young people rather than reducing it. H.657, an act relating to various programming and requirement]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-time-to-give-lgbtq-youth-agency-over-their-own-lives/</link><pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 23:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-time-to-give-lgbtq-youth-agency-over-their-own-lives/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[South Burlington mail delivery woes are caused by short staffing, says Postal Service]]></title><description><![CDATA[The United States Post Office in South Burlington on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDan Bowles first noticed the issue when his father sent him a birthday card from Florida and told Bowles to expect it in the mail in the next few days.&nbsp;The card took more than a month to arrive, he said.&nbsp;At the time, the South Burlington resident chalked it up to post-Christmas holiday delays that are typical around that time of year. But in mid-February, he ordered a package a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/south-burlington-mail-delivery-woes-are-caused-by-short-staffing-says-postal-service/</link><pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/south-burlington-mail-delivery-woes-are-caused-by-short-staffing-says-postal-service/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Amid federal funding squeeze, Safe Haven in Randolph to close]]></title><description><![CDATA[St. John&rsquo;s Episcopal Church in Randolph provides a space for people who need a place to stay. Photo by Caitlin Justice/CNSThis story by Caitlin Justice was first published in The White River Valley Herald on May 14, 2026.With the arrival of spring, extreme cold nights no longer pose a threat to people experiencing homelessness. Despite these warmer conditions, providing shelter still remains a challenge in the White River Valley as local agencies feel the effects of funding restrictions.L]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/amid-federal-funding-squeeze-safe-haven-in-randolph-to-close/</link><pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 22:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/amid-federal-funding-squeeze-safe-haven-in-randolph-to-close/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont police shot my brother dead. Ten months later, we’re still waiting for answers.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,It has now been 10 months since my brother, Scott Garvey, was shot and killed after he himself reached out to the Vermont State Police during a mental health crisis.Every morning, I wake up wondering whether today will finally be the day the investigation findings are released.Ten months of waiting. Ten months of silence. Ten months of living in a kind of purgatory where life cannot fully move forward because we are still waiting for the state to explain how and why Scott died.I&rsq]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-police-shot-my-brother-dead-ten-months-later-were-still-waiting-for-answers/</link><pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 21:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-police-shot-my-brother-dead-ten-months-later-were-still-waiting-for-answers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont rejected the federal government’s vaccine rollbacks. But doctors are still seeing their impact.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dr. Tracy Tyson at Monarch Maples Pediatrics in St. Albans on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDr. Tracy Tyson, a pediatrician in St. Albans, has seen the prevalence of vaccine skepticism rise and fall in waves: first with the advent of social media in the early 2010s and then during the Covid-19 pandemic. The third wave came as soon as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the helm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, she said.Since his confirmation in 2025, Kennedy h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-rejected-the-federal-governments-vaccine-rollbacks-but-doctors-are-still-seeing-their-impact/</link><pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 12:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-rejected-the-federal-governments-vaccine-rollbacks-but-doctors-are-still-seeing-their-impact/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State officials and local residents respond to ongoing PFAS contamination concerns in Bennington County]]></title><description><![CDATA[A decorative antique well installed at a site where a PFOA-contaminated drinking water well was capped. File photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDiggerThe state of Vermont is offering well testing, free water and other support for South Bennington and Shaftsbury in the wake of research last year that found PFAS contamination in the Bennington area has spread and worsened over time.The state is also in active negotiations with the current corporate owner of the now shuttered ChemFab factory in Bennington,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-officials-and-local-residents-respond-to-ongoing-pfas-contamination-concerns-in-bennington-county/</link><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 15:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-officials-and-local-residents-respond-to-ongoing-pfas-contamination-concerns-in-bennington-county/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Credit card giants have their hands in every Vermont till]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Wes Hamilton, owner of Three Penny Taproom in Montpelier.A couple of giant credit card companies have enormous power over how businesses like Three Penny Taproom operate. They set the rules, they set the fees, and they apply them across the board. There is no negotiation and no way around it. If you want to stay open and serve your customers, you accept the cards and absorb the cost. That cost has grown into one of the most significant pressures we as small business owners]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/credit-card-giants-have-their-hands-in-every-vermont-till/</link><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 14:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/credit-card-giants-have-their-hands-in-every-vermont-till/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘Strawberry Teacups and the Möbius Strip’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Looking Out Their Eyes,&rdquo; by Astrid Longstreth, 16, of West Bolton.<br />
Young Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-strawberry-teacups-and-the-mbius-strip/</link><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 14:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-strawberry-teacups-and-the-mbius-strip/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Want to revisit and revise your life? Vermont writer Julia Alvarez knows how.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Weybridge writer Julia Alvarez holds her official look-alike Barbie doll. Photo courtesy of MattelAsk Weybridge writer Julia Alvarez how her prolific career took root and she&rsquo;ll dig back seven decades to her 1950s childhood, when she memorized verses recalled in her later poem, &ldquo;Recitation.&rdquo;Here I am starting again where I first began,in a pink party dress with a flaring crinoline,waiting to entertain my mother&rsquo;s friendsafter their afternoon game of canasta &hellip;The 7]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/want-to-revisit-and-revise-your-life-vermont-writer-julia-alvarez-knows-how/</link><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 13:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/want-to-revisit-and-revise-your-life-vermont-writer-julia-alvarez-knows-how/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Welch, Balint talk election integrity with town clerks]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Becca Balint, left, and Sen. Peter Welch heard from a roundtable of town clerks on election integrity in May 2026. Photo by Sophia Balunek/The CitizenThis story by Liberty Darr was first published in The Citizen on May 14, 2026.Some of Vermont&rsquo;s Congressional delegation heard from a roundtable of town clerks on election integrity earlier this month.In Shelburne, Rep. Becca Balint, D-VT, and Sen. Peter Welch, D-VT, heard from Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas and five town cler]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/welch-balint-talk-election-integrity-with-town-clerks/</link><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 12:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/welch-balint-talk-election-integrity-with-town-clerks/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[GlobalFoundries seeks buyer for Williston campus]]></title><description><![CDATA[Global Foundries in Essex Junction in October 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Jason Starr&nbsp;was first published&nbsp;in the Williston Observer on May 14, 2026.It&rsquo;s 442 acres and comes with its own bridge over the Winooski River.&nbsp;The Williston side of the GlobalFoundries campus is one-of-a-kind, and the company is planning to put it up for sale.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve come to the decision that we&rsquo;d like to find another owner for that campus,&rdquo; Gl]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/globalfoundries-seeks-buyer-for-williston-campus/</link><pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 12:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/globalfoundries-seeks-buyer-for-williston-campus/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers push ahead on new limits on restraining kids in state custody]]></title><description><![CDATA[Matthew Bernstein, Vermont&rsquo;s child, youth and family advocate, in November 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerRestraint reformAdvocates and lawmakers want to place new statutory limits on the use of restraints and confinement practices for some youth in state custody. And when those methods are used, they say, they need to know more about each incident.According to Matthew Bernstein, the state&rsquo;s child, youth and family advocate, it&rsquo;s an area overdue for reform. To begin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-push-ahead-on-new-limits-on-restraining-kids-in-state-custody/</link><pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 01:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-push-ahead-on-new-limits-on-restraining-kids-in-state-custody/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Middlebury College to grow its role in housing, jobs]]></title><description><![CDATA[Middlebury College in Middlebury in November 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by John Flowers was first published in the Addison County Independent on May 14, 2026.Middlebury College has spent more than two centuries turning young folks into good thinkers, businesspeople and problem-solvers.And the institution served notice this week that it also sees itself as a local and regional problem-solver. Topping its list &mdash; according to the college&rsquo;s just-released strate]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/middlebury-college-to-grow-its-role-in-housing-jobs/</link><pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 00:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/middlebury-college-to-grow-its-role-in-housing-jobs/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Parents feel ‘blindsided’ by Washington Central school district’s grade reconfiguration]]></title><description><![CDATA[Worcester residents at Doty Memorial School in June 2024. File photo by Ethan Weinstein/VTDiggerSeveral grades in the Washington Central Unified Union School District would be moved to schools in other towns under a reconfiguration plan officials announced last week. The plan comes after the district&rsquo;s failed effort in February to shutter two community elementary schools in Calais and Worcester after residents&rsquo; opposition.Under the plan, all fifth- and sixth-grade students from Rumn]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/parents-feel-blindsided-by-washington-central-school-districts-grade-reconfiguration/</link><pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 00:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/parents-feel-blindsided-by-washington-central-school-districts-grade-reconfiguration/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stroke survivors deserve a path forward]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,As a registered nurse and the spouse of a stroke survivor, I have seen our healthcare system from both sides: professionally and personally. Nothing prepared me for how difficult it can be to access coordinated care after a stroke.&nbsp;When my husband survived an ischemic stroke in October 2025, we were grateful for rapid emergency treatment. Like most families, we believed that discharge from the hospital &mdash; a regional comprehensive stroke center serving southern Vermont and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stroke-survivors-deserve-a-path-forward/</link><pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 21:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stroke-survivors-deserve-a-path-forward/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gordon Kingsmill Glass]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 11/22/1944Shawnee, OKDied: 04/13/2026Seattle, WADetails of service:A Celebration of Life is planned in Stowe, VT on August 2.Gordon Kingsmill Glass died in Seattle on April 13, 2026, age 81. His death was due to complications following a heart attackThe elder son of David and Harriet &ldquo;Happy&rdquo; Glass, Gordon grew up in the West Hartford, Connecticut area, attending Amity Regional High School. He joined the US Air Force out of high school and went to Southeast Asia. Following the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gordon-kingsmill-glass/</link><pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 20:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gordon-kingsmill-glass/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermonters will vote on equal protection amendment to state constitution this fall]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters outside the Essex Police Department in July 2021. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont voters will have the chance to weigh in on another amendment to the state&rsquo;s constitution this fall.The proposal, which got a final sign-off from the House on Wednesday, is aimed at ensuring all people are treated equally under the law regardless of their race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or nationality.A st]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-will-vote-on-equal-protection-amendment-to-state-constitution-this-fall/</link><pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 12:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-will-vote-on-equal-protection-amendment-to-state-constitution-this-fall/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Senate lawmakers reconsider ending Vermont’s school PCB testing program]]></title><description><![CDATA[A sign in front of Burlington High School when it was closed due to elevated levels of PCB&rsquo;s in October 2020. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBuying time&nbsp;House lawmakers began this legislative session intent on ending a controversial (and expensive) testing program for polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCB, in Vermont schools. Now, Senate lawmakers are thinking otherwise.H.542, a bill sponsored by Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, would have ended Vermont&rsquo;s PCB testing program alt]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/senate-lawmakers-reconsider-ending-vermonts-school-pcb-testing-program/</link><pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 00:20:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/senate-lawmakers-reconsider-ending-vermonts-school-pcb-testing-program/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[More than $20 million of delayed FEMA funds allocated to Montpelier and VTrans]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mike Carey stacks sandbags on State Street in Montpelier in July 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Federal Emergency Management Agency is set to release more than $20 million in funding to support the Vermont Agency of Transportation and the City of Montpelier to repair damage from severe flooding in 2023.FEMA has slated $11.78 million to the City of Montpelier for repairs to some of its municipal buildings, including severe damage to the capital&rsquo;s City Hall, fire department,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-than-20-million-of-delayed-fema-funds-allocated-to-montpelier-and-vtrans/</link><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 23:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-than-20-million-of-delayed-fema-funds-allocated-to-montpelier-and-vtrans/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Four arrested at protest against ICE at Williston facility]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont state police carry Peter Booth out of the White Cap Business Park building as they arrest him during a protest against ICE operations there on May 14, 2026. Photo by Emma Green/VTDiggerWILLISTON &ndash;&ndash; Four people were arrested Thursday at a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the latest in a series of similar actions around the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;The protesters blocked entrances to a portion of a business park at 426 Industrial Avenue, where ICE runs a digi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/four-arrested-at-protest-against-ice-at-williston-facility/</link><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 23:35:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/four-arrested-at-protest-against-ice-at-williston-facility/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s future depends on restoring legal immigration]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Gabe Lajeunesse, who serves on state and national boards focused on expanding economic development and protecting displaced populations.When VTDigger reported that international migration to Chittenden County fell by half last year, it was more than a demographic footnote. It was a warning. According to the census data highlighted in that story, the county gained only 220 international migrants between 2024 and 2025, down from 440 the year before. Combined with natural pop]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-future-depends-on-restoring-legal-immigration/</link><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 22:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-future-depends-on-restoring-legal-immigration/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brattleboro hospital and its support staff avert strike by signing first contract]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Brattleboro Memorial Hospital campus on Belmont Avenue. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerBrattleboro Memorial Hospital and a union representing its 280 support staffers have signed their first contract, avoiding a threatened walkout amid a projected $14.5 million annual budget shortfall.The two-year agreement with Brattleboro Healthcare United workers, announced Thursday, comes a month after management at southeastern Vermont&rsquo;s main health care provider successfully negotiated a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-hospital-and-its-support-staff-avert-strike-by-signing-first-contract/</link><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 21:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-hospital-and-its-support-staff-avert-strike-by-signing-first-contract/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Barre city manager resigns for role in South Burlington]]></title><description><![CDATA[Barre City Manager Nicolas Storellicastro speaks at a meeting in Sept. 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerNicolas Storellicastro is resigning from his role as Barre city manager to serve as deputy city manager in South Burlington, he told city officials Tuesday.&nbsp;Storellicastro has served as Barre&rsquo;s lead city employee for four years, which included one of the worst natural disasters in its centuries-long history: the 2023 flood event that devastated Barre homes and businesses.S]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/barre-city-manager-resigns-for-role-in-south-burlington/</link><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 20:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/barre-city-manager-resigns-for-role-in-south-burlington/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Northeast Kingdom Human Services settles Medicaid fraud allegations for $65,000]]></title><description><![CDATA[Northeast Kingdom Human Services runs the Front Porch Mental Health Urgent Care in Newport. File photo by Olivia Gieger/VTDiggerNortheast Kingdom Human Services will pay the state of Vermont $65,335 as part of a settlement deal resolving accusations of overbilling Vermont Medicaid and alleged neglect of a person in the organization&rsquo;s adult daycare.The agreement also requires a series of reforms that the organization will make, focused on ways the organization supervises those with develop]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/northeast-kingdom-human-services-settles-medicaid-fraud-allegations-for-65000/</link><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 16:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/northeast-kingdom-human-services-settles-medicaid-fraud-allegations-for-65000/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Declining enrollment is driving a $12 million budget deficit at the University of Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[The University of Vermont campus in Burlington. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe University of Vermont announced it was facing a $12 million structural budget deficit for next fiscal year due to a projected drop in overall undergraduate enrollment.The university expects to see a 15% decline in freshman undergraduate students this coming fall compared to last year, and a 7% decrease across all undergraduate enrollment.Tuition accounts for two-thirds of the university&rsquo;s general fund,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/declining-enrollment-is-driving-a-12-million-budget-deficit-at-the-university-of-vermont/</link><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 00:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/declining-enrollment-is-driving-a-12-million-budget-deficit-at-the-university-of-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Senate advances bill to keep private equity out of the clinic]]></title><description><![CDATA[Members of the House Health Care Committee hear testimony at the Statehouse in February 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerPE pare-downThe clinical healthcare space is no place for private equity &mdash; at least, according to the Vermont Senate, which advanced H.583 on Wednesday morning. That bill would limit private equity involvement in healthcare to making only business, not medical, decisions.However, the current legislation is a far cry from wh]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/senate-advances-bill-to-keep-private-equity-out-of-the-clinic/</link><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 00:20:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/senate-advances-bill-to-keep-private-equity-out-of-the-clinic/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Enosburg Falls cream cheese producer agrees to pay the state $265,000 for allegedly releasing untreated wastewater]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark speaks during a press conference highlighting gun safety efforts in Vermont in Burlington in April 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFranklin Foods has agreed to pay $265,000 in penalties to settle alleged wastewater violations at the Enosburg Falls dairy and soy processor, Attorney General Charity Clark announced today.The state regulators found Franklin Foods violated its pretreatment permit on numerous occasions over several years, including rel]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/enosburg-falls-cream-cheese-producer-agrees-to-pay-the-state-265000-for-allegedly-releasing-untreated-wastewater/</link><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 00:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/enosburg-falls-cream-cheese-producer-agrees-to-pay-the-state-265000-for-allegedly-releasing-untreated-wastewater/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Going fast and breaking barriers]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Ryan Manning, provided photoIn 2022, Allie Bianchi, a 23-year-old outdoor enthusiast and special educator from Richmond, broke her neck while mountain biking. She is now paralyzed below her chest.In 2025, Bianchi was rolling again, this time on a specially]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-going-fast-and-breaking-barriers/</link><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 00:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-going-fast-and-breaking-barriers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Barre’s proposed school district budget fails — again]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Barre City Elementary and Middle School seen in Aug. 2023.File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Barre Unified Union School District lost its budget revote Tuesday, making it the fifth school district in the state to fail to pass its budget a second time.&nbsp;According to results from the Barre city clerk and the Barre town website, the budget vote failed 54% to 46%, with Barre city voting in favor of the budget while Barre town voted against it. That leaves the possibility of the distric]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/barres-proposed-school-district-budget-fails-again/</link><pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 23:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/barres-proposed-school-district-budget-fails-again/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In defense of Act 181]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Act 181, the land-use law passed in 2024, is an admirable piece of legislation that aims to preserve and protect wild spaces in Vermont while still allowing for human development in urban areas that already have built environments. Ecologically sensitive areas, particularly at higher elevations, have restrictions on development &mdash; focusing especially on road construction &mdash; that allow for biodiversity, wildlife habitat and natural beauty. Who can argue with that?It turns o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-defense-of-act-181/</link><pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 19:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-defense-of-act-181/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burtt amendment gives Vermont farms long-overdue Act 250 relief]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Todd Heyman, a co-owner of Fat Sheep Farm &amp; Cabins, who lives in Hartland.A funny thing happened on the way to the House repeal of Act 181&rsquo;s Tier 3 in S.325. Thanks to a surprise floor amendment by farmer and Rep. Greg Burtt, R-Cabot, the construction of improvements on farms for recreational, educational or social events will be exempt from Act 250 as long as the events feature the farms&rsquo; own agricultural products or practices.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s about time.&]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burtt-amendment-gives-vermont-farms-long-overdue-act-250-relief/</link><pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 17:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burtt-amendment-gives-vermont-farms-long-overdue-act-250-relief/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A vision of service led Jess to become a doula, then to pursue her law degree]]></title><description><![CDATA[When you first meet Jess, you might notice the excitement she has for the mini cows, pigs, ducks, and turkeys that make up her homestead. A deeper conversation reveals her passion for exploring the stories of women homesteaders and the intellectual curiosity that led her to pursue a law degree from Vermont Law and Graduate School, where she&rsquo;s currently enrolled.&nbsp;Her path has been anything but linear. Jess graduated from high school at 16, certification as a birth and postpartum doula]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vision-of-service-led-jess-to-become-a-doula-then-to-pursue-her-law-degree/</link><pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 15:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vision-of-service-led-jess-to-become-a-doula-then-to-pursue-her-law-degree/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s congressional members are rich. But they don’t buy stocks.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Becca Balint and Sens. Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch. (AP photos)This story by Torrie Herrington and Taylor Giorno was first published in NOTUS on May 8, 2026.Vermont is home to several rare species.The&nbsp;Canada lynx.The&nbsp;American marten.And now, wealthy federal lawmakers who don&rsquo;t trade individual stocks.Sens. Peter Welch and Bernie Sanders, along with Rep. Becca Balint, did not report owning any individual stocks on their most recent personal financial disclosures to Congre]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-congressional-members-are-rich-but-they-dont-buy-stocks/</link><pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 12:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-congressional-members-are-rich-but-they-dont-buy-stocks/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Statehouse’s portrait collection now features Vermont’s first Black female lawmaker]]></title><description><![CDATA[A portrait of Louvenia Bright unveiled at the Statehouse in Montpelier in May 2026. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDiggerBright spot&nbsp;There&rsquo;s a new portrait hanging in the Vermont Statehouse, and it&rsquo;s one that supporters say brings some long-overdue representation to the building&rsquo;s historic art collection.Last week, workers installed a newly completed painting of Louvenia Dorsey Bright, who was the first Black woman, and first woman of color, to be elected to the Legislature. A]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/statehouses-portrait-collection-now-features-vermonts-first-black-female-lawmaker/</link><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 23:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/statehouses-portrait-collection-now-features-vermonts-first-black-female-lawmaker/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Overdose deaths in Vermont drop by 25% in 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[Overdose deaths in Vermont decreased by 25% in 2025, according to a recently published annual report by the Vermont Department of Health. File photo by Mark Schiefelbein/APDeaths in Vermont caused by overdoses dropped 25% in 2025 compared with the previous year, continuing a steady decline since 2022, according to a yearly report published by the Vermont Department of Health.The report, which tracks the number of deaths reported due to overdoses and what drugs caused the overdoses, found that 1]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/overdose-deaths-in-vermont-drop-by-25-in-2025/</link><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 22:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/overdose-deaths-in-vermont-drop-by-25-in-2025/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Grand Isle prosecutor pleads not guilty to DUI charge]]></title><description><![CDATA[Grand Isle State&rsquo;s Attorney Doug DiSabito is arraigned on a DUI charge in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Sabito, represented by Karen Shingler, appeared in court remotely. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &ndash;&ndash; Grand Isle County&rsquo;s top prosecutor, Douglas DiSabito, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a DUI in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington.&nbsp;In a brisk hearing in which DiSabito appeared remotely and did not speak, his]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/grand-isle-prosecutor-pleads-not-guilty-to-dui-charge/</link><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 18:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/grand-isle-prosecutor-pleads-not-guilty-to-dui-charge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The new face of nicotine in our schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,As the current senior executive director of the Vermont Principals&rsquo; Association, I consider the health of our kids one of my top concerns, but I need help. We are finding nicotine devices that look like pens, highlighters and USB drives. While cigarettes can be smelled from a block away, the alternatives are designed to blend in with school supplies, and some don&rsquo;t even emit smoke or vapor.Flavors like &ldquo;Tropical Rainbow Blast&rdquo; and &ldquo;Banana Taffy Ice&rdqu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-new-face-of-nicotine-in-our-schools/</link><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 17:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-new-face-of-nicotine-in-our-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When does a public conversation about permitting begin and end?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Putney has been held up as a poster child for why Vermont should limit appeals and as an example of how projects in designated village centers can proceed without Act 250 review when they meet the threshold for priority housing under Act 181.But that framing leaves out a critical question: When did the public actually have a clear and complete opportunity to understand what was being proposed?In Putney, the issue was not simply that a permitted project was appealed. It was that the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-does-a-public-conversation-about-permitting-begin-and-end/</link><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 15:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-does-a-public-conversation-about-permitting-begin-and-end/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Green Mountain lithium rush? Don’t go digging just yet.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lithium is used to make rechargeable batteries that power electric vehicles and many everyday digital devices, including smartphones, tablets and laptops. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA new U.S. Geological Survey assessment has identified the potential for significant&nbsp; undiscovered lithium deposits in a region spanning Maine, New Hampshire and the eastern half of Vermont. But there is uncertainty in the estimates, and a long way to go before any mining happens, according to geologists.&nb]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-green-mountain-lithium-rush-dont-go-digging-just-yet/</link><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 13:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-green-mountain-lithium-rush-dont-go-digging-just-yet/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dr. Clive S. Gray]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 08/30/1933New Haven, Ct.Died: 05/07/2026Greensboro, Vt.Details of service:Services will be held at the end of July in Greensboro.Online condolences are welcomed at: northernvermontfuneralservice.comDr. Clive Gray, of Greensboro, Vermont, died at home on May 7, 2026. He was 92.Born August 30, 1933, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Philip and Margaret (Peg) Gray, Clive&rsquo;s connection to Greensboro began in early childhood through his mother&rsquo;s family and became a lifelong attachment.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dr-clive-s-gray/</link><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 00:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dr-clive-s-gray/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dr. Cline S. Gray]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 08/30/1933New Haven, Ct.Died: 05/07/2026Greensboro, Vt.Details of service:Services will be held at the end of July in Greensboro.Online condolences are welcomed at: northernvermontfuneralservice.comDr. Clive Gray, of Greensboro, Vermont, died at home on May 7, 2026. He was 92.Born August 30, 1933, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Philip and Margaret (Peg) Gray, Clive&rsquo;s connection to Greensboro began in early childhood through his mother&rsquo;s family and became a lifelong attachment.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dr-cline-s-gray/</link><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 00:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dr-cline-s-gray/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New community mental health center planned for Montpelier]]></title><description><![CDATA[A property at 55 Granite Shed Lane in Montpelier that will be the future site of a new community mental health center. Photo by Shane M. Graber/VTDiggerMultiple mental health organizations announced Monday they have partnered to create a new community mental health center in Montpelier that will combine different types of mental health services into a single location.The new center on 55 Granite Shed Lane will be a collaboration between Washington County Mental Health Services, University of Ve]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-community-mental-health-center-planned-for-montpelier/</link><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 23:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-community-mental-health-center-planned-for-montpelier/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Man wanted in ICE raids is a no-show in court on unrelated charge]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Judge Frank Mahady Courthouse and Addison County Superior criminal court in Middlebury. Photo by Alan Keays/VTDiggerMIDDLEBURY &mdash; The man who authorities sought in a March ICE raid in South Burlington was due in court today on an unrelated charge. Again, he was nowhere to be found.Deyvi Daniel Corona-Sanchez, 24, was set for a hearing Monday morning in Addison County Superior criminal court in Middlebury on a drunken driving case against him.Corona-Sanchez did not appear in person or b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/man-wanted-in-ice-raids-is-a-no-show-in-court-on-unrelated-charge/</link><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 22:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/man-wanted-in-ice-raids-is-a-no-show-in-court-on-unrelated-charge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Let’s make pronouns matter again]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,When I was in high school, recognizing people&rsquo;s pronouns began to feel like a nationwide shift. Teachers asked us to include them in introductions. People added them to Instagram bios. It felt new, intentional, like something was changing.At the same time, I was coming to terms with my own gender identity. As a nonbinary person, it was a radical period of self-expression. The way others perceived me started to matter more because, for the first time, I had the language to expr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lets-make-pronouns-matter-again/</link><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 22:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lets-make-pronouns-matter-again/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers abandon push to ban chemical dyes from cafeterias after school district opposition]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cookies made with natural colors, right, and ones made with artificial colors at a Panera Bread pop up store in New York in June 2015. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)MONTPELIER &mdash; The Vermont Senate abandoned a bill that would have barred a list of chemical additives from the food and drinks served in schools after two of the state&rsquo;s largest school districts told lawmakers they were opposed to the proposal.Senators&rsquo; decision to scrap the bill, S.26, is notable because it came after th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-abandon-push-to-ban-chemical-dyes-from-cafeterias-after-school-district-opposition/</link><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 22:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-abandon-push-to-ban-chemical-dyes-from-cafeterias-after-school-district-opposition/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge delays trial for Burlington man accused of shooting 3 Palestinian students]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton appears in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on March 8, 2024. Eaton is charged in the shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent in Burlington in November 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; A Vermont judge has delayed the trial for a Burlington man accused of shooting and wounding three Palestinian college students more than two years ago.Judge John Pacht&rsquo;s decision late Friday afternoon comes after he agreed earlier to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-delays-trial-for-burlington-man-accused-of-shooting-3-palestinian-students/</link><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 12:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-delays-trial-for-burlington-man-accused-of-shooting-3-palestinian-students/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘Slow Down’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Fog on the Mountaintops&rdquo; by Maya Heidenreich, 15, of East Corinth.<br />
Young Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbs]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-slow-down/</link><pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 15:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-slow-down/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont cultural institutions optimistic about the future of federal funding following court cases]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Fairbanks Museum &amp; Planetarium in St. Johnsbury on May 3, 2026. Photo by K. Fiegenbaum/VTDigger.Two court cases challenging cuts to federal funding for Vermont&rsquo;s libraries and museums have quietly come down in favor of Vermont institutions that loudly protested the moves last spring.They worried about the future of services the funds support, such as inter-library loan, eBook access and innovative museum and archival projects. The cases&rsquo; settlements last month permanently re]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-cultural-institutions-optimistic-about-the-future-of-federal-funding-following-court-cases/</link><pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 14:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-cultural-institutions-optimistic-about-the-future-of-federal-funding-following-court-cases/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A late English earl gave Strafford its name. Now ‘Gen Z’s rock star’ Noah Kahan is earning it fame.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Strafford General Store offers Noah Kahan shirts that picture the singer&rsquo;s hometown. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerSTRAFFORD &mdash; Saunter into the circa-1885 Strafford General Store and you&rsquo;ll see locals beeline for such staples as donuts, duct tape and Darn Tough socks. Then comes the more circuitous buzz of visitors in search of this Upper Valley hamlet&rsquo;s favorite son: 29-year-old Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Noah Kahan.&ldquo;Somebody comes in just abou]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-late-english-earl-gave-strafford-its-name-now-gen-zs-rock-star-noah-kahan-is-earning-it-fame/</link><pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 13:34:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-late-english-earl-gave-strafford-its-name-now-gen-zs-rock-star-noah-kahan-is-earning-it-fame/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont farmers face increased fuel prices due to war in Iran]]></title><description><![CDATA[A farmer uses a tractor to pull a tank of urine fertilizer over a field. File photo courtesy of Rich Earth InstituteThis story by Matthew Thomas was first published in The Bridge on May 7, 2026.As the world braces for greater economic impacts because of the war in Iran and that country&rsquo;s subsequent blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off critical fuel and fertilizer component supplies from the world, Vermont&rsquo;s agricultural industry is already feeling the pinch. Costs of produc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-farmers-face-increased-fuel-prices-due-to-war-in-iran/</link><pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 13:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-farmers-face-increased-fuel-prices-due-to-war-in-iran/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[You’re being tracked. Vermont can do something about it.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jessamyn West, who is a library technologist at Kimball Public Library in Randolph. She has taught a workshop on practical internet privacy for the past 10 years.&nbsp;As a strong supporter of increased privacy protections for all technology users and a library professional, I believe S.71, a bill currently before the Legislature that would establish baseline data privacy rights for Vermonters and put limits on how businesses collect, use and sell personal data, will help.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/youre-being-tracked-vermont-can-do-something-about-it/</link><pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 12:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/youre-being-tracked-vermont-can-do-something-about-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM professor surveys residents on F-35 noise exposure]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the first two F-35 fighter jets arrives at the Vermont Air National Guard base in South Burlington on September 19, 2019.File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Jason Starr was first published in the Williston Observer on May 7, 2026.We have decibel data from Vermont Air National Guard F-35 flights out of Burlington International Airport, and we have anecdotes of people&rsquo;s experience with the overpowering noise of the fighter jets&rsquo; takeoffs.But we don&rsquo;t yet hav]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-professor-surveys-residents-on-f-35-noise-exposure/</link><pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 13:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-professor-surveys-residents-on-f-35-noise-exposure/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Protest in St. Albans led Customs and Border Protection office to close for the day, activists say]]></title><description><![CDATA[Musicians from across the state play at a protest against ICE and CBP in St. Albans on May 8, 2026. Photo by Emma Green/VTDiggerST. ALBANS &mdash; A coalition of faith groups and local organizations from around the state gathered a crowd of more than 250 here to protest the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, two agencies that have been heavily involved in immigration detentions in Vermont and across the country.&nbsp;The organizers had or]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/protest-in-st-albans-led-customs-and-border-protection-office-to-close-for-the-day-activists-say/</link><pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 00:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/protest-in-st-albans-led-customs-and-border-protection-office-to-close-for-the-day-activists-say/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Agency of Education points fingers over an unfunded literacy program request]]></title><description><![CDATA[Chelsea Elementary School first-grade teacher Danielle Jesmonth asks her students about the book they have read during class in Nov. 2019, in Chelsea, Vt. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsHouse and Senate lawmakers will soon iron out the state&rsquo;s $9.4 billion budget in conference committee. But it&rsquo;s a $700,000 funding spat over a literacy program that has Vermont Agency of Education officials and Gov. Phil Scott pointing fingers at legislators.The program, called Read Vermont, is a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-agency-of-education-points-fingers-over-an-unfunded-literacy-program-request/</link><pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 00:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-agency-of-education-points-fingers-over-an-unfunded-literacy-program-request/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Barre candidates weigh needs against tight city funds]]></title><description><![CDATA[A ballot box is adorned with signs in Barre City in Nov. 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe road to Barre&rsquo;s municipal elections is a bumpy one &mdash; literally.&nbsp;The Granite City&rsquo;s roads are full of potholes, an issue that has become a pet project for Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon. Lauzon persuaded the City Council to raise the city&rsquo;s paving budget to $800,000 for the municipal budget vote that will be held along with local elections on May 12.&ldquo;I think everybod]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/barre-candidates-weigh-needs-against-tight-city-funds/</link><pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 22:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/barre-candidates-weigh-needs-against-tight-city-funds/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont labor board declines state’s request to pause order blocking return-to-office policy]]></title><description><![CDATA[State employees enter the state office complex in Waterbury as the Vermont State Employees Association opposes Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s return to work mandate on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.The Vermont Labor Relations Board said Friday that it would not pause its earlier order requiring Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s administration to end its return-to-office requirement for state emplo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-labor-board-declines-states-request-to-pause-order-blocking-return-to-office-policy/</link><pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 22:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-labor-board-declines-states-request-to-pause-order-blocking-return-to-office-policy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers are being asked to gamble with patients’ vision]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Vicki Rutledge, who is a board member of Safe Eyes America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving safe and quality eye health and surgery. She lives in Hugo, Oklahoma, and is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.It&rsquo;s easy to take your eyesight for granted. Only when something goes wrong do most folks understand how much clear vision matters. That&rsquo;s also when they realize just how much trust you must place in the person caring for your eyes.That]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-are-being-asked-to-gamble-with-patients-vision/</link><pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 20:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-are-being-asked-to-gamble-with-patients-vision/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM Health must cut expenses by $300 million in three years, independent liaison finds ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mike Smith at the Vermont Technical College campus in Williston on May 24, 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUniversity of Vermont Health needs to cut its expenses by $300 million over the next three years and help clinicians in the 1,000-doctor outpatient Medical Group see more patients, said an independent liaison in a May 1 report to the hospital network and the Green Mountain Care Board.&nbsp;The report specifically set out to address productivity problems in UVM Health&rsquo;s outp]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-must-cut-expenses-by-300-million-in-three-years-independent-liaison-finds/</link><pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 12:35:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-must-cut-expenses-by-300-million-in-three-years-independent-liaison-finds/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[What’s AI’s place in mental health care? Vermont lawmakers say it should be limited.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Therapist Norma Kawatta, seen on screen, talks to Paris Carroll, VP of mental health clinical services for Hazel Health, as the pair demonstrate how the company&rsquo;s telehealth therapy service works for Miami-Dade County public school students, on World Mental Health Day, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, at Miami Arts Studio, a public 6th-12th grade magnet school, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)The advent of artificial intelligence technology and chatbots can make the World Wide Web feel like]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/whats-ais-place-in-mental-health-care-vermont-lawmakers-say-it-should-be-limited/</link><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 23:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/whats-ais-place-in-mental-health-care-vermont-lawmakers-say-it-should-be-limited/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VELCO project will strengthen power flow between Vermont and New York]]></title><description><![CDATA[An electric substation at Sand Bar State Park. Photo courtesy of VELCOZachary Moss is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont&rsquo;s Reporting &amp; Documentary Storytelling program.MILTON &mdash; Five years ago, an almost 500-ton truck clogged both lanes on Interstate 89. As the bright red behemoth traversed the highway, friends and family flocked to the University of Vermont for the 2021 graduation ceremony, hopefully dodging the inevitable traffic jam.&]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/velco-project-will-strengthen-power-flow-between-vermont-and-new-york/</link><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 23:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/velco-project-will-strengthen-power-flow-between-vermont-and-new-york/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When veterans fear asking for help, everyone loses]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Rich LaMonica, who is a retired U.S. Army veteran, leadership advocate and founder of the podcast &ldquo;The MisFitNation.&rdquo;America has spent years urging veterans in crisis to reach out for help.We tell them mental health matters. We tell them they are not alone. We tell them to call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line. We run awareness campaigns, fund prevention programs and encourage struggling veterans to take the hardest first step possible: ask for help]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-veterans-fear-asking-for-help-everyone-loses/</link><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 22:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-veterans-fear-asking-for-help-everyone-loses/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont House votes to partially repeal Act 181]]></title><description><![CDATA[Several hundred demonstrators gather to protest Act 181 at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.The law seeks to modernize Act 250, the land use law. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.The Vermont House voted to partially repeal Act 181 on Thursday, marking a reversal on land-use policy that would have been difficult to imagine earlier this spring. T]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-votes-to-partially-repeal-act-181/</link><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 22:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-votes-to-partially-repeal-act-181/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s loggers are struggling. A sales tax exemption could help.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Dana Doran, who is the executive director of Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast.It has been said that silence can be a loud cry for help, and for Vermont&rsquo;s logging and forest trucking industry, the silence right now is deafening.This industry asks for relatively little help in exchange for the major benefits it provides. As loggers struggle quietly in the woods of Vermont to survive the most difficult times they have ever faced, the state Legislature h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-loggers-are-struggling-a-sales-tax-exemption-could-help/</link><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 21:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-loggers-are-struggling-a-sales-tax-exemption-could-help/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s U.S. Rep. Becca Balint announces reelection campaign]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., announces her reelection campaign outside the Vermont Secretary of State&rsquo;s Office in Montpelier on Thursday. Photo by Olivia Gieger/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont&rsquo;s Democratic U.S. Rep. Becca Balint is running for reelection, she announced Thursday. Balint, who&rsquo;s from Brattleboro, is seeking what would be her third two-year term in Congress.&nbsp;At a campaign launch outside the Vermont Secretary of State&rsquo;s Office in Montpelier, where s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-us-rep-becca-balint-announces-reelection-campaign/</link><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 20:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-us-rep-becca-balint-announces-reelection-campaign/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers grapple with giving farmers exemptions to local zoning]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Struthers poses behind his duck pen in his backyard in Jan. 2023. File photo by Auditi Guha/VTDiggerWhen a law has unintended consequences, legislators should be willing to go back and change it, said Sen. Russ Ingalls, R-Essex.&nbsp;That&rsquo;s what he tried to do, as the chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, when his committee took up H.941, which seeks to largely protect farms from being regulated by municipal bylaws. Legislators passed the bill on the Senate floor Wednesday.&nbs]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-grapple-with-giving-farmers-exemptions-to-local-zoning/</link><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 00:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-grapple-with-giving-farmers-exemptions-to-local-zoning/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In food shelf visit, Sen. Welch backs nutrition assistance amid rising prices for Vermonters]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., speaks with volunteer Susan Prager at Helping Overcome Poverty&rsquo;s Effects in Middlebury. Photo by Theo Wells-Spackman/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.MIDDLEBURY &mdash; In a visit to Addison County&rsquo;s largest food shelf Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., emphasized the importance of what he called a &ldquo;battle&rdquo; over food assistance in Washington, D.C.&ldquo;Traditionally, we&rsq]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-food-shelf-visit-sen-welch-backs-nutrition-assistance-amid-rising-prices-for-vermonters/</link><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 00:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-food-shelf-visit-sen-welch-backs-nutrition-assistance-amid-rising-prices-for-vermonters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Shepherd, farmer and award-winning author Helen Whybrow on life, death and belonging]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Author Helen Whybrow at Knoll Farm in Fayston, where she raises purebred Icelandic sheep and runs a retreat center for social and environmental justice. Photo by David Goodman/VTDiggerWhen Helen Whybrow isn&rsquo;t herding her flock of Icelandic sheep or in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-shepherd-farmer-and-award-winning-author-helen-whybrow-on-life-death-and-belonging/</link><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 23:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-shepherd-farmer-and-award-winning-author-helen-whybrow-on-life-death-and-belonging/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s care crisis is hiding in plain sight]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Rustam Sengupta, the founder and CEO of Tuktu, a community-powered care platform. He lives in Burlington and supports his father, who has dementia.Last month I met Margaret. That&rsquo;s not her real name, but her situation is real. She came to a small community gathering I host around Vermont to facilitate conversations about care and what it means to support each other here.She is 78 and lives alone in a farmhouse outside Montpelier, a home she has been in for more than]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-care-crisis-is-hiding-in-plain-sight/</link><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 22:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-care-crisis-is-hiding-in-plain-sight/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Perrigo to lay off 161 as company heads toward Vermont site closure]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ashley Maddox feeds her 5-month-old son, Cole, with formula in May 2022 in Imperial Beach, Calif. AP File Photo/Gregory BullTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Perrigo will lay off 161 employees from its infant formula production facility in Georgia, the company said Tuesday &mdash; roughly 40% of the site&rsquo;s workforce.The announcement comes as the company prepares to close down the facility entirely. A Perrigo spokesperson said in an email Tue]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/perrigo-to-lay-off-161-as-company-heads-toward-vermont-site-closure/</link><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 17:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/perrigo-to-lay-off-161-as-company-heads-toward-vermont-site-closure/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hats off to this year’s graduates!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Graduation season has arrived. Students are donning caps and gowns, fine-tuning their speeches, and looking ahead to what comes next. VSAC is proud to recognize a few of the students we&rsquo;ve recently worked with.Each one shared a story shaped by resilience, effort, and the drive to move forward. Here&rsquo;s to the Class of 2026&mdash;congratulations on what you&rsquo;ve achieved, and what lies ahead.Lucie Hobbs-Johnson is graduating, degree in dental hygiene in hand.&nbsp;Lucie Hobbs-Johns]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hats-off-to-this-years-graduates/</link><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 15:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hats-off-to-this-years-graduates/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Experienced Vermont media leader Brendan Kinney named CEO of Vermont Journalism Trust and VTDigger]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brendan Kinney. Photo by Melissa BrottBrendan Kinney, who has spent more than 15 years in leadership roles in Vermont public media, rising to become one of the state&rsquo;s most admired and respected media veterans, has been named the new chief executive officer of the Vermont Journalism Trust, the parent organization that publishes VTDigger. VTDigger is a trusted source of people-powered, independent journalism serving readers throughout Vermont.Kinney, who was chosen unanimously by the trust]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/experienced-vermont-media-leader-brendan-kinney-named-ceo-of-vermont-journalism-trust-and-vtdigger/</link><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 15:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/experienced-vermont-media-leader-brendan-kinney-named-ceo-of-vermont-journalism-trust-and-vtdigger/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former Northfield police chief sues town, alleging racial discrimination]]></title><description><![CDATA[Northfield Police Chief Pierre Gomez speaks with residents at a Select Board meeting on April 22, 2025. File photo by Auditi Guha/VTDiggerFormer Northfield police chief Pierre Gomez, who resigned in October, has sued the town for alleged racial discrimination and tolerating an atmosphere of racial harassment.The complaint filed Tuesday in Washington County Superior Court alleges that town officials violated the state&rsquo;s fair employment laws, and alleges breach of contract and good faith on]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-northfield-police-chief-sues-town-alleging-racial-discrimination/</link><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 01:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-northfield-police-chief-sues-town-alleging-racial-discrimination/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Scalpers, beware: Vermont Legislature pursues ticket resale price cap]]></title><description><![CDATA[Billy Strings performs during Bourbon and Beyond Music Festival on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, at Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)Professional scalpers, beware.&nbsp;The Vermont Legislature looks poised to greatly restrict ticket reselling and deceptive online sellers in the state.&nbsp;H.512, which advanced in the Senate on Tuesday, would cap ticket resale prices at 10% above face value, although the regulation would not apply to individuals selling]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/scalpers-beware-vermont-legislature-pursues-ticket-resale-price-cap/</link><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 00:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/scalpers-beware-vermont-legislature-pursues-ticket-resale-price-cap/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[From the 1970s to today, mapping Vermont for land use sets off fierce opposition]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ben Huffman stands outside his home in Montpelier on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.In the early 1970s, dozens of rural landowners, real estate agents and concerned citizens trekked to Montpelier in the middle of a snowstorm to decry a statewide land-use plan. They told state leaders the plan would infringe on their private property right]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/from-the-1970s-to-today-mapping-vermont-for-land-use-sets-off-fierce-opposition/</link><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 00:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/from-the-1970s-to-today-mapping-vermont-for-land-use-sets-off-fierce-opposition/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM opens Lyndon weather station hoping to fill gaps in flood prediction]]></title><description><![CDATA[A newly constructed extreme weather monitoring station near the University of Vermont campus in Lyndonville, Vermont. Courtesy photoA new University of Vermont extreme weather monitoring station opened in Lyndonville on Tuesday, the first in a planned network of monitoring stations to help fill gaps in extreme weather predictions and response.&nbsp;The station will be able to monitor the lead-up to major weather events like flooding or blizzards, giving the National Weather Service and state le]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-opens-lyndon-weather-station-hoping-to-fill-gaps-in-flood-prediction/</link><pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 22:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-opens-lyndon-weather-station-hoping-to-fill-gaps-in-flood-prediction/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Q-Day is coming. What does it mean for Vermont elections?]]></title><description><![CDATA[John Odum is the Montpelier city clerk and a certified ethical hacker.The term &ldquo;Q-Day&rdquo; doesn&rsquo;t mean much to most people, but it&rsquo;s a term we may all come to know within the next decade, and it doesn&rsquo;t hurt to think about it in terms of elections.Q-Day is the hypothetical moment at which a powerful computer can break the public-key cryptography, the encryption system that secures much of today&rsquo;s digital infrastructure &mdash; think the HTTPS in your web address]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/q-day-is-coming-what-does-it-mean-for-vermont-elections/</link><pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 21:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/q-day-is-coming-what-does-it-mean-for-vermont-elections/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trump voters own their choice]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,It is not unreasonable to ask Americans with left-leaning values to consider how our actions and attitudes may have contributed to President Donald Trump&rsquo;s reelection, as Lee Russ did in a recent letter to VTDigger. Accusations of elitism and condescension are not unfounded, especially when it comes to class, regionalism and religion. Woke cancel culture was a real phenomenon that accomplished more harm than good. In general, I think we forgot how to persuade &mdash; or perhap]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/trump-voters-own-their-choice/</link><pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 21:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/trump-voters-own-their-choice/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former Rutland police sergeant who shot two men in 2023 is sentenced to probation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rutland City Police Sgt. Andrew Plemmons, left, appears in Rutland County criminal court in 2024. Plemmons has been sentenced to probation in connection with a 2023 shooting. File photo courtesy of Gordon Dritschilo/Rutland HeraldA former Rutland City police sergeant was sentenced to two years of probation for a 2023 incident in which he shot and wounded two men while on duty in Rutland.&nbsp;Andrew Plemmons, 47, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment, according to a p]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-rutland-police-sergeant-who-shot-two-men-in-2023-is-sentenced-to-probation/</link><pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 00:34:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-rutland-police-sergeant-who-shot-two-men-in-2023-is-sentenced-to-probation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Supreme Court agrees to step in quickly on appeal of overturned return-to-office mandate]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Supreme Court building on State Street in Montpelier in June 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.The Vermont Supreme Court agreed last week to step in quickly to resolve the legal tangle surrounding a controversial labor board decision over telework for state employees. The high court will &ldquo;endeavor&rdquo; to take up the issue in June, it said.The move is intended to speed along the st]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-supreme-court-agrees-to-step-in-quickly-on-appeal-of-overturned-return-to-office-mandate/</link><pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 23:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-supreme-court-agrees-to-step-in-quickly-on-appeal-of-overturned-return-to-office-mandate/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark launches reelection bid]]></title><description><![CDATA[Attorney General Charity Clark discusses a report issued by the domestic Violence press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier in Jan. 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont Attorney General Charity Clark is running for reelection, she announced on Monday.The Williston Democrat is seeking what would be her third two-year term as the state&rsquo;s top prosecutor.&nbsp;In a press release announcing her bid, Clark pointed to the 49 lawsuits her office has joined against President Do]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-attorney-general-charity-clark-launches-reelection-bid/</link><pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 23:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-attorney-general-charity-clark-launches-reelection-bid/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ethics panel was right to dismiss Israel trip complaints]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Vermont Friends of Israel supports the state House Ethics Panel&rsquo;s decision to dismiss the complaints against Reps. Sarita Austin, D-Colchester, Matt Birong, D-Vergennes, Gina Galfetti, R-Barre Town, Will Greer, D-Bennington, and James Gregoire, R-Fairfield, arising from their trip to Israel last summer.The panel was right to do so, and public officials should be allowed to participate in legitimate educational travel without being cast as scandalous.Lawmakers were dragged thro]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ethics-panel-was-right-to-dismiss-israel-trip-complaints/</link><pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 22:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ethics-panel-was-right-to-dismiss-israel-trip-complaints/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s ticket resale bill protects fans, not monopolies]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Live events are the heartbeat of Vermont&rsquo;s communities and local economy. A recent commentary claims that H.512, legislation that will support Vermont&rsquo;s live events sector, is somehow helping Ticketmaster. As executive director of the Vermont Arts Council and a member of the Vermont Creative Network Steering Team, I want to set the record straight.&nbsp;The claim that H.512 will benefit Live Nation-Ticketmaster in Vermont is simply not true. More importantly, it distract]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-ticket-resale-bill-protects-fans-not-monopolies/</link><pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 22:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-ticket-resale-bill-protects-fans-not-monopolies/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The hidden fee spreading across Vermont parking meters]]></title><description><![CDATA[ParkMobile app signage in Montpelier on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerPull up to a space in one of six Vermont communities, and rather than the typical parking meter, you might see a big green sign with a four- or five-digit number on it.&nbsp;That is your indication that you can pay for the parking space through the ParkMobile app, a service created by a private company, Arrive, that has contracted with cities throughout the nation, including in Vermont, to provide a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-hidden-fee-spreading-across-vermont-parking-meters/</link><pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 13:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-hidden-fee-spreading-across-vermont-parking-meters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Before Vermont reshapes education, we need answers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,As someone who has spent more than 20 years on a local school board and six years on the State Board of Education during the shaping of Act 46, which was passed in 2015, I&rsquo;ve been closely following H.955, an act relating to next steps in transforming Vermont&rsquo;s education system, along with related efforts like S.220, the excess spending threshold bill.Together, these bills are intended to address two growing concerns in Vermont: rising education costs that are driving hig]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/before-vermont-reshapes-education-we-need-answers/</link><pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 16:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/before-vermont-reshapes-education-we-need-answers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘Cards and Songs’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Board and Batten,&rdquo; by Isla Segal, 15, WoodstockYoung Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sreid@young]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-cards-and-songs/</link><pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 15:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-cards-and-songs/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Circus Smirkus calls off 2026 Big Top Tour]]></title><description><![CDATA[Youngsters watch the performance of Circus Smirkus in Aug. 2012 in Montpelier. Circus Smirkus, based in Greensboro, is an award-winning international youth circus founded to promote the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)This story by Lisa Scagliotti was first published in The Waterbury Roundabout on April 30, 2026.Facing serious financial challenges following last year&rsquo;s summer tour, Circus Smirkus will not be on the road this summer to Waterbury]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/circus-smirkus-calls-off-2026-big-top-tour/</link><pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 14:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/circus-smirkus-calls-off-2026-big-top-tour/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers consider suspending new fines for candidates who don’t disclose their finances]]></title><description><![CDATA[Voters line up to check in and receive their ballots in Barre City on Nov. 5, 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont lawmakers are advancing a bill that would allow political candidates to go unpunished this year if they don&rsquo;t file a legally mandated financial disclosure form.At the same time, the state commission tasked with holding late filers accountable by levying fines says it does not have enough staff to do that work, anyway.&nbsp;Lawmakers created the fines two years ag]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-consider-suspending-new-fines-for-candidates-who-dont-disclose-their-finances/</link><pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 13:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-consider-suspending-new-fines-for-candidates-who-dont-disclose-their-finances/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[AI is quietly reshaping how Vermont’s doctors care for patients — and themselves]]></title><description><![CDATA[Fletcher Allen Health Care&rsquo;s Dr. Daniel Peters demonstrates how the Burlington hospital uses AI to help diagnose patients on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDr. Dan Peters typically spends a shift in the emergency department dashing from patient to patient with a running list in his mind.&ldquo;I need to order meds for a patient. I need to order imaging studies. I need to call a consultant about a patient,&rdquo; the ER doctor at UVM Medical Center described. &ld]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ai-is-quietly-reshaping-how-vermonts-doctors-care-for-patients-and-themselves/</link><pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 12:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ai-is-quietly-reshaping-how-vermonts-doctors-care-for-patients-and-themselves/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Feds release education funds owed to Vermont school districts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Buses pick up students at the end of the day in April 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Lisa Scagliotti was first published in the Waterbury Roundabout on April 28, 2026.&nbsp;A stalemate between the federal government and the states over education funding owed since the pandemic has seen a breakthrough.&nbsp;On Monday, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., announced that the U.S. Department of Education has released $11.58 million in federal K-12 funding for 20 Vermont school]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/feds-release-education-funds-owed-to-vermont-school-districts/</link><pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 12:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/feds-release-education-funds-owed-to-vermont-school-districts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawmakers race to finish data privacy bill amid outcry from businesses and medical providers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Michael Marcotte, R-Coventry, speaks on the floor of the House at the Statehouse in Montpelier in March 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.&ldquo;For me, data privacy is about risk,&rdquo; Wendy Peterson, a Vermont resident and software engineer, told the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee on Friday morning. As a transgender woman, she said, federal policy has increasingly threatene]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-race-to-finish-data-privacy-bill-amid-outcry-from-businesses-and-medical-providers/</link><pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 00:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-race-to-finish-data-privacy-bill-amid-outcry-from-businesses-and-medical-providers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jury finds man not guilty of 2022 Springfield killing]]></title><description><![CDATA[Paul Lachapelle Jr., left, appears in court in White River Junction in Spet. 2024. File photo by Ethan Weinstein/VTDiggerAlmost four years after a shooting death during a string of gunfire incidents in Springfield, a jury found Paul Lachapelle Jr. not guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder on Thursday.&nbsp;Lachapelle was accused of killing Justin Gilliam, 37, of Springfield, back in 2022. Lachapelle was arrested in 2024 after a two-year investigation into th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jury-finds-man-not-guilty-of-2022-springfield-killing/</link><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 23:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jury-finds-man-not-guilty-of-2022-springfield-killing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge allows insanity defense in shooting of Palestinian students]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton appears during his competency hearing in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Monday, March 2, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; A Burlington man charged with shooting and wounding three Palestinian college students will be allowed to pursue an insanity defense even though a deadline for raising such a defense passed months ago.The trial in the case against Jason Eaton remains set for June 1. Judge John Pacht, in a ruling Friday, granted Eaton&rs]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-allows-insanity-defense-in-shooting-of-palestinian-students/</link><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 23:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-allows-insanity-defense-in-shooting-of-palestinian-students/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[World Press Freedom Day starts here in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger reporter Charlotte Oliver questions U.S. Senator Peter Welch, D-Vermont, during a press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, February 6, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDear Reader,Sunday, May 3 is World Press Freedom Day, a time to reflect on the role of a free press around the world.Recent global reporting shows press freedom is declining steeply &mdash; on par with periods of major global instability, including the two world wars and the Cold War. When journali]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/world-press-freedom-day-starts-here-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 20:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/world-press-freedom-day-starts-here-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New court records reveal details of Grand Isle prosecutor’s DUI arrest]]></title><description><![CDATA[Doug DiSabito, the Grand Isle state&rsquo;s attorney, speaks to reporters after a judge declared a mistrial in a case DiSabito was prosecuting. File photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDiggerGrand Isle County State&rsquo;s Attorney Douglas DiSabito told police he had taken two prescribed Xanax pills before driving to a St. Albans courthouse where he was arrested last month on a drunken driving charge, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by VTDigger this week.DiSabito, 57, was arrested April]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-court-records-reveal-details-of-grand-isle-prosecutors-dui-arrest/</link><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 19:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-court-records-reveal-details-of-grand-isle-prosecutors-dui-arrest/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Vermont bill meant to help music fans could do the opposite]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by David Balto, an antitrust commentator and a former assistant director for policy and evaluation in the Bureau of Competition at the Federal Trade Commission and trial attorney in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice.Supporting small businesses over big companies is in Vermonters&rsquo; DNA. The Green Mountain State was the first state to ban roadside billboards, and our tax code is written to support mom-and-pop shops over large corporations. Montpelier is t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-bill-meant-to-help-music-fans-could-do-the-opposite/</link><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 18:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-bill-meant-to-help-music-fans-could-do-the-opposite/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Caught between floods, a housing crisis and funding denials, Barre’s North End recovery remains stalled]]></title><description><![CDATA[David White stands beside high-water marks from the July 2023 and 2024 floods on the vacant Salvation Army building in Barre&rsquo;s North End on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The building is around the corner from White&rsquo;s house, which also faced flood damage. Photo by Emma Green/VTDiggerBARRE &mdash; When a flood swept through David White&rsquo;s neighborhood in July 2023, the water went all the way up his front steps. It inundated the first floor of his house, where he has lived for about]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/caught-between-floods-a-housing-crisis-and-funding-denials-barres-north-end-recovery-remains-stalled/</link><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 13:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/caught-between-floods-a-housing-crisis-and-funding-denials-barres-north-end-recovery-remains-stalled/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers no longer plan on unmasking ICE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters question masked ICE agents as they demonstrate against an attempted stop by ICE in South Burlington on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMembers of the House Judiciary Committee gutted a bill, S.208, that attempted to unmask federal immigration agents operating in Vermont. The newest version of the bill &mdash; filled with other provisions &mdash; no longer applies to federal agents and stops short of definitively banning state and local law enforcement agents]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-no-longer-plan-on-unmasking-ice/</link><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 00:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-no-longer-plan-on-unmasking-ice/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Principals’ Association pays out $566,000 to settle religious school’s lawsuit over athletic participation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mid Vermont Christian in White River Junction. Photo via FacebookThe Vermont Principals&rsquo; Association this week settled a lawsuit brought by the Mid Vermont Christian School and two families after the association barred the school from participating in state athletics.The school was first banned from participating in state sports in 2023 after it forfeited a girls&rsquo; basketball game rather than play against a team with a transgender player. The Vermont Principals&rsquo; Association sai]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-principals-association-pays-out-566000-to-settle-religious-schools-lawsuit-over-athletic-participation/</link><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-principals-association-pays-out-566000-to-settle-religious-schools-lawsuit-over-athletic-participation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[No kings in Vermont? Are you sure?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,As a former Vermonter now living in upstate New York, I&rsquo;ve been interested in the stories detailing &ldquo;No Kings&rdquo; rallies taking place across the Green Mountain State. I&rsquo;ve lived the Vermont experience firsthand, so it&rsquo;s no surprise to see on full display the civic and political identity that would simultaneously protest a single individual&rsquo;s grip on government power in the executive seat while doing so in a state famous &mdash; or should that be inf]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/no-kings-in-vermont-are-you-sure/</link><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/no-kings-in-vermont-are-you-sure/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Vermont landlord pursues debts from tenants. His wife now helps write eviction law.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Debbie Dolgin, R-St. Johnsbury, listens as members chat before a meeting of the House General and Housing Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, April 17, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin and Vermont Public reporter Liam Elder-Connors, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.In February 2025, Steve Dolgin, a prominent Northeast Kingdom landlord, appeared on a large Zoom screen in a c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-landlord-pursues-debts-from-tenants-his-wife-now-helps-write-eviction-law/</link><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-landlord-pursues-debts-from-tenants-his-wife-now-helps-write-eviction-law/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stop debating the course map. Start running.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Ready, set, pause?Vermont&rsquo;s education reform debate has the distinct energy of a race that never quite starts. Lawmakers stretch, posture, check their laces and then &hellip; linger at the line.Governance overhaul, funding fixes, bold ideas about consolidation in the name of equity all circle the track, but none break into a sustained stride. The result is stumbling inertia dressed up in policy language.Last weekend, I ran a half-marathon along the lake. Thirteen miles of rhyt]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stop-debating-the-course-map-start-running/</link><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stop-debating-the-course-map-start-running/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A major Vermont employer supplies helmets used by ICE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Federal law enforcement agents prepare to enter a house in South Burlington where a man who fled an attempted stop by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers was thought to be inside on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerNEWPORT &mdash; A banner tacked to the outside of Galvion&rsquo;s manufacturing plant in Newport announces that the company is hiring, urging every passing car to help &ldquo;Protect Those Who Protect Us.&rdquo;Galvion Inc., a Canadian defense c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-major-vermont-employer-supplies-helmets-used-by-ice/</link><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-major-vermont-employer-supplies-helmets-used-by-ice/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont and Quebec ramp up rabies vaccination efforts with cases rising among wildlife]]></title><description><![CDATA[A raccoon peeks out from behind a tree. Photo via Adobe StockFederal workers will scatter sweet-tasting pellets from planes and helicopters over Vermont in the coming days.&nbsp;The airdrop is part of a mission to prevent rabies.&nbsp;A collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Vermont health and wildlife authorities will try to get more wild animals in the state, particularly raccoons and skunks, vaccinated against the disease.&nbsp;While there has long been a push to vaccin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-and-quebec-ramp-up-rabies-vaccination-efforts-with-cases-rising-among-wildlife/</link><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-and-quebec-ramp-up-rabies-vaccination-efforts-with-cases-rising-among-wildlife/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Senate passes budget bill after debate over using student aid fund for UVM sports complex]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Davis Center on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington in Sept. 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Senate passed its version of a state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, but not without debate over a plan to use money from a student scholarship fund to help the University of Vermont build a new sports complex.Senators approved this year&rsquo;s &ldquo;Big Bill,&rdquo; H.951, on a voice vote Wednesday. The $9.4 billion proposal amounts to just shy of a 2% increa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-senate-passes-budget-bill-after-debate-over-using-student-aid-fund-for-uvm-sports-complex/</link><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-senate-passes-budget-bill-after-debate-over-using-student-aid-fund-for-uvm-sports-complex/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Senate advances property tax bill with a 3.8% average increase]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Ann Cummings, D-Washington, at her desk on the Senate floor at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSenate and House lawmakers are bound for a showdown over how much surplus revenue to use to buy down property taxes in the upcoming year, and how much to set aside for the future.&nbsp;Senators backed a proposal Wednesday to use $100.9 million this year to bring down projected tax increases in a move that more closely mirrors a plan put for]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-senate-advances-property-tax-bill-with-a-38-average-increase/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-senate-advances-property-tax-bill-with-a-38-average-increase/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: What happens when law enforcement is lawless?]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Chittenden County States Attorney Sarah Fair George speaks during a press conference in Burlington in June 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWhen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents launched an immigration raid in South Burlington on Mar]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-what-happens-when-law-enforcement-is-lawless/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-what-happens-when-law-enforcement-is-lawless/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thirty years of education reform, and still no one is accountable for the results]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;Vermont&rsquo;s publicly funded education system is a community-based, statewide system tied together by its financing structure. It includes both public and private schools. For any system to serve those who benefit from it and those who pay for it, three things are required: sound financing, effective governance and transparent accountability.&nbsp;Before Act 60/68, all three existed in every Vermont school district, tested and renewed at every town meeting. When Act 60/68 w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thirty-years-of-education-reform-and-still-no-one-is-accountable-for-the-results/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thirty-years-of-education-reform-and-still-no-one-is-accountable-for-the-results/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The wild animals Vermont calls a nuisance have few protections under the law]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Brenna Galdenzi, the president of Protect Our Wildlife.Most people are likely aware of Vermont&rsquo;s recreational trapping season that runs annually from the fourth Saturday in October through March 31, but few probably know that year-round trapping is allowed under a statute of Vermont&rsquo;s wildlife law, Title 10, Section 4828, regarding &ldquo;wild animals doing damage.&rdquo;There are very few protections for beavers, foxes, bobcats and other animals labeled a nuis]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-wild-animals-vermont-calls-a-nuisance-have-few-protections-under-the-law/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-wild-animals-vermont-calls-a-nuisance-have-few-protections-under-the-law/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Did the left give Trump his winning weapon?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I obviously can&rsquo;t prove it, but I&rsquo;m convinced that the personal pronoun movement played a larger role in producing Trump than most people think. To many outside academia, the idea of personal pronouns sounds both silly and like an attack on deeply ingrained customs. The fact that the use of personal pronouns was forced on people in many environments, with college professors being fired for not using them, made things even worse.The idea that &ldquo;the left&rdquo; was ru]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/did-the-left-give-trump-his-winning-weapon/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/did-the-left-give-trump-his-winning-weapon/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Terje Anderson]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 06/29/1958Indiana, Pa.Died: 03/17/2026Montgomery, Vt.Details of service:Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.&nbsp;Temple Sinai<br />
500 Swift St.<br />
So. Burlington, VTNo flowers, please.To join via Zoom:&nbsp;<br />
Go to&nbsp;https://templesinaivt-org.zoom.us/j/82856204494Meeting ID: 828 5620 4494Passcode: Terje<br />
It is with the profound sadness that comes from a sudden and unexpected loss that we share the tragic passing of Terje Anderson. Our beloved brother, uncle, mentor, activist, and dear friend died]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/terje-anderson/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/terje-anderson/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nikki continues to grow her future in healthcare, one step at a time]]></title><description><![CDATA[Nikki is dedicated and passionate. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m the kind of person who sets her mind to something, and then I go accomplish it,&rdquo; she said. She&rsquo;s worked in healthcare for over eight years, first as a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) and then as a medical assistant.&nbsp;Nikki currently works in the orthopedic department at Rutland Regional Medical Center, and she says she loves her team and the diversity of her days. Building on her success, Nikki plans to continue her education]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nikki-continues-to-grow-her-future-in-healthcare-one-step-at-a-time/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nikki-continues-to-grow-her-future-in-healthcare-one-step-at-a-time/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[HomeShare program aids homeowners in aging in place; offers alternative for renters]]></title><description><![CDATA[HomeShare Vermont participants Jack Jackobvitz, and Jan Lillien, have lunch with Kai Brown on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Jackobvitz and Lillien&rsquo;s home in Brownsville. Brown, a guest in the HomeShare program, lives with the couple and does chores around the house for them. Lillien said it took nine months for the HomeShare match to be made &mdash; &ldquo;just like having a baby,&rdquo; she laughed. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsThis story by Liz Sauchelli was first published in the V]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/homeshare-program-aids-homeowners-in-aging-in-place-offers-alternative-for-renters/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 01:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/homeshare-program-aids-homeowners-in-aging-in-place-offers-alternative-for-renters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The UVM Cancer Center is scaling up its on-the-road efforts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Katie Queen shows Sen. Ginny Lyons, D-Chittenden Southeast, osteosarcoma cells under a microscope in UVM Cancer Center&rsquo;s mobile van. Photo by Olivia Gieger/VTDiggerMobile microscopesIn a cargo van parked behind the Statehouse, a high-power microscope fluoresced a multicolored view of cancer cells: red for their skeletons; blue for their DNA; a vivid, glowing green for the &ldquo;feet&rdquo; that help the cells move around.It was part of a demonstration of the mobile biology lab that the U]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-uvm-cancer-center-is-scaling-up-its-on-the-road-efforts/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-uvm-cancer-center-is-scaling-up-its-on-the-road-efforts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[South Burlington signs $20 million contract for delayed pedestrian bike bridge]]></title><description><![CDATA[An artist rendering of the prospective pedestrian bike bridge over Interstate 89 in South Burlington. Image courtesy of the City of South Burlington.South Burlington signed a $20 million contract this month to build a long-awaited bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over Interstate 89 that could allow hundreds of commuters between Vermont&rsquo;s two largest cities to avoid crossing dangerous highway intersections.&nbsp;The bridge, which is now set to be completed in October 2028, would provide]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/south-burlington-signs-20-million-contract-for-delayed-pedestrian-bike-bridge/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/south-burlington-signs-20-million-contract-for-delayed-pedestrian-bike-bridge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Likes, comments and the slow erosion of self-worth]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Wren Gomes, a student at Saint Michael&rsquo;s College in Colchester.The first time I posted a picture of myself on Instagram, I wasn&rsquo;t expecting much. It was a simple way to share what I was up to with friends. I didn&rsquo;t consider the effects that posting would have on me: It was as if my self-worth suddenly became defined by the number of likes and comments I got.I constantly compared my posts to other people&rsquo;s. Not only their likes, but the way they look]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/likes-comments-and-the-slow-erosion-of-self-worth/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:20:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/likes-comments-and-the-slow-erosion-of-self-worth/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[At 91, Bread and Puppet Theater founder Peter Schumann keeps fighting for peace]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bread and Puppet Theater founder Peter Schumann, 91, paints at the troupe&rsquo;s Glover farm. Photo courtesy Robbie LeppzerShaftsbury filmmaker Robbie Leppzer was aiming to finish a documentary on Vermont&rsquo;s Bread and Puppet Theater when a 2023 interview with troupe founder Peter Schumann spurred an abrupt change of course.&ldquo;Israel and Gaza blew up,&rdquo; the videographer recently recalled, &ldquo;and Peter was really on fire about it.&rdquo;Leppzer had planned to make a movie about]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-91-bread-and-puppet-theater-founder-peter-schumann-keeps-fighting-for-peace/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-91-bread-and-puppet-theater-founder-peter-schumann-keeps-fighting-for-peace/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Preparing a Vermont farmstead for the next century]]></title><description><![CDATA[Photo courtesy of Ben DeflorioFarmers all across Vermont are busy with spring activity&mdash;clearing the land after a snowy winter, welcoming babies into the herd, and watching the first sprouts of leafy greens break through the soil. On a quiet mountaintop in Shrewsbury, a special farmstead is preparing for something else, too: its next century.Since 1932, Spring Lake Ranch Therapeutic Community (SLR) has used the daily work of running a ranch to help people heal and recover from mental healt]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/preparing-a-vermont-farmstead-for-the-next-century/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/preparing-a-vermont-farmstead-for-the-next-century/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal government demands renewal for every healthcare provider that receives Medicaid]]></title><description><![CDATA[Administrator for the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz speaks during a news conference on efforts to combat fraud, in the Old Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)The federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services is demanding that Vermont renew its Medicaid care providers&rsquo; eligibility as part of the Trump administration&rsquo;s effort to weed out fraud, waste and abuse]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-government-demands-renewal-for-every-healthcare-provider-that-receives-medicaid/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-government-demands-renewal-for-every-healthcare-provider-that-receives-medicaid/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Man accused of critically injuring sheriff’s deputy had prior convictions for fleeing law enforcement]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Franklin County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office cruiser parked at the department&rsquo;s headquarters in St. Albans Town. File photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDiggerST. ALBANS &mdash; A Fletcher man accused of critically injuring a sheriff&rsquo;s deputy during a traffic stop pleaded not guilty in Vermont District Court in St. Albans Monday to an attempted second-degree murder charge.&nbsp;Alexander T. Seagroves, 32, also pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, eluding a law e]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/man-accused-of-critically-injuring-sheriffs-deputy-had-prior-convictions-for-fleeing-law-enforcement/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/man-accused-of-critically-injuring-sheriffs-deputy-had-prior-convictions-for-fleeing-law-enforcement/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former Burlington man gets sentence of 45 years to life for two murders in Chittenden County]]></title><description><![CDATA[Denroy Dasent looks on as Brian Billings&rsquo; grandmother Claire Gestner prepares to read her victim impact statement during Dasent&rsquo;s sentencing hearing in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington on Monday, April 27, 2026. Dasent was convicted of killing Billings and Sheikhnoor Osman in 2022. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; A former Burlington man found guilty last year of two counts of murder for fatally shooting two men on the same night in different]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-burlington-man-gets-sentence-of-45-years-to-life-for-two-murders-in-chittenden-county/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-burlington-man-gets-sentence-of-45-years-to-life-for-two-murders-in-chittenden-county/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington police refused to meet protesters at the table, rejecting a chance for real dialogue]]></title><description><![CDATA[Robert Langellier is a wildland firefighter and a freelance journalist who writes for New York Times Opinion, The Atlantic and Esquire. Officers can reach him at robertlangellier@gmail.com.On March 11, 2026, six protesters &mdash; including me &mdash; were arrested by multiple state and municipal police agencies for attempting to stop the illegal abduction of a family by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on South Burlington&rsquo;s Dorset Street. For several of us, arrests for disorderly]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-police-refused-to-meet-protesters-at-the-table-rejecting-a-chance-for-real-dialogue/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-police-refused-to-meet-protesters-at-the-table-rejecting-a-chance-for-real-dialogue/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are learning to love AI]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, speaks during a press conference with U.S. Senator Peter Welch, D-Vermont, at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, February 6, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Igor Bobic and Samuel Larreal was first published in NOTUS on April 23, 2026.Sen. Angus King was in the middle of a hearing this week with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright when he pulled out his phone to consult with Claude, an artificial intelligence chatbot that has surg]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-on-capitol-hill-are-learning-to-love-ai/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-on-capitol-hill-are-learning-to-love-ai/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mother charged with two murders heading back to Massachusetts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jeanette MacAusland appeared in Bennington County Superior Court via a live feed from Marble Valley Correctional Facility on Monday, April 27, 2026. Screenshot by Erin PetenkoA mother charged with two counts of murder after the deaths of her two young children agreed Monday in Rutland County Superior Court to be transferred to Massachusetts, where she will face the charges.The Massachusetts State Police have charged Janette MacAusland, 49, with murdering her two children, ages 6 and 7, after th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mother-charged-with-two-murders-heading-back-to-massachusetts/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mother-charged-with-two-murders-heading-back-to-massachusetts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[George Parker]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 11/03/1951Natick, MADied: 04/14/2026Williamstown, VTDetails of service:George Winfield Parker, passed away on April 14, 2026, leaving behind a life that was full, resilient, and deeply meaningful. He was born to Ruth Leland Parker and George Winfield Parker and from the very beginning, his story was one of strength, curiosity, and quiet determination.George was a devoted husband to Diane Mangini Parker, and a proud father to his five children, Rachel Parker, Rosanna Jones, Matthew Parker,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/george-parker/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/george-parker/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The part of the Palestinian story that gets lost in the slogans]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Martin Cohn, a public relations consultant from Springfield.When we discuss Gaza and the West Bank, we usually start with what&rsquo;s happening now: Israel&rsquo;s control, the Palestinians&rsquo; desire for a state, and the violence that never seems to end. It&rsquo;s a situation that can feel far away, yet somehow always present. But if we only look at the current state of things, we&rsquo;re missing an important part of the story, one that makes everything more complic]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-part-of-the-palestinian-story-that-gets-lost-in-the-slogans/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-part-of-the-palestinian-story-that-gets-lost-in-the-slogans/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[PurposeEnergy uses VEDA financing to create renewable energy]]></title><description><![CDATA[PurposeEnergy facility located in Middlebury. Courtesy of PurposeEnergyWhen Eric Fitch gets an idea, he runs with it.&ldquo;In 2006 I was driving and listening to the radio, and I heard the price of natural gas went through the roof and I thought &ndash; you could probably make it for less than that. That&rsquo;s a company!&rdquo;So, he went to work doing research and fine-tuning his idea, eventually realizing he could partner with food and beverage businesses that output organic waste and use]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/purposeenergy-uses-veda-financing-to-create-renewable-energy/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/purposeenergy-uses-veda-financing-to-create-renewable-energy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Massachusetts mother is held in Vermont after her two young children are found dead]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bennington Police Department headquarters. Photo by Emma Cotton/VTDiggerA Massachusetts woman charged with two counts of murder after the deaths of her two young children is being held in Rutland, the Bennington Police Department said in a news release Sunday.Janette MacAusland, 49, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, is scheduled to be arraigned Monday on a fugitive from justice charge in Rutland Superior Court&rsquo;s Criminal Division, Bennington Police said.Massachusetts State Police on Saturday c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/massachusetts-mother-is-held-in-vermont-after-her-two-young-children-are-found-dead/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 22:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/massachusetts-mother-is-held-in-vermont-after-her-two-young-children-are-found-dead/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘In Tune’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Waiting for the Wind,&rdquo; by Miles Witters, 15, of RichmondYoung Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-in-tune/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 15:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-in-tune/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After the dams: flood mitigation, fish passage, and whitewater rafting?]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Pioneer Street Dam on the Winooski River in Montpelier in August 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Heather Koontz was first published in The Bridge on April 20, 2026.Could Montpelier lower the water level in the Winooski River, diminishing flood potential while also opening the possibility for a downtown water park? Freshwater advocates, conservationists and engineers gathered to discuss this, and more, during an April 15 event called &ldquo;After the Dams: A Community]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-the-dams-flood-mitigation-fish-passage-and-whitewater-rafting/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 14:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-the-dams-flood-mitigation-fish-passage-and-whitewater-rafting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A system built on plea bargaining is not a just system]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Gage Johnson, a third-year law student at Vermont Law and Graduate School in South Royalton.In 2019, more than 97% of Vermont misdemeanor convictions came via a guilty plea. Many Vermonters might be shocked to learn that our legal system is not one focused on jury trials but rather on convictions. The liberty of the accused is no longer in the hands of a jury, as our system intended at the founding with the Sixth Amendment, but rather in the hands of a single state&rsquo;s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-system-built-on-plea-bargaining-is-not-a-just-system/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 14:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-system-built-on-plea-bargaining-is-not-a-just-system/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont has joined 49 lawsuits against the Trump administration. What have they accomplished?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Attorney General Charity Clark discusses a settlement between Vermont and 42 other states with Johnson &amp; Johnson, a company that made baby powder with talc in it, during a press conference in Montpelier in June 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDuring the first Trump administration from 2017 to 2021, the Vermont attorney general&rsquo;s office joined in on 54 lawsuits against the federal government, according to data provided by the office.&nbsp;Fifteen months into Trump&rsquo;s sec]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-has-joined-49-lawsuits-against-the-trump-administration-what-have-they-accomplished/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-has-joined-49-lawsuits-against-the-trump-administration-what-have-they-accomplished/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Legislation would regulate what technology kids use for learning. Lawmakers and advocates say it’s overdue.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Students in Windy Kelley&rsquo;s fifth grade classroom at Union Elementary School in Montpelier work on computers. File photo by Roger Crowley/for VTDiggerBlake Fabrikant is the dean of students at Sharon Academy, an independent school in the central Vermont town, where he also teaches a class on film and philosophy.In his class, students watch films and are expected to write essays on them. In prior years, students would write their assignments on their Google Chromebook laptops.But this schoo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/legislation-would-regulate-what-technology-kids-use-for-learning-lawmakers-and-advocates-say-its-overdue/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 12:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/legislation-would-regulate-what-technology-kids-use-for-learning-lawmakers-and-advocates-say-its-overdue/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fletcher man arrested after deputy is dragged by a truck during traffic stop]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Vermont State Police cruiser seen in Burlington, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Franklin County Sheriff&rsquo;s deputy was in critical condition Saturday morning after he was dragged by a pickup truck during a traffic stop Friday night in Fairfax, Vermont State Police said.Alexander T. Seagroves, 32, of Fletcher, was arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder. He was ordered held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Monday in Vermont Superior Court in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fletcher-man-arrested-after-deputy-is-dragged-by-a-truck-during-traffic-stop/</link><pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 16:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fletcher-man-arrested-after-deputy-is-dragged-by-a-truck-during-traffic-stop/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beyond ‘No Mow May’: How to build a haven for native plants in your yard]]></title><description><![CDATA[Digger wasps enjoying swamp milkweed in the yard of state botanist Grace Glynn. Courtesy of Grace GlynnGrace Glynn said she&rsquo;s still haunted by the barberry hedges she ripped out when she moved into her current home. Years after the massive undertaking to remove them, she keeps finding more of their roots.&nbsp;Yet Glynn has both a personal and a professional grudge against the ornamental shrub, which is not native to Vermont. As the state botanist for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Departm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beyond-no-mow-may-how-to-build-a-haven-for-native-plants-in-your-yard/</link><pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beyond-no-mow-may-how-to-build-a-haven-for-native-plants-in-your-yard/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers hope to steer new federal school choice tax credit funds toward public schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Seth Bongartz, D-Bennington, chair of the Senate Education Committee, listens during a briefing on the Scott administration&rsquo;s education transformation proposal at the Statehouse in Montpelier in February 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerOne Big Beautiful tax breakTucked into this year&rsquo;s miscellaneous tax bill, H.933, is language that would opt Vermont into a new federal school choice tax credit program established last year under Congress&rsquo;s One Big Beautiful Bill]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-hope-to-steer-new-federal-school-choice-tax-credit-funds-toward-public-schools/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-hope-to-steer-new-federal-school-choice-tax-credit-funds-toward-public-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[FEMA announces $2 million in aid for 2023 flood damage]]></title><description><![CDATA[Workers rebuild Red Village Road in Lyndonville in Aug. 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Federal Emergency Management Agency announced $2 million in funding for flood recovery projects in Vermont on Friday &mdash; and the state&rsquo;s chief recovery officer is hopeful that more money is on the way soon.The announcement includes funding for the state as well as the town of Royalton to cover the costs of infrastructure damage sustained during the catastrophic flooding in 2023. It do]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fema-announces-2-million-in-aid-for-2023-flood-damage/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fema-announces-2-million-in-aid-for-2023-flood-damage/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Windsor County sheriff pleads not guilty to 5 more criminal charges, now facing 12 counts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer appears at his arraignment in Rutland County Superior criminal court in Rutland on Friday, April 24, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerRUTLAND &mdash; Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer has pleaded not guilty to five additional criminal charges, bringing the total number of counts against him to 12.Palmer, 39, of Windsor, was initially arraigned in January on seven charges, including lewd and lascivious conduct and stalking. He pleaded not guilty and was re]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/windsor-county-sheriff-pleads-not-guilty-to-5-more-criminal-charges-now-facing-12-counts/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/windsor-county-sheriff-pleads-not-guilty-to-5-more-criminal-charges-now-facing-12-counts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Democrats’ tax cut plans are splintering progressives]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, two pillars and allies of the progressive movement, are in disagreement.Democrats have in recent months proposed a variety of tax cut proposals, seemingly in response to President Donald Trump&rsquo;s popular &ldquo;no tax on tips and overtime&rdquo; policies.Sen. Chris Van Hollen wants to&nbsp;eliminate income taxes&nbsp;for households earning under $92,000, and Sen. Cory Booker wants to&nbsp;raise the household standard deduction&nbsp;to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/democrats-tax-cut-plans-are-splintering-progressives/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/democrats-tax-cut-plans-are-splintering-progressives/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont is throwing people into the volcano]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Annette Smith, who is the executive director of Vermonters for a Clean Environment.As I awaited my turn to testify in the Senate Finance Committee on April 2, 2026, I had a hard time hearing what Hunter Thompson, telecommunications and connectivity director of the Department of Public Service, was telling the committee, because of the noise of the HVAC system and his soft-spoken voice. I know I heard the word &ldquo;sacrifice&rdquo; more than once.When it was my turn to sp]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-throwing-people-into-the-volcano/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-throwing-people-into-the-volcano/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal reclassification of marijuana could ‘turbocharge’ Vermont’s medical market]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cannabis buds for purchase on display at Ceres Collaborative dispensary in Burlington on the first day of legal retail cannabis sales in October 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Trump administration&rsquo;s move to reclassify marijuana as a lower-risk drug could provide major tax benefits to medical marijuana businesses, but for now, it leaves Vermont regulators charting a future that&rsquo;s clear as mud.&nbsp;Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order Thursday that]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-reclassification-of-marijuana-could-turbocharge-vermonts-medical-market/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 01:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-reclassification-of-marijuana-could-turbocharge-vermonts-medical-market/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How federal health care cuts are affecting Vermont: far fewer people insured]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont deals with loss of health care subsidies after last summer&rsquo;s federal budget bill. Photo from Adobe StockSubsidy shakeout&ldquo;A big change like this is like shaking up a snowglobe and seeing where everything lands,&rdquo; Nolan Langweil, a principal analyst in the Legislature&rsquo;s Joint Fiscal Office, told the House Health Care Committee on Thursday, as he ran them through the suite of shakeups the state can expect or is already seeing from the federal budget bill passed last]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-federal-health-care-cuts-are-affecting-vermont-far-fewer-people-insured/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-federal-health-care-cuts-are-affecting-vermont-far-fewer-people-insured/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont thought it was getting new electric buses. The Trump administration had other plans.]]></title><description><![CDATA[An electric bus on loan from a California company driving local routes for Green Mountain Transit as part of a pilot program. File photo by Morgan True / VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s largest public transit provider has been planning to roll out a fleet of new electric buses. Now, it&rsquo;s set to get buses powered partly by diesel instead &mdash; after the Trump administration said it wouldn&rsquo;t help pay for those fully electric vehicles.At issue is a $22.5 million federal grant the state was a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-thought-it-was-getting-new-electric-buses-the-trump-administration-had-other-plans/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-thought-it-was-getting-new-electric-buses-the-trump-administration-had-other-plans/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Frederick W. Stetson II]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 02/20/1943Boston, MADied: 04/18/2026Burlington, VTDetails of service:A memorial service will be held this summer.Frederick Winslow Stetson II, 83, of Burlington, Vermont died on April 18, 2026. He was born February 20, 1943 in Boston, the son of Brewster Stetson and Rhoda Belknap Stetson.Fred grew up in Duxbury, MA where he spent his childhood exploring the tidal salt marshes.He attended Derby Academy in Hingham, MA and graduated from St. George&rsquo;s School in Newport, RI in 1961. At S]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/frederick-w-stetson-ii/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/frederick-w-stetson-ii/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Norman E. Wright]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 03/01/1937Sheffield, VTDied: 02/15/2026Westminster West, VTDetails of service:A celebration of life will be held at the Westminster West Congregational Church on Saturday, June 6 at 1 p.m. A brief graveside commitment and light luncheon at the church will follow. Friends and the community are welcome.Norman Edward (Norm) Wright of Westminster West died on February 15 at home in the care of family, with support from Bayada Hospice.Norm was born at home over the family&rsquo;s store in Shef]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/norman-e-wright/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/norman-e-wright/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Our tenants deserve safety. A new bill would deliver it.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary was coordinated by Chris Donnelly of Champlain Housing Trust, and co-authored by nine executive directors and CEOs of Vermont&rsquo;s housing nonprofits, which collectively own and manage over 8,300 affordable apartments across the state.While Vermont&rsquo;s visible challenges with drug trafficking may be happening in our downtowns and in parks, what&rsquo;s happening inside residential apartment buildings is also putting citizens and their neighbors at risk in the very places]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/our-tenants-deserve-safety-a-new-bill-would-deliver-it/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/our-tenants-deserve-safety-a-new-bill-would-deliver-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Luring bears with candy isn’t hunting — it’s cheating]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,As Vermont debates whether to allow the baiting of bears for hunting, we must take a moment to reflect on the ethical implications of such practices. The very idea of luring a bear into a vulnerable situation with stale Froot Loops and candy is not only shameful but also a stark reminder of our moral responsibility toward these sentient creatures.In February 2026, the Vermont Bowhunters Association petitioned the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, asking for the practice of bear]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/luring-bears-with-candy-isnt-hunting-its-cheating/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/luring-bears-with-candy-isnt-hunting-its-cheating/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bank statements detail sheriff’s office spending under Palmer]]></title><description><![CDATA[Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer answers questions from members of the media after his arraignment in Rutland County Superior criminal court in Rutland on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Alex Ebrahimi was first published in the Valley News on April 22, 2026.Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer has long had a side hustle as a DJ, where he goes by the name DJ RPP, even after becoming sheriff.It was through one of his gigs that he met one of the victims of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bank-statements-detail-sheriffs-office-spending-under-palmer/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bank-statements-detail-sheriffs-office-spending-under-palmer/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chittenden County prosecutor declines to charge six protesters arrested at South Burlington ICE raid]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont State Police and federal law enforcement officials remove demonstrators surrounding a house in South Burlington where a suspect who fled an earlier attempted stop by immigration officers was thought to be on March 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Chittenden County state&rsquo;s attorney said Wednesday she will not charge six protesters arrested during a federal immigration raid in South Burlington last month, a decision that state police leaders condemned.State&rsquo;s Attor]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/chittenden-county-prosecutor-declines-to-charge-six-protesters-arrested-at-south-burlington-ice-raid/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/chittenden-county-prosecutor-declines-to-charge-six-protesters-arrested-at-south-burlington-ice-raid/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawmakers venture to the Springfield prison]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield. File photo from October 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerInstead of sitting in plush chairs around a committee table, representatives on the House Corrections and Institutions Committee found themselves facing a razor wire fence under a gray sky in the courtyard of the state&rsquo;s prison in Springfield on Wednesday.&nbsp;The lawmakers &mdash; some in jeans, others in suits &mdash; stood in the small field of green picnic tables amon]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-venture-to-the-springfield-prison/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-venture-to-the-springfield-prison/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Who made the president a king?]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Millions of Americans have attended &ldquo;No Kings&rdquo; protests, voicing outrage that President Donald Trump has turned the presidency into an imperial platform from which to launch wars of choice, levy illegal tariffs, and unleash armed agents against]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-who-made-the-president-a-king/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-who-made-the-president-a-king/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[They offered us the world. We chose Vermont.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Greg Cash, the founder of Slope Space, a coworking community at the base of Killington Mountain in Vermont.&nbsp;We are nearing the end of our second ski season at Slope Space, and honestly, things could not feel better. Spring is coming, and we are already excited about what summer and fall will bring to Killington. The mountain does not stop when the snow melts, and neither do we.A few months ago, in the middle of all that momentum, we got a call from a very large compan]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/they-offered-us-the-world-we-chose-vermont/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/they-offered-us-the-world-we-chose-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge won’t delay trial over new insanity defense for man accused of shooting Palestinian students — for now]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton appears in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington in March 2024. Eaton is charged in the shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent in Burlington in November of 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; A Vermont judge has pushed back a bid to delay the trial of a Burlington man charged with shooting and wounding three Palestinian college students more than two years ago.&nbsp;The man&rsquo;s attorney requested that the trial, currently se]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-wont-delay-trial-over-new-insanity-defense-for-man-accused-of-shooting-palestinian-students-for-now/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:34:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-wont-delay-trial-over-new-insanity-defense-for-man-accused-of-shooting-palestinian-students-for-now/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nathaniel Frothingham]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 03/29/1939Hyannis, MADied: 03/13/2026Montpelier, VTDetails of service:A celebration of Nat&rsquo;s life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 15 in the Vestry of the Unitarian Church, Montpelier. All are welcome.<br />
Donations in Nat&rsquo;s memory to The Bridge, the Adamant Co-op, or Heaton Woods Residence, Montpelier, where Nat was cared for with love and dignity in the last months of his life.Nathaniel &ldquo;Nat&rdquo; Frothingham, 86, died peacefully on Friday, March 13, 2026 at Centra]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nathaniel-frothingham/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nathaniel-frothingham/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Senate budget writers approve latest state spending bill]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Andrew Perchlik, D/P-Washington, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, listens to testimony presented before the committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont lawmakers are one step closer to approving a new state budget bill. But it&rsquo;s still not clear whether Gov. Phil Scott will sign off on the spending plan as he continues to spar with legislative leadership over education reform.&nbsp;The S]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-senate-budget-writers-approve-latest-state-spending-bill/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-senate-budget-writers-approve-latest-state-spending-bill/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘No Kings’ protesters know exactly what they’re fighting for]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Frank Mazur&rsquo;s recent critique of the &ldquo;No Kings&rdquo; protests in VTDigger is based on a misunderstanding of both the purpose of the protest and the motivations of those taking part in them.First, protests are not policy platforms. Protests are meant to draw attention to perceived problems, not to function as fully developed governing agendas. Throughout American history, protests &mdash; from civil rights demonstrations to anti-war movements &mdash; have highlighted inj]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/no-kings-protesters-know-exactly-what-theyre-fighting-for/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/no-kings-protesters-know-exactly-what-theyre-fighting-for/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rooted in Canaan, ready for college: Liah’s journey]]></title><description><![CDATA[Liah absolutely loves her hometown of Canaan, Vermont. &ldquo;There are so many opportunities here,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I wish everyone knew that and how good things are here. There&rsquo;s so much support as you&rsquo;re figuring out your next step.&rdquo;&nbsp;Her ultimate goal is to return to the area after college to live and work. She&rsquo;s most interested in business, potentially banking, and already has experience working as an assistant office manager at Jackson&rsquo;s Lodge and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rooted-in-canaan-ready-for-college-liahs-journey/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rooted-in-canaan-ready-for-college-liahs-journey/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Willard “Bill” Bickford, Sr.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 03/06/1932Glover, VTDied: 04/15/2026Stuart, FLDetails of service:A celebration of life will be held on June 13, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, with a reception to follow. Interment will take place on June 14, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Westlook I Cemetery in Glover, Vermont.Willard L. &ldquo;Bill&rdquo; Bickford, Sr., 94, of Williston, Vermont, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026. Born March 6, 1932, in Glover, Vermont, to the late Howard and Harr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/willard-bill-bickford-sr/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/willard-bill-bickford-sr/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Racial disparities in Vermont traffic stops resurge after Covid-era dip, study finds]]></title><description><![CDATA[A state police trooper directs traffic around Valley Street in Springfield in Nov. 2022. File photo by Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger.Racial disparities in Vermont traffic policing that had narrowed during the pandemic have returned to pre-Covid levels and are even worsening in some communities, according to updated traffic stop data.The latest report, published this month by University of Vermont economist Stephanie Seguino and two co-authors, found that while Vermont officers are making fewer stops]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/racial-disparities-in-vermont-traffic-stops-resurge-after-covid-era-dip-study-finds/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/racial-disparities-in-vermont-traffic-stops-resurge-after-covid-era-dip-study-finds/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Northwestern Medical Center launches partnership to preserve birthing services]]></title><description><![CDATA[A newborn sleeps at a hospital in Michigan on Feb. 26, 2026. Birthing care can be costly, requiring hours and hours of staff attention and intervention.&nbsp;AP File Photo/Corey WilliamsNorthwestern Medical Center in St. Albans has partnered with an outside obstetrical and gynecological care group to continue perinatal and birthing care at the Franklin County hospital, bolstering a service the hospital has been struggling to permanently staff.After two or three physicians left the hospital in 2]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/northwestern-medical-center-launches-partnership-to-preserve-birthing-services/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/northwestern-medical-center-launches-partnership-to-preserve-birthing-services/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s wake rules restrict the wrong lakes]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Luke Heald, a fishing guide and keen fisherman who lives in Brandon.&nbsp;Vermont&rsquo;s lakes are among our most treasured public resources, valued for recreation, ecological integrity and the balance they strike between multiple uses. The Agency of Natural Resources has long been tasked with managing these waters under a clear directive: Protect public health and safety while using the least restrictive approach practicable to address conflicts.The proposed 2025 amendme]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-wake-rules-restrict-the-wrong-lakes/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-wake-rules-restrict-the-wrong-lakes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont land-posting bill tries to put confusion to rest]]></title><description><![CDATA[A &ldquo;posted&rdquo; sign outlining that hunting, fishing, trapping and trespassing are prohibited in Montpelier. File photo from Sept. 10, 2023. Photo by Natalie Williams/VTDiggerPublic outcry befell the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife in the fall, after the department announced that no-trespassing signs would only be valid during the calendar year they were posted.&nbsp;Property owners flooded the inbox of department Commissioner Jason Batchelder, he said, with complaints and concer]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-land-posting-bill-tries-to-put-confusion-to-rest/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-land-posting-bill-tries-to-put-confusion-to-rest/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Snowmobilers and pedestrian users clashed this past winter over use of Newport’s rail trail]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Beebe Spur Rail Trail was formally opened to snowmobile use for the first time this past winter. Photo courtesy of Michael Koehler.Nordic skiers have reigned over the treasured Beebe Spur Rail Trail during winter for decades. This past season, however, they were joined by snowmobilers, generating a big controversy in the far reaches of the Northeast Kingdom.The trail runs for 3.8 miles along the eastern shore of Lake Memphremagog, following a rail corridor from an intersection near North Co]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/snowmobilers-and-pedestrian-users-clashed-this-past-winter-over-use-of-newports-rail-trail/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/snowmobilers-and-pedestrian-users-clashed-this-past-winter-over-use-of-newports-rail-trail/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dartmouth groups renew calls to rename arts center bankrolled by Epstein associate]]></title><description><![CDATA[A statue titled &ldquo;Crouching Spider&rdquo; by Louise Bourgeois stands in front of the Black Family Visual Arts Center on the Dartmouth College campus in Hanover, New Hampshire. Photo via Valley NewsThis story by Alex Hanson was first published in the Valley News on April 20, 2026.A broad cross-section of the Dartmouth College community has renewed calls to remove the name of financier Leon Black, an alumnus and former trustee, from the college&rsquo;s visual arts center.In response, the col]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-groups-renew-calls-to-rename-arts-center-bankrolled-by-epstein-associate/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-groups-renew-calls-to-rename-arts-center-bankrolled-by-epstein-associate/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s housing crisis is built on a lie]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,A recent VTDigger piece on the repeal of portions of Act 181 included a quote from Rep. Amy Sheldon, D-Middlebury, chair of the House Environment and Energy Committee: &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t need our shared interest in protecting our environment to divide Vermont.&rdquo;&nbsp;There&rsquo;s certainly plenty of division in Vermont, but I don&rsquo;t agree that the root cause is our desire to protect the environment. The division originates with profit-seeking entities that see environm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-housing-crisis-is-built-on-a-lie/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-housing-crisis-is-built-on-a-lie/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont prevails in multistate lawsuit over gender-affirming care for minors]]></title><description><![CDATA[Several hundred queer and transgender kids and their supporters gather at the Statehouse in Montpelier to celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility on Friday, March 31, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark prevailed Saturday in a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration over a rule that would have restricted gender-affirming care for minors.In]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-prevails-in-multistate-lawsuit-over-gender-affirming-care-for-minors/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-prevails-in-multistate-lawsuit-over-gender-affirming-care-for-minors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Eleanor Horton Clavelle]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 08/14/1925Burlington, VTDied: 04/19/2026Colchester, VTDetails of service:<br />
Arrangements are in the care of LaVigne Funeral and Cremation Service. To send condolences to her family please visit www.vtfuneralhomes.com.In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation of money or time to&nbsp;a cause or organization that reflects El&rsquo;s commitment to social, environmental and racial justice.Eleanor Horton Clavelle left this world on Sunday morning, April 19 at the ripe old age of 100. She co]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/eleanor-horton-clavelle/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/eleanor-horton-clavelle/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Terry J. Allen]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 11/24/1947Fall River, MADied: 04/10/2026East Montpelier, VTTerry J. Allen, an artist, photographer, journalist and activist, died at her home in East Montpelier, Vermont, on April 10, 2026, of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare and rapidly progressing prion brain disorder. She was 78.Brave and independent, headstrong and altruistic, Terry traveled the world and explored the complexities of the human condition. She was at ease in war zones, art galleries, tattoo parlors, political rallies,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/terry-j-allen/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/terry-j-allen/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Joyce Mae Bruner]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 03/14/1927Rutland, VTDied: 04/11/2026Enonsburg Falls, VTDetails of service: A graveside funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at Resurrection Park, 200 Hinesburg Road, South Burlington, VT.Joyce Mae (Flanders) Bruner passed away in her sleep just short of 100 years old in Enosburg Falls on April 11, 2026.Born in Rutland in 1927, she was the daughter of Ruth and Earl Flanders. She was preceded in death by her sister, Helen Spears and her brother, Earl Flan]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/joyce-mae-bruner/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/joyce-mae-bruner/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont businesses seek thousands in tariff refunds as federal system launches]]></title><description><![CDATA[Stacy Harshman, co-owner of the Sparkle Barn in Wallingford, photographed in August 2025, was among the many Vermont business people who had to pay tariffs on imported goods. Some of those businesses are now eligible to claim a refund. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Candy King, owner of wood stove vendor Hearthlink International in Randolph, was hard at work Monday morning preparing to file for a refund on te]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-businesses-seek-thousands-in-tariff-refunds-as-federal-system-launches/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-businesses-seek-thousands-in-tariff-refunds-as-federal-system-launches/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Make Vermont the first state to ban paraquat]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I built my life around helping people get better through movement and motivation; for 30 years, I was an exercise physiologist and competitive athlete. In 2017, a toxic chemical exposure at my workplace ended that life. Parkinson&rsquo;s disease followed.My wife, Amy, is my care partner. We face this disease together &mdash; every medication, every tremor, every day &mdash; as do more than 2,700 Vermonters and everyone going through it with them.&nbsp;<br />
READ MORE<br />
That is why I recent]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/make-vermont-the-first-state-to-ban-paraquat/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/make-vermont-the-first-state-to-ban-paraquat/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Legislators take steps aiming to bolster Vermont’s animal welfare system]]></title><description><![CDATA[A couple look at cats available for adoption at the Humane Society of Chittenden County in South Burlington in Dec. 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTwo bills aimed at improving the animal welfare system in Vermont have passed the House and are now being considered in Senate committees.&nbsp;One bill, sponsored by Rep. Chea Waters Evans, D-Charlotte, would require animal shelters, rescues, breeders and any person importing animals into Vermont to register with the Animal Welfare Divisi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/legislators-take-steps-aiming-to-bolster-vermonts-animal-welfare-system/</link><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/legislators-take-steps-aiming-to-bolster-vermonts-animal-welfare-system/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[David Farnham Taplin]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 09/07/1949Died: 04/01/2026Norwich, VTDetails of service:A Celebration of Life will be held at the Strafford Town House, Strafford, Vermont on May 30, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.David Taplin passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with brain cancer on April 1, 2026, in Norwich, Vermont, lovingly surrounded by close members of his family.He was born to Frank E Taplin Jr. and Ngaio Thornton Lowry on September 7, 1949. He lived his early years in Shaker Heights, Ohio where he attended Hawken S]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/david-farnham-taplin/</link><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/david-farnham-taplin/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A transgender Vermont veteran is riding the gravel cycling circuit. Cue filmmaker.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermonter Roxy Bombardier is the subject of a new documentary, &ldquo;Claim the Lane: Becoming Roxy.&rdquo; Provided photoFilmmaker Jesse Huffman remembers when he first met fellow Vermonter Roxy Bombardier, an Iraq veteran turned dirt-road bike racer transitioning in her 50s.&ldquo;The concept of a transgender gravel cyclist was interesting to me,&rdquo; he recently recalled.Huffman then learned that was only the start of the story.The video director, writer and producer was seeking a document]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-transgender-vermont-veteran-is-riding-the-gravel-cycling-circuit-cue-filmmaker/</link><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-transgender-vermont-veteran-is-riding-the-gravel-cycling-circuit-cue-filmmaker/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont is being sold two bad ideas on energy]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,George Santayana wrote: &ldquo;Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.&rdquo;&nbsp;Reading the recent commentary in VTDigger by Justin Neuman advocating the return to nuclear power reminded me that Neuman is not alone in supporting this incredibly bad idea. The New England governors, including our own governor, have also endorsed this silliness.&nbsp;We have a power shortage, compounded by the Trump administration&rsquo;s attack on renewable energy. And electr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-being-sold-two-bad-ideas-on-energy/</link><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-being-sold-two-bad-ideas-on-energy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Welch touts repair rights during Randolph Center visit]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., talks about the &ldquo;right to repair&rdquo; farm equipment during ReuseVT&rsquo;s ReuseApalooza conference Thursday at the Randolph Center campus of Vermont State University. Photo by Maryellen Apelquist/White River Valley Herald<br />
This story by Maryellen Apelquist was first published in the White River Valley Herald on April 16, 2026.After talking about his love of buying used clothes online &mdash; &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not kidding, you get good deals&rdquo; &mdash; U]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/welch-touts-repair-rights-during-randolph-center-visit/</link><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/welch-touts-repair-rights-during-randolph-center-visit/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bald eagle population soars in the region]]></title><description><![CDATA[The bald eagle population is making a return to the Connecticut River Valley. Photo by Craig Mellish/special to The CommonsThis story by Robert F. Smith was first published in The Commons on April 14, 2026.Brattleboro resident John Lowrey has been watching and photographing bald eagles in the area for the past three years.&ldquo;There are 13 nests that I watch between Vernon and North Windsor,&rdquo; Lowrey said. &ldquo;All have nesting pairs of adults and, in 2025, eight of the nests that I mo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bald-eagle-population-soars-in-the-region/</link><pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 16:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bald-eagle-population-soars-in-the-region/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘Wild Things’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;On the Rock,&rdquo; by Amelia Van Driesche, 19, of Burlington.Young Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-wild-things/</link><pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 15:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-wild-things/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Some sugarmakers break records, though a range of results reported across Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sherry and Bruce Chapell discuss this past maple sugaring season inside the sugarhouse at Templeton Farm in East Montpelier on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerEAST MONTPELIER &mdash; Bruce Chapell has been tapping maples at Templeton Farm since 1986 on land his family has owned since 1810. This year he thinks he saw some record-breaking days for sugarmaking.&nbsp;Temperatures had climbed into the mid-40s after nights in the 20s &mdash; textbook sap weather &mdash; during]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/some-sugarmakers-break-records-though-a-range-of-results-reported-across-vermont/</link><pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 14:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/some-sugarmakers-break-records-though-a-range-of-results-reported-across-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A teen bet he could run on a treadmill for 26 miles. Now he’s the youngest Vermonter in the Boston Marathon.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Zane White, 18 of Jericho,will be running in the Boston Marathon. Seen at Mills Riverside Park in Jericho on Monday, April 13, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerJericho teen Zane White was feeling bored during the Covid-19 pandemic when he convinced his father, Dan, to buy him a gaming monitor if he ran 26 miles nonstop on the family treadmill.&ldquo;Sometimes &mdash; it&rsquo;s very weird with me &mdash; I get this crazy burst of motivation for the randomest things,&rdquo; the senior at Moun]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-teen-bet-he-could-run-on-a-treadmill-for-26-miles-now-hes-the-youngest-vermonter-in-the-boston-marathon/</link><pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-teen-bet-he-could-run-on-a-treadmill-for-26-miles-now-hes-the-youngest-vermonter-in-the-boston-marathon/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Vermont needs from college now]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Richard Plumb, the president of Saint Michael&rsquo;s College in Colchester.For decades, American higher education has made a simple promise: earn a degree, get a good job.It was a compelling argument &mdash; and, for many years, a true one. But today, that promise is under strain. Recent graduates are taking longer to find work. Employers are rethinking entry-level roles. And advances in artificial intelligence are rapidly reshaping what skills matter and how work gets do]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-vermont-needs-from-college-now/</link><pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:35:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-vermont-needs-from-college-now/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Faced with high cost of restoring the Bennington Battle Monument, state seeks feedback from Vermonters]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Bennington Battle Monument towers over a statue nearby. File photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDiggerLast year, state officials went to the Legislature with a problem: The 306-foot Bennington Battle Monument &mdash; an obelisk commemorating the 1777 Battle of Bennington &mdash; was saturated with 66,000 gallons of water. At the time, the cost to restore the monument was estimated at $40 million.&nbsp;The high price fueled debate over whether to restore the monument or deal with the challenges of th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/faced-with-high-cost-of-restoring-the-bennington-battle-monument-state-seeks-feedback-from-vermonters/</link><pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/faced-with-high-cost-of-restoring-the-bennington-battle-monument-state-seeks-feedback-from-vermonters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[ICE pushed ahead over state and local objections as Dorset Street raid escalated, police reviews conclude]]></title><description><![CDATA[ICE agents and South Burlington police officers form a perimeter as people are arrested by ICE in South Burlington on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFederal immigration agents pushed ahead with a high-risk operation in South Burlington despite repeated warnings from local and state officials and a lack of coordinated planning, which turned a largely peaceful protest into a volatile standoff, according to two newly released police reports.One of the reports, relea]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-pushed-ahead-over-state-and-local-objections-as-dorset-street-raid-escalated-police-reviews-conclude/</link><pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-pushed-ahead-over-state-and-local-objections-as-dorset-street-raid-escalated-police-reviews-conclude/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Senate president pitches a statewide ban on guns in bars after proposal for Burlington falters]]></title><description><![CDATA[Senate President Pro Tempore PhilBaruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, listens as the Senate Judiciary Committee discusses a bill concerning the masking of law enforcement personnel at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerYou&rsquo;re reading a web version of Final Reading, VTDigger&rsquo;s nightly Statehouse newsletter. Sign up to get it delivered to your inbox Tuesday through Friday during the legislative session.Senate President Pro Tempore Phil]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-senate-president-pitches-a-statewide-ban-on-guns-in-bars-after-proposal-for-burlington-falters/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-senate-president-pitches-a-statewide-ban-on-guns-in-bars-after-proposal-for-burlington-falters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brandon Alan Frost]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 11/07/1995Berlin, VTDied: 04/10/2026Barre, VTDetails of service:A celebration of life will be held in May, with the date to be announced at a later time.Brandon Alan Frost, age 30, of Barre, Vermont &mdash; beloved father, son, brother, nephew, and friend &mdash; unexpectedly passed away on April 10, 2026, in Barre, Vermont.He was born at CVMC in Berlin, Vt., on November 7, 1995, at 11:07 a.m. to Alana Frost.Brandon attended Washington Village Elementary and Middle School before going on]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brandon-alan-frost/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brandon-alan-frost/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Forest Service uses controlled burns for wildlife and wildfire prevention]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jeff Tilley, forest silviculturist with the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests, ignites grasses during a prescribed burn in Woodstock on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Photo by Alex Driehaus/Valley NewsThis story by Alex Driehaus was first published in the Valley News on April 15, 2026.WOODSTOCK &mdash; Smoke rose from a hillside one afternoon last week as more than a dozen members of the United States Forest Service conducted a prescribed burn on a 28-acre parcel near where the Appalac]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/forest-service-uses-controlled-burns-for-wildlife-and-wildfire-prevention/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/forest-service-uses-controlled-burns-for-wildlife-and-wildfire-prevention/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rural Vermont showed up. And Montpelier listened.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Neil Ryan, a third-generation Vermont farmer and consultant helping brands and nonprofits in Corinth.&nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking at repealing the road rule and the Tier 3 and revisiting how we structure that.&rdquo;Those words, spoken quietly on April 24, 2026, by Rep. Amy Sheldon, D-Middlebury &mdash; a devoted conservationist, an architect of Act 181, and the chair of the House Committee on Environment &mdash; must have been excruciating for her in some ways. Her word]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rural-vermont-showed-up-and-montpelier-listened/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rural-vermont-showed-up-and-montpelier-listened/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[House education reform bill narrowly passes amid heavy criticism and some lawmakers’ unease]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, chair of the House Education Committee, speaks at his desk after the House passed an education reform bill at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, April 17, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerHouse lawmakers narrowly approved an education reform proposal Friday, advancing legislation destined for more political wrangling that could stretch well into the summer.Democrats touted the legislation, H.955, as balancing the twin goals of tamping down the cost of educ]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/house-education-reform-bill-narrowly-passes-amid-heavy-criticism-and-some-lawmakers-unease/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/house-education-reform-bill-narrowly-passes-amid-heavy-criticism-and-some-lawmakers-unease/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Green Mountain Transit weighs cutting Essex bus route]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Green Mountain Transit driver prepares to leave the Burlington Transit Center on April 2, 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s largest public transportation agency is weighing another cut to its bus service in Chittenden County, this time on a route that serves Essex Junction and Essex Town.The proposal to eliminate Green Mountain Transit&rsquo;s No. 4 route comes as the agency has already slashed the equivalent of 20% of its bus service across the region since late 2024,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/green-mountain-transit-weighs-cutting-essex-bus-route/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/green-mountain-transit-weighs-cutting-essex-bus-route/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Regulators think few contractors are registered with the state — and they want to reel them in]]></title><description><![CDATA[Adam Clark shows where a construction contractor allegedly did sub-standard work on his Essex Junction home in Dec. 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&ldquo;We can&rsquo;t help you.&rdquo;&nbsp;That&rsquo;s what regulators often have to say when people complain about getting shoddy construction in an expensive home improvement project, said Lauren Hibbert, deputy secretary of state, whose office oversees professional regulation in Vermont.&nbsp;&ldquo;And that&rsquo;s very unsatisfying]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/regulators-think-few-contractors-are-registered-with-the-state-and-they-want-to-reel-them-in/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/regulators-think-few-contractors-are-registered-with-the-state-and-they-want-to-reel-them-in/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s rural revolt is just getting started]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,The rural uprising over the last month has been a remarkable example of what can be achieved through focused, direct citizen action. Although we are on the cusp of achieving our immediate objective of repealing the 800-foot road rule and the Tier 3 designations of Act 181, there is a much bigger objective that we still need to accomplish.One of the most significant problems with the entire process by which Act 59 &mdash; which set the goal of conserving 30% of Vermont&rsquo;s landsc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-rural-revolt-is-just-getting-started/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-rural-revolt-is-just-getting-started/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Governor appoints Burlington rep, bypassing Dems’ recommendations]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Statehouse in Montpelier, October 16, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerGov. Phil Scott has appointed a new lawmaker to fill a vacant Burlington House seat.&nbsp;But Democrats say the governor ignored their local committee&rsquo;s recommendations about who should fill it.&nbsp;The new Democratic Rep. Kevin Scully, who will represent Burlington&rsquo;s New North End, was appointed Thursday to serve the rest of former Rep. Bob Hooper&rsquo;s term.&nbsp;Hooper, also a Democrat, resigned in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/governor-appoints-burlington-rep-bypassing-dems-recommendations/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/governor-appoints-burlington-rep-bypassing-dems-recommendations/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont State eliminates residential option in Williston]]></title><description><![CDATA[Williston Hall, the lone dorm building at Vermont State University&rsquo;s Williston campus, will be converted to classroom space this year, with students offered dorm rooms at Saint Michael&rsquo;s College in Colchester. Photo by Jason Starr/Williston ObserverThis story by Jason Starr was first published in the Williston Observer on April 16, 2026.The Williston campus of Vermont State University has never been known for its residential experience. An administrative decision this spring to conv]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-state-eliminates-residential-option-in-williston/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-state-eliminates-residential-option-in-williston/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When the landline is a lifeline, don’t cut it without fair warning]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Like many people across our state, I care deeply about staying connected. Not connected to the latest app or smartphone &mdash; but connected to help when it matters most.That&rsquo;s why I support H.898, legislation that would require telecommunications companies to give Vermonters clear, advance notice before retiring copper-based landline service and shifting consumers to new technologies.Vermont is one of the oldest states in the union, and for many older Vermonters, especially]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-the-landline-is-a-lifeline-dont-cut-it-without-fair-warning/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-the-landline-is-a-lifeline-dont-cut-it-without-fair-warning/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Windsor County sheriff facing more sex crime charges, including soliciting prostitution]]></title><description><![CDATA[Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer answers questions from members of the media after his arraignment in Rutland County Superior criminal court in Rutland on January 28, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWindsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer, already charged with several sex crimes, will be facing additional offenses after more women have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against him, according to Vermont State Police.Palmer, 39, of Windsor, pleaded not guilty in late January to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/windsor-county-sheriff-facing-more-sex-crime-charges-including-soliciting-prostitution/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/windsor-county-sheriff-facing-more-sex-crime-charges-including-soliciting-prostitution/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont shut down its power. Here’s how to turn it back on.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Justin Neuman, a professor of literary studies at Eugene Lang College, The New School.I grew up in Wilmington, a ski town not far from two nuclear power plants. In southern Vermont, everything is just over the next hill and down another valley. You could drive past both plants your whole life and never know they were there. Background infrastructure for a region that worked.Both are gone now. Vermont Yankee went dark on Dec. 29, 2014. At its peak, it generated 620 megawatt]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-shut-down-its-power-heres-how-to-turn-it-back-on/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-shut-down-its-power-heres-how-to-turn-it-back-on/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In a divided statehouse, Vermont lawmakers weigh increased taxes on the rich]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Teddy Waszazak, D-Barre City, left, listens to testimony during a meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.When Rep. Teddy Waszazak, D-Barre City, sat down with me after Wednesday morning&rsquo;s legislative meetings, he was carrying a cupcake that bore the words &ldquo;tax the rich.&rdquo;Tax Day saw the Ho]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-a-divided-statehouse-vermont-lawmakers-weigh-increased-taxes-on-the-rich/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-a-divided-statehouse-vermont-lawmakers-weigh-increased-taxes-on-the-rich/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[This isn’t the time to throw people onto the street]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I didn&rsquo;t mean to become a landlord. My husband and I simply had extra rooms in our old farmhouse. As we began spending part of the year away, and with Vermont in the midst of a housing crisis, we chose to rent those rooms to four individuals.We charge an affordable rate, cover utilities and try to work with tenants who cannot afford a security deposit up front. Most cannot. It is a vulnerable position for us.When someone can&rsquo;t pay on time &mdash; or at all &mdash; or bre]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/this-isnt-the-time-to-throw-people-onto-the-street/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/this-isnt-the-time-to-throw-people-onto-the-street/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: One year after arrest, Mohsen Mahdawi refuses to be silent]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Mohsen Mahdawi speaks after being released in Burlington in April 2025. File photo by Caleb Kenna/VTDiggerMohsen Mahdawi has come a long way since being released from a Vermont jail in April 2025. Mahdawi is a Palestinian student at Columbia University and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-one-year-after-arrest-mohsen-mahdawi-refuses-to-be-silent/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-one-year-after-arrest-mohsen-mahdawi-refuses-to-be-silent/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Grand Isle County’s top prosecutor cited for DUI]]></title><description><![CDATA[Doug DiSabito, the Grand Isle state&rsquo;s attorney, speaking to reporters. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDiggerGrand Isle County&rsquo;s top prosecutor Douglas DiSabito was cited Tuesday for drunken driving, according to a press release from the St. Albans Police Department.&nbsp;Police officers received a call around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday alerting officers to respond to Franklin County Superior Court in St. Albans &ldquo;for a report of a person in the building who may be under the influence of alco]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/grand-isle-countys-top-prosecutor-cited-for-dui/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/grand-isle-countys-top-prosecutor-cited-for-dui/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont House poised to roll back portions of Act 181]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Amy Sheldon, D-Middlebury, chair of the House Environment Committee, listens to testimony on legislation on the taking of furbearing animals at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.Democratic leaders in the Vermont House have signaled their willingness to roll back portions of Act 181, the contentious 202]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-poised-to-roll-back-portions-of-act-181/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-poised-to-roll-back-portions-of-act-181/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In their own words: a video spotlight on student stories]]></title><description><![CDATA[At VSAC&rsquo;s Day at the State House, we gathered to celebrate 60 years of investment in education&mdash;and in Vermont&rsquo;s future. The students who shared their paths that day represent that commitment.&nbsp;This week we bring you a video Spotlight with students&rsquo; stories&mdash;in their own words&mdash;from that event. Their voices reflect the heart of our mission and the lasting impact of opportunity.<br />
Syeda Hussnane, from Fair Haven, is studying at Vermont State University Castleto]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-their-own-words-a-video-spotlight-on-student-stories/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-their-own-words-a-video-spotlight-on-student-stories/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s Champlain Valley poised to become a federally recognized wine region]]></title><description><![CDATA[Shelburne Vineyard grows grapes that are hybrids of European and North American varieties that can withstand temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.&nbsp;Courtesy of Shelburne VineyardTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Move over, craft beer &mdash;&nbsp; Vermont wine is making a name for itself.The Champlain Valley is poised to become a federally recognized wine region, to the excitement of a number of Vermont vineyard owners.A new propos]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-champlain-valley-poised-to-become-a-federally-recognized-wine-region/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-champlain-valley-poised-to-become-a-federally-recognized-wine-region/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont argues that Trump administration provided no factual basis for voter data request]]></title><description><![CDATA[Voters fill out their ballots in Middlebury in Nov. 2024. File photo by Caleb Kenna/VTDiggerRUTLAND CITY &mdash; Vermont argued in federal court Tuesday that the Trump administration&rsquo;s lawsuit demanding the state&rsquo;s voter roll data should be dismissed because the administration has not provided a sufficient reason for its request.The Trump administration sued Vermont&rsquo;s secretary of state, among many other states, last year after she refused the department&rsquo;s demand to turn]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-argues-that-trump-administration-provided-no-factual-basis-for-voter-data-request/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-argues-that-trump-administration-provided-no-factual-basis-for-voter-data-request/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont judge rules man accused of shooting three Palestinian students is competent to stand trial]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton appears during his competency hearing in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Monday, March 2, 2026. Eaton is charged in the shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent in Burlington in November of 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA man charged with shooting three Palestinian students more than two years ago is competent to stand trial, a Vermont judge ruled last week.&nbsp;Jason Eaton, 50, is accused of shooting the Palestinian students as they walk]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-judge-rules-man-accused-of-shooting-three-palestinian-students-is-competent-to-stand-trial/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-judge-rules-man-accused-of-shooting-three-palestinian-students-is-competent-to-stand-trial/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTSU cuts diesel and automotive mechanic programs]]></title><description><![CDATA[Diesel and automotive technology program coordinator Steven Simpson, right, guides student Saad Dahir through taking measurements of an engine before he can reassemble it in Randolph Center, Vt., on Monday, April 13, 2026. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Alex Hanson was first published in the Valley News on April 14, 2026.RANDOLPH CENTER &mdash; Vermont State University plans to end its long-running associate degree programs for automotive and diesel mechanics and replace t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtsu-cuts-diesel-and-automotive-mechanic-programs/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtsu-cuts-diesel-and-automotive-mechanic-programs/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont House Ethics Panel dismisses complaints against legislators who took paid trip to Israel]]></title><description><![CDATA[Clockwise from top left: Sarah &ldquo;Sarita&rdquo; Austin, James Gregoire, Matt Birong, Will Greer and Gina GalfettiThe Vermont House Ethics Panel has dismissed complaints filed against the legislators who took an all-expenses-paid trip to Israel last year, according to records made public Monday.A Jewish group that opposes Israel&rsquo;s military campaign in Gaza lodged the ethics complaints, which focused on Rep. Sarita Austin, D-Colchester; Rep. Matt Birong, D-Vergennes; Rep. Gina Galfetti,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-ethics-panel-dismisses-complaints-against-legislators-who-took-paid-trip-to-israel/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-ethics-panel-dismisses-complaints-against-legislators-who-took-paid-trip-to-israel/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Defense seeks to toss top murder charge against driver in deadly chase that killed Rutland officer]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tate Rheaume waves to his family as he is held on bail in Rutland County Superior criminal court in April 2024. Rheaume is charged in the crash that killed Rutland City police officer Jessica Ebbighausen in 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe attorney for a driver charged with killing a Rutland police officer during a motor-vehicle chase wants a judge to throw out the most serious murder charge against his client.The lawyer also wrote new court filings that he wants the trial moved ou]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/defense-seeks-to-toss-top-murder-charge-against-driver-in-deadly-chase-that-killed-rutland-officer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/defense-seeks-to-toss-top-murder-charge-against-driver-in-deadly-chase-that-killed-rutland-officer/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stop pretending you don’t get it]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Frank Mazur&rsquo;s recent letter to VTDigger was interesting, to say the least. He claims to wonder why the millions of &ldquo;No Kings&rdquo; protesters who turned out on March 26 around the country didn&rsquo;t offer solutions to the problems Americans are worried about.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s a diversionary tactic on Mr. Mazur&rsquo;s part. He does not need to be told what the whole &ldquo;No Kings&rdquo; movement is about. The name of the movement explains the reason for its existence]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stop-pretending-you-dont-get-it/</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stop-pretending-you-dont-get-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The lesson Vermont refuses to teach]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Allan Chernoff, who is the co-author with his mother of The Tailors of Tomaszow: A Memoir of Polish Jews.As the son of an Auschwitz survivor, I share my mother&rsquo;s history so that the next generation will understand what hatred of the other &mdash; Jew or gentile &mdash; can do to a society. Teaching the Holocaust is more than a warning against antisemitism; it is a life lesson in the importance of treating each other with respect, tolerance and understanding. Not only]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-lesson-vermont-refuses-to-teach/</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-lesson-vermont-refuses-to-teach/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Althea Bremner]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 05/04/1929Brewster, MADied: 04/08/2026Brewster, MADetails of service:A celebration of Althea&rsquo;s life will take place at a yet to be decided date and time.Althea Bremner passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 8th at 1:20 p.m. in Brewster, Massachusetts, surrounded by loved ones. She was 97 years old.Born Althea Latham in Brewster, Mass. to parents Joseph and Althea, Althea lived a beautiful life full of meaning, friendship, family, and helping others.Althea was a caretaker by natu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/althea-bremner/</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/althea-bremner/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont State University labor leaders criticize administrators, citing staff attrition and stagnating wage]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Johnson campus of Vermont State University in Johnson in June 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont State University union leaders are raising alarms over faculty and staff attrition at the institution, and in a letter to university leadership said that they&rsquo;ve &ldquo;borne the brunt&rdquo; of financial cuts while compensation of upper-level management has grown.Data compiled via public records requests and shared in the letter shows that more than 180 full-time staff and facul]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-state-university-labor-leaders-criticize-administrators-citing-staff-attrition-and-stagnating-wage/</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-state-university-labor-leaders-criticize-administrators-citing-staff-attrition-and-stagnating-wage/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ralph Shepard Jr.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 02/17/1945Glen Ridge, NJDied: 03/08/2026Ferrisburgh, VTDetails of service:A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 2 p.m. at the Ripton Community Church in Ripton.Ralph Hamilton Shepard, Jr. passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Ralph was a loving husband, father, stepfather, uncle, brother, and grandfather. After a childhood in New Jersey, and then traveling far and wide with the Air Force, Ralph settled in Vermont almost fif]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ralph-shepard-jr/</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ralph-shepard-jr/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Candidate steps up to run for Addison County prosecutor post held by embattled incumbent]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Addison County Superior criminal court building in Middlebury. File photo by Alan Keays/VTDiggerA Democratic candidate has stepped forward to run for Addison County state&rsquo;s attorney, a post held by Eva Vekos, whose law license was suspended last week.Peter Bevere, a resident of Middlebury and a deputy state&rsquo;s attorney in Rutland County, announced his candidacy Sunday evening in a press release.&nbsp;&ldquo;For the past three years, I have been working hard for the residents of R]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/candidate-steps-up-to-run-for-addison-county-prosecutor-post-held-by-embattled-incumbent/</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/candidate-steps-up-to-run-for-addison-county-prosecutor-post-held-by-embattled-incumbent/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Are we serious about addressing the housing shortage?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Miro Weinberger, the executive chair of Let&rsquo;s Build Homes. He is a former affordable housing developer and a former mayor of Burlington.The question hanging over the Statehouse this session is simple: Are we serious about solving the housing shortage?There is no doubt where Vermonters stand. Let&rsquo;s Build Homes polling in February found that housing was the top issue on voters&rsquo; minds, and three-quarters of them want more action from the Legislature.&nbsp;Ve]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/are-we-serious-about-addressing-the-housing-shortage/</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/are-we-serious-about-addressing-the-housing-shortage/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Big crowd at Brattleboro’s return to open Town Meeting backs ‘compromise’ budget]]></title><description><![CDATA[Nearly 300 residents attend Brattleboro Town Meeting on Saturday at their union high school gym. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerBRATTLEBORO &mdash; After 65 years of running its Town Meeting as the state&rsquo;s only session with elected members, this southeastern Vermont hub returned to an open-to-all gathering over the weekend, joining a growing number of communities debating how to juggle spiraling municipal costs and people&rsquo;s shrinking ability to pay.Nearly 300 residents &mdash]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/big-crowd-at-brattleboros-return-to-open-town-meeting-backs-compromise-budget/</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/big-crowd-at-brattleboros-return-to-open-town-meeting-backs-compromise-budget/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[You can build it, but they will not come]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by John Bossange, the president of Better (not bigger) Vermont.The belief that Vermont needs more housing, with the expectation that those homes will attract new families and workers seeking employment, defies our history and common sense. I believe new families and younger workers are not moving here for three primary reasons: New homes are too expensive; the cost of living is too high; and the winter weather is too harsh.These are the key reasons Vermont&rsquo;s population]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/you-can-build-it-but-they-will-not-come/</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/you-can-build-it-but-they-will-not-come/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[On Montpelier’s edge, a vast tract becomes a possible bellwether of the city’s future]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Country Club Road property in Montpelier, 2024. Photo by Natalie Williams/VTDigger.At the traffic circle where Route 2 and Route 302 meet outside downtown Montpelier, one might notice a sign for the former Elks Country Club. If you drive up the road next to it, you will come to a small building surrounded by a vast field of grass, dotted with trees. Depending on the season, you might catch some cross-country skiers or kids playing frisbee golf.&nbsp;That nearly vacant expanse could become a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/on-montpeliers-edge-a-vast-tract-becomes-a-possible-bellwether-of-the-citys-future/</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/on-montpeliers-edge-a-vast-tract-becomes-a-possible-bellwether-of-the-citys-future/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘The World Starts to Bud’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Turning Life&rdquo; by Bea Robinson, 15, of South Burlington.Young Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sre]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-the-world-starts-to-bud/</link><pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-the-world-starts-to-bud/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Anatomy of a forest project]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jewell Transport of Claremont, New Hampshire, moves the wood from the forest into the commercial world. Photo by Bill Holiday/Special to The CommonsThis story by Bill Holiday was first published in The Commons on April 7, 2026.For months, neighbors along Black Mountain Road have watched truck after truck haul logs from the hillside.What&rsquo;s happening in our backyard is a carefully planned forestry project led by Steve Hardy &mdash; president and owner of Green Mountain Forestry &mdash; whos]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/anatomy-of-a-forest-project/</link><pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/anatomy-of-a-forest-project/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A slowdown in federal science grants has Vermont researchers worried]]></title><description><![CDATA[Emily Bruce, assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, at the University of Vermont in Burlington on Friday April 10, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerEmily Bruce keeps a bullet journal, in which she records a meticulous tally of the grants she&rsquo;s applied to and received.Since beginning as an assistant professor at the University of Vermont&rsquo;s Larner College of Medicine five years ago, she&rsquo;s applied for 40 grants and received three small ones. She is still w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-slowdown-in-federal-science-grants-has-vermont-researchers-worried/</link><pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 14:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-slowdown-in-federal-science-grants-has-vermont-researchers-worried/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Six suspects charged in Vermont kidnapping case remain in custody]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jessenialyz Jones looks around the courtroom before the start of her hearing at Windsor County District Court in White River Junction on Monday, April 6, 2026. Jones is alleged to be involved in a kidnapping case in Claremont, N.H. Photo by Jennifer Hauck / Valley NewsThis story by Sofia Langlois was first published in the Valley News on April 7, 2026.The youngest of the six people charged in connection with a January kidnapping was in court on Monday, April 6, where she asked to remain in a ge]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/six-suspects-charged-in-vermont-kidnapping-case-remain-in-custody/</link><pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/six-suspects-charged-in-vermont-kidnapping-case-remain-in-custody/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[6 suspects charged in Vermont kidnapping case remain in custody]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jessenialyz Jones looks around the courtroom before the start of her hearing at Windsor County District Court in White River Junction on Monday, April 6, 2026. Jones is alleged to be involved in a kidnapping case in Claremont, N.H. Photo by Jennifer Hauck / Valley NewsThis story by Sofia Langlois was first published in the Valley News on April 7, 2026.The youngest of the six people charged in connection with a January kidnapping was in court on Monday, April 6, where she asked to remain in a ge]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/6-suspects-charged-in-vermont-kidnapping-case-remain-in-custody/</link><pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/6-suspects-charged-in-vermont-kidnapping-case-remain-in-custody/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Concert for a cause: Global ensemble’s debut concert to pave the way for more]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jules Wetchi holds two flags of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as All the Rivers, an ensemble made up of more than 20 immigrants from 10 countries, performs during a preview show for Burlington High School students at the Flynn Theater in Burlington on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; The show began with a rousing Lingala song by members of the Congolese Catholic Choir.&ldquo;Hello! Bonjour! Mbote na yo! Jambo!&rdquo; said Jules Wetchi, one of t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/concert-for-a-cause-global-ensembles-debut-concert-to-pave-the-way-for-more/</link><pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/concert-for-a-cause-global-ensembles-debut-concert-to-pave-the-way-for-more/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reducing road salt could improve water quality and reduce rust. But what about slip-and-falls?]]></title><description><![CDATA[A town plow keeps roads clear in Underhill during an ice and rain storm on Monday, December 29, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThough we may have endured the year&rsquo;s last snowfall (knock on wood), House lawmakers Friday turned their attention to a very wintery issue: road salt.&nbsp;The ice removal tool has exploded in use in recent decades, with more than 60 million tons used annually across the globe.&nbsp;But lawmakers were more concerned with road salt&rsquo;s adverse impacts tha]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/reducing-road-salt-could-improve-water-quality-and-reduce-rust-but-what-about-slip-and-falls/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/reducing-road-salt-could-improve-water-quality-and-reduce-rust-but-what-about-slip-and-falls/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s top court pulls Addison County prosecutor’s law license following DUI conviction]]></title><description><![CDATA[Addison County State&rsquo;s Attorney Eva Vekos appears in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Supreme Court has suspended the law license of Addison County State&rsquo;s Attorney Eva Vekos while disciplinary proceedings stemming from her drunken driving conviction play out.The action by the state&rsquo;s top court follows a hearing last month where attorneys for Vekos, as well as the Vermont Professio]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-top-court-pulls-addison-county-prosecutors-law-license-following-dui-conviction/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-top-court-pulls-addison-county-prosecutors-law-license-following-dui-conviction/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former Stowe man reaches plea deal in NEK double killing, avoids death penalty trial]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Federal Building in Burlington, Sept. 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA former Stowe man charged in the 2023 fatal shootings of two Massachusetts men in Vermont&rsquo;s Northeast Kingdom has reached a plea deal that will take the death penalty off the table as a possible sentence.Theodore Bland, 30, is set to plead guilty later this month in federal court in Burlington to several charges, including ones accusing him of firing the shots that killed the two men in a drug-related dis]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-stowe-man-reaches-plea-deal-in-nek-double-killing-avoids-death-penalty-trial/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-stowe-man-reaches-plea-deal-in-nek-double-killing-avoids-death-penalty-trial/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[At trout season kickoff, fly fishers come out of hibernation to compete]]></title><description><![CDATA[Min Brown holds a trout. Photo courtesy Min Brown.When Min Brown isn&rsquo;t fishing, he&rsquo;s thinking about fishing. Or getting ready to fish. Or tying flies to fish with.&nbsp;&ldquo;I usually pick one hobby and then get, like, very excessively into it,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Brown has been excessively into fly fishing for well over a decade now, since first being introduced to the sport about 18 years ago. He&rsquo;s been guiding professionally for the past eight years, in addition to his d]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-trout-season-kickoff-fly-fishers-come-out-of-hibernation-to-compete/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-trout-season-kickoff-fly-fishers-come-out-of-hibernation-to-compete/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Changes to Vermont’s $70 million-plus IT overhaul could increase costs and delays]]></title><description><![CDATA[Agency of Digital Services Secretary Denise Reilly-Hughes speaks before the House Appropriations Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe state is shifting gears on rolling out a $70 million information technology overhaul &mdash; and top state officials say the change in plans could continue to raise project costs and delay implementation.&nbsp;The technology project touches every branch of state government and attempts to mo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/changes-to-vermonts-70-million-plus-it-overhaul-could-increase-costs-and-delays/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/changes-to-vermonts-70-million-plus-it-overhaul-could-increase-costs-and-delays/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Frog embryo flap: Vermont judge says U.S. customs leapt too far]]></title><description><![CDATA[Harvard University researcher Kseniia Petrova, 30, departs the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse after being released on bail from federal custody in June 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham)A federal judge in Vermont has ruled that a customs officer unlawfully canceled the visa for a Russian-born Harvard Medical School scientist entering the United States at a Boston airport with frog embryo research samples.Judge Christina Reiss&rsquo; order this week in federal court in Bur]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/frog-embryo-flap-vermont-judge-says-us-customs-leapt-too-far/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/frog-embryo-flap-vermont-judge-says-us-customs-leapt-too-far/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A credential system for child care workers is long overdue]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,We Vermonters are fortunate that policymakers and legislators listen to citizen voices when making decisions. S.206, an act relating to licensure of early childhood educators by the Office of Professional Regulation, is legislation that was created using the voices of early childhood professionals, parents and experts in developing professions such as nurses and therapists.&nbsp;&nbsp;The legislation addresses the needs of those in the workforce and those that the workforce serves &]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-credential-system-for-child-care-workers-is-long-overdue/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-credential-system-for-child-care-workers-is-long-overdue/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[We’re the ones in the classrooms. Why aren’t we at the table?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Addie Lentzner, a junior at Middlebury College, where she is studying sociology and Black studies.For high school students Cashel Higgins and Mayla Landis-Marinello, testifying at the Statehouse is like any other day. Cashel attends Harwood Union High School, where he is spending his senior year as the student representative on the school board. Mayla is a senior at U32 Middle and High School, co-teaching a class on activism and serving as a founder of HER-Vermont, a stude]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/were-the-ones-in-the-classrooms-why-arent-we-at-the-table/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/were-the-ones-in-the-classrooms-why-arent-we-at-the-table/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Providers seek funds to help Vermonters keep their benefits as new federal rules take shape]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mike Fisher, the state health care advocate, listens to testimony in 2019 during a Green Mountain Care Board hearing on insurance rate hikes. File photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Vermont officials say roughly 1,400 households lost access to the state&rsquo;s largest food assistance program in March, as federal work requirements took effect. Since last fall, advocates estimate more than 7,000 Vermont households hav]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/providers-seek-funds-to-help-vermonters-keep-their-benefits-as-new-federal-rules-take-shape/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/providers-seek-funds-to-help-vermonters-keep-their-benefits-as-new-federal-rules-take-shape/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The state is racing to implement nearly $200 million in rural health transformation projects]]></title><description><![CDATA[Attending physician Amanda Ratliff examines patient Gary Gale, of Marlboro, with Tara Gomo, house nursing supervisor, in Sept. 2025, in White River Junction. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsIt&rsquo;s the &ldquo;exciting hair-on-fire phase&rdquo; of implementing the $195 million in rural health transformation grant funds Vermont is promised from the federal government, as Jill Mazza Olson described it to the House Health Care Committee this morning.There has been a frantic, racing energy aro]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-state-is-racing-to-implement-nearly-200-million-in-rural-health-transformation-projects/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-state-is-racing-to-implement-nearly-200-million-in-rural-health-transformation-projects/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The state is racing to implement nearly $200 million for rural health transformation projects]]></title><description><![CDATA[Attending physician Amanda Ratliff examines patient Gary Gale, of Marlboro, with Tara Gomo, house nursing supervisor, in Sept. 2025, in White River Junction. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsIt&rsquo;s the &ldquo;exciting hair-on-fire phase&rdquo; of implementing the $195 million in rural health transformation grant funds Vermont is promised from the federal government, as Jill Mazza Olson described it to the House Health Care Committee this morning.There has been a frantic, racing energy aro]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-state-is-racing-to-implement-nearly-200-million-for-rural-health-transformation-projects/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-state-is-racing-to-implement-nearly-200-million-for-rural-health-transformation-projects/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State denies permit for road to Essex site that Amazon has eyed]]></title><description><![CDATA[Amazon&rsquo;s first distribution facility in Vermont had been proposed in Essex in 2025. File photoVermont land use regulators have denied a permit to build a road to a site in Essex where an Amazon distribution facility had separately been proposed a year ago.In a 32-page decision Tuesday, the District 4 Environmental Commission found that the landowner&rsquo;s current proposal does not comply with town regulations that prohibit construction on steep slopes.&nbsp;Al Senecal of Allen Brook Dev]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-denies-permit-for-road-to-essex-site-that-amazon-has-eyed/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-denies-permit-for-road-to-essex-site-that-amazon-has-eyed/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State return-to-office policy remains in limbo as Vermont Supreme Court declines to immediately intervene]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Supreme Court building on State Street in Montpelier in June, 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Supreme Court has declined to intervene in the Scott administration&rsquo;s effort to uphold its employee return-to-office policy &mdash; for now.Last week, the Vermont Labor Relations Board ordered that the administration rescind its policy requiring employees to work at least three days per week at their worksites.&nbsp;Gov. Phil Scott and top administration official]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-return-to-office-policy-remains-in-limbo-as-vermont-supreme-court-declines-to-immediately-intervene/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 22:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-return-to-office-policy-remains-in-limbo-as-vermont-supreme-court-declines-to-immediately-intervene/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State Board Recommends $10M in Flood Grants to Montpelier and Plainfield; Barre Applications Rejected]]></title><description><![CDATA[A view of Barre City in July 2023 after flooding. The Stevens Branch is visible on the right side of the image. Vermont Agency of Transportation / CourtesyThis story by Phil Dodd was first published in The Montpelier Bridge on April 3, 2026.The city of Montpelier and the town of Plainfield each appear poised to receive state flood grant funding; $5 million for Montpelier, and $5.2 million for Plainfield.Country Club Road InfrastructureThe city of Montpelier originally applied for $5.225 million]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-board-recommends-10m-in-flood-grants-to-montpelier-and-plainfield-barre-applications-rejected/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 22:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-board-recommends-10m-in-flood-grants-to-montpelier-and-plainfield-barre-applications-rejected/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former state senator appointed to fill House seat vacated by Topper McFaun]]></title><description><![CDATA[David Soucy. Courtesy photo.Gov. Phil Scott on Thursday appointed former Sen. David Soucy of Barre Town to the House seat recently vacated by longtime Rep. Topper McFaun.Soucy, a Republican, previously served in the Senate, representing Rutland County during the 2017-18 legislative session. He was elected to the Barre Town Selectboard last year.Scott, in a press release, said Soucy &ldquo;has been involved in his community for many years and will be a strong voice for common-sense legislation&r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-state-senator-appointed-to-fill-house-seat-vacated-by-topper-mcfaun/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-state-senator-appointed-to-fill-house-seat-vacated-by-topper-mcfaun/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont shelters offer a bed. They should offer a path to recovery, too.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Vermont has made meaningful progress in addressing substance use disorder, including the development of recovery housing models and a broader system of care that emphasizes coordination between housing and treatment. However, a critical gap remains, particularly for individuals experiencing homelessness.Across the state, individuals living in shelters often face significant barriers to accessing consistent and timely substance use treatment. While shelters may provide safety and tem]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-shelters-offer-a-bed-they-should-offer-a-path-to-recovery-too/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-shelters-offer-a-bed-they-should-offer-a-path-to-recovery-too/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Protest is easy. Governing is hard.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,The &ldquo;No Kings&rdquo; protesters are part of our political landscape today and are emotionally influenced by hatred for President Trump &mdash; so-called Trump Derangement Syndrome. Their rallies do not tell us anything about what they are protesting. I haven&rsquo;t read any commentaries or news articles on their rallies that show how they would offer solutions that differ from what President Trump is doing.What would the protesters do with the Iranians who are trying to devel]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/protest-is-easy-governing-is-hard/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/protest-is-easy-governing-is-hard/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thank you for supporting local news this spring]]></title><description><![CDATA[During our Spring Member Drive, 2,006 members contributed $161,448 to support VTDigger&rsquo;s independent, nonprofit newsroom.That total is about $5,000 more than we raised together during last year&rsquo;s spring drive, a meaningful sign of continued support for fact-based reporting in Vermont. And thanks to a group of generous donors, a significant portion of those contributions will be matched, making every gift go even further.We were especially grateful to welcome 271 first-time members a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thank-you-for-supporting-local-news-this-spring/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thank-you-for-supporting-local-news-this-spring/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington man sentenced to at least 17½ years in prison for deadly stabbing in restaurant]]></title><description><![CDATA[Judge John Pacht presides over a status conference in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington on December 15, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA judge has sentenced a Burlington man to at least 17&frac12; years in prison for stabbing to death another city resident in a downtown restaurant.Judge John Pacht handed down the sentence to 43-year-old Von Simmonds on Wednesday in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington. A jury had returned a guilty verdict last]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-man-sentenced-to-at-least-17-years-in-prison-for-deadly-stabbing-in-restaurant/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-man-sentenced-to-at-least-17-years-in-prison-for-deadly-stabbing-in-restaurant/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawmakers visited a state prison — but press wasn’t welcome]]></title><description><![CDATA[Razor wire lines the perimeter fences at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans Town in Feb. 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerRepresentatives took a field trip to a state prison in St. Albans on Wednesday &mdash; and I wasn&rsquo;t invited!&nbsp;I was excited Monday afternoon when I saw the House Corrections and Institutions Committee had a &ldquo;Field Trip&rdquo; scheduled for today, per its agenda for the week. The description offered: &ldquo;Visit to Northwest Stat]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-visited-a-state-prison-but-press-wasnt-welcome/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-visited-a-state-prison-but-press-wasnt-welcome/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Who killed abortion rights?]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Journalist and author Amy Littlefield. Photo by Daniel PattersonWhen the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs decision in 2022, it was the culmination of a successful half-century movement to ban abortion.&nbsp;Despite the fact that 60 per]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-who-killed-abortion-rights/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 22:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-who-killed-abortion-rights/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Don’t lock up Vermont’s working forests in the name of conservation]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jonathan Wood, a private consulting forester who previously served as the Vermont secretary of natural resources.Jonathan Leibowitz&rsquo;s recent commentary for VTDigger, suggesting &ldquo;Vermont&rsquo;s forests are wildly out of balance, is one that should concern all Vermonters. His organization, the Northeast Wilderness Trust, is buying up thousands of acres of forest land in Vermont. Their goal is to establish large wilderness areas in the Northeast. They are a priva]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-lock-up-vermonts-working-forests-in-the-name-of-conservation/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 21:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-lock-up-vermonts-working-forests-in-the-name-of-conservation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The sound of silence]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Day of Silence is a national silent protest against discrimination, harassment, bullying and mistreatment of LGBTQ+ community members. As a student at Enosburg Falls High School, I want to encourage Vermont to practice silence on Friday, April 10, to protest for the right of respect for members of the LGBTQ+ community.&nbsp;Glisten was established in 1990 to help create safe and respectful learning environments for youth of all sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-sound-of-silence/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-sound-of-silence/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jospeh S. Pieciak, Jr.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 09/24/1943Holyoke, MADied: 04/03/2026Brattleboro, VTDetails of service:Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 17, at 1:00 PM at St. Michael&rsquo;s Catholic Church in Brattleboro, with burial immediately following at St. Michael&rsquo;s Cemetery. After, a celebration of life reception will take place at a location to be announced.&nbsp;&nbsp;Calling hours will be held on Thursday, April 16, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Atamaniuk Funeral Home at 40 Terrace St. in Brattleboro.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jospeh-s-pieciak-jr/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jospeh-s-pieciak-jr/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Joseph S. Pieciak, Jr.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 09/24/1943Holyoke, MADied: 04/03/2026Brattleboro, VTDetails of service:Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 17, at 1:00 PM at St. Michael&rsquo;s Catholic Church in Brattleboro, with burial immediately following at St. Michael&rsquo;s Cemetery. After, a celebration of life reception will take place at a location to be announced.&nbsp;&nbsp;Calling hours will be held on Thursday, April 16, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Atamaniuk Funeral Home at 40 Terrace St. in Brattleboro.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/joseph-s-pieciak-jr/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/joseph-s-pieciak-jr/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Aubrianna Mayette is soaring toward a future in aerospace engineering with the Air National Guard]]></title><description><![CDATA[One word comes to mind when you meet Aubrianna Mayette: determined. By the end of the month, she&rsquo;ll enlist in the Air National Guard. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve pretty much always known I was going to be in the military,&rdquo; she said. Her family has a long history of service, and she participated in Junior ROTC at Enosburg Falls High School, where she is currently a senior. &ldquo;I want to be able to serve my country and do the job that sparks magic inside me. And I want to be happy that I&rsq]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/aubrianna-mayette-is-soaring-toward-a-future-in-aerospace-engineering-with-the-air-national-guard/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/aubrianna-mayette-is-soaring-toward-a-future-in-aerospace-engineering-with-the-air-national-guard/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dartmouth names first woman to lead medical school]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dr. Jennifer Hunt will become the first woman to lead Dartmouth College&rsquo;s Geisel School of Medicine when she begins her new role Aug. 1. Photo by Nate Guidry/UF Health<br />
Dartmouth College&rsquo;s Geisel School of Medicine has named a new dean.Dr. Jennifer Hunt, who currently serves as interim dean University of Florida College of Medicine, will begin her new role on Aug. 1, according to a news release from the college.Hunt, a pathologist, will be the first woman to lead the medical school,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-names-first-woman-to-lead-medical-school/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-names-first-woman-to-lead-medical-school/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[If Vermont is going to scale up primary care, health advocates say this one funding priority is crucial]]></title><description><![CDATA[Larner Medical School. Photo by Bob LoCicero/VTDiggerBroadening Vermonters&rsquo; access to primary care has been a top priority in Montpelier this year. But, building the pipeline of doctors and nurses and dentists who can be that first line of health care for patients is proving to be its own challenge.After the governor&rsquo;s proposed 2027 budget cut more than $1.2 million in funding for an organization designed to bring more people into the health care workforce, primary care providers an]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/if-vermont-is-going-to-scale-up-primary-care-health-advocates-say-this-one-funding-priority-is-crucial/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/if-vermont-is-going-to-scale-up-primary-care-health-advocates-say-this-one-funding-priority-is-crucial/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont bill would create standard policy for school districts should ICE come knocking]]></title><description><![CDATA[ICE agents and Vermont State Troopers form a perimeter as people are arrested by ICE in South Burlington on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerLast year, the Winooski School District became the first in the state to enact a &ldquo;sanctuary school&rdquo; policy protecting students and families from federal immigration enforcement actions.The policy, crafted by Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria, restricted immigration agents&rsquo; access to school grounds and prohibited sch]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-bill-would-create-standard-policy-for-school-districts-should-ice-come-knocking/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-bill-would-create-standard-policy-for-school-districts-should-ice-come-knocking/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal anti-poverty grant delay draws rebuke from Vermont’s congressional delegation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Paul Dragon, executive director of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, speaks in Burlington in Feb. 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Funds from an anti-poverty grant program targeted by the Trump administration have been unusually delayed, drawing sharp criticism from Vermont&rsquo;s congressional delegation.The monthslong wait for this year&rsquo;s federal Community Service Block Gr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-anti-poverty-grant-delay-draws-rebuke-from-vermonts-congressional-delegation/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-anti-poverty-grant-delay-draws-rebuke-from-vermonts-congressional-delegation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Once billed as the future of Town Meeting, the ‘Brattleboro Experiment’ is ending]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brattleboro holds the state&rsquo;s first representative Town Meeting in 1961. Photo by Harry Asbury/Brattleboro ReformerThink of Vermont Town Meeting and you might picture the everyman standing up and speaking out in Norman Rockwell&rsquo;s iconic 1943 painting &ldquo;Freedom of Speech.&rdquo; But in the New Frontier year of 1961, Brattleboro eyed a different model for its future: The state&rsquo;s first &ldquo;Representative Town Meeting.&rdquo;Aiming to engage a changing electorate distracte]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/once-billed-as-the-future-of-town-meeting-the-brattleboro-experiment-is-ending/</link><pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/once-billed-as-the-future-of-town-meeting-the-brattleboro-experiment-is-ending/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont won permission to use Medicaid funds for homelessness. It’s sitting unused.]]></title><description><![CDATA[A building in the village of Beecher Falls in Canaan that David Begin is renovating including rental apartments seen in August 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.For more than a year, Vermont has had authority to help pay for housing for homeless individuals with high medical needs &ndash; and to have the federal government cover much of the cost.But state l]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-won-permission-to-use-medicaid-funds-for-homelessness-its-sitting-unused/</link><pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-won-permission-to-use-medicaid-funds-for-homelessness-its-sitting-unused/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Democrats forget democracy]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,The recent process to recommend candidates for the Chittenden-18 legislative vacancy, following the resignation of Rep. Bob Hooper, D-Burlington, is a troubling case study in how a lack of transparency and a skeleton committee structure can undermine the democratic values our local parties claim to uphold.I submitted my candidacy for this vacancy in good faith. My record is clear: I have consistently participated in Democratic primaries, supported Democratic candidates at every leve]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-democrats-forget-democracy/</link><pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-democrats-forget-democracy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont wants to fix child care. This bill will make it worse.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Edward Timmons, vice president of policy at the Archbridge Institute, a public policy think tank.According to the Archbridge Institute&rsquo;s State Child Care Regulations Index, Vermont already has the most restrictive child care facility regulation in the country. Academic research has clearly established a link between rigid child care regulations and costs for families. Rigid education requirements, in particular, have been estimated to raise the cost of child care by]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-wants-to-fix-child-care-this-bill-will-make-it-worse/</link><pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-wants-to-fix-child-care-this-bill-will-make-it-worse/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[John Grismore, embattled sheriff of Franklin County, won’t seek reelection]]></title><description><![CDATA[Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore shown in 2024 during his trial on a charge of assault after he allegedly kicked a suspect who was in police custody in 2022. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerJohn Grismore, the Franklin County sheriff whose tenure was marked by two criminal trials and a legislative impeachment investigation, will not run for reelection, he said Monday.In a press release, Grismore cited &ldquo;moments of significant challenge, many of them highly public and deeply stressful&rd]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-grismore-embattled-sheriff-of-franklin-county-wont-seek-reelection/</link><pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-grismore-embattled-sheriff-of-franklin-county-wont-seek-reelection/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dr. Betty A. Hare]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 06/26/1925Chicago, ILDied: 02/23/2026Vershire, VTDetails of service:Donations in Betty&rsquo;s memory can be sent to&nbsp;the endowment fund which offers financial assistance to graduate students studying special education:<br />
https://giving.temple.edu/BettyHareSaulAxelrodScholarshipPhysical checks can be sent to:&nbsp;The Betty Hare and Saul Axelrod Endowed Scholarship.<br />
Temple University Institutional Advancement<br />
P.O. Box 2890<br />
New York, NY 10116-2890Betty Hare, 100, died peacefully at home,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dr-betty-a-hare/</link><pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dr-betty-a-hare/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A chemical linked to Parkinson’s is still legal. That must change.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by James Boyd, a neurologist, professor of Neurological Sciences, and director of the Binter Center for Parkinson&rsquo;s and Movement Disorders at the University of Vermont Medical Center and the UVM Larner College of Medicine. The opinions expressed are Dr Boyd&rsquo;s and should not be taken as a statement, opinion, position or endorsement by the University of Vermont or UVM Health.&nbsp;Every week in my clinic, I sit across from Vermonters who have just heard the words &l]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-chemical-linked-to-parkinsons-is-still-legal-that-must-change/</link><pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-chemical-linked-to-parkinsons-is-still-legal-that-must-change/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Act 181 solves for cities. It doesn’t solve for rural Vermont.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Ben Falk, a land planner and the founder of Whole Systems Design. He lives in Moretown.Vermont is the most rural state in the country, yet state policy seems to be increasingly designed for something else.Act 181 was intended to &ldquo;provide a regulatory framework that supports the vision for Vermont of human and natural community resilience and biodiversity protection in the face of climate change.&rdquo;&nbsp;Most Vermonters would agree with those goals. The problem is]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/act-181-solves-for-cities-it-doesnt-solve-for-rural-vermont/</link><pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:20:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/act-181-solves-for-cities-it-doesnt-solve-for-rural-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brattleboro hospital and its nurses reach tentative agreement to avert strike]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Brattleboro Memorial Hospital campus on Belmont Avenue. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerBrattleboro Memorial Hospital and a union representing its nurses have reached a tentative agreement to avoid a strike amid a projected $14.5 million annual budget shortfall.But southeastern Vermont&rsquo;s main health care provider still faces threats of a walkout by support staffers unhappy with their own stalled contract talks.The 160-member Brattleboro Federation of Nurses voted last month for]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-hospital-and-its-nurses-reach-tentative-agreement-to-avert-strike/</link><pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-hospital-and-its-nurses-reach-tentative-agreement-to-avert-strike/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Embedded mental health clinical interns quickly connect people to support]]></title><description><![CDATA[Amid a growing need for mental health care services, a complex puzzle exists &ndash; how to reduce barriers to care, so people get support they need when and where they need it. Counseling Service of Addison County&nbsp;(CSAC), a nonprofit community-based agency, and part of the Vermont Care Partners (VCP) network, has been growing an Adult Mental Health internship program for students pursuing their master&rsquo;s degree in counseling, psychology and social work. The program has two primary be]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/embedded-mental-health-clinical-interns-quickly-connect-people-to-support/</link><pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/embedded-mental-health-clinical-interns-quickly-connect-people-to-support/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Aly Richards, head of Let’s Grow Kids, launches bid for Vermont governor]]></title><description><![CDATA[Aly Richards announces her Democratic campaign for governor of Vermont at a rally in Newbury on Monday, April 6, 2026. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDiggerUpdated at 6:14 p.m.NEWBURY &mdash; Aly Richards, who led a lobbying group that won major increases to public child care funding in Vermont over the past decade, is running to be the state&rsquo;s next governor, she announced Monday.Flanked by dozens of supporters on a snowy morning outside the Newbury Village Store, the former CEO of Let&rsquo;s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/aly-richards-head-of-lets-grow-kids-launches-bid-for-vermont-governor/</link><pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/aly-richards-head-of-lets-grow-kids-launches-bid-for-vermont-governor/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Aly Richards, former head of Let’s Grow Kids, launches bid for Vermont governor]]></title><description><![CDATA[Aly Richards, former CEO of Let&rsquo;s Grow Kids, in Montpelier on Oct. 28, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAly Richards, who led a lobbying group that won major increases to public child care funding in Vermont over the past decade, is running to be the state&rsquo;s next governor, she announced Monday.The former CEO of Let&rsquo;s Grow Kids is the second Democrat to launch a bid for governor this year. Amanda Janoo, an economist from Strafford, announced her campaign last month and has]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/aly-richards-former-head-of-lets-grow-kids-launches-bid-for-vermont-governor/</link><pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/aly-richards-former-head-of-lets-grow-kids-launches-bid-for-vermont-governor/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Blocked from police work in Vermont, ex-Addison County sheriff faces possible new black mark  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Former Addison County Sheriff Peter Newton appears for a change-of-plea hearing before pleading guilty to two charges in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington on January 24, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA former Addison County sheriff with criminal convictions could land on a national database that flags when someone has lost the certification they need to work as a law enforcement officer.Peter Newton&rsquo;s two-year probation for assault and lewd and lascivious]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/blocked-from-police-work-in-vermont-ex-addison-county-sheriff-faces-possible-new-black-mark/</link><pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/blocked-from-police-work-in-vermont-ex-addison-county-sheriff-faces-possible-new-black-mark/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jackson Dam removal advanced in Hardwick]]></title><description><![CDATA[Caledonia County Natural Resource Conservation District Manager Emily Finnegan (left), and SLR International&rsquo;s Josephine Alling (center) and Jessica Clark Louisos (right), present a study about the feasibility of removing Hardwick&rsquo;s Jackson Dam on March 26. Photo by Paul Fixx/Hardwick GazetteThis story by Paul Fixx was first published in The Hardwick Gazette on March 31, 2026.Hardwick Electric Department Commissioners and General Manager Scott Johnstone joined the Hardwick Select Bo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jackson-dam-removal-advanced-in-hardwick/</link><pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jackson-dam-removal-advanced-in-hardwick/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘Crossing Familiar Waters’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Crossing Familiar Waters,&rdquo; a painting and accompanying narrative by Abigail Balon, 15, of Panton.Young Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-crossing-familiar-waters/</link><pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 16:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-crossing-familiar-waters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Champlain Valley School District weighs merger study]]></title><description><![CDATA[Champlain Valley School District school busses in Hinesburg on Monday, January 5, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Liberty Darr was first published in The Citizen on Apr 2, 2026.An administrative committee at Champlain Valley School District is honing in on a final recommendation about whether to merge Charlotte and Hinesburg&rsquo;s community schools.Although a draft report to the board isn&rsquo;t expected for just over a month, an administrative committee, like the group th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/champlain-valley-school-district-weighs-merger-study/</link><pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/champlain-valley-school-district-weighs-merger-study/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Vermont Democrat and West Virginia Republican Want to Help Americans in Rural Areas Buy Houses]]></title><description><![CDATA[Aaron Schwartz/Sipa USA via APThis story by Raymond Fern&aacute;ndez was first published in NOTUS on April 2, 2026.Vermont and West Virginia have little in common politically, but they both have outsize rural populations where many people are struggling to buy a home.That&rsquo;s led to an unexpected partnership between progressive Sen. Peter Welch and Republican Sen. Jim Justice, who introduced legislation aimed at increasing homeownership in rural areas by expanding eligibility for credit thr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-democrat-and-west-virginia-republican-want-to-help-americans-in-rural-areas-buy-houses/</link><pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-democrat-and-west-virginia-republican-want-to-help-americans-in-rural-areas-buy-houses/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cock-a-doodle-don’t? Vermont towns can’t agree on roosters.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Backyard chickens in towns and cities throughout Vermont have been banned in some places, while allowed in others. Photo by Al Frey/Williston Observer<br />
Amanda Rancourt was facing a predicament.She had started raising chickens in response to rising egg prices. But last May, a clutch of baby chicks she was raising in her backyard had grown up. Unexpectedly, one of the supposedly all-female chickens had a surprise for Rancourt.The chicken turned out to be a rooster.Rancourt knew what that meant. Sh]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cock-a-doodle-dont-vermont-towns-cant-agree-on-roosters/</link><pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cock-a-doodle-dont-vermont-towns-cant-agree-on-roosters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[High gas prices hit Vermonters at the pump, store and heating bill]]></title><description><![CDATA[A motorist pumps gas in Montpelier on Friday April 3, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMore than a month into the Iran war, Vermonters are facing the strain of ballooning fuel costs as commuters wince at high prices at the pump.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s painful to the pocketbook,&rdquo; said David Armstrong, who works in the construction industry, as he filled his truck at a gas station in Burlington on Friday.&nbsp;Armstrong commutes about 40 miles a day for work, he said, and it cost h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/high-gas-prices-hit-vermonters-at-the-pump-store-and-heating-bill/</link><pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:34:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/high-gas-prices-hit-vermonters-at-the-pump-store-and-heating-bill/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Mini truck’ owners show off their wheels at the Vermont Statehouse]]></title><description><![CDATA[People peer at small-sized trucks during a &ldquo;Mini Truck Day&rdquo; event at the Statehouse in Montpelier on April 3.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSome of Vermont&rsquo;s smallest haulers were parked outside the Statehouse on Friday to drum up support for a bill that is meant to make registering these so-called mini trucks easier.&ldquo;If you asked me everything I like about this truck, I would not be able to stop talking,&rdquo; said Xavier Stevens of Newport, who brought his 1995 Mazda]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mini-truck-owners-show-off-their-wheels-at-the-vermont-statehouse/</link><pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mini-truck-owners-show-off-their-wheels-at-the-vermont-statehouse/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[No room at the inn]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I read your VTDigger article about a family struggling to survive who are facing eviction as the housing program comes to an end. This is an annual event. The stories of these families or individuals are heartbreaking &mdash; some, like this couple, may have extreme health issues that require access to electricity to survive. Others may be families with children who will be ripped from the only security they have known and face homelessness again.Just as last year, this happens arou]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/no-room-at-the-inn/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/no-room-at-the-inn/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[US Forest Service cuts research positions at local lab]]></title><description><![CDATA[Current site of the George D. Aiken Forestry Sciences Laboratory in South Burlington. Photo courtesy of Maxwell Landsman-Gerjoi, Forestry Sciences Lab Manager at the George D. Aiken Forestry Sciences LabThe U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday that it plans to close its research and development office in Burlington as part of a national reorganization.&nbsp;The office, based in the University of Vermont&rsquo;s George D. Aiken Forestry Sciences Laboratory, employs five full-time researchers,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/us-forest-service-cuts-research-positions-at-local-lab/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/us-forest-service-cuts-research-positions-at-local-lab/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[It’s time to take to the streets again]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Watching the evening news with my mom in the 1960s, we saw the daily body count from Vietnam &mdash; mostly young working-class men, drafted and placed in harm&rsquo;s way to fight a war without clear objectives. They were too young to buy a beer legally, but old enough to die in the jungle half a world away. We watched the assassinations of a sitting president, a promising presidential candidate, and a civil rights leader who preached peaceful protest. We saw peaceful demonstration]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-time-to-take-to-the-streets-again/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-time-to-take-to-the-streets-again/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Leroy (Lee) Charles Grunewald]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 07/22/1933St. Louis, MODied: 03/19/2026St. Albans, VTDetails of service:A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.Leroy &ldquo;Lee&rdquo; Charles Grunewald, 92, passed away peacefully at his home on March 19, 2026, surrounded by his family in St. Albans, VT.Lee was born on July 22, 1933, in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of the late George Ernest Anton Grunewald and Wilhelmina &ldquo;Frieda&rdquo; Brockmann Grunewald. He graduated from Beaumont High School in St. Louis, Missour]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/leroy-lee-charles-grunewald/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:34:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/leroy-lee-charles-grunewald/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[South Burlington voters may be on hook to further fund wastewater projects]]></title><description><![CDATA[An aerial photo of the Airport Parkway wastewater facility in South Burlington. Photo courtesy of South Burlington Public WorksThis story by Liberty Darr was first published in The Other Paper on April 2, 2026.In 2023, South Burlington residents approved a $33.8 million bond to pay for three wastewater projects in the city, including upgrades to the city&rsquo;s aging Bartlett Bay wastewater treatment facility.Now, three years later, the city needs another $16.4 million to get the projects fini]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/south-burlington-voters-may-be-on-hook-to-further-fund-wastewater-projects/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 19:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/south-burlington-voters-may-be-on-hook-to-further-fund-wastewater-projects/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Vermont community had a vision. Impact investors helped make it happen.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Groundbreaking at the Pittsford Village Farm in June 2025. Photo credit: Pittsford Village FarmIt&rsquo;s a seemingly normal Tuesday in Vermont. Parents in Randolph drop their kids off at a local childcare center on their way to work. Friends meet up for lunch at a popular local caf&eacute; in Waitsfield. A young couple in St. Johnsbury signs a lease on an apartment they can actually afford.On the surface, these moments may sound ordinary. But behind the scenes is something less visible that ma]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-community-had-a-vision-impact-investors-helped-make-it-happen/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-community-had-a-vision-impact-investors-helped-make-it-happen/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Paul F. Irons]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 09/03/1946Derby Line, VTDied: 03/27/2026Montpelier, VTDetails of service:A celebration of Paul&rsquo;s life will be announced in the coming months.Paul Francis Irons, 79, of Berlin, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2026 at Clara&rsquo;s Garden Memory Care at The Gary Residence in Montpelier, in comfort and surrounded by love. A man of deep curiosity and intelligence, Paul leaves behind a legacy of self-reliance, community service, and belief in the goodness of others.Born on September]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/paul-f-irons/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/paul-f-irons/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM wants to use state scholarship money to pay for a new sports complex. Vermont legislators are skeptical.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Old Mill building on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington in March 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe University of Vermont is asking legislators for $15 million from a statewide student financial aid fund so the school can put it toward a long-planned campus sports complex instead.While Gov. Phil Scott supports the proposal, it has gotten a cold reception so far from lawmakers. Scott included the funding move in his state budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-wants-to-use-state-scholarship-money-to-pay-for-a-new-sports-complex-vermont-legislators-are-skeptical/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-wants-to-use-state-scholarship-money-to-pay-for-a-new-sports-complex-vermont-legislators-are-skeptical/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As manufacturing jobs decline, Vermont business leaders take their concerns to the Statehouse]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sang But, left, and Matt Lawrence program a cutting tool at Flex-A-Seal, a manufacturer of mechanical seals, in Essex Junction on Thursday, October 24, 2019.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.The manufacturing industry generates billions for Vermont&rsquo;s economy each year &mdash; but jobs in the sector are on the decline.That&rsquo;s according to state Chamber of Commerce President Amy Spear, who spoke to a pa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-manufacturing-jobs-decline-vermont-business-leaders-take-their-concerns-to-the-statehouse/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-manufacturing-jobs-decline-vermont-business-leaders-take-their-concerns-to-the-statehouse/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[House panel opts for voluntary school merger proposal. It faces a tough path forward.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, chair of the House Education Committee, listens as the committee takes testimony from Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders at the Statehouse in Montpelier in Feb. 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; After weeks of false starts and discarded plans, the House Education Committee passed an education reform proposal Thursday. But it&rsquo;s a far cry from what was envisioned in last year&rsquo;s landmark Act 73, and will almost certainly face]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/house-panel-opts-for-voluntary-school-merger-proposal-it-faces-a-tough-path-forward/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/house-panel-opts-for-voluntary-school-merger-proposal-it-faces-a-tough-path-forward/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Migrant Justice leader facing federal charges is released]]></title><description><![CDATA[Demonstrators gather outside the Federal Building in Burlington to support Jose Ignacio &ldquo;Nacho&rdquo; De La Cruz during his hearing in federal court on Thursday, March 26, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA federal judge in Burlington ordered on Thursday the release of Jos&eacute; Ignacio &ldquo;Nacho&rdquo; De La Cruz, a long-time Migrant Justice organizer who faces multiple federal charges, pending a trial in his case.Federal Judge Kevin J. Doyle was skeptical of the government&rsquo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/migrant-justice-leader-facing-federal-charges-is-released/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 22:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/migrant-justice-leader-facing-federal-charges-is-released/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why does Vermont make it so hard to keep strangers off your land?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,There&rsquo;s a lot of talk right now about landowner rights being violated and government overreach, but there&rsquo;s a bill, H.723, now before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy that would update Vermont&rsquo;s land posting laws &mdash; the rules governing how landowners notify the public that their property is off-limits to hunting, fishing or trapping.As the law currently stands, landowners must physically post and date signs every year, no farther than 400 f]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-does-vermont-make-it-so-hard-to-keep-strangers-off-your-land/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-does-vermont-make-it-so-hard-to-keep-strangers-off-your-land/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lark Shields: Why does Vermont make it so hard to keep strangers off your land?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,There&rsquo;s a lot of talk right now about landowner rights being violated and government overreach, but there&rsquo;s a bill, H.723, now before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy that would update Vermont&rsquo;s land posting laws &mdash; the rules governing how landowners notify the public that their property is off-limits to hunting, fishing or trapping.As the law currently stands, landowners must physically post and date signs every year, no farther than 400 f]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lark-shields-why-does-vermont-make-it-so-hard-to-keep-strangers-off-your-land/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lark-shields-why-does-vermont-make-it-so-hard-to-keep-strangers-off-your-land/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The lesson of Act 181 is that trust matters]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Gabe Lajeunesse, a small-scale developer who has sat on the Montpelier Planning Commission and the Vermont Community Development Board. He lives in Montpelier.The recent VTDigger commentary by Todd Heyman asked whether Act 181 has created a galvanizing moment for rural Vermont. The answer is yes &mdash; but the deeper truth is that this moment was avoidable. The Tier 3 rules were an ideological overreach, advanced by outside interests and pushed forward without a clear und]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-lesson-of-act-181-is-that-trust-matters/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-lesson-of-act-181-is-that-trust-matters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gabe Lajeunesse: The lesson of Act 181 is that trust matters]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Gabe Lajeunesse, a small-scale developer who has sat on the Montpelier Planning Commission and the Vermont Community Development Board. He lives in Montpelier.The recent VTDigger commentary by Todd Heyman asked whether Act 181 has created a galvanizing moment for rural Vermont. The answer is yes &mdash; but the deeper truth is that this moment was avoidable. The Tier 3 rules were an ideological overreach, advanced by outside interests and pushed forward without a clear und]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gabe-lajeunesse-the-lesson-of-act-181-is-that-trust-matters/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gabe-lajeunesse-the-lesson-of-act-181-is-that-trust-matters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[International migration to Chittenden County plummeted last year, new data shows]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Canadian Customs and Excise sign sits in Haut-Richelieu, Quebec, across the U.S.-Canada border as seen from Alburgh, Vermont, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerChittenden County, Vermont&rsquo;s largest county and the center of the Burlington metropolitan area, has long been the state&rsquo;s most diverse county and the home of many immigrant groups.&nbsp;But newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau suggests that international migration to the county has slo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/international-migration-to-chittenden-county-plummeted-last-year-new-data-shows/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/international-migration-to-chittenden-county-plummeted-last-year-new-data-shows/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trucker’s brief detour into Canada leads to 3 weeks in federal custody]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Highgate Springs border crossing with Canada in 2021. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerArnaldo Gregorio Alay Aguilar was following his navigation system while delivering a truckload of logs to New York and ended up at Vermont&rsquo;s Highgate Springs border crossing into Canada.&nbsp;Canadian officers would not let him back up the truck for safety reasons, his lawyers say. So he was forced to cross through, make a U-turn and report to a border official on the U.S. side.That detour led to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/truckers-brief-detour-into-canada-leads-to-3-weeks-in-federal-custody/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/truckers-brief-detour-into-canada-leads-to-3-weeks-in-federal-custody/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: “There are more of us than there are of them” — Vermonters speak out against Trump and in defense of democracy]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Protestors gather in front of the Statehouse in Montpelier for &lsquo;No Kings&rsquo; day, March 28, 2026. By Shane Graber/VTDiggerThousands of Vermonters from nearly every county took to the streets to voice their outrage at the Trump administration on Sat]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-there-are-more-of-us-than-there-are-of-them-vermonters-speak-out-against-trump-and-in-defense-of-democracy/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-there-are-more-of-us-than-there-are-of-them-vermonters-speak-out-against-trump-and-in-defense-of-democracy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A parking ‘dragnet’ turns out to be a sweet surprise]]></title><description><![CDATA[A vehicle parked in a lot at Killington Resort on Wednesday, April 1. Photo by Alan J. Keays/VTDiggerKILLINGTON &mdash; It&rsquo;s a sight that usually makes the stomach drop.&nbsp;Hundreds of visitors at Killington Resort returned to their vehicles Wednesday to find what appeared to be orange parking citations tucked under their wipers, issued by the resort&rsquo;s &ldquo;Parking Authority Division.&rdquo;The flip side told a different story.&nbsp;&ldquo;Happy April Fools,&rdquo; the paper rea]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-parking-dragnet-turns-out-to-be-a-sweet-surprise/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-parking-dragnet-turns-out-to-be-a-sweet-surprise/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Town Meeting voters urged lawmakers to consider a universal health care bill. What can that change in Montpelier?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Members of the House Health Care Committee listen to testimony at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Feb. 3. From the left are committee chair Rep. Alyssa Black, D-Essex Town; Rep. Daisy Berbeco, D-Winooski; and Rep. Brian Cina, P/D-Burlington. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerHow much sway does the voice of the people really have in the People&rsquo;s House?&nbsp;On Town Meeting Day, eight Vermont towns resoundingly called on the Legislature to take up a bill that would launch a multiphase universa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/town-meeting-voters-urged-lawmakers-to-consider-a-universal-health-care-bill-what-can-that-change-in-montpelier/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/town-meeting-voters-urged-lawmakers-to-consider-a-universal-health-care-bill-what-can-that-change-in-montpelier/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Less than 48 hours left: All gifts tripled by three Vermont donors]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Reader,Every VTDigger story is carefully reported, fact-checked and edited before it reaches you. That level of rigor takes time and it&rsquo;s funded by readers.Right now, there&rsquo;s an opportunity to make that support go even further.<br />
Three Vermont donors have come together to triple match all gifts made during Spring Member Drive through April 4 at midnight.<br />
Triple your impact<br />
From breaking news to long-term investigations, VTDigger reporters show up where stories are happening, acros]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/less-than-48-hours-left-all-gifts-tripled-by-three-vermont-donors/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/less-than-48-hours-left-all-gifts-tripled-by-three-vermont-donors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Less than 24 hours left: All gifts tripled by three Vermont donors]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Reader,Every VTDigger story is carefully reported, fact-checked and edited before it reaches you. That level of rigor takes time and it&rsquo;s funded by readers.Right now, there&rsquo;s an opportunity to make that support go even further.<br />
Three Vermont donors have come together to triple match all gifts made during Spring Member Drive through Saturday, April 4 at midnight.<br />
Triple your impact<br />
From breaking news to long-term investigations, VTDigger reporters show up where stories are happen]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/less-than-24-hours-left-all-gifts-tripled-by-three-vermont-donors/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/less-than-24-hours-left-all-gifts-tripled-by-three-vermont-donors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Donations tripled during final days of VTDigger Spring Drive]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Reader,Every VTDigger story is carefully reported, fact-checked and edited before it reaches you. That level of rigor takes time and it&rsquo;s funded by readers.Right now, there&rsquo;s an opportunity to make that support go even further.<br />
Three Vermont donors have come together to triple match all gifts made during Spring Member Drive through April 4 at midnight.<br />
Triple your impact<br />
From breaking news to long-term investigations, VTDigger reporters show up where stories are happening, acro]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/donations-tripled-during-final-days-of-vtdigger-spring-drive/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/donations-tripled-during-final-days-of-vtdigger-spring-drive/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Protesters tell lawmakers they were choked, assaulted by officers during South Burlington immigration operation]]></title><description><![CDATA[A panel of lawmakers hears from protesters in the House chamber on March 31, 2026. Photo by Charlotte Oliver/VTDigger.MONTPELIER &mdash; Protesters told lawmakers Tuesday they were choked, pepper sprayed and dragged across the pavement by state and local police during last month&rsquo;s immigration enforcement operation in South Burlington.About 60 people who spoke at the public hearing said local and state police violently assaulted protesters who were not instigating violence. Some who testif]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/protesters-tell-lawmakers-they-were-choked-assaulted-by-officers-during-south-burlington-immigration-operation/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/protesters-tell-lawmakers-they-were-choked-assaulted-by-officers-during-south-burlington-immigration-operation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Montpelier’s environmentalism has a people problem]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;&ldquo;You cannot save the land apart from the people or the people apart from the land.&rdquo;Kentucky farmer, poet, and essayist Wendell Berry wrote these words just over two decades ago, observing a fundamental flaw in the conservation-based environmentalism that was displacing subsistence farmers in his home state.The ideology underpinning that environmentalism understood people and land &mdash; along with the related issues of housing and conservation &mdash; as separable]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/montpeliers-environmentalism-has-a-people-problem/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/montpeliers-environmentalism-has-a-people-problem/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Megan Durling: Montpelier’s environmentalism has a people problem]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;&ldquo;You cannot save the land apart from the people or the people apart from the land.&rdquo;Kentucky farmer, poet, and essayist Wendell Berry wrote these words just over two decades ago, observing a fundamental flaw in the conservation-based environmentalism that was displacing subsistence farmers in his home state.The ideology underpinning that environmentalism understood people and land &mdash; along with the related issues of housing and conservation &mdash; as separable]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/megan-durling-montpeliers-environmentalism-has-a-people-problem/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/megan-durling-montpeliers-environmentalism-has-a-people-problem/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[We’re exporting our best asset — Vermont’s own kids]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,S.313, a bill that proposes to express legislative intent to transform Vermont&rsquo;s career technical education (CTE) system, passed the Senate and was referred to the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on March 20, 2026. It has bipartisan support and appears to be gaining the necessary traction to transition from intent to action. I have faith in our elected and appointed officials, but they will need our help.Transforming our current CTE system will address sev]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/were-exporting-our-best-asset-vermonts-own-kids/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/were-exporting-our-best-asset-vermonts-own-kids/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jeremy Baker: We’re exporting our best asset — Vermont’s own kids]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,S.313, a bill that proposes to express legislative intent to transform Vermont&rsquo;s career technical education (CTE) system, passed the Senate and was referred to the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on March 20, 2026. It has bipartisan support and appears to be gaining the necessary traction to transition from intent to action. I have faith in our elected and appointed officials, but they will need our help.Transforming our current CTE system will address sev]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jeremy-baker-were-exporting-our-best-asset-vermonts-own-kids/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jeremy-baker-were-exporting-our-best-asset-vermonts-own-kids/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont labor board says state must end return-to-office requirement for employees]]></title><description><![CDATA[State employees enter the state office complex in Waterbury as the Vermont State Employees Association opposes Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s return to work mandate on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Labor Relations Board ordered on Wednesday that Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s administration &ldquo;rescind&rdquo; a controversial requirement that state employees return to their physical offices three days per week.The board, a non-judicial body that makes decisions on t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-labor-board-says-state-must-end-return-to-office-requirement-for-employees/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-labor-board-says-state-must-end-return-to-office-requirement-for-employees/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont labor board orders state to end return-to-office requirement for employees]]></title><description><![CDATA[State employees enter the state office complex in Waterbury as the Vermont State Employees Association opposes Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s return to work mandate on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Updated 5:31 p.m.The Vermont Labor Relations Board has ordered that Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s administration &ldquo;rescind&rdquo; a controversial requirement that state employees return to thei]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-labor-board-orders-state-to-end-return-to-office-requirement-for-employees/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-labor-board-orders-state-to-end-return-to-office-requirement-for-employees/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Milton state representative resigns to be ‘fully present’ in town manager role]]></title><description><![CDATA[House members listen during a meeting of the education reform bill conference committee with Senate conferees at the Statehouse in Montpelier in June 2025. From left to right are Rep. Chris Taylor, R-Milton; Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall; and Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerRep. Chris Taylor, R-Milton, vice chair of the House Education Committee and an ally in Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s education reform efforts, resigned from the House on Friday.&nbsp;Tay]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/milton-state-representative-resigns-to-be-fully-present-in-town-manager-role/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/milton-state-representative-resigns-to-be-fully-present-in-town-manager-role/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Journalism Trust, VTDigger Guild reach second collective bargaining agreement]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Journalism Trust and the VTDigger Guild, a unit of the Providence Newspaper Guild that represents VTDigger&rsquo;s newsroom employees, have reached agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement.The four-year deal was ratified in March by Guild members and by the board of the nonprofit Vermont Journalism Trust, which operates VTDigger. The contract, which was signed Tuesday, provides increases to wages and to minimum salaries, provides avenues for employees&rsquo; continued prof]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-journalism-trust-vtdigger-guild-reach-second-collective-bargaining-agreement/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-journalism-trust-vtdigger-guild-reach-second-collective-bargaining-agreement/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mentoring made a huge difference for Maura]]></title><description><![CDATA[Maura Thompson (right) with Emma Page, DREAM Senior Youth Service Manager for the greater Rutland County region.Mentoring has made a huge difference in Maura Thompson&rsquo;s life. Now a senior at Proctor Junior/Senior High School, she brought the Directing through Recreation, Education, Adventure, and Mentoring (DREAM) program to the school, and has served as a mentor within the program for several years. She&rsquo;s also involved with the Vermont chapter of Hugh O&rsquo;Brian Youth Leadership]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mentoring-made-a-huge-difference-for-maura/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mentoring-made-a-huge-difference-for-maura/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Whiskey mogul plans to donate Poultney college campus to a Christian group to ‘revive Western Civilization’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Green Mountain College in Poultney closed in 2019. Green Mountain College photoBig questions are hanging in the air since whiskey tycoon Raj Peter Bhakta put the former Green Mountain College up for donation with the requirement that the recipient have a particular mission.Green Mountain College shuttered in 2019 after declining student enrollment, leaving Vermonters wondering what would come of the Rutland County campus anchoring Poultney&rsquo;s downtown. The college&rsquo;s closure came as a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/whiskey-mogul-plans-to-donate-poultney-college-campus-to-a-christian-group-to-revive-western-civilization/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/whiskey-mogul-plans-to-donate-poultney-college-campus-to-a-christian-group-to-revive-western-civilization/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers plan for the death of the penny]]></title><description><![CDATA[A person holds a giant penny at a mock funeral for the coin, which was discontinued in 2025, in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. AP Photo/Julia Demaree NikhinsonWhat good is a penny at this point? Penny candy is a thing of the past, and a modern-day penny-pincher wouldn&rsquo;t get very far if this were their get-rich strategy.&nbsp;(This newsletter, though, costs you less than a penny. Chip in if you can.)U.S. mints no longer make pennies, a decision that saves taxpayers an estimat]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-plan-for-the-death-of-the-penny/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-plan-for-the-death-of-the-penny/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hinesburg bridges beset by FEMA fund shortfall]]></title><description><![CDATA[A road closure sign on Beecher Hill Road in Hinesburg. File photo by Emma CottonThis story by Liberty Darr was first published in The Citizen on March 26, 2026.The Hinesburg Selectboard accepted a $1.2 million bid from Poulin Companies to repair two bridges on Beecher Hill Road that were devastated by flooding in 2024.But when and how much money the Federal Emergency Management Agency will turn over to the town for the work is uncertain at this point, mostly due to the fight in Washington over]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hinesburg-bridges-beset-by-fema-fund-shortfall/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hinesburg-bridges-beset-by-fema-fund-shortfall/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former tow truck driver, who needs an oxygen concentrator to breathe, faces eviction from state motel program]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lisa and Fred Allard, along with their dog Penelope, as they get ready to pack up their motel room on March 31, 2026. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont PublicThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin and VTDigger intern Brendan Rose, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.BARRE &mdash; A calendar hung by the door inside Lisa and Fred Allard&rsquo;s small room at the Knoll Motel. Each day of March had been marked by a big, black X. With]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-tow-truck-driver-who-needs-an-oxygen-concentrator-to-breathe-faces-eviction-from-state-motel-program/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-tow-truck-driver-who-needs-an-oxygen-concentrator-to-breathe-faces-eviction-from-state-motel-program/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former tow truck driver, who needs an oxygen compressor to breathe, faces eviction from state motel program]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lisa and Fred Allard, along with their dog Penelope, as they get ready to pack up their motel room on March 31, 2026. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont PublicThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin and VTDigger intern Brendan Rose, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.BARRE &mdash; A calendar hung by the door inside Lisa and Fred Allard&rsquo;s small room at the Knoll Motel. Each day of March had been marked by a big, black X. With]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-tow-truck-driver-who-needs-an-oxygen-compressor-to-breathe-faces-eviction-from-state-motel-program/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-tow-truck-driver-who-needs-an-oxygen-compressor-to-breathe-faces-eviction-from-state-motel-program/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mohamed Jafar: Immigrants are shaping Vermont’s health care. We belong here.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Being an immigrant or refugee in the United States right now means carrying two worlds inside your chest at all times. One is the world we left behind, full of laughs, dreams, people we love, languages that shaped us and memories that still feel close enough to touch. The other is the world we are trying to build here, in a country where the political climate can make you feel both urgently needed and painfully unwelcome in the s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mohamed-jafar-immigrants-are-shaping-vermonts-health-care-we-belong-here/</link><pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mohamed-jafar-immigrants-are-shaping-vermonts-health-care-we-belong-here/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Immigrants are shaping Vermont’s health care. We belong here.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Being an immigrant or refugee in the United States right now means carrying two worlds inside your chest at all times. One is the world we left behind, full of laughs, dreams, people we love, languages that shaped us and memories that still feel close enough to touch. The other is the world we are trying to build here, in a country where the political climate can make you feel both urgently needed and painfully unwelcome in the s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/immigrants-are-shaping-vermonts-health-care-we-belong-here/</link><pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/immigrants-are-shaping-vermonts-health-care-we-belong-here/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont defends its law to make fossil fuel companies pay for climate change against the Trump admin’s challenge]]></title><description><![CDATA[The U.S. District Court and post office building on West Street in Rutland. File photo by Andrew Kutches/VTDiggerRUTLAND&mdash; Vermont is trying to fend off the Trump administration&rsquo;s legal challenges to its trailblazing law that forces fossil fuel companies to pay for their role in climate change.&nbsp;Lawyers for the federal government argued Monday in U.S. District Court in Rutland that Vermont&rsquo;s law is unconstitutional. Attorneys for Vermont argued that not only is the state op]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-defends-its-law-to-make-fossil-fuel-companies-pay-for-climate-change-against-the-trump-admins-challenge/</link><pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-defends-its-law-to-make-fossil-fuel-companies-pay-for-climate-change-against-the-trump-admins-challenge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bernie Sanders and Greg Casar Want to Keep Sports Teams in Their Home Communities]]></title><description><![CDATA[Senator Bernie Sanders. Photo by Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP ImagesThis story was produced in partnership with NOTUS, a publication from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Allbritton Journalism Institute. VTDigger has partnered with NOTUS to cover federal actions affecting Vermont.The Dodgers left Brooklyn after the 1957 season. Sen. Bernie Sanders is still upset about it.He and Rep. Greg Casar announced Thursday they will introduce new legislation meant to keep professional sports franchises in t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bernie-sanders-and-greg-casar-want-to-keep-sports-teams-in-their-home-communities/</link><pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bernie-sanders-and-greg-casar-want-to-keep-sports-teams-in-their-home-communities/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nora Jacobson: It’s not the media’s job to decide who’s Abenaki]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Nora Jacobson and co-signed by the following Vermont filmmakers who participated in Freedom &amp; Unity: The Vermont Movie project: Jay Craven, Bess O&rsquo;Brien, Dan Butler, Richard Waterhouse, Kate Cone, Anne Macsoud, Nat Winthrop, Ben Silberfarb, Matt Bucy, Dorothy Tod, Alan Dater, Lisa Merton, Jesse Larocque (St. Francis-Sokoki Band of the Abenaki Nation at Missisquoi), Louise Michaels, Orly Yadin, Greg Guma, Robin Lloyd, Dina Janis, Sue Rees, Eleanor Lanahan, Kenneth]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nora-jacobson-its-not-the-medias-job-to-decide-whos-abenaki/</link><pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nora-jacobson-its-not-the-medias-job-to-decide-whos-abenaki/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stories that connect us: celebrate Local News Day]]></title><description><![CDATA[For a small state, Vermont has a remarkably strong network of local news outlets, most of them independently owned and deeply rooted in their communities.Join us on April 9th at Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier for a screening of&nbsp;Reimagining Local News, a film about communities around the country finding creative new ways to support local news.After the film, stay for a conversation with leaders from The Bridge, VTDigger, and the Vermont Journalism Coalition about the future of local]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stories-that-connect-us-celebrate-local-news-day/</link><pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stories-that-connect-us-celebrate-local-news-day/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[ICE took the wrong people — and got called on it. A reckoning may be coming.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Demonstrators gather outside the Federal Building in Burlington during a hearing for Daysi Camila Patin Patin on Friday, March 20, 2026. Patin Patin was one of three people detained by immigration officials during a raid in South Burlington on March 11. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger(This story draws on previous reporting by Emma Green and Charlotte Oliver.)When law enforcement officials broke down the door of a South Burlington home March 11, they were looking for a Mexican man named Dey]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-took-the-wrong-people-and-got-called-on-it-a-reckoning-may-be-coming/</link><pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-took-the-wrong-people-and-got-called-on-it-a-reckoning-may-be-coming/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[All gifts matched: Just a few days left to support this reporting]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Reader,There are only a few days left in our Spring Member Drive. If you can, I hope you&rsquo;ll make a contribution. Today, it will be doubled to support the work of my colleagues.<br />
2X your support<br />
I have the joy of editing our politics and policy team, overseeing our two statehouse reporters, our education and health care reporters and our wealth, poverty and economic inequality reporter. Together, we figure out how state government and the Legislature are impacting Vermonters&rsquo; liv]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/all-gifts-matched-just-a-few-days-left-to-support-this-reporting/</link><pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 23:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/all-gifts-matched-just-a-few-days-left-to-support-this-reporting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont House passes state budget bill with disaster aid for the Northeast Kingdom]]></title><description><![CDATA[Darrell Degreenia&rsquo;s driveway is seen in Sutton in July 2025, after being damaged by flood waters from the Calendar Brook. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont House on Friday passed its version of a state budget for the next fiscal year, which starts in July.The $9.3 billion spending plan would use state dollars to help towns in the Northeast Kingdom rebuild flood-damaged infrastructure after the Trump administration twice denied Vermont&rsquo;s requests for federal disaster ai]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-passes-state-budget-bill-with-disaster-aid-for-the-northeast-kingdom/</link><pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-passes-state-budget-bill-with-disaster-aid-for-the-northeast-kingdom/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Two incarcerated men die in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[An ambulance arrives at a Vermont state correctional facility in 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTwo men incarcerated in Vermont have died in separate hospitals since Friday.On March 27, Jose Luis Gonzalez, 51, of Connecticut, died at UVM Medical Center, according to the Vermont Department of Corrections. And two days later, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Jonathan Stone, 37, of St. Johnsbury, died.Both men had required hospitalization in the weeks leading up to their death, accordi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/two-incarcerated-men-die-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/two-incarcerated-men-die-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[2 men incarcerated in Vermont die]]></title><description><![CDATA[An ambulance arrives at a Vermont state correctional facility in 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTwo men incarcerated in Vermont have died in separate hospitals since Friday.On March 27, Jose Luis Gonzalez, 51, of Connecticut, died at UVM Medical Center, according to the Vermont Department of Corrections. And two days later, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Jonathan Stone, 37, of St. Johnsbury, died.Both men had required hospitalization in the weeks leading up to their death, accordi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/2-men-incarcerated-in-vermont-die/</link><pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/2-men-incarcerated-in-vermont-die/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jonathan Leibowitz: Vermont’s forests are wildly out of balance]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jonathan Leibowitz, president and CEO of Northeast Wilderness Trust, a Montpelier-based regional land trust that focuses on wilderness conservation.Whether you find solace in the woods on a mountain bike, on foot, with a rifle or chainsaw in hand, or peering through binoculars, forests are a great commonality among Vermonters, and, I would argue, our greatest asset. But opinions about how to use or preserve them have grown more heated in recent years.&nbsp;This debate, how]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jonathan-leibowitz-vermonts-forests-are-wildly-out-of-balance/</link><pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jonathan-leibowitz-vermonts-forests-are-wildly-out-of-balance/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ben Huffman: Vermont tried a land-use map in 1970. The legislature killed it.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,In a recent article on controversy regarding Act 181, VTDigger reported that the legislation mandates a &ldquo;first-of-its-kind&rdquo; mapping effort that will &ldquo;essentially dictate where future development will be subject to Act 250 scrutiny.&rdquo;&nbsp;Many of your readers, including legislators, may not realize that Act 250, as originally enacted, did require that a state-wide land use plan be prepared for legislative review and adoption. This plan was to map where and how]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ben-huffman-vermont-tried-a-land-use-map-in-1970-the-legislature-killed-it/</link><pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ben-huffman-vermont-tried-a-land-use-map-in-1970-the-legislature-killed-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State designates Samuel Morey Elementary School as low-performing]]></title><description><![CDATA[From left, fourth graders Lily Colon, Xander Shedd, Madison Champagne, Sophia Sinsigalli and Mia King find the location of Sir Ernest Shackleton&rsquo;s ship Endurance, which sunk in the Weddell Sea off Antarctica in 1915, on a world map in their classroom at Samuel Morey Elementary School in Fairlee, Vt., in March 2022. Photo by Alex Driehaus/Valley News/Report For America<br />
This story by Alex Hanson was first published in the Valley News on March 26, 2026.Samuel Morey Elementary School, one of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-designates-samuel-morey-elementary-school-as-low-performing/</link><pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-designates-samuel-morey-elementary-school-as-low-performing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Building an economy where everyone participates and belongs: Supported employment initiatives for Vermonters with disabilities enhance lives, strengthen communities and build the economy]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Employment and Education team at CCS offers Vermonters with disabilities training and resources to launch careers and even micro-businesses.&ldquo;Employment opportunity for people with disabilities is a right, and our services help make it a reality,&rdquo; said Ashley Dubois, Employment &amp; Education Senior Manager at Champlain Community Services (CCS) in Colchester.Through its Way2Work adult employment program, CCS, a nonprofit community-based agency, and part of the Vermont Care Partn]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/building-an-economy-where-everyone-participates-and-belongs-supported-employment-initiatives-for-vermonters-with-disabilities-enhance-lives-strengthen-communities-and-build-the-economy/</link><pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/building-an-economy-where-everyone-participates-and-belongs-supported-employment-initiatives-for-vermonters-with-disabilities-enhance-lives-strengthen-communities-and-build-the-economy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Some kids with Autism are losing therapy services after a Medicaid change reduces clinics’ revenue]]></title><description><![CDATA[Teachers work with kids at the Bounce ADA Preschool in Essex Junction on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFor Jennifer Beane-Edgar, seeing her son learn how to express his needs has been revelatory.&nbsp;&ldquo;He went from being totally non-speaking, non-communicating, not engaging (and) kind of withdrawn into himself to being able to play and interact with peers,&rdquo; she said of her 6-year-old.&nbsp;Sam has profound autism. The diagnosis means he needs help with d]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/some-kids-with-autism-are-losing-therapy-services-after-a-medicaid-change-reduces-clinics-revenue/</link><pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/some-kids-with-autism-are-losing-therapy-services-after-a-medicaid-change-reduces-clinics-revenue/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[​​Young Writers Project: ‘End the ICE Age’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;March in Vermont&rdquo; by Sophia Brooks, 15, of Westford.Young Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sreid@]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-end-the-ice-age/</link><pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 16:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-end-the-ice-age/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s first Black female police chief has the last word on public safety]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brattleboro police chief Norma Hardy poses with historical society photos of her predecessors. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerNorma Hardy pounded the pavement as a New York City law enforcement leader for a quarter century. So when the Brooklynite spotted an ad seeking a Brattleboro police chief in 2021, she figured the job would be a walk in the park.Hardy had yet to discover mud season.Arriving for her interview, the career cop found Black Lives Matter protesters seeking to defund the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-first-black-female-police-chief-has-the-last-word-on-public-safety/</link><pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 15:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-first-black-female-police-chief-has-the-last-word-on-public-safety/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont officials want to break with some new federal tax changes to avoid revenue shortfall]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Charles Kimbell, D-Woodstock, at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 2025. Photo by Brian Stevenson/Vermont PublicTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.When Vermont&rsquo;s House Ways and Means committee first began reviewing changes to the federal tax code in last year&rsquo;s Republican-led One Big Beautiful Bill Act, it seemed like the impact on state revenue would be mild. But as the weeks of study wore on, lawmakers grew more worried.A]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-officials-want-to-break-with-some-new-federal-tax-changes-to-avoid-revenue-shortfall/</link><pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-officials-want-to-break-with-some-new-federal-tax-changes-to-avoid-revenue-shortfall/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thousands rally for ‘No Kings Day’ protests as Vermonters decry Trump’s agenda  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thousands of demonstrators gather in City Hall Park for a No Kings rally in Burlington on March 28.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThousands rallied at about 50 protests across Vermont on Saturday, part of the third &ldquo;No Kings Day&rdquo; protests in opposition to Donald Trump&rsquo;s presidency.Protesters held events in nearly every county across the state as part of a nationwide day of action, which was set to include more than 3,000 organized events across the country.In Vermont, protesto]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thousands-rally-for-no-kings-day-protests-as-vermonters-decry-trumps-agenda/</link><pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 19:28:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thousands-rally-for-no-kings-day-protests-as-vermonters-decry-trumps-agenda/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Todd Heyman: Did Act 181 create a galvanizing moment for rural Vermont?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Todd Heyman, a co-owner of Fat Sheep Farm &amp; Cabins, who lives in Hartland.There&rsquo;s no doubt that rural Vermonters are growing tired of the politics of urbanist Vermonters who embrace rapid urbanization as an environmental win. Recent public letters penned by Hannah Burrill and Loralee Tester explaining how Act 181&rsquo;s zoning maps disproportionately burden rural residents have spread like wildfire. While certainly not a call to arms, these letters hark back to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/todd-heyman-did-act-181-create-a-galvanizing-moment-for-rural-vermont/</link><pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:43:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/todd-heyman-did-act-181-create-a-galvanizing-moment-for-rural-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Board denies resort’s request to tear down historic Woodstock homes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Robert Pear, of Woodstock, examines damaged plaster and lathe on the second floor of 16 South Street in Woodstock, Vt., during a site visit prior to an Act 250 hearing on the proposed demolition of the building on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Liz Sauchelli was first published in the Valley News on March 24, 2026.The Land Use Review Board has denied the Woodstock Resort Corp.&rsquo;s permit to demolish two historic homes it owns on South Street.The]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/board-denies-resorts-request-to-tear-down-historic-woodstock-homes/</link><pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 13:48:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/board-denies-resorts-request-to-tear-down-historic-woodstock-homes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermonters with long Covid look to senators for reform]]></title><description><![CDATA[An image of the coronavirus. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.To Christine Selvidio, a mother of two and former hairdresser, the effect long Covid has on her life &ldquo;is a loss that healthy people cannot possibly understand.&rdquo;&nbsp;Selvidio said she wakes up every morning exhausted, dizzy and nauseous. She sometimes wears earplugs around her kids and has to dim the lights in their house. Her muscles are sore, and her joints feel creaky. More than six]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-with-long-covid-look-to-senators-for-reform/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 23:15:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-with-long-covid-look-to-senators-for-reform/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Winooski’s new mayor sees immigrants’ fears, celebrates community]]></title><description><![CDATA[Winooski Mayor Thomas Renner speaks during a City Council meeting on Monday, March 9, 2026, Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThomas Renner, Winooski&rsquo;s new mayor, understands the importance of representation, particularly at a time when underrepresented groups are feeling vulnerable in the country&rsquo;s third whitest state.Some immigrants were already avoiding going out, he said, when President Donald Trump&rsquo;s crackdown on immigration intensified in Minnesota and killed two U.S. citiz]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/winooskis-new-mayor-sees-immigrants-fears-celebrates-community/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:34:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/winooskis-new-mayor-sees-immigrants-fears-celebrates-community/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington police officer denies charges he fired recklessly into vehicle with two minors in it]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jeffrey Baur, center, in court on Friday, March 27. Photo by Colin Flanders/Seven DaysBURLINGTON &ndash; A Burlington police officer has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges accusing him of firing his gun toward two minors in a vehicle last summer while responding to a call about a possible abduction.Officer Jeffrey Baur told an investigator that he thought the gun accidentally fired, according to charging documents made public Friday. A law enforcement expert who conducted a review determine]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-police-officer-denies-charges-he-fired-recklessly-into-vehicle-with-two-minors-in-it/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:54:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-police-officer-denies-charges-he-fired-recklessly-into-vehicle-with-two-minors-in-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[One week left in VTDigger’s Spring Member Drive]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Reader,There is only one week left in our Spring Member Drive. If you can, we hope that you&rsquo;ll join us in protecting independent journalism for Vermont.Donate now<br />
Democracy relies on a free press to ensure transparency and equip an informed and engaged citizenry to vote.&nbsp;Right now, access to reliable information is being tested. Across the country, the free press faces growing pressure, shrinking resources and increasing attempts to control what people know.Here in Vermont, we a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/one-week-left-in-vtdiggers-spring-member-drive/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:10:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/one-week-left-in-vtdiggers-spring-member-drive/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Less than one week left in VTDigger’s Spring Member Drive]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Reader,There is less than a week left in our Spring Member Drive. If you can, we hope that you&rsquo;ll join us in protecting independent journalism for Vermont.<br />
Donate now<br />
Democracy relies on a free press to ensure transparency and equip an informed and engaged citizenry to vote.&nbsp;Right now, access to reliable information is being tested. Across the country, the free press faces growing pressure, shrinking resources and increasing attempts to control what people know.Here in Vermont,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/less-than-one-week-left-in-vtdiggers-spring-member-drive/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:10:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/less-than-one-week-left-in-vtdiggers-spring-member-drive/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Natalie Sinkew: My support workers can’t afford to stay. I can’t afford for them to leave]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I began receiving Vermont support services at age 32. My case manager helped me move into 230 St. Paul Street, a Burlington Housing Authority high-rise for seniors and people with disabilities. For the first time, I had structure. I had support. I had stability.While living there, I had staff who helped me build routines. I was working with Transition II, a nonprofit organization that helps Vermonters with disabilities. I was comfortable with my staff, and I began forming friendship]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/natalie-sinkew-my-support-workers-cant-afford-to-stay-i-cant-afford-for-them-to-leave/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:44:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/natalie-sinkew-my-support-workers-cant-afford-to-stay-i-cant-afford-for-them-to-leave/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Act 181 debate pokes at the heart of Vermont’s rural-urban dynamics]]></title><description><![CDATA[Several hundred demonstrators gather to protest Act 181 at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.The law seeks to modernize Act 250, the land use law. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.The Vermont Senate passed a bill on Thursday that will delay the implementation of Act 181, a contentious 2024 law that overhauled the state&rsquo;s land use permittin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/act-181-debate-pokes-at-the-heart-of-vermonts-rural-urban-dynamics/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:21:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/act-181-debate-pokes-at-the-heart-of-vermonts-rural-urban-dynamics/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Slate Ridge owner Daniel Banyai excused from a release condition he was accused of violating]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daniel Banyai, owner of the Slate Ridge paramilitary-style training facility in West Pawlet, speaks with his attorney during Banyai&rsquo;s contempt hearing in Environmental Court in Rutland in Nov. 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Vermont judge has eased the release conditions for the owner of a onetime gun range and paramilitary-style training facility in West Pawlet, who is charged with assaulting a constable nearly two years ago.&nbsp;The move Wednesday by Judge Cortland Corsones]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/slate-ridge-owner-daniel-banyai-excused-from-a-release-condition-he-was-accused-of-violating/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/slate-ridge-owner-daniel-banyai-excused-from-a-release-condition-he-was-accused-of-violating/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers invite public’s perspectives on contested immigration raid]]></title><description><![CDATA[South Burlington Police Chief William Breault, right, speaks before a joint meeting of the House and Senate judiciary committees on Thursday, March 19, 2026, to discuss the role of local law enforcement in a federal immigration operation in South Burlington earlier in March. With Breault are Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison and Col. Matthew Birmingham, director of the Vermont State Police. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Lawmakers want to hear concerns from th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-invite-publics-perspectives-on-contested-immigration-raid/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:48:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-invite-publics-perspectives-on-contested-immigration-raid/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers invite public perspectives on contested immigration raid]]></title><description><![CDATA[South Burlington Police Chief William Breault, right, speaks before a joint meeting of the House and Senate judiciary committees on Thursday, March 19, 2026, to discuss the role of local law enforcement in a federal immigration operation in South Burlington earlier in March. With Breault are Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison and Col. Matthew Birmingham, director of the Vermont State Police. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Lawmakers want to hear concerns from th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-invite-public-perspectives-on-contested-immigration-raid/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:48:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-invite-public-perspectives-on-contested-immigration-raid/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s rural medical residency is ready to go — if organizers can find the funding]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lamoille Health Partners, shown in Stowe in February 2025, is now located in Morrisville and is part of the Maple Mountain Consortium. File photo by Gordon Miller/News &amp; CitizenYou&rsquo;re reading a web version of Final Reading, VTDigger&rsquo;s nightly Statehouse newsletter. Sign up to get it delivered to your inbox Tuesday through Friday during the legislative session.The logic is simple: The more young doctors who are trained in Vermont, the more who are likely to stay and root their ca]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-rural-medical-residency-is-ready-to-go-if-organizers-can-find-the-funding/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-rural-medical-residency-is-ready-to-go-if-organizers-can-find-the-funding/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Migrant Justice organizer, detained for a second time, is now charged with helping people cross border illegally]]></title><description><![CDATA[Demonstrators gather outside the Federal Building in Burlington to support Jose Ignacio &ldquo;Nacho&rdquo; De La Cruz during his hearing in federal court onMarch 26.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerJos&eacute; Ignacio &ldquo;Nacho&rdquo; De La Cruz, a longtime immigrant rights organizer who was detained for nearly a month last summer, is now charged with helping people cross the border without authorization and producing false Vermont driver&rsquo;s privilege cards.De La Cruz, who goes by Nacho,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/migrant-justice-organizer-detained-for-a-second-time-is-now-charged-with-helping-people-cross-border-illegally/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:19:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/migrant-justice-organizer-detained-for-a-second-time-is-now-charged-with-helping-people-cross-border-illegally/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont House advances property tax bill with 7% average increase]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro, chairs a meeting of the Joint Fiscal Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, November 13, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe House on Thursday advanced legislation that would increase property tax rates for education in the next fiscal year by 7%, on average.&nbsp;The legislation will now move to the Senate. And Gov. Phil Scott has made it known that he does not support the bill.Public education in Vermont is primarily paid for via pro]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-advances-property-tax-bill-with-7-average-increase/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-advances-property-tax-bill-with-7-average-increase/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger reporters: ‘Our job is to dig deeper and give Vermonters the facts they need’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Reader,When Vermonters think about rising education costs, school buses probably aren&rsquo;t top of mind. But they should be.When districts began seeing transportation costs jump by 25% or more, we set out to understand why. There was no central data. No state agency tracking who provides these services. So we did the work ourselves.If you value reporting like this, please consider supporting it today.We&rsquo;re proud that VTDigger&rsquo;s nonprofit news is free to read, but it does take]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-reporters-our-job-is-to-dig-deeper-and-give-vermonters-the-facts-they-need/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:54:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-reporters-our-job-is-to-dig-deeper-and-give-vermonters-the-facts-they-need/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kate Bailey: Neutrality or safety: with ICE at the door, you can’t have both]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Kate Bailey, a former chair of the South Burlington School Board who lives in South Burlington.&nbsp;Last week, South Burlington city and school district leaders had the opportunity to respond to the harm and fear Immigration and Customs Enforcement inflicted on our community. Their statements can be summed up with a general concern for the safety of the city&rsquo;s children, but with a peculiar ask &mdash; in the name of safety, Superintendent Clark and Board Chair Abshe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kate-bailey-neutrality-or-safety-with-ice-at-the-door-you-cant-have-both/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:52:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kate-bailey-neutrality-or-safety-with-ice-at-the-door-you-cant-have-both/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez want to halt data center production]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announce the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act. Photo by J. Scott Applewhite/APThis story by Torrie Herrington was first published in NOTUS on March 25, 2026.Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez want Congress to take immediate action to stop the spread of data centers key to artificial intelligence, which Sanders called &ldquo;literally an existential threat to the existence of the human race.&rdquo;The prog]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bernie-sanders-and-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-want-to-halt-data-center-production/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:40:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bernie-sanders-and-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-want-to-halt-data-center-production/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lucas Farrell and Louisa Conrad: Vermont wrote its farmers out of conservation. It’s time to write them back in.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Lucas Farrell and Louisa Conrad, who co-own Big Picture Farm, a goat dairy and artisanal confectionery, in Townshend.The anger over Act 181&rsquo;s Tier 3 map is real, and it is justified. Rural Vermonters are waking up to find their land in a regulatory tier they didn&rsquo;t ask for, facing permitting burdens they can&rsquo;t afford, for land their families have managed responsibly for generations. The Facebook groups, the open letters, the Vermont Farm Bureau collecting]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lucas-farrell-and-louisa-conrad-vermont-wrote-its-farmers-out-of-conservation-its-time-to-write-them-back-in/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:40:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lucas-farrell-and-louisa-conrad-vermont-wrote-its-farmers-out-of-conservation-its-time-to-write-them-back-in/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers don’t plan on pushing policy to reduce emissions this year]]></title><description><![CDATA[The McNeil Generating Station in Burlington, Aug. 2019. File photo by Glenn RussellMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont is falling behind on its legal mandate to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The only policies that could help the state meet its targets have died &mdash; and lawmakers aren&rsquo;t on track to pass legislation this year to help the state change course.&nbsp;Democrats, who have a majority in the Legislature, look unlikely to take any major policy actions as they anticipate their efforts to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-dont-plan-on-pushing-policy-to-reduce-emissions-this-year/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-dont-plan-on-pushing-policy-to-reduce-emissions-this-year/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[US Supreme Court rules Vermont police officer is immune from excessive-force suit stemming from 2015 protest]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Supreme Court is seen in the distance, framed through columns of the U.S. Senate at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 20, 2025. File photo by J. Scott Applewhite/APThe U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Monday that a Vermont State Police officer is immune from an excessive-force lawsuit stemming from the forcible removal of a protester from the Vermont Statehouse in 2015.&nbsp;The court&rsquo;s conservative majority overturned a lower court ruling that Sgt. Jacob Zorn&rsquo;s use of a wristloc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/us-supreme-court-rules-vermont-police-officer-is-immune-from-excessive-force-suit-stemming-from-2015-protest/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:58:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/us-supreme-court-rules-vermont-police-officer-is-immune-from-excessive-force-suit-stemming-from-2015-protest/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As Vermont organizers prepare for third No Kings Day, building community is a focus]]></title><description><![CDATA[People march through Burlington&rsquo;s Old North End as they head to a &ldquo;No Kings&rdquo; rally in City Hall Park on Oct. 18, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerOver a year into the second Trump administration, thousands are expected to gather at over 50 protests in Vermont on Saturday for the third No Kings Day.&nbsp;The protests, which largely center on opposition to the Trump administration, are part of a national day of action that organizers say could be the largest single-day]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-vermont-organizers-prepare-for-third-no-kings-day-building-community-is-a-focus/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:18:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-vermont-organizers-prepare-for-third-no-kings-day-building-community-is-a-focus/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawmakers take stock of Vermont’s irregular school transportation system]]></title><description><![CDATA[School buses are parked outside Mt. Mansfield Union High School in Jericho on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIt might be understandable that lawmakers &mdash; consumed with so many school reform debates &mdash; got a late start on addressing an often-overlooked facet of the state&rsquo;s education system: student transportation.For most school districts, getting kids to and from school is a challenge, and has been getting harder over the years, thanks to a shortage of sc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-take-stock-of-vermonts-irregular-school-transportation-system/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 23:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-take-stock-of-vermonts-irregular-school-transportation-system/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Legislature approves 6 judges for new terms, including southern Vermont judge who faced heightened scrutiny]]></title><description><![CDATA[Senators join Representatives for a joint assembly on judicial retention at the Statehouse in Montpelier in March 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont&rsquo;s Legislature elected to keep six superior court judges on the bench Wednesday, including one, Rachel Malone, whose performance was thrown into question earlier this month.Debate on the floor over whether Malone should be appointed to a new, six-year term stretched for nearly an hour. Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison &m]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/legislature-approves-6-judges-for-new-terms-including-southern-vermont-judge-who-faced-heightened-scrutiny/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 23:21:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/legislature-approves-6-judges-for-new-terms-including-southern-vermont-judge-who-faced-heightened-scrutiny/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Carol Shirley Vantine Carpenter-Thomas]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 11/27/1933Tyson Corners, Plymouth VermontDied: 03/17/2026Burlington, VermontDetails of service:A committal service will be held at the Grand Isle Cemetery at a later date.&nbsp;Carol Shirley Vantine Carpenter-Thomas passed way on March 17, 2026. &nbsp;Carol was born prematurely at the family deer camp in Tyson Corners, VT on November 27, 1933. Placed in a box behind a wood stove to keep her warm, she survived, thrived, and spent her life in the state she loved for 92 years. Carol was rais]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/carol-shirley-vantine-carpenter-thomas/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 22:50:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/carol-shirley-vantine-carpenter-thomas/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Freed for now from ICE detention, Minister Steven Tendo on being a beacon of hope]]></title><description><![CDATA[Steven Tendo speaks to supporters before the start of his immigration hearing at the Department of Homeland Security facility in St. Albans, July 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIn February, I was surprised to receive a phone call from jail. It was Steven Tendo calling from the Strafford County jail in Dover, New Hampshire, where he was being held after being violently arrested by ICE agents on Feb. 4 at the Vermont assisted living facility where he works.Tendo was determined that his]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-freed-for-now-from-ice-detention-minister-steven-tendo-on-being-a-beacon-of-hope/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 22:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-freed-for-now-from-ice-detention-minister-steven-tendo-on-being-a-beacon-of-hope/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont-trained Olympians set to return with medals — and two season-topping World Cups]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mikaela Shiffrin kisses the World Cup&rsquo;s crystal globe trophy during a ceremony Wednesday in Hafjell, Norway. Photo by Marco Trovati/APA month after competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics, athletes with Vermont ties are returning from the winter racing season with seven medals &mdash; and two newly awarded World Cups.Mikaela Shiffrin, a graduate of Burke Mountain Academy, came back after a 2024 crash at Killington to win slalom gold at last month&rsquo;s Milan-Cortina Winter Games, then pun]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-trained-olympians-set-to-return-with-medals-and-two-season-topping-world-cups/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:41:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-trained-olympians-set-to-return-with-medals-and-two-season-topping-world-cups/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rod Coronado: A fed bear is a dead bear. Vermont’s hunting lobby didn’t get the memo.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Rod Coronado, the Wildlife Programs Director for Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary and the state director of Vermont Wildlife Patrol.Like many Vermonters, I live in forested mountainous terrain that black bears love. Every spring, I enjoy walking through our beech forest stands to spy the shriveled leaf nests made high up in the trees by bears the previous year. Their claw marks adorn many of these trees.&nbsp;About this time of year, we&rsquo;ve all learned to bring in th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rod-coronado-a-fed-bear-is-a-dead-bear-vermonts-hunting-lobby-didnt-get-the-memo/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rod-coronado-a-fed-bear-is-a-dead-bear-vermonts-hunting-lobby-didnt-get-the-memo/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sarah Anderson: Vermont’s rural residents face big risks from postal delays]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Sarah Anderson, who directs the Global Economy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies.For over 250 years, Americans have relied on the United States Postal Service (USPS) for the timely processing of their mail, no matter the conditions. After we dropped it in a box or gave it to a letter carrier, we could count on our mail being postmarked on that date so that our bills and tax returns weren&rsquo;t late and our election ballots were counted.&nbsp;Unfortunately, this]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sarah-anderson-vermonts-rural-residents-face-big-risks-from-postal-delays/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sarah-anderson-vermonts-rural-residents-face-big-risks-from-postal-delays/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A literal journey: To get to class, Brad Hubbs commutes five hours—via three buses and a bike—twice a week]]></title><description><![CDATA[Imagine taking the Rural Community Transportation (RCT) bus at 6:00 AM from St. Johnsbury to Montpelier, then catching the 7:30 AM Green Mountain Transit (GMT) LINK Express from Montpelier to Burlington, followed by either a bike ride or local bus from Burlington to Winooski&mdash;arriving just in time for an 8:30 AM class. And then do it in reverse, to get home that afternoon.&nbsp;For Brad Hubbs, this journey across the state in the morning and the return trip in the afternoon has been a twic]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-literal-journey-to-get-to-class-brad-hubbs-commutes-five-hoursvia-three-buses-and-a-biketwice-a-week/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:59:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-literal-journey-to-get-to-class-brad-hubbs-commutes-five-hoursvia-three-buses-and-a-biketwice-a-week/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont House budget writers approve a state spending plan for 2027]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Robin Scheu, D-Middlebury, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, speaks during a committee meeting at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont&rsquo;s House Appropriations Committee voted out a state budget proposal on Monday for the upcoming fiscal year. Its $9.3 billion bill, which directs spending from July 2026 to June 2027, cleared the committee on a unanimous vote.The full House will consider the propo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-budget-writers-approve-a-state-spending-plan-for-2027/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 23:36:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-budget-writers-approve-a-state-spending-plan-for-2027/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In visit to Vermont Statehouse, Japanese diplomats talk business and baseball]]></title><description><![CDATA[Consul General of Japan in Boston Seiichiro Takahashi speaks before the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSeiichiro Takahashi, a consul general for Japan based in Boston, is a big fan of Ben &amp; Jerry&rsquo;s, as well as the popular Japanese curry product that bears Vermont&rsquo;s name. (Apparently, that circuitous Barre-to-Tokyo culinary connection was forged through this 1958 dietary h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-visit-to-vermont-statehouse-japanese-diplomats-talk-business-and-baseball/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 23:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-visit-to-vermont-statehouse-japanese-diplomats-talk-business-and-baseball/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hundreds protest Act 181 on Statehouse steps as new land-use rules come into focus]]></title><description><![CDATA[Several hundred demonstrators gather to protest Act 181 at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.The law seeks to modernize Act 250, the land use law. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.Clad in workwear and toting signs with slogans like &ldquo;Hands off our land!,&rdquo; several hundred protesters gathered on the Statehouse steps on Tuesday calling f]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hundreds-protest-act-181-on-statehouse-steps-as-new-land-use-rules-come-into-focus/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 22:29:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hundreds-protest-act-181-on-statehouse-steps-as-new-land-use-rules-come-into-focus/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Alana Stevenson: In Vermont, it’s easier to kill wildlife than to help it]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Historically, state fish and wildlife agencies developed alongside hunting and trapping to eliminate predators for ranchers. The fundamental mission of state wildlife agencies is not animal welfare &mdash; it is managing wildlife for hunting, trapping and ranching purposes.Wildlife is legally considered state property. The state claims ownership and regulatory authority over it. Most wild animals in Vermont are not protected under state law.For instance, opossums are not a protected]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/alana-stevenson-in-vermont-its-easier-to-kill-wildlife-than-to-help-it/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:34:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/alana-stevenson-in-vermont-its-easier-to-kill-wildlife-than-to-help-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[ICE now says man they sought in South Burlington raid was not in fleeing vehicle]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont State Troopers and federal law enforcement officials remove demonstrators surrounding a house where a suspect who fled an earlier attempted stop by ICE is thought to be in South Burlington on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFederal immigration authorities are changing their story on the key event leading to the standoff and raid on a South Burlington home earlier this month.&nbsp;U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement no longer believes that a man they maintai]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-now-says-man-they-sought-in-south-burlington-raid-was-not-in-fleeing-vehicle/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-now-says-man-they-sought-in-south-burlington-raid-was-not-in-fleeing-vehicle/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hannah Burrill: Who was Act 181 really written for?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Hannah Burrill, who works in real estate and excavation in Burke.Nobody asked us when Act 181 was written, when it passed, or when the governor vetoed it and the Legislature overrode him. The people whose land, livelihoods and children&rsquo;s futures this law will most directly shape were not in the room. And many of them still don&rsquo;t know this law exists.&nbsp;I did not learn about Act 181 through a public meeting or a letter from my government. I learned about it b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hannah-burrill-who-was-act-181-really-written-for/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:41:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hannah-burrill-who-was-act-181-really-written-for/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kenneth Sekuterski: Don’t call it a machine gun if it isn’t]]></title><description><![CDATA[Recent reporting on H.606, in which Vermont lawmakers narrowly advanced legislation increasing gun restrictions and penalties, requires a critical correction regarding the technical and legal reality of what constitutes a machine gun.As a lifelong gun owner, veteran, Vermont hunting instructor and an advocate for common-sense approaches to public safety, I believe the integrity of our laws depends on precision, not emotion. Unfortunately, Section 4 of H.606 fails this test by attempting to rewr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kenneth-sekuterski-dont-call-it-a-machine-gun-if-it-isnt/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:56:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kenneth-sekuterski-dont-call-it-a-machine-gun-if-it-isnt/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A farmer breeds seeds to withstand Vermont’s unpredictable weather]]></title><description><![CDATA[Charlie Watt kneeling in his home garden, &ldquo;Flytree Farm.&rdquo; Courtesy of Charlie WattIn a state better known for maples than melons, one farmer is redefining what can grow in Vermont soil. Last August, Charlie Watt&rsquo;s backyard contained 20-pound watermelons, tomatoes the size of two fists, an eight-foot wall of peas and many, many seeds.&nbsp;Watt is the founder of&nbsp;Homecoming Seeds, a seed company that launched in January of 2026 devoted to crop varieties that are adapted to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-farmer-breeds-seeds-to-withstand-vermonts-unpredictable-weather/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:22:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-farmer-breeds-seeds-to-withstand-vermonts-unpredictable-weather/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former Northeast Kingdom Human Services employee sues agency over alleged Medicaid fraud]]></title><description><![CDATA[After months of renovation, Newport-based Front Porch will open its overnight beds on Wednesday. Photo by Olivia Gieger/VTDiggerTesla Hubbard alleges she lost her job after raising the alarm, both internally and then with the state, on potential Medicaid fraud at the social services organization Northeast Kingdom Human Services, according to a civil suit Hubbard and her lawyers filed on March 11.&nbsp;The suit alleges Northeast Kingdom Human Service enacted a &ldquo;fraudulent billing scheme&rd]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-northeast-kingdom-human-services-employee-sues-agency-over-alleged-medicaid-fraud/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:33:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-northeast-kingdom-human-services-employee-sues-agency-over-alleged-medicaid-fraud/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Royalton residents chafe at costs of ongoing Foxstand Bridge closure]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rachel and Jim Bigelow of Royalton, Vt., do some cleanup around their farmstand on Friday, March 20, 2026.. The farmstand will not open this summer because the nearby Foxstand Bridge is closed. The bridge is not slated to reopen until 2028; it closed in 2024. Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsThis story by Alex Hanson was first published in The Commons on March 22, 2026.The first summer the Foxstand Bridge was closed, in 2024, patronage of the Foxville Farmstand declined, owner Rachel Bigelow said.At t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/royalton-residents-chafe-at-costs-of-ongoing-foxstand-bridge-closure/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:17:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/royalton-residents-chafe-at-costs-of-ongoing-foxstand-bridge-closure/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger Spring Member Drive: Who asks the questions in Montpelier?]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger reporter Shaun Robinson in St. Albans on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDear Reader,As VTDigger&rsquo;s political reporter, I spend most of my day this time of year in the Vermont Statehouse. Often, you&rsquo;ll find me roaming the hallways for quotes from legislators and state officials; sometimes, you&rsquo;ll see me holed up in a windowsill writing a story.It&rsquo;s no secret that there are fewer and fewer people doing this kind of work in our Capitol each]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-spring-member-drive-who-asks-the-questions-in-montpelier/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 20:41:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-spring-member-drive-who-asks-the-questions-in-montpelier/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brattleboro hospital nurses vote to strike, but delay a date in hopes of spurring talks]]></title><description><![CDATA[A poster promotes staffers at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerA union representing 160 nurses at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital said Monday that an &ldquo;overwhelming supermajority&rdquo; had voted to strike, but would delay setting a date until later this week in hopes of reviving contract talks.&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t take this decision lightly,&rdquo; said Tracy Ouellette, president of the Brattleboro Federation of Nurses. &ldquo;But we are prepared to do w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-hospital-nurses-vote-to-strike-but-delay-a-date-in-hopes-of-spurring-talks/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:45:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-hospital-nurses-vote-to-strike-but-delay-a-date-in-hopes-of-spurring-talks/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Vermont’s treatment landscape shifts, community providers step up]]></title><description><![CDATA[Across Vermont, the substance use disorder (SUD) treatment landscape is changing. As some private providers adjust their services, community-based organizations are stepping forward to ensure that people seeking recovery support continue to have access to care when and where they need it.One recent shift involves Better Life Partners, a national online provider of addiction treatment, which wound down its operations in Vermont at the end of 2025 and stopped accepting new referrals. While transi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-vermonts-treatment-landscape-shifts-community-providers-step-up/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:38:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-vermonts-treatment-landscape-shifts-community-providers-step-up/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Matt Swenson: Vermont’s fiscal reckoning is already here]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Matt Swenson, the founder of Omnidex Solutions, who lives in Williston.Vermont is debating property tax relief again. The plan is straightforward enough: Use state funds to soften increases driven by education spending, ease the pressure on homeowners, and move forward. That offers something in the short term. But it doesn&rsquo;t change anything underneath. The structure is where the problem lives, and the structure isn&rsquo;t being touched.Start with the number nobody i]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/matt-swenson-vermonts-fiscal-reckoning-is-already-here/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:05:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/matt-swenson-vermonts-fiscal-reckoning-is-already-here/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Towns ban heavy rigs from muddy roads]]></title><description><![CDATA[The weight postings are legally enforceable and are usually complied with. Photo by Tommy Gardner/News &amp; CitizenThis story by Patrick Bilow was first published&nbsp;in News &amp; Citizen on March 12, 2026.Welcome to Vermont&rsquo;s fifth season, mud season.Winter showed signs of defeat earlier this week as temperatures climbed into the 60s and the ground began to shake loose after months of frozen sleep. That was embraced by many, but for road crews across Lamoille County, it meant the onse]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/towns-ban-heavy-rigs-from-muddy-roads/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:58:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/towns-ban-heavy-rigs-from-muddy-roads/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘Deep Thoughts’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Somewhere in the Sky&rdquo; by Shira Hertzberg, 16, of West Haven.Young Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbs]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-deep-thoughts/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:33:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-deep-thoughts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[With child care centers struggling to recruit, Vermont eyes possible path to stronger workforce]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kristina Davis, from left, Jessie Cerretani and Logan Davis of Here Wee Grow Playschool in Manchester face challenges in hiring staff.Seen on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.For Jessie Cerretani, a 20-year child care veteran at just 37, hiring trained help has gotten more difficult in recent years.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s hard to find people who are qualified and educated in the right ways,&rdquo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/with-child-care-centers-struggling-to-recruit-vermont-eyes-possible-path-to-stronger-workforce/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:09:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/with-child-care-centers-struggling-to-recruit-vermont-eyes-possible-path-to-stronger-workforce/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont child care centers can’t find workers. A new state plan hopes to fix that.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kristina Davis, from left, Jessie Cerretani and Logan Davis of Here Wee Grow Playschool in Manchester face challenges in hiring staff.Seen on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.For Jessie Cerretani, a 20-year child care veteran at just 37, hiring trained help has gotten more difficult in recent years.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s hard to find people who are qualified and educated in the right ways,&rdquo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-child-care-centers-cant-find-workers-a-new-state-plan-hopes-to-fix-that/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:09:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-child-care-centers-cant-find-workers-a-new-state-plan-hopes-to-fix-that/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont child care centers can’t find work. A new state plan hopes to fix that.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kristina Davis, from left, Jessie Cerretani and Logan Davis of Here Wee Grow Playschool in Manchester face challenges in hiring staff.Seen on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.For Jessie Cerretani, a 20-year child care veteran at just 37, hiring trained help has gotten more difficult in recent years.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s hard to find people who are qualified and educated in the right ways,&rdquo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-child-care-centers-cant-find-work-a-new-state-plan-hopes-to-fix-that/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:09:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-child-care-centers-cant-find-work-a-new-state-plan-hopes-to-fix-that/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Carmenza Montague: When equal is not fair]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Act 73, Vermont&rsquo;s recently enacted law aimed at overhauling the state&rsquo;s public education system, states that &ldquo;the right to education is fundamental for the success of Vermont&rsquo;s children in a rapidly changing society and global marketplace as well as for the State&rsquo;s own economic and social prosperity.&rdquo;&nbsp;The law also establishes the Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont, which &ldquo;shall study the provision of education in Ve]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/carmenza-montague-when-equal-is-not-fair/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:06:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/carmenza-montague-when-equal-is-not-fair/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As warming climate brings bears out of hibernation earlier, preventing backyards from becoming buffets is key to coexistence]]></title><description><![CDATA[A black bear seeks food from a bird feeder. Photo courtesy Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.Vermonters usually put out bird feeders to attract winged visitors who fill their yards with song and color. But they could attract a far less dainty visitor: black bears.&nbsp;As bears emerge from their dens in early spring, they&rsquo;re on the search for food. That can lead them to backyard beehives, birdfeeders, compost piles and even chicken coops.&nbsp;&ldquo;They&rsquo;re super adaptable, they]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-warming-climate-brings-bears-out-of-hibernation-earlier-preventing-backyards-from-becoming-buffets-is-key-to-coexistence/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 11:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-warming-climate-brings-bears-out-of-hibernation-earlier-preventing-backyards-from-becoming-buffets-is-key-to-coexistence/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As child care centers struggle to recruit, Vermont eyes possible path to stronger workforce]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kristina Davis, from left, Jessie Cerretani and Logan Davis of Here Wee Grow Playschool in Manchester face challenges in hiring staff.Seen on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger<br />
Read the story on VTDigger here:As child care centers struggle to recruit, Vermont eyes possible path to stronger workforce.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-child-care-centers-struggle-to-recruit-vermont-eyes-possible-path-to-stronger-workforce/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 11:37:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-child-care-centers-struggle-to-recruit-vermont-eyes-possible-path-to-stronger-workforce/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How’s the maple season? Ask when it’s over.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Steam rises from an evaporator at the Branon Family Maple Orchards sugarhouse in Fairfield on Dec. 20, 2024.File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Joslyn McIntyre was first published in The Commons on March 17, 2026.Just when so many of us are ready to accept that this Vermont winter will never end, the sap starts running.At the annual Sugar on Snow Supper at Broad Brook Community Center (BBCC) in Guilford on March 7, neighbors sat shoulder to shoulder at long community tables passin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hows-the-maple-season-ask-when-its-over/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 03:39:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hows-the-maple-season-ask-when-its-over/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal judge releases third of three people detained in South Burlington ICE raid]]></title><description><![CDATA[Camilia Patin Patin smiles after being released after her hearing in federal court at the Federal Building in Burlington on Friday, March 20, 2026.Patin Patin is one of three people detained during an ICE raid last week. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; A federal judge has freed from custody the third of three people who were detained last week by federal immigration authorities during a raid on a home in South Burlington.Judge Christina Reiss ordered the immediate release of D]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-judge-releases-third-of-three-people-detained-in-south-burlington-ice-raid/</link><pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:56:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-judge-releases-third-of-three-people-detained-in-south-burlington-ice-raid/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Human services committee wants state to renegotiate $21.5M contract with troubled Pennsylvania family services company]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Windham County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office building on Old Ferry Road in Brattleboro. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDigger.Theo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.The House Human Services Committee wants officials in Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s administration to rethink their approach to caring for youth in state custody &mdash; starting with renegotiating a contract that&rsquo;s already on the books.In January, officials in the state&rsquo;s Department fo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/human-services-committee-wants-state-to-renegotiate-215m-contract-with-troubled-pennsylvania-family-services-company/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 23:52:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/human-services-committee-wants-state-to-renegotiate-215m-contract-with-troubled-pennsylvania-family-services-company/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers consider using state funds for flood recovery after Trump denied request for federal aid]]></title><description><![CDATA[A house in Sutton was severely damaged by floodwaters from the Calendar Brook, as seen on July 11, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAfter President Trump twice said no to Vermont&rsquo;s request for federal funding to help towns in the Northeast Kingdom fix damage caused by flooding last summer, state legislators are weighing a proposal from Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s administration to use state dollars, instead, to help those towns.&nbsp;Doug Farnham, the state&rsquo;s chief recovery off]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-consider-using-state-funds-for-flood-recovery-after-trump-denied-request-for-federal-aid/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 23:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-consider-using-state-funds-for-flood-recovery-after-trump-denied-request-for-federal-aid/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Emily Bridges: No one should have to choose between family and a paycheck]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;Having a great home and job and a healthy family you can love and be with is the American dream. But without universal paid leave in Vermont, many workers are forced to make the terrible choice of deciding which part of this dream they might have to give up. I&rsquo;m one of them.With elderly parents, I was forced to make numerous hard decisions quickly when my dad died of a heart attack at the same time my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.Already reeling from the lo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/emily-bridges-no-one-should-have-to-choose-between-family-and-a-paycheck/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 23:18:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/emily-bridges-no-one-should-have-to-choose-between-family-and-a-paycheck/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Woodstock police chief’s demotion upheld, lawsuit and appeal expected]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jeffrey Kahn, vice chair of the Woodstock Village Board of Trustees, second from left, listens as attorney Linda Fraas reviews evidence she plans to submit in support of her client, Police Chief Joseph Swanson, during his public personnel hearing at the Woodstock Masonic Lodge on Monday, March. 2, 2026. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Alex Ebrahimi was first published in the Valley News on March 18, 2026.The Village Board of Trustees this week decided for the second time to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/woodstock-police-chiefs-demotion-upheld-lawsuit-and-appeal-expected/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 22:26:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/woodstock-police-chiefs-demotion-upheld-lawsuit-and-appeal-expected/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A new electric vehicle fee is taking shape in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[An electric vehicle plugged into a fast charger in Rutland in 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; A proposal to charge electric vehicle drivers a fee based on how many miles they drive, meant to make up for the taxes those drivers don&rsquo;t pay at the gas pump, is coming together in the Vermont House after years of planning.The levy, which drivers would likely start paying in 2028, is part of a larger transportation policy bill that cleared the chamber&rsquo;s tax and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-new-electric-vehicle-fee-is-taking-shape-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 22:20:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-new-electric-vehicle-fee-is-taking-shape-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Laura Ida Marineau]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 01/07/1935Holland, VTDied: 03/14/2026Barre, VTDetails of service:A graveside service will be held in Newport at the convenience of the immediate family.Laura &ldquo;Ida&rdquo; MarineauMontpelier, VTLaura &ldquo;Ida&rdquo; Marineau passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Lincoln House in Barre, VT.Laura was born to Calixte Champigny and Exilper Labonte on January 7, 1935, in Holland, VT. Laura was one of eleven children.Laura attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in Newport, VT, an]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/laura-ida-marineau/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:57:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/laura-ida-marineau/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Julie Wasserman: Where are the doctors in Vermont’s $195M rural health plan?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Julie Wasserman, MPH, of Burlington. She is an independent health policy advocate who worked for Vermont state government for more than 25 years.The Trump administration recently awarded Vermont a $195 million Rural Health Transformation grant whose stated purpose is to strengthen health care access, quality and outcomes in rural communities. One of the most critical elements to achieving this goal is an adequate supply of primary care physicians, yet Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/julie-wasserman-where-are-the-doctors-in-vermonts-195m-rural-health-plan/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 02:40:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/julie-wasserman-where-are-the-doctors-in-vermonts-195m-rural-health-plan/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge orders immediate release of man who ICE detained after a traffic stop last week. The detention may have violated the man’s rights. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. File photo by Gregory Bull/APBURLINGTON &mdash; A Burlington man detained last week on his way to work by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials was released by a federal judge Thursday, pending a bond hearing in immigration court.&nbsp;Federal Judge William K. Sessions III ordered the immediate release of Jaime Eliceo Castro Guaman, 40.&nbsp;Castro Guaman had been held at Northwest State Correctional Facility for nine days after b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-orders-immediate-release-of-man-who-ice-detained-after-a-traffic-stop-last-week-the-detention-may-have-violated-the-mans-rights/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:46:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-orders-immediate-release-of-man-who-ice-detained-after-a-traffic-stop-last-week-the-detention-may-have-violated-the-mans-rights/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s high court weighs pulling law license of Addison County State’s Attorney]]></title><description><![CDATA[Addison County State&rsquo;s Attorney Eva Vekos. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger Credit: Glenn RussellThe Vermont Supreme Court heard competing arguments Thursday over whether Addison County State&rsquo;s Attorney Eva Vekos should lose her law license while awaiting disciplinary proceedings stemming from her drunken driving conviction late last year.The five justices did not make a ruling Thursday or indicate when they might.The hearing, which took place over video, comes amid multiple con]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-high-court-weighs-pulling-law-license-of-addison-county-states-attorney/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 23:49:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-high-court-weighs-pulling-law-license-of-addison-county-states-attorney/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Local police officials defend officers’ conduct during immigration operation, blame ‘agitators’ ]]></title><description><![CDATA[South Burlington Police Chief William Breault, center, speaks before a joint meeting of the House and Senate judiciary committees to discuss the role of local law enforcement in an ICE raid in South Burlington last week at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, March 19. With Breault are Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison, left, and Col. Matthew Birmingham, director of the Vermont State Police. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Local and state police officials were]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/local-police-officials-defend-officers-conduct-during-immigration-operation-blame-agitators/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 23:43:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/local-police-officials-defend-officers-conduct-during-immigration-operation-blame-agitators/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[House Education panel pivots to voluntary mergers in school consolidation efforts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, chairs the House Education Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Feb. 5, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBack in January, virtually no one imagined that lawmakers responsible for consolidating school districts would go anywhere near last fall&rsquo;s disparaged recommendations from the school redistricting task force.Recall that lawmakers last year had punted the responsibility of drawing consolidated school district maps to the task force. But in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/house-education-panel-pivots-to-voluntary-mergers-in-school-consolidation-efforts/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 23:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/house-education-panel-pivots-to-voluntary-mergers-in-school-consolidation-efforts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Angela Marchetti: In the Northeast Kingdom, school choice is a lifeline]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;I am a lifelong resident of the Northeast Kingdom. Like many who choose to call this place home, my husband and I weighed the trade-offs of raising a family in a small town with limited resources. We knew our children might have fewer local extracurricular activities, but we traded those for a close-knit community, with the promise that when they reached ninth grade, the world would open up to them through high school choice. This is the experience I had growing up in Lunenbur]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/angela-marchetti-in-the-northeast-kingdom-school-choice-is-a-lifeline/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 22:23:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/angela-marchetti-in-the-northeast-kingdom-school-choice-is-a-lifeline/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sunshine Week Match: Your gift is doubled right now]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger reporter Audi Guha covers a press conference in Colchester on Monday, October 28, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDear Readers,This Sunshine Week, a generous supporter in Norwich, VT is matching every gift to VTDigger dollar for dollar, up to $15,000. That means your support for independent journalism will go twice as far.<br />
Donate now<br />
From our Montpelier office, I have the honor of observing our reporters and editors in action. They are in constant motion, working quickly but caref]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sunshine-week-match-your-gift-is-doubled-right-now/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 20:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sunshine-week-match-your-gift-is-doubled-right-now/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bove brothers plan to renovate Winooski apartments with tumultuous history ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.Rick and Mark Bove are planning a full-scale renovation of a beleaguered Winooski apartment complex that has sat vacant for months and drawn public scrutiny and concern over the last four years.The Boves&rsquo; new plan to remodel the two dozen townhomes and charge market-rate rents is a pivot from their prior aim to demolish them and construct a new, nearly 70-uni]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bove-brothers-plan-to-renovate-winooski-apartments-with-tumultuous-history/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 20:51:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bove-brothers-plan-to-renovate-winooski-apartments-with-tumultuous-history/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rodolphe (Rod) James Vallee]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 05/27/1937St. Albans, VermontDied: 03/12/2026Georgia, VermontDetails of service: Calling hours will be at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main Street, St. Albans on Friday, March 20, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.A service to celebrate Rod&rsquo;s life will be held at the Georgia Plains Baptist Church, 1493 Stone Bridge Road, Georgia at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 21, 2026.Rodolphe (Rod) James Vallee passed away peacefully following a long illness at his home in Georgia, Vermont on March 12,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rodolphe-rod-james-vallee/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 19:50:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rodolphe-rod-james-vallee/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal government investigates Vermont’s abortion coverage mandate]]></title><description><![CDATA[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks at an event sponsored by the Ethan Allen Institute in South Burlington in June 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched an investigation into a Vermont law that requires health insurance companies in the state to cover abortions.Representatives from the Department of Financial Regulation have confirmed that they received a letter from the federal government Wednesday evening informing them that the departmen]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-government-investigates-vermonts-abortion-coverage-mandate/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 19:40:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-government-investigates-vermonts-abortion-coverage-mandate/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Detained a week, Honduran man taken in South Burlington ICE raid released]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cristian Humberto Jerez Andrade is led out in handcuffs by federal law enforcement agents during an ICE raid on a Dorset Street home in South Burlington on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Jerez Andrade was granted bond and released in immigration court Thursday. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated at 6:37 p.m.A man detained in an armed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement standoff in South Burlington last week was granted bond and released in immigration court Thursday.Held at the Northwest S]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/detained-a-week-honduran-man-taken-in-south-burlington-ice-raid-released/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:17:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/detained-a-week-honduran-man-taken-in-south-burlington-ice-raid-released/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Detained a week, Honduran man taken in South Burlington ICE raid is released]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cristian Humberto Jerez Andrade is led out in handcuffs by federal law enforcement agents during an ICE raid on a Dorset Street home in South Burlington on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Jerez Andrade was granted bond and released in immigration court Thursday. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA man detained in the armed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement standoff in South Burlington last week was granted bond and released in immigration court Thursday.Held at the Northwest State Correctional F]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/detained-a-week-honduran-man-taken-in-south-burlington-ice-raid-is-released/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:17:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/detained-a-week-honduran-man-taken-in-south-burlington-ice-raid-is-released/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont State Police make arrest in Brownington suspicious death]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Vermont State Police cruiser seen in 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont State Police have made an arrest relating to a suspicious death in Brownington Wednesday night.&nbsp;Ariana Rodger, 43, of Newport was taken into custody by VSP on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree aggravated domestic assault and violation of conditions of release.The investigation began early Wednesday morning after police received a report of a deceased man at home just outside of Brownington, in O]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-state-police-make-arrest-in-brownington-suspicious-death/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:48:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-state-police-make-arrest-in-brownington-suspicious-death/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Newport woman charged with second-degree murder in Brownington death]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Vermont State Police cruiser seen in 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated at 6:30 p.m.A Newport woman was charged Thursday with second-degree murder after a man was stabbed to death with a machete in Brownington, according to court records.&nbsp;Ariana Rodger, 43, of Newport was taken into custody Wednesday by Vermont State Police on charges that also included first-degree aggravated domestic assault and violation of conditions of release.Rodger was arraigned in Orleans County Superio]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/newport-woman-charged-with-second-degree-murder-in-brownington-death/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:48:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/newport-woman-charged-with-second-degree-murder-in-brownington-death/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Spirit Hollow silent retreat and Ruffed Grouse Society take opposite stands on Green Mountain National Forest logging]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tracey Forest, who runs Spirit Hollow, a silent nature-based retreat in Shaftsbury, described on December 22, 2025 how she needed to re-locate her business during logging in the adjoining Green Mountain Forest. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIn late November, Tracey Forest heard loud grinding and beeping and raced down the road to find a fleet of logging trucks with giant claws and saws near where she runs Spirit Hollow, a silent retreat.&nbsp;The loggers with machinery were traveling toward th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/spirit-hollow-silent-retreat-and-ruffed-grouse-society-take-opposite-stands-on-green-mountain-national-forest-logging/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/spirit-hollow-silent-retreat-and-ruffed-grouse-society-take-opposite-stands-on-green-mountain-national-forest-logging/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Philip Finkelstein: Will the Democrats ever learn their lesson?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Philip Finkelstein, an independent journalist and writer from Vermont, with a master&rsquo;s degree in international relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.&nbsp;One of the first op-eds I ever wrote was in 2017. I was about to graduate from college, and President Donald Trump was a year into his first term. He had narrowly beaten Hillary Clinton in an election that had shocked America. The polls had failed to predict the outcome.&nbsp;It was my]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/philip-finkelstein-will-the-democrats-ever-learn-their-lesson/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:17:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/philip-finkelstein-will-the-democrats-ever-learn-their-lesson/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Legislative panel votes against keeping southern Vermont judge on the bench]]></title><description><![CDATA[Senators join Representatives for a joint assembly on judicial retention at the Statehouse in Montpelier on March 26, 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; A panel of Vermont legislators took the rare step of recommending that the full House and Senate reject Superior Court Judge Rachel Malone&rsquo;s application to remain on the bench when she faces a &ldquo;retention&rdquo; vote next week.The Judicial Retention Committee&rsquo;s recommendation March 12 stemmed largely f]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/legislative-panel-votes-against-keeping-southern-vermont-judge-on-the-bench/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 23:45:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/legislative-panel-votes-against-keeping-southern-vermont-judge-on-the-bench/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Want to buy more cannabis? This Vermont bill could allow it. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Immature cannabis plants. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&ldquo;The biggest killer in this country is isolation,&rdquo; said Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Chittenden Southeast. And cannabis, she argued, could be part of the solution.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have seen our cannabis industry follow all the rules, give people a third place, give people the opportunity to find community and they have done it in a more constrained market than the states around us,&rdquo; Ram Hinsdale said, sitting before th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/want-to-buy-more-cannabis-this-vermont-bill-could-allow-it/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 23:28:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/want-to-buy-more-cannabis-this-vermont-bill-could-allow-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bobbi Warner Somers and Joy Ely: When rural teens struggle, schools step in]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Bobbi Warner Somers, the director of health and wellness, and Joy Ely, a school counselor, who both work at Lyndon Institute.As school counselors in a rural community, we see every day what many people never do: teenagers carrying adult-size burdens into our classrooms. Often, these burdens appear long before they surface as failing grades, chronic absenteeism or crises.In rural communities like the Northeast Kingdom, these challenges are not rare. Limited access to mental]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bobbi-warner-somers-and-joy-ely-when-rural-teens-struggle-schools-step-in/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 23:09:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bobbi-warner-somers-and-joy-ely-when-rural-teens-struggle-schools-step-in/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont attorney general clears Ludlow police chief of criminal wrongdoing in shooting, wounding man]]></title><description><![CDATA[Stock photo by PexelsVermont Attorney General Charity Clark has ruled that Ludlow Police Chief Jeffrey Warfle was justified when he shot and injured a man on New Year&rsquo;s Day.The office of the state&rsquo;s top prosecutor announced the findings in a press release Friday stemming from the incident where police said Jaime Gomez, 18, allegedly pulled out a knife and lunged at Warfle at a downtown inn in Ludlow where Gomez had been living.&nbsp;Warfle, according to the release, &ldquo;reasonabl]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-attorney-general-clears-ludlow-police-chief-of-criminal-wrongdoing-in-shooting-wounding-man/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:52:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-attorney-general-clears-ludlow-police-chief-of-criminal-wrongdoing-in-shooting-wounding-man/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Attorney general begins taking new high-profile cases from embattled State’s Attorney Vekos]]></title><description><![CDATA[Addison County State&rsquo;s Attorney Eva Vekos is arraigned on a DUI charge in Addison County Superior criminal court in Middlebury on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger Credit: Glenn RussellUpdated 4:41 p.m.The Vermont Attorney General&rsquo;s Office will begin handling a host of high-profile cases usually assigned to embattled Addison County State&rsquo;s Attorney Eva Vekos, according to a Tuesday letter from the office obtained by VTDigger.&nbsp;The decision comes as Vek]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/attorney-general-begins-taking-new-high-profile-cases-from-embattled-states-attorney-vekos/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:26:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/attorney-general-begins-taking-new-high-profile-cases-from-embattled-states-attorney-vekos/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont State Police investigating suspicious death in Brownington]]></title><description><![CDATA[Police cruiser lights. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont State Police are investigating a suspicious death in Brownington Wednesday morning, with no arrests announced pending the results of an autopsy.&nbsp;The investigation began after police received a report of a deceased man at home just outside of Brownington, in Orleans County, at 2 a.m., with first responders discovering a body.&nbsp;&nbsp;An initial investigation indicated that the incident arose from a dispute involving individual]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-state-police-investigating-suspicious-death-in-brownington/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:20:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-state-police-investigating-suspicious-death-in-brownington/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawmakers weigh changes to Vermont’s vehicle purchase tax with education challenges top of mind]]></title><description><![CDATA[A flagger stops traffic in a work zone in Waterbury on Sept. 9, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThere is no shortage of major issues for Vermont legislators to try to tackle over the second half of the session &mdash; far from the least of which is the slouching state revenue available for transportation projects, coupled with increasing costs for paving roads and other construction.To make a dent in that problem, Gov. Phil Scott has proposed directing less tax revenue from sales of n]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-weigh-changes-to-vermonts-vehicle-purchase-tax-with-education-challenges-top-of-mind/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 23:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-weigh-changes-to-vermonts-vehicle-purchase-tax-with-education-challenges-top-of-mind/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Christopher Webster Green]]></title><description><![CDATA[&nbsp;Born: 05/18/1949Worcester, MADied: 03/12/2026Colchester, VTDetails of service:A family gathering is planned for late spring.Christopher Webster Green, father, brother, storyteller, dog lover and dedicated Vermonter for nearly all of his life, died March 12 at his home in Colchester. He was 76 and carried a quiet dignity until the very end. He will be remembered by his extended family and friends as a man of uncommon sweetness and gentleness.Chris could tell you who pitched for the San Fra]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/christopher-webster-green/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 22:19:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/christopher-webster-green/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[John Bossange: Vermonters show up in November. Why not in March?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by John Bossange, who lives in Burlington.Vermonters have a long tradition of participating in our local March town meeting process, whether it&rsquo;s a vote by those in attendance or by Australian ballot. Vermont&rsquo;s percentages of voting in national elections and other November ballot issues are among the highest of any state in America. In 2024, 71% of eligible voters went to the polls.&nbsp;However, at our local March elections, the numbers are dramatically lower.&nb]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-bossange-vermonters-show-up-in-november-why-not-in-march/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:54:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-bossange-vermonters-show-up-in-november-why-not-in-march/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger honored with seven awards for reporting and photography by the New England Newspaper &amp; Press Association]]></title><description><![CDATA[Clockwise from top left: University of Vermont fans watch the UVM men&rsquo;s soccer team win the national championship on Dec. 16, 2025; The I-91 highway southbound lane in Coventry, near where a border patrol officer was shot and killed on Jan. 20, 2025; A homeowner shows where a construction contractor allegedly did sub-standard work; and people hold signs in protest against Vice President JD Vance&rsquo;s visit to the Sugarbush Ski Resort in Warren on March 1, 2025 Photos by Glenn Russell/V]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-honored-with-seven-awards-for-reporting-and-photography-by-the-new-england-newspaper-amp-press-association/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:25:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-honored-with-seven-awards-for-reporting-and-photography-by-the-new-england-newspaper-amp-press-association/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger honored with 7 awards for reporting and photography by the New England Newspaper &amp; Press Association]]></title><description><![CDATA[Clockwise from top left: University of Vermont fans watch the UVM men&rsquo;s soccer team win the national championship on Dec. 16, 2025; The I-91 highway southbound lane in Coventry, near where a border patrol officer was shot and killed on Jan. 20, 2025; A homeowner shows where a construction contractor allegedly did sub-standard work; and people hold signs in protest against Vice President JD Vance&rsquo;s visit to the Sugarbush Ski Resort in Warren on March 1, 2025 Photos by Glenn Russell/V]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-honored-with-7-awards-for-reporting-and-photography-by-the-new-england-newspaper-amp-press-association/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:25:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-honored-with-7-awards-for-reporting-and-photography-by-the-new-england-newspaper-amp-press-association/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sunshine Week: Reporter Alan J. Keays on why transparency is worth the fight]]></title><description><![CDATA[Reporter Alan J. Keays, center, asks the governor a question at a press conference in Berlin on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. Photo by Natalie Williams/VTDiggerSunshine Week highlights the public&rsquo;s right to access government information. But that right only has meaning when it is exercised. VTDigger&rsquo;s Alan J. Keays shows what that work looks like in practice.If you believe in open government and a free press, please help support it today.<br />
Donate now<br />
Last year, when the Addison County State]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sunshine-week-reporter-alan-j-keays-on-why-transparency-is-worth-the-fight/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:33:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sunshine-week-reporter-alan-j-keays-on-why-transparency-is-worth-the-fight/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Man detained in South Burlington ICE standoff will remain in custody for now]]></title><description><![CDATA[Demonstrators gather outside the Federal Building in Burlington to support Cristian Jerez Andrade during his hearing in federal court on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Andrade was one of three people detained during an ICE raid in South Burlington last week. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated at 3:45 p.m.A man detained in last week&rsquo;s armed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement standoff on Dorset Street in South Burlington will remain in federal custody following a court hearing Tuesday.C]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/man-detained-in-south-burlington-ice-standoff-will-remain-in-custody-for-now/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:13:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/man-detained-in-south-burlington-ice-standoff-will-remain-in-custody-for-now/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Man detained in South Burlington ICE raid will remain in custody]]></title><description><![CDATA[Demonstrators gather outside the Federal Building in Burlington to support Cristian Jerez Andrade during his hearing in federal court on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Andrade was one of three people detained during an ICE raid in South Burlington last week. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA man detained in last week&rsquo;s armed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement standoff on Dorset Street in South Burlington will remain in federal custody following a court hearing Tuesday.Cristian Humberto Jer]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/man-detained-in-south-burlington-ice-raid-will-remain-in-custody/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:13:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/man-detained-in-south-burlington-ice-raid-will-remain-in-custody/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[ICE raid detainee remains jailed as judge orders immigration court hearing]]></title><description><![CDATA[Demonstrators gather outside the Federal Building in Burlington to support Cristian Jerez Andrade during his hearing in federal court on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Andrade was one of three people detained during an ICE raid in South Burlington last week. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated at 6:01 p.m.BURLINGTON &ndash; A man detained in last week&rsquo;s armed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement standoff on Dorset Street in South Burlington will remain in federal custody following a cour]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-raid-detainee-remains-jailed-as-judge-orders-immigration-court-hearing/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:13:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-raid-detainee-remains-jailed-as-judge-orders-immigration-court-hearing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Is Fix Our Forest Act a fix or a free pass for loggers?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Demonstrators gather outside the offices of U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, in Burlington on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.Vermonters are weighing the impacts of a federal bill &mdash; the Fix Our Forest Act &mdash; that would dramatically change environmental review processes and bring a big shift in the government&rsquo;s approach to forest management in the state and across the country.&nbsp;Proponents of the bill, including foresters and loggers, say that this bill will streamline projects]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/is-fix-our-forest-act-a-fix-or-a-free-pass-for-loggers/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:35:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/is-fix-our-forest-act-a-fix-or-a-free-pass-for-loggers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bennington agency settles with the state over service failures for adults with developmental disabilities]]></title><description><![CDATA[Attorney General Charity Clark in 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger Credit: Glenn RussellUnited Counseling Service in Bennington has settled with the state over concerns about the organization&rsquo;s care and supervision for adults with developmental disabilities.&nbsp;The Bennington County designated agency has agreed to pay the state $483,464 for the damages and agreed to hire an oversight monitor and director of quality for three years in its developmental services division, as a w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bennington-agency-settles-with-the-state-over-service-failures-for-adults-with-developmental-disabilities/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bennington-agency-settles-with-the-state-over-service-failures-for-adults-with-developmental-disabilities/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[One of three detained by ICE in South Burlington released ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jissela Johana Patin Patin walks out of the Federal Building in Burlington after being released from custody on Monday, March 16, 2026. Patin was one of three people detained by ICE during a raid is South Burlington last week. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA federal judge on Monday morning ordered the release of one of three people detained since a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in South Burlington last week.Jisella Johana Patin Patin, 31, who goes by Johana, was one of three pe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/one-of-three-detained-by-ice-in-south-burlington-released/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:10:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/one-of-three-detained-by-ice-in-south-burlington-released/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Bennington County loan program aims to boost housing supply]]></title><description><![CDATA[State Treasurer Mike Pieciak announcing Building Up Bennington program at the Bennington Theater in Bennington on March 16, 2026. Photo by Greta SolsaaBennington County needs close to 1,500 new housing units by 2030, according to Bill Colvin, Bennington County Regional Commission executive director.A new initiative called &ldquo;Building up Bennington,&rdquo; which was announced on Monday, is designed to chip away at that &ldquo;daunting&rdquo; demand by offering low-interest loans to build and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-bennington-county-loan-program-aims-to-boost-housing-supply/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 23:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-bennington-county-loan-program-aims-to-boost-housing-supply/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos fires back against bid to suspend her law license]]></title><description><![CDATA[Addison County State&rsquo;s Attorney Eva Vekos appears in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe lawyer for Addison County State&rsquo;s Attorney Eva Vekos is challenging the bid to have his client&rsquo;s law license temporarily suspended amid a disciplinary process stemming from her drunken driving conviction.The Vermont Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the matter Thursday.David Sleigh, who represents]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/addison-county-states-attorney-eva-vekos-fires-back-against-bid-to-suspend-her-law-license/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:51:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/addison-county-states-attorney-eva-vekos-fires-back-against-bid-to-suspend-her-law-license/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Leading Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor are closely matched in early fundraising]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ryan McLaren, left, and Molly Gray, right, Democratic candidates for the states second-highest office. Courtesy and Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTwo of the Democrats running to be Vermont&rsquo;s lieutenant governor are neck-and-neck in fundraising after two months on the campaign trail, according to new reports filed this week.&nbsp;Together, the filings by Molly Gray and Ryan McLaren &mdash; as well as a third Democratic candidate, Esther Charlestin &mdash; show some $325,000 has been infused into t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/leading-democratic-candidates-for-lieutenant-governor-are-closely-matched-in-early-fundraising/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:47:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/leading-democratic-candidates-for-lieutenant-governor-are-closely-matched-in-early-fundraising/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Charles (Chuck) Vile]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 06/01/1942Philadelpha, PADied: 02/11/2026McClure Miller Respite House<br />
Colchester, VTDetails of service:A memorial service will be held April 25th at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Rte 15 Jericho, VT.Charles (Chuck) Vile, 83 of Chapin Road, Essex, Vermont died peacefully on February 11, 2026 at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, VT.Chuck was born June 1, 1942 to Charles E. and Elenore Vile of Broomall, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Marple-Newton High School in 1960.Upon]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/charles-chuck-vile/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:22:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/charles-chuck-vile/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Integrated Crisis Stabilization Services supports individuals experiencing substance use and mental health crises at United Counseling Service’s Battelle House in Bennington, VT]]></title><description><![CDATA[Members of UCS Crisis Team: Rachel Burnham, Robert Condolora, and Vicky Potter<br />
United Counseling Service (UCS) program expanded to meet critical community needA three-bed Integrated Crisis Stabilization Services (ICSS) Program aims to meet essential community needs in Bennington County. ICSS is offered by UCS, a nonprofit community-based agency, and part of the Vermont Care Partners (VCP) network,&nbsp; and is based at the Battelle House in Bennington, VT. ICSS reduces barriers to treatment by]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/integrated-crisis-stabilization-services-supports-individuals-experiencing-substance-use-and-mental-health-crises-at-united-counseling-services-battelle-house-in-bennington-vt/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:54:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/integrated-crisis-stabilization-services-supports-individuals-experiencing-substance-use-and-mental-health-crises-at-united-counseling-services-battelle-house-in-bennington-vt/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brattleboro hospital nurses plan strike vote after $14.5M deficit freezes pay]]></title><description><![CDATA[The entrance and emergency department of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerA union representing nurses at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, objecting to proposed curbs on salaries and benefits amid a projected $14.5 million annual budget shortfall, will vote this week on whether to strike.The Brattleboro Federation of Nurses is set to send ballots to its 160 members Wednesday and reveal the results March 23. If a walkout is approved, the union must issue a 10-day]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-hospital-nurses-plan-strike-vote-after-145m-deficit-freezes-pay/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:54:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-hospital-nurses-plan-strike-vote-after-145m-deficit-freezes-pay/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermonters adjust to a health care landscape without Medicare Advantage ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Charlie Papillo of Colchester has had to purchase private supplemental insurance to replace the Medicare Advantage coverage he used to have. Seen at home on Thursday, March 12, 2026, Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAfter decades of self-employment and buying her own health insurance, Ruth Miller of Chittenden County felt &ldquo;relief&rdquo; at turning 65 and transitioning into Medicare.With a Medicare Advantage plan through BlueCross BlueShield, she was finally able to get the &ldquo;much-neede]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-adjust-to-a-health-care-landscape-without-medicare-advantage/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-adjust-to-a-health-care-landscape-without-medicare-advantage/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers narrowly advance bill increasing gun restrictions and crimes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Handguns are displayed at the Smith &amp; Wesson booth at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas in January 2019. File photo by John Locher/APMONTPELIER &mdash; Representatives in the House Judiciary Committee narrowly advanced a bill to increase restrictions on guns in Vermont, with members divided along party lines.&nbsp;Committee members passed the bill Friday just in time to meet a deadline that day, when bills generally must make it out of committee to get a chance at be]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-narrowly-advance-bill-increasing-gun-restrictions-and-crimes/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-narrowly-advance-bill-increasing-gun-restrictions-and-crimes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Freedom of Information Day: Stand with a free press]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger reporter Greta Solsaa interviews people in Tinmouth on Friday, September 12, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDear Readers,Two hundred and fifty years into the American experiment, our democracy still depends on a free press. And a free press depends on people willing to sustain it.Monday, March 16 is Freedom of Information Day and the start of Sunshine Week. Will you make a donation to VTDigger and help keep nonprofit journalism strong in Vermont?<br />
Donate now<br />
Freedom of Information]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/freedom-of-information-day-stand-with-a-free-press/</link><pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 20:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/freedom-of-information-day-stand-with-a-free-press/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Steve Crafts: Shop local services, not just local goods]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,When most people hear the term &ldquo;small business&rdquo;, they think just that: &ldquo;small.&rdquo; But that&rsquo;s not the case here in Vermont, where small businesses make up 99% of all businesses and employ more than 60% of the state&rsquo;s total workforce, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Small businesses play an outsized role here and are the backbone of our economy. But there&rsquo;s still tremendous room to grow.&nbsp;&nbsp;The creative and service s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/steve-crafts-shop-local-services-not-just-local-goods/</link><pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:05:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/steve-crafts-shop-local-services-not-just-local-goods/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Paralympian Spencer Wood is going downhill. He finds it so uplifting.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Paralympian Spencer Wood learned to ski at the Killington resort, where his parents were instructors. Photo by Andrew Wilson/UF HealthAsk Spencer Wood how he became Vermont&rsquo;s sole 2026 Paralympian and he can retrace all 29 years of his journey from a traumatic brain injury in the womb to athletic triumph on the world stage. Or you can just jump to his new 15-second video that has nearly 1 million views.&ldquo;Before he was born, Spencer suffered a paralyzing stroke,&rdquo; an anno]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-paralympian-spencer-wood-is-going-downhill-he-finds-it-so-uplifting/</link><pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:58:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-paralympian-spencer-wood-is-going-downhill-he-finds-it-so-uplifting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stowe tax hike could face tough future in Legislature]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Vermont resident at the ballot box on Town Meeting Day in 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Patrick Bilow was first published in the Stowe Reporter on March 12, 2026.Stowe voters may have agreed to&nbsp;double the town&rsquo;s local option taxes, but some lawmakers are warning that final legislative approval might not be a given.Vermont authorizes municipalities to levy a 1% tax on those items through the state&rsquo;s local option tax program, which Stowe has done for y]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stowe-tax-hike-could-face-tough-future-in-legislature/</link><pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stowe-tax-hike-could-face-tough-future-in-legislature/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Then Again: A 23-year-old Vermonter’s last letters from the Korean War]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dave Jennings mailed home a photograph of men he served with in Korea. On the back he gave their names and nicknames. From left, they are: &ldquo;&rdquo;Col.&rdquo; Nixon, Tex Ermin, Shorty Kaminski, &ldquo;Be-Bop&rdquo; Del Degan, Tex Nelson, &ldquo;Suzie&rdquo; Souza, &ldquo;Shaky&rdquo; Gordon, and &ldquo;Luigi&rdquo; Luiz. Silver Special Collections Library, University of VermontIn the early morning of Dec. 7, 1952, Dave Jennings took a moment to write his parents, who were half a world awa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-a-23-year-old-vermonters-last-letters-from-the-korean-war/</link><pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:52:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-a-23-year-old-vermonters-last-letters-from-the-korean-war/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writer’s Project:  ‘The Cellphone Between You and Me’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;A Desk Less Cluttered&rdquo; by Abigail Balon, 15, PantonYoung Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sreid@y]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-the-cellphone-between-you-and-me/</link><pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:51:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-the-cellphone-between-you-and-me/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Retta Dunlap: My land, their rules]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I&rsquo;m writing to speak to you from my heart about the terrible human toll of Act 181, the major overhaul of Vermont&rsquo;s land-use system that&rsquo;s threatening to destroy the lives of so many rural Vermonters.My husband of 48 years has Alzheimer&rsquo;s. I have become both husband and wife in our duties at home as I care for him through his illness. We are on a fixed income, and since I&rsquo;ve taken over our budgeting, I&rsquo;ve found that we have enough to live on for n]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/retta-dunlap-my-land-their-rules/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 23:47:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/retta-dunlap-my-land-their-rules/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawmakers weigh measures to protect homebuyers against institutional real estate investors]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Cambrian Rise housing development in Burlington on Friday, June 6, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe political agendas of Rep. Emilie Krasnow, D-South Burlington, and President Donald Trump don&rsquo;t overlap much. But they do agree on one thing: preventing large firms from buying homes before locals have the chance.Despite ribbing from her colleagues along those lines as the president and federal lawmakers introduce adjacent policies, Krasnow has been working on the issue for years]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-weigh-measures-to-protect-homebuyers-against-institutional-real-estate-investors/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 23:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-weigh-measures-to-protect-homebuyers-against-institutional-real-estate-investors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont House passes bill creating pathway to sue federal agents for civil rights violations]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters surround an ICE agent during demonstration against an earlier attempted stop by ICE in South Burlington on March 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Days after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation sparked chaotic clashes between police and protesters in South Burlington, the Vermont House on Friday passed a bill that would create a new legal pathway for people to sue federal agents they allege have violated their constitutional rights.The bill,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-passes-bill-creating-pathway-to-sue-federal-agents-for-civil-rights-violations/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:41:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-passes-bill-creating-pathway-to-sue-federal-agents-for-civil-rights-violations/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Randolph librarian led effort to defeat Kimball Library budget]]></title><description><![CDATA[The copper-clad cupola of the 124-year-old Kimball Public Library, seen in Randolph on Jan. 27, 2026, has been showing signs that it is leaking water for more than a decade. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Sofia Langlois&nbsp;was first published&nbsp;in Valley News on March 10, 2026.RANDOLPH &mdash; Voters shot down the Kimball Library budget on Town Meeting Day earlier this month, but it wasn&rsquo;t out of a lack of support for the nearly 125-year-old institution.Prior to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/randolph-librarian-led-effort-to-defeat-kimball-library-budget/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:31:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/randolph-librarian-led-effort-to-defeat-kimball-library-budget/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jessica Allen: Celiac disease turns every meal into a risk]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jessica Allen, a stay-at-home mother and substitute teacher who lives in York, Maine.I was diagnosed with celiac disease at 30, but my body had been trying to tell me something for years before that. By the time I was 25, my joints and face periodically swelled for no obvious reason. I was exhausted all the time. Everything hurt in a low-grade, constant way that&rsquo;s easy to dismiss when you&rsquo;re busy building a life. I didn&rsquo;t know then that gluten was quietly]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jessica-allen-celiac-disease-turns-every-meal-into-a-risk/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jessica-allen-celiac-disease-turns-every-meal-into-a-risk/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nearly 25% of schools in Vermont hadn’t tested for radon, more than four years after state mandate]]></title><description><![CDATA[Winooski High School on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. Photo by Neal Goswami/VTDiggerStudents, families, and staff in schools across Vermont are in the dark about whether they&rsquo;re being exposed to a known carcinogen.Nearly a quarter of schools failed to conduct required testing for radon, an odorless, colorless gas that is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.At Orange Southwest schools, testing for radon &ldquo;just didn&rsquo;t happen,&rdquo; an official there said. In Winooski, sc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nearly-25-of-schools-in-vermont-hadnt-tested-for-radon-more-than-four-years-after-state-mandate/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:36:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nearly-25-of-schools-in-vermont-hadnt-tested-for-radon-more-than-four-years-after-state-mandate/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s 8-year ‘all-payer’ health care experiment sunset at the end of 2025. What did it teach us?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tom Borys, CEO of OneCare, in Colchester on Dec. 3, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWhen 2025 ended, so too did Vermont&rsquo;s eight-year experiment in systemwide health care payment reform.&nbsp;Now as the state looks to what comes next in health care reform, one proposal working its way through the Legislature aims to incorporate the lessons from that past experiment.&nbsp;The vision behind the &ldquo;all-payer model&rdquo; sought to align insurers and health care providers in a payment]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-8-year-all-payer-health-care-experiment-sunset-at-the-end-of-2025-what-did-it-teach-us/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:58:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-8-year-all-payer-health-care-experiment-sunset-at-the-end-of-2025-what-did-it-teach-us/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ashley Andreas uncovered a passion for environmental building practices–and lifelong learning]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ashley Andreas, a 33-year-old Hartford Selectboard member and housing advocate, says that her path to a degree was anything but linear. In fact, it looked a lot more like one of Vermont&rsquo;s dirt roads: full of steep climbs, unexpected turns, and a destination that maybe looks a little different than what&rsquo;s on the map.Ashley grew up in Pennsylvania and spent her teenage years at the Milton Hershey School, a residential high school for children without privilege. She notes that it was a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ashley-andreas-uncovered-a-passion-for-environmental-building-practicesand-lifelong-learning/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:45:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ashley-andreas-uncovered-a-passion-for-environmental-building-practicesand-lifelong-learning/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington state rep to resign after panel finds he violated sexual harassment rules]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Bob Hooper, D-Burlington, speaks in favor of a minimum wage bill at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, January 24, 2020.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated at 6:49 p.m.MONTPELIER &mdash; Rep. Bob Hooper, D-Burlington, said Friday afternoon he plans to resign from the House &mdash; hours after it was announced he had stepped down from his committee assignment &ldquo;in response to a violation&rdquo; of the chamber&rsquo;s sexual harassment rules, according to a memo from House Speak]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-state-rep-to-resign-after-panel-finds-he-violated-sexual-harassment-rules/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-state-rep-to-resign-after-panel-finds-he-violated-sexual-harassment-rules/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington state rep resigns committee seat after violating sexual harassment policy]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Bob Hooper, D-Burlington, speaks in favor of a minimum wage bill at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, January 24, 2020.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Rep. Bob Hooper, D-Burlington, resigned his seat on the House Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee &ldquo;in response to a violation&rdquo; of the chamber&rsquo;s sexual harassment policies, according to a Friday memo from House Speaker Jill Krowinski.Hooper&rsquo;s resignation came &ldquo;after a thor]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-state-rep-resigns-committee-seat-after-violating-sexual-harassment-policy/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-state-rep-resigns-committee-seat-after-violating-sexual-harassment-policy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Waterford parents: When ‘school choice’ simply means your local high school]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jennifer Barrett, Erin Dimick, Cait Fitzwater, Clanci Giddings, Sara Gingue, Shawn Gingue, Amira Ghazali, Kirsten Grace, Melissa Leo, Emily Makelky and Melissa Peters, who are from Waterford and parents of students at Waterford School, a public K-8 school.When Vermont lawmakers debate school choice, they often conjure a particular image: parents shopping around for private alternatives, siphoning public dollars away from neighborhood schools. But in our region of the North]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/waterford-parents-when-school-choice-simply-means-your-local-high-school/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:01:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/waterford-parents-when-school-choice-simply-means-your-local-high-school/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Expanding eye doctors’ scope of practice gets heated ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Photo via PexelsWhen it comes to who provides what vision care, you might expect optometrists and ophthalmologists to see eye to eye.But the daylight between the two professions has grown wider, and stormier, in recent weeks as the two sides argue over S.64, a bill that proposes broadening the kind of work optometrists can do in Vermont. Optometrists are eye doctors (with a doctorate in optometry) who do routine eye exams and primary vision care; ophthalmologists are medical doctors with more e]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/expanding-eye-doctors-scope-of-practice-gets-heated/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 23:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/expanding-eye-doctors-scope-of-practice-gets-heated/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marcia Gary]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 08/15/1945Frederick, MDDied: 03/07/2026Mesa, AZDetails of service:The family will have a private service at the family cemetery in West Virginia at a later date.Marcia was born in Frederick, Maryland on August 15, 1945. She was the eldest of five children born to Celia (Swiger) and Grover Broadwater. Her siblings, William Broadwater, Deborah Lescalleet, Margaret Sayler (deceased) and Elizabeth (Betsy) Broadwater, all grew up in Woodsboro, Maryland.<br />
Marcia graduated from Walkersville High]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marcia-gary/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:50:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marcia-gary/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Anger over Act 181 bubbles up as lawmakers consider postponing its implementation]]></title><description><![CDATA[This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.Hannah Burrill, a real estate agent in the Northeast Kingdom, was floored when she learned while gearing up for her license renewal this winter about a slate of land-use law changes coming down the pike from Montpelier. To her, Act 181 seemed to represent an infringement on rural landowners&rsquo; property rights and a death knell for future growth in small towns &]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/anger-over-act-181-bubbles-up-as-lawmakers-consider-postponing-its-implementation/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:39:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/anger-over-act-181-bubbles-up-as-lawmakers-consider-postponing-its-implementation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Burlington airport terminal to open in coming weeks, officials say]]></title><description><![CDATA[The new concourse at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, seen here still under construction on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDiggerSOUTH BURLINGTON &mdash; A swanky new terminal with an open-air observation deck is slated to open at Vermont&rsquo;s largest airport as soon as the end of March, officials said on Thursday &mdash; with the demolition of several existing gates expected to start right after.&nbsp;The project, at Patrick Leahy Burlington International]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-burlington-airport-terminal-to-open-in-coming-weeks-officials-say/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:32:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-burlington-airport-terminal-to-open-in-coming-weeks-officials-say/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Two Williston schools close after Wednesday night electric school bus fire]]></title><description><![CDATA[Four electric school buses in Williston burned on March 12, 2026. CourtesyTwo Williston schools closed on Thursday after a late night fire totaled four electric school buses in the Champlain Valley School District&rsquo;s fleet.The Allen Brook School and Williston Central School were closed to clean up nearby debris from the fire in the Allen Brook parking area. School officials said they were unable to transport students to and from the Williston Central School because of the disruption.&ldquo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/two-williston-schools-close-after-wednesday-night-electric-school-bus-fire/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/two-williston-schools-close-after-wednesday-night-electric-school-bus-fire/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[ICE agents took into custody a person they were not seeking after Vermont standoff]]></title><description><![CDATA[Members of the Vermont State Police Critical Action Team prepare to enter a house where a suspect who fled an earlier attempted stop by ICE is thought to be in South Burlington on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA man taken into custody Wednesday, after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stormed a South Burlington home, was not the person they were seeking, according to federal authorities.The man was seized at the single family home amid protests after an]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-agents-took-into-custody-a-person-they-were-not-seeking-after-vermont-standoff/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-agents-took-into-custody-a-person-they-were-not-seeking-after-vermont-standoff/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[ICE agents did not detain their target in operation that led to chaotic standoff]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters question masked ICE agents as they demonstrate against an attempted stop by ICE in South Burlington on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA man taken into custody Wednesday, after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stormed a South Burlington home, was not the person they were seeking, according to federal authorities.The man was seized at the single family home amid protests after an hourslong standoff.&nbsp;Federal authorities did not make availab]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-agents-did-not-detain-their-target-in-operation-that-led-to-chaotic-standoff/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-agents-did-not-detain-their-target-in-operation-that-led-to-chaotic-standoff/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott slams ICE agents’ tactics in Vermont action as ‘totally unnecessary’; their target remains at large]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters scuffle with Vermont State Troopers as they block vehicles leaving the scene of arrests by ICE agents in South Burlington on Wednesday, March 11. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated at 7:47 p.m.A man taken into custody Wednesday, after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stormed a South Burlington home, was not the person they were seeking, according to federal authorities.The ICE operation drew widespread criticism Thursday from officials across political parties and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-phil-scott-slams-ice-agents-tactics-in-vermont-action-as-totally-unnecessary-their-target-remains-at-large/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-phil-scott-slams-ice-agents-tactics-in-vermont-action-as-totally-unnecessary-their-target-remains-at-large/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Immigration lawyers accuse Vermont prisons of impeding their work]]></title><description><![CDATA[Corrections Commissioner Jon Murad, left, pictured during his time as Burlington Police Chief on May 25, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAttorneys and volunteers with the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project used to go into Vermont&rsquo;s prisons and meet with every immigration detainee, using their phones and computers for language interpretation, according to Jill Martin Diaz, executive director of the organization.&nbsp;But they say that access changed this fall after Jon Murad took over]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/immigration-lawyers-accuse-vermont-prisons-of-impeding-their-work/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/immigration-lawyers-accuse-vermont-prisons-of-impeding-their-work/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers consider banning machine gun parts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Tom Burditt, R-West Rutland, reviews legislation being considered by the House Judiciary Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 4, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerOnly days before an impending deadline to get bills out of committee, representatives started hearing from experts on a controversial bill to increase gun-related restrictions in the state.&nbsp;Yet with time ticking down as the House Judiciary Committee&rsquo;s Democrats try to push through new gun regulations, W]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-consider-banning-machine-gun-parts/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:06:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-consider-banning-machine-gun-parts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[School consolidation efforts reach an inflection point as lawmakers hit familiar roadblocks]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Seth Bongartz, D-Bennington, left, and Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, right, chairs of the Senate and House education committees respectively, pictured in the Statehouse on March 13, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTwo competing education reform proposals in the House and Senate, representing opposing philosophies on how Vermont&rsquo;s education system should govern itself, appear bound for a collision course, with lawmakers already halfway through the legislative session.Everyone ap]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/school-consolidation-efforts-reach-an-inflection-point-as-lawmakers-hit-familiar-roadblocks/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 22:54:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/school-consolidation-efforts-reach-an-inflection-point-as-lawmakers-hit-familiar-roadblocks/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[PHOTOS: Protesters gather to block ICE agents from apprehending man in South Burlington]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters surround a house as they demonstrate against an attempted stop by ICE agents in South Burlington on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSOUTH BURLINGTON &ndash; Protesters surrounded a house on Dorset Street in South Burlington on Wednesday, trying to block agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from apprehending a person inside. About 150 demonstrators gathered at the scene near University Mall, forming a human chain surrounding the single-fam]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-protesters-gather-to-block-ice-agents-from-apprehending-man-in-south-burlington/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 21:59:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-protesters-gather-to-block-ice-agents-from-apprehending-man-in-south-burlington/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: How a melting Greenland went from universal wonder to imperial prize]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Jakobshavn Icefjord in Ilulissat, Greenland. Photo by Rob ReynoldsThe Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.When President Trump threatened to annex Greenland earlier this year, the vast Arctic island with a population slightly larger than Burlington was dragged from the periphery of world affa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-how-a-melting-greenland-went-from-universal-wonder-to-imperial-prize/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 21:14:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-how-a-melting-greenland-went-from-universal-wonder-to-imperial-prize/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[ICE agents take man in custody in Vermont after hourslong standoff as protesters gathered]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters scuffle with ICE agents as they demonstrate against an attempted stop by ICE in South Burlington on March 11. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated 8:30 p.m.SOUTH BURLINGTON &mdash; A man who authorities said was wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents was taken into custody late Wednesday afternoon after a Vermont State Police tactical team pushed protesters aside, clearing the way for federal agents to enter the house.The action ended a nearly daylong standoff ou]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-agents-take-man-in-custody-in-vermont-after-hourslong-standoff-as-protesters-gathered/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:20:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-agents-take-man-in-custody-in-vermont-after-hourslong-standoff-as-protesters-gathered/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[ICE agents take man in custody following hourslong standoff as protesters gathered]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters scuffle with ICE agents as they demonstrate against an attempted stop by ICE in South Burlington on March 11. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated 6:38 p.m.SOUTH BURLINGTON &mdash; A man who authorities said was wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents was taken into custody late Wednesday afternoon after a Vermont State Police tactical team pushed protesters aside, clearing the way for federal agents to enter the house.The action ended a nearly daylong standoff ou]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-agents-take-man-in-custody-following-hourslong-standoff-as-protesters-gathered/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:20:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-agents-take-man-in-custody-following-hourslong-standoff-as-protesters-gathered/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[ICE activity in South Burlington draws protesters and police to neighborhood]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters scuffle with ICE agents as they demonstrate against an attempted stop by ICE in South Burlington on March 11. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSOUTH BURLINGTON &mdash; South Burlington Police said late Wednesday morning they were on scene as federal immigration enforcement officials were seeking to apprehend a person believed to be inside a house on Dorset Street.&nbsp;The incident began around 7:40 a.m. Wednesday when South Burlington Police said they received a 911 call reporting a c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-activity-in-south-burlington-draws-protesters-and-police-to-neighborhood/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:20:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-activity-in-south-burlington-draws-protesters-and-police-to-neighborhood/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawyer for state panel seeks ‘immediate’ suspension of embattled Addison County prosecutor]]></title><description><![CDATA[Addison County States Attorney Eva Vekos waits at the denfendant&rsquo;s table before pleading no contest to a DUI charge in Chittenden County Superior criminal court Burlington on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAn attorney who handles discipline for lawyers in Vermont is seeking the &ldquo;immediate suspension&rdquo; of Addison County State&rsquo;s Attorney Eva Vekos&rsquo; law license.The 23-page filing from Jon Alexander, disciplinary counsel for the Vermont Profe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawyer-for-state-panel-seeks-immediate-suspension-of-embattled-addison-county-prosecutor/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:41:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawyer-for-state-panel-seeks-immediate-suspension-of-embattled-addison-county-prosecutor/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[LNA in hand, Lily Call will pursue nursing and diagnostic imaging in college]]></title><description><![CDATA[When Lily Call first arrived at St. Johnsbury Academy (STJA) four years ago, the school and the campus felt enormous. The scale and diversity of the student body, and the offerings at the Academy, were a &ldquo;wow moment,&rdquo; Lily says.Now in her senior year, Lily is fully immersed in academics as well as the extracurriculars offered at STJA. She was on tech crew and was a stage manager for two-and-a-half years for the school theater productions. She represents fellow students on the class]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lna-in-hand-lily-call-will-pursue-nursing-and-diagnostic-imaging-in-college/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:32:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lna-in-hand-lily-call-will-pursue-nursing-and-diagnostic-imaging-in-college/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[LNA in hand, Lily Call is poised to pursue nursing and diagnostic imaging in college]]></title><description><![CDATA[When Lily Call first arrived at St. Johnsbury Academy (STJA) four years ago, the school and the campus felt enormous. The scale and diversity of the student body, and the offerings at the Academy, were a &ldquo;wow moment,&rdquo; Lily says.Now in her senior year, Lily is fully immersed in academics as well as the extracurriculars offered at STJA. She was on tech crew and was a stage manager for two-and-a-half years for the school theater productions. She represents fellow students on the class]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lna-in-hand-lily-call-is-poised-to-pursue-nursing-and-diagnostic-imaging-in-college/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:32:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lna-in-hand-lily-call-is-poised-to-pursue-nursing-and-diagnostic-imaging-in-college/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Woodstock Village again holds hearing on police chief’s demotion]]></title><description><![CDATA[Linda Fraas, attorney for Police Chief Joseph Swanson, right, declines to shake the hand offered by Woodstock Municipal Manager Eric Duffy, left, before a personnel hearing for Swanson at the Woodstock Masonic Lodge on Monday, March 2. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Alex Ebrahimi was first published in Valley News on March 5, 2026.WOODSTOCK &mdash; Before the start of last week&rsquo;s hearing of the Village Board of Trustees to again attempt to demote Police Chief Joseph]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/woodstock-village-again-holds-hearing-on-police-chiefs-demotion/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/woodstock-village-again-holds-hearing-on-police-chiefs-demotion/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Walter Carpenter: Retirement is a luxury too many Vermonters can’t afford]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,It is wonderful that Sen. Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, the leader of the Vermont Senate, can finally retire after his 16 years under the golden dome. I do not know Sen. Baruth personally. I will not comment on his record, except to say that he no doubt gave the best he could of himself in his role as an elected public servant.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;However, as Sen. Baruth walks off into the sunset to pursue his passions, it should be remembered that thousands of other Vermonters]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/walter-carpenter-retirement-is-a-luxury-too-many-vermonters-cant-afford/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 02:37:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/walter-carpenter-retirement-is-a-luxury-too-many-vermonters-cant-afford/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Loralee Tester: When ‘protection’ becomes exclusion]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Loralee Tester, the executive director of the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce.A year and a half ago, I attended the Vermont Solutions Summit, hosted by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce in Burlington, which brought together business, education and policy leaders to discuss solutions to the state&rsquo;s workforce and economic challenges. It was an important event, and I was glad to be there.&nbsp;However, one moment from the final panel has stayed with me: when Sen. Al]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/loralee-tester-when-protection-becomes-exclusion/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 23:51:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/loralee-tester-when-protection-becomes-exclusion/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Family of Vermont National Guard member deployed to Middle East calls Trump’s orders ‘unconscionable’]]></title><description><![CDATA[F-35 jets are seen on display during an Open House held by the Vermont Air National Guard at the airbase in South Burlington on Sept. 11, 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA woman whose great nephew serves in the Vermont National Guard and, she said, is currently deployed to the Middle East called the Guard&rsquo;s operations there in support of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s war in Iran &ldquo;unconscionable&rdquo; in a statement presented at the Statehouse Tuesday.&ldquo;We are really]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/family-of-vermont-national-guard-member-deployed-to-middle-east-calls-trumps-orders-unconscionable/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 23:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/family-of-vermont-national-guard-member-deployed-to-middle-east-calls-trumps-orders-unconscionable/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont flood watch issued as warming causes ice jams]]></title><description><![CDATA[The remnants of an ice jam line the banks of the Mad River in Waitsfield on Monday, March 9, 2026, Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA flood watch has been issued for much of Northern Vermont by the National Weather Service as warming temperatures create conditions for ice jams.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;It basically becomes a dam, and water can flood behind it very, very quickly,&rdquo; said Maureen Hastings, a lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service&rsquo;s Burlington office.&nbsp;&ldquo;It c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-flood-watch-issued-as-warming-causes-ice-jams/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:18:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-flood-watch-issued-as-warming-causes-ice-jams/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont flood watch issued as warming cause ice jams]]></title><description><![CDATA[The remnants of an ice jam line the banks of the Mad River in Waitsfield on Monday, March 9, 2026, Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA flood watch has been issued for much of Northern Vermont by the National Weather Service as warming temperatures create conditions for ice jams.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;It basically becomes a dam, and water can flood behind it very, very quickly,&rdquo; said Maureen Hastings, a lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service&rsquo;s Burlington office.&nbsp;&ldquo;It c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-flood-watch-issued-as-warming-cause-ice-jams/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:18:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-flood-watch-issued-as-warming-cause-ice-jams/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[First Democratic challenger to Phil Scott enters governor’s race]]></title><description><![CDATA[Amanda Janoo, of Burlington, announced her candidacy for governor on March 10, 2026. By Mayellen Matson<br />
The first Democrat has announced her candidacy for governor.&nbsp;Amanda Janoo, an economist raised in Strafford and now living in Burlington, is a first-time candidate for statewide office. She faces the daunting task of unseating Gov. Phil Scott, the long-running, most popular governor in the country, according to polls.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&rsquo;re all being called to step up in ways maybe we n]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/first-democratic-challenger-to-phil-scott-enters-governors-race/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:40:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/first-democratic-challenger-to-phil-scott-enters-governors-race/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[First Democratic candidate enters governor’s race]]></title><description><![CDATA[Amanda Janoo, of Burlington, announced her candidacy for governor on March 10, 2026. By Mayellen Matson<br />
The first Democrat has announced her candidacy for governor.&nbsp;Amanda Janoo, an economist raised in Strafford and now living in Burlington, is a first-time candidate for statewide office. She will presumably face the daunting task of unseating Gov. Phil Scott, the long-running, most popular governor in the country, according to polls.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&rsquo;re all being called to step up in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/first-democratic-candidate-enters-governors-race/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:40:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/first-democratic-candidate-enters-governors-race/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why are some rural Medicare patients paying more than patients at bigger hospitals? ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Owen Foster, chair of the Green Mountain Care Board, on Nov. 30, 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIn November, a public comment sent a Green Mountain Care Board analyst on a curious quest: Why were some Medicare recipients paying more out of pocket for outpatient services at rural, &ldquo;critical access hospitals&rdquo; than they&rsquo;d have paid for the same service at the state&rsquo;s bigger, &ldquo;acute care hospitals&rdquo; &mdash;&nbsp;even if the hospitals&rsquo; costs for th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-are-some-rural-medicare-patients-paying-more-than-patients-at-bigger-hospitals/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 19:27:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-are-some-rural-medicare-patients-paying-more-than-patients-at-bigger-hospitals/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Drusilla Beach Powden]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 12/29/1930Rutland, VermontDied: 03/05/2026Peacham, VermontDetails of service:There will be a graveside service at the Peacham Village Cemetery on May 27th at 2:00 p.m. with a reception to follow at Drusilla&rsquo;s home.Drusilla Powden, a long-time resident of Peacham, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, March 5th.The youngest of five children, Drusilla was raised during the Great Depression by her widowed mother. While life was difficult, she had many fond memories of growing]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/drusilla-beach-powden/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:27:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/drusilla-beach-powden/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont ski lift workers left out in the cold with no action from legislature, regulators]]></title><description><![CDATA[It&rsquo;s been a banner year for Vermont&rsquo;s mountain resorts but for Okemo ski lift operator, Casey Jennings, it&rsquo;s been business as usual: getting a quick break to warm up from the extreme cold or to visit the bathroom can involve slowing down the lift &mdash; leaving guests on long cold lift rides &mdash; in order to recruit cover for his post.&nbsp;&nbsp;Casey&rsquo;s dilemma and the grueling job of enduring the cold as a ski lift operator has been a long-standing worker protectio]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-ski-lift-workers-left-out-in-the-cold-with-no-action-from-legislature-regulators/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-ski-lift-workers-left-out-in-the-cold-with-no-action-from-legislature-regulators/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bob Stannard: If you love Vermont, help pay for it]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;I do not know Peter Rinaldi, who recently sent a letter to VTDigger complaining about Vermont property transfer taxes, and I&rsquo;m sure that he&rsquo;s a perfectly delightful chap. However, it&rsquo;s clear to me that he and I come from very different worlds. Unlike Mr Rinaldi, a Florida resident who enjoys living in Vermont six months a year, I&rsquo;m a generational Vermonter who still lives here. Like Mr Rinaldi, I am also fairly well-to-do and could afford to do as he ha]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bob-stannard-if-you-love-vermont-help-pay-for-it/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 02:41:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bob-stannard-if-you-love-vermont-help-pay-for-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[David Moats: Bernie Sanders and the long river of history]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by David Moats, who lives in Salisbury. He is editorial page editor emeritus at the Rutland Herald, where he won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for a series of editorials on Vermont&rsquo;s civil union law.The story of Bernie Sanders&rsquo;s rise from couch-surfing, penniless single dad to mayor of Burlington, the U.S. Senate and presidential politics is both familiar and astonishing.It&rsquo;s astonishing for what it says about the capacity of the political system to make room for]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/david-moats-bernie-sanders-and-the-long-river-of-history/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 02:26:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/david-moats-bernie-sanders-and-the-long-river-of-history/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beta Technologies selected for federal pilot program, set to fly in Vermont this year]]></title><description><![CDATA[A team meets on the floor of a BETA Technologies manufacturing facility in South Burlington on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Beta Technologies announced Monday that the company had been selected for a federal pilot program that will allow the South Burlington-based electric airplane maker and its partners to begin medical flights to and from Vermont this year.In a call with inves]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-technologies-selected-for-federal-pilot-program-set-to-fly-in-vermont-this-year/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-technologies-selected-for-federal-pilot-program-set-to-fly-in-vermont-this-year/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Audit finds gaps in Vermont child care oversight pose risks to children, threaten federal dollars]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kalie Wolf helps a youngster with their lunch at a Capstone Community Action daycare in Barre on Dec. 1, 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Gaps in the state&rsquo;s child care oversight processes pose potential risks to both child safety and federal funding, a report from Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer found last week. Problems with monitoring, inadequate background check practices and obsolete IT]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/audit-finds-gaps-in-vermont-child-care-oversight-pose-risks-to-children-threaten-federal-dollars/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 23:33:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/audit-finds-gaps-in-vermont-child-care-oversight-pose-risks-to-children-threaten-federal-dollars/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge tosses key DNA evidence that helped crack cold case in Danby double-murder more than three decades ago]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rutland District and Family Courthouse, where Rutland Superior Court meets. Photo by Andrew Kutches/VTDiggerRUTLAND &ndash; A Vermont judge has thrown out key evidence against an 83-year-old New York state man who faces two counts of murder in the death of his wife&rsquo;s parents in Danby in 1989, prompting a move by his attorney to toss out the entire case.Rutland Superior Court Judge Cortland Corsones&rsquo; ruling is the latest twist in a cold case that led eventually to charges more than t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-tosses-key-dna-evidence-that-helped-crack-cold-case-in-danby-double-murder-more-than-three-decades-ago/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 23:26:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-tosses-key-dna-evidence-that-helped-crack-cold-case-in-danby-double-murder-more-than-three-decades-ago/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[One close election, two vocal sides and a dog leash debate Montpelier can’t shake]]></title><description><![CDATA[A person walks their leashed dogs in Hubbard Park in Montpelier on Friday, March 6, 2026, Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerNeil Herrick and Ryker used to avoid Hubbard Park.The trails through the wooded hills outside of Montpelier had become the center of too much conflict. So he and his rescue dog stayed away.&nbsp;&ldquo;There was a lot of yelling and a lot of accusations,&rdquo; Herrick said. &ldquo;So we just didn&rsquo;t come.&rdquo;But that was back when leashes were optional throughout the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/one-close-election-two-vocal-sides-and-a-dog-leash-debate-montpelier-cant-shake/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 22:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/one-close-election-two-vocal-sides-and-a-dog-leash-debate-montpelier-cant-shake/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Edward William Eckman]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 11/11/1939Lancaster City, PADied: 03/03/2026Lebanon, NHDetails of service:Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Bradford Evangelical Free Church, with Pastor Brian Bailey officiating. Calling hours are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 12, 2026 at the Hale Funeral Home in Bradford, VT.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Edward to the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative &amp; Hospice Care, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, in Lebanon]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/edward-william-eckman/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 22:37:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/edward-william-eckman/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Richard Owen Davis]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 10/20/1949Washington DCDied: 02/16/2026South Hero, VTDetails of service:A celebration of life will be held May 31, 2026 in South Hero.Rick was a true Renaissance man. Over the course of his 76 years he lived an active and involved life.Fresh out of the Quaker Friends School in Baltimore, he became involved in the peace movement in NYC in the late 1960s, counting a number of activists such as Abby Hoffman, Igal Roodenko, and Bayard Rustin as his friends. At 19, Rick was clubbed by a police]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/richard-owen-davis/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 22:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/richard-owen-davis/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New shelter addresses ‘real gap in our system’ for unhoused people in recovery from addiction]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and Howard Center opened the Bridges Recovery Shelter for people experiencing homelessness and substance-use disorder in downtown Burlington on Monday, March 9. Photo by Zoe McDonald/Vermont PublicThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.BURLINGTON &ndash; A new shelter is opening for unhoused people seeking recovery from addiction.Located in the Queen C]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-shelter-addresses-real-gap-in-our-system-for-unhoused-people-in-recovery-from-addiction/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:52:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-shelter-addresses-real-gap-in-our-system-for-unhoused-people-in-recovery-from-addiction/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Vermont State University president appointed]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sherry Kollmann is the new president of Vermont State University. Courtesy Vermont State UniversityVermont State University&rsquo;s Board of Trustees appointed Sherry Kollmann as the university&rsquo;s new president and system vice chancellor Monday.Kollmann, currently the chancellor of the New Mexico State University Global Campus, will succeed outgoing President David Bergh, who announced his retirement last year.Since her 2020 appointment in New Mexico, Kollmann helped grow online enrollment]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-vermont-state-university-president-appointed/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:32:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-vermont-state-university-president-appointed/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jordan Elias Kurker-Mraz]]></title><description><![CDATA[UPDATED: March 9, 2026, at 2:25 p.m.Born Feb. 16, 1992Burlington, VermontDied Sept. 21, 2025Tucson, ArizonaDetails of servicesDate:&nbsp;Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. EDTLocation:&nbsp;First Congregational Church, 38 S. Winooski Avenue, Burlington, VTParking:&nbsp;on the street or in the nearby parking garageReception to follow at the churchIf you would like to attend but cannot be there in person, the service will be live streamed on the church&rsquo;s YouTube channel. Click&nbsp;here]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jordan-elias-kurker-mraz/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jordan-elias-kurker-mraz/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Purpose, dignity, and joy through supported employment: connecting Vermonters experiencing mental health and substance use challenges with meaningful employment in their communities]]></title><description><![CDATA[Pictured: CMC&rsquo;s Supportive Employment Team with Executive Director Melanie Gidney, presenting Bethel Mills staff with the 2025 Vocational Services Award.For most of us, work is part of our identity. When we feel good about having a job, we often see ourselves in a more positive way. Work provides income, structure, routine, and contributes to our overall health. For individuals navigating mental illness, substance use disorders, or both, the path back to meaningful employment can feel imp]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/purpose-dignity-and-joy-through-supported-employment-connecting-vermonters-experiencing-mental-health-and-substance-use-challenges-with-meaningful-employment-in-their-communities/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/purpose-dignity-and-joy-through-supported-employment-connecting-vermonters-experiencing-mental-health-and-substance-use-challenges-with-meaningful-employment-in-their-communities/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘New Forest’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Cold &amp; Bright,&rdquo; by Phoebe Gresham, 16, of Huntington.Young Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-new-forest/</link><pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-new-forest/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After a Covid-19 boom, Vermont is once again losing residents. What changed?]]></title><description><![CDATA[A sign in Colchester points toward a house for sale in July 2025. Photo by April McCullum/Vermont PublicJenny Hopkins moved to Hinesburg from Austin, Texas, just weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the world.<br />
So when she first struggled to find a primary care doctor or reach a gynecologist with a health emergency, she chalked it up to Covid-era challenges with the health care system.&nbsp;But years down the line, she found herself in the middle of a post-partum mental health crisis. Sh]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-a-covid-19-boom-vermont-is-once-again-losing-residents-what-changed/</link><pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-a-covid-19-boom-vermont-is-once-again-losing-residents-what-changed/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New leader to take charge of Vermont National Guard as war in Iran looms large]]></title><description><![CDATA[Uniformed participants stand in formation during a Saturday change-of-command ceremony in South Burlington in which Maj. Gen. Henry &ldquo;Hank&rdquo; Harder was sworn in as Vermont&rsquo;s adjutant general.Photo by Emma Cotton/VTDiggerMaj. Gen. Henry &ldquo;Hank&rdquo; Harder was expected to take command of the Vermont National Guard on Saturday during a ceremony at the 158th Fighter Wing in South Burlington.Harder succeeds Maj. Gen. Gregory C. Knight, who is retiring after seven years as adju]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-leader-to-take-charge-of-vermont-national-guard-as-war-in-iran-looms-large/</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 20:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-leader-to-take-charge-of-vermont-national-guard-as-war-in-iran-looms-large/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New leader takes charge of Vermont National Guard as war in Iran looms large]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hank Harder, second from right, prepares to be sworn in as the next Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard at a South Burlington ceremony Saturday, March 7, 2026. Photo by Emma Green/VTDiggerUpdated at 4:15 p.m.Maj. Gen. Henry &ldquo;Hank&rdquo; Harder took command of the Vermont National Guard on Saturday during a ceremony at the 158th Fighter Wing in South Burlington.Harder succeeds Maj. Gen. Gregory C. Knight, who is retiring after seven years as adjutant general.&nbsp;Harder assumes]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-leader-takes-charge-of-vermont-national-guard-as-war-in-iran-looms-large/</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 20:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-leader-takes-charge-of-vermont-national-guard-as-war-in-iran-looms-large/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[More than 500 attend ceremony for new leader of Vermont National Guard]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hank Harder, second from right, prepares to be sworn in as the next Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard at a South Burlington ceremony Saturday, March 7, 2026. Photo by Emma Green/VTDiggerUpdated at 6:47 p.m.SOUTH BURLINGTON &ndash; On a makeshift stage flanked by a Black Hawk helicopter and an F-35, Maj. Gen. Henry &ldquo;Hank&rdquo; Harder took command of the Vermont National Guard on Saturday.&nbsp;The ceremony in a cavernous metal hangar at the 158th Fighter Wing marked his assum]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-than-500-attend-ceremony-for-new-leader-of-vermont-national-guard/</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 20:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-than-500-attend-ceremony-for-new-leader-of-vermont-national-guard/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Scott signs Vermont’s midyear budget increase of $111 million]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott speaks after a meeting at the Statehouse in Montpelier on November 13, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerRepublican Gov. Phil Scott approved lawmakers&rsquo; midyear budget tuneup Thursday, signing their updated plan to increase state spending for the remainder of the fiscal year by more than $111 million over the original budget.&nbsp;Potential federal funding shortfalls continued to cast a shadow over lawmakers&rsquo; budget decisions for this year, with their review of sta]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-signs-vermonts-midyear-budget-increase-of-111-million/</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-signs-vermonts-midyear-budget-increase-of-111-million/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont attorney general joins lawsuit against new wave of Trump tariffs]]></title><description><![CDATA[Attorney General Charity Clark speaks during a press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier on June 18, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark joined a multistate lawsuit against the Trump administration Thursday, challenging new wide-ranging tariffs the president announced following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that blocked a similar previous effort.On Feb. 20, the Supreme]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-attorney-general-joins-lawsuit-against-new-wave-of-trump-tariffs/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 23:54:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-attorney-general-joins-lawsuit-against-new-wave-of-trump-tariffs/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In search of forever homes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Williston young adults, from left, Jack Savage, Bennett Townley, Justin McQuiston and Emily Scott, are hoping to find a place where they can live together as peers within a staff supported group home. Photo courtesy of the Williston ObserverThis story by Jason Starr was first published in the Williston Observer on March 6, 2026.For Donna Savage and other parents of Vermont&rsquo;s young adults with developmental disabilities, the day-to-day challenges of helping their kids find their way in the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-search-of-forever-homes/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 22:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-search-of-forever-homes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Doris Tennant: Who decides when we go to war?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Trump has unleashed the dogs of war, and the Vermont National Guard has been deployed to the Middle East under federal rules, with F-35 fighters from Vermont having been positioned for attack and now likely in play.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Defend the Guard Act, introduced in the Vermont House by Rep. Troy Headrick, I-Burlington, would prohibit the Guard from being deployed to combat unless Congress has declared war. Not only would the bill protect the Guard from being placed into combat to f]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/doris-tennant-who-decides-when-we-go-to-war/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 22:27:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/doris-tennant-who-decides-when-we-go-to-war/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Peter Rinaldi: Vermont’s transfer tax drove us away]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Although we are Florida residents, my wife and I love Vermont and spend six months a year here, enjoying the scenery and skiing.When we bought our condo in Moretown in January 2023, we paid 1.25 % transfer tax on the property, plus a small clean water surcharge. Because of my recent difficulties climbing stairs, we&rsquo;re now selling it, and we had hoped to buy a place that was a little bit bigger with no stairs.However, I was very surprised to learn that the transfer tax to buy a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/peter-rinaldi-vermonts-transfer-tax-drove-us-away/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 22:19:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/peter-rinaldi-vermonts-transfer-tax-drove-us-away/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger announces newsroom leadership changes]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger Editor-in-Chief Geeta Anand speaks during a conversation with David Goodman at the Manchester Community Library in Manchester on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVTDigger announced today that Editor-in-Chief Geeta Anand will step down on June 30, 2026, as she returns to teaching journalism at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.VTDigger also announced appointments to top editing positions. Susan Allen, veteran Vermont journalist who has led several o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-announces-newsroom-leadership-changes/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 20:32:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-announces-newsroom-leadership-changes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont targeted in federal investigation of Medicaid waste, fraud and abuse ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jill Mazza Olson, deputy director for health care reform at the Vermont Agency of Human Services, speaks before the Senate Health and Welfare Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont is the target of the latest federal probe into Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse.&nbsp;On March 3, state officials received a letter from representatives on Congress&rsquo;s Committee on Energy and Commerce requesting information on the state&rsq]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-targeted-in-federal-investigation-of-medicaid-waste-fraud-and-abuse/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 17:36:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-targeted-in-federal-investigation-of-medicaid-waste-fraud-and-abuse/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[From cookies to community: one impact investor’s story]]></title><description><![CDATA[VCLF Impact Investor Nicki Steel in her garden in southern Vermont.It was a warm summer day in cherry growing country of rural Michigan when Nicki Steel&rsquo;s dad pulled the car over to the side of the road. She watched as he got out to help a family of migrant workers whose vehicle had stalled. When he couldn&rsquo;t get their engine started, he offered the family some of the groceries they had just bought. Much to her disbelief, he even gave away the package of her favorite cookies.Nicki wa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/from-cookies-to-community-one-impact-investors-story/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:45:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/from-cookies-to-community-one-impact-investors-story/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gabe Lajeunesse: Update CHIP to build flood-ready housing]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Vermont&rsquo;s housing crisis keeps colliding with another reality we can&rsquo;t wish away: our rivers are moving. As the recent Waterbury proposal shows, the only places with water, sewer and walkable access are often the same places shaped by the 100-year floodplain. That tension isn&rsquo;t going away. But we can choose whether it becomes a barrier or a catalyst for smarter building.Right now, the Community Housing and Infrastructure Program (CHIP) helps communities use future]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gabe-lajeunesse-update-chip-to-build-flood-ready-housing/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gabe-lajeunesse-update-chip-to-build-flood-ready-housing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Residents question Colchester board’s approval of a $8M waterfront hotel project]]></title><description><![CDATA[Colchester&rsquo;s Development Review Board has approved plans for a proposed $8 million hotel on a small slope overlooking Malletts Bay in Chittenden County after months of heated opposition.The proposed project, named The H on Malletts Bay, would be the first new development to connect to the Malletts Bay sewer that is under construction. Residents are concerned that if local and state regulations designed to protect Lake Champlain are not enforced, the project could set a dangerous precedent]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/residents-question-colchester-boards-approval-of-a-8m-waterfront-hotel-project/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 23:57:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/residents-question-colchester-boards-approval-of-a-8m-waterfront-hotel-project/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After bond approval, Woodstock school project faces next tests]]></title><description><![CDATA[Woodstock Union Middle School and High School, January 15, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Alex Hanson was first published in Valley News on March 4, 2026.WOODSTOCK &mdash;&nbsp;Area voters this week narrowly approved a long-debated replacement for its aging schools.There&rsquo;s more work left to do.Voters in the Mountain Views School District on Tuesday approved a $112 million bond issue for a new middle and high school.Ballots cast in the district&rsquo;s seven towns favor]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-bond-approval-woodstock-school-project-faces-next-tests/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 22:24:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-bond-approval-woodstock-school-project-faces-next-tests/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sen. Alison Clarkson to retire after more than two decades in Vermont’s Legislature ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor, at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 7, 2026. Photo by Brian Stevenson/Vermont Public<br />
This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.After more than two decades serving in the Vermont Legislature, Sen. Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor, does not plan to run for reelection this fall.&nbsp;Clarkson made the announcement to voters at Reading&rsquo;s town meeting on Saturday, the Valley]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sen-alison-clarkson-to-retire-after-more-than-two-decades-in-vermonts-legislature/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 21:49:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sen-alison-clarkson-to-retire-after-more-than-two-decades-in-vermonts-legislature/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Grand Isle man accused of driving over deputy sheriff after traffic stop]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Grand Isle County Courthouse in North Hero. Photo courtesy of Jimmy Emerson/Flickr<br />
A Grand Isle man accused of driving over a deputy sheriff following a traffic stop in South Hero Wednesday night has pleaded not guilty to several charges, including attempted first-degree murder, according to court documents.Kevin Marx, 36, had been held in custody without bail since his arrest after police said they tracked him down at his home late Wednesday night, about three hours after the incident.He w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/grand-isle-man-accused-of-driving-over-deputy-sheriff-after-traffic-stop/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 20:11:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/grand-isle-man-accused-of-driving-over-deputy-sheriff-after-traffic-stop/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Andrea Colnes: What does conservation mean in Vermont?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,In his recent commentary, &ldquo;Vermont&rsquo;s forests need management, not mandates,&rdquo; Michael Snyder, former commissioner of Vermont&rsquo;s Departments of Forests, Parks and Recreation, cautioned against the risks of defining conservation too narrowly.&nbsp;&nbsp;At the New England Forestry Foundation, where I am deputy director and climate fellow, we couldn&rsquo;t agree more. To support the long-term health of our region&rsquo;s forests for the next generation, set the s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/andrea-colnes-what-does-conservation-mean-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/andrea-colnes-what-does-conservation-mean-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bryan Gantt: A win for foster kids and religious freedom]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Bryan Gantt, the lead pastor of Agape Christian Fellowship in Brattleboro. He and his wife served as foster parents for seven years and adopted three children through foster care.Across the country, foster care systems are in strained, with thousands of children waiting for permanent placements. In Vermont, the opioid crisis has significantly impacted some of our most vulnerable children hardest. Now, Vermont has thankfully scuttled a previous policy that excluded loving f]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bryan-gantt-a-win-for-foster-kids-and-religious-freedom/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bryan-gantt-a-win-for-foster-kids-and-religious-freedom/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Waterbury considers building new housing on the edge of 100-year flood zone]]></title><description><![CDATA[This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.WATERBURY &ndash; On July 10, 2023, Carrie MacMillan watched as floodwaters crept toward her Waterbury home. The nearby Winooski River had jumped its banks, and MacMillan recalled seeing the water swirl up to the parking lot wedged between her house and the towering state office complex next door. Firefighters came and urged her family to evacuate, she said.The wat]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/waterbury-considers-building-new-housing-on-the-edge-of-100-year-flood-zone/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/waterbury-considers-building-new-housing-on-the-edge-of-100-year-flood-zone/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Local option tax proposals see mixed reception in nearly 20 Vermont communities]]></title><description><![CDATA[A restaurant bill in an unspecified country. Stock photo via PexelsTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Voters in at least 19 towns and cities across Vermont weighed new municipal taxes on some combination of meals, rooms, alcohol and sales this Town Meeting Day, with mixed results.While local officials were largely supportive of the measures, which they said would direct new revenue into much-needed community projects under increasing financial]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/local-option-tax-proposals-see-mixed-reception-in-nearly-20-vermont-communities/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:47:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/local-option-tax-proposals-see-mixed-reception-in-nearly-20-vermont-communities/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Voters approve a majority of Town Meeting Day school budgets]]></title><description><![CDATA[Voters second a motion during Town Meeting at Colchester High School in Colchester on Monday, March 2. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVoters approved the vast majority of school budgets on Town Meeting Day this year, the second year of relative calm in school budget voting following the historic rejection of school budgets in 2024.According to preliminary results compiled by the Vermont Superintendents Association and the Vermont School Boards Association, 85 school budgets were approved, while]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/voters-approve-a-majority-of-town-meeting-day-school-budgets/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:43:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/voters-approve-a-majority-of-town-meeting-day-school-budgets/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Delegation asks FEMA to explain why it denied aid for Vermont’s 2025 flooding damage ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Robert Rydeski walks across his flooded driveway in Sutton on July 11, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s congressional delegation has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to explain why it won&rsquo;t send aid to the state even though damage from flooding in 2025 met the agency&rsquo;s threshold.&nbsp;During flash flooding on July 10, towns in Vermont&rsquo;s Northeast Kingdom sustained more damage to roads and bridges than they could cover with their own annual]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/delegation-asks-fema-to-explain-why-it-denied-aid-for-vermonts-2025-flooding-damage/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:34:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/delegation-asks-fema-to-explain-why-it-denied-aid-for-vermonts-2025-flooding-damage/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Bill McKibben on fighting climate denialism with democratic power]]></title><description><![CDATA[Environmental activist and author Bill McKibben speaks during a march and rally in Burlington calling for a stop to the Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota on Sept. 24, 2021. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.As the world contends with increasingly destructive a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-bill-mckibben-on-fighting-climate-denialism-with-democratic-power/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 22:36:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-bill-mckibben-on-fighting-climate-denialism-with-democratic-power/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Legislation takes aim at waste from Vermont’s only landfill]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont&rsquo;s only landfill, located in Coventry, is owned and operated by Casella Waste Systems. File photo by Riley Robinson/VTDiggerThe Northeast Kingdom produces less than a tenth of Vermont&rsquo;s total waste, but bears all of the burden, according to locals who live near the state&rsquo;s only landfill in Coventry.They&rsquo;re asking the legislature to protect the lake that abuts the landfill through H.652, a bill that would prohibit discharge of waste from the landfill, or any other]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/legislation-takes-aim-at-waste-from-vermonts-only-landfill/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:40:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/legislation-takes-aim-at-waste-from-vermonts-only-landfill/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Free College &amp; Career Pathways event helps students and families plan next steps after high school&nbsp;]]></title><description><![CDATA[On Saturday, March 14th, students and families from across Vermont are invited to the Davis Center at the University of Vermont (UVM) for College &amp; Career Pathways. Organized by VSAC, College &amp; Career Pathways is a free event to help high school students, family members, and guardians discover resources and connect with local experts.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
When: Saturday March 14th, 2026, 1:00 &ndash; 5:00 PM&nbsp;Where: UVM Dudley H. Davis Center&nbsp;Registration: Free but required. Register he]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/free-college-amp-career-pathways-event-helps-students-and-families-plan-next-steps-after-high-schoolnbsp/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:13:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/free-college-amp-career-pathways-event-helps-students-and-families-plan-next-steps-after-high-schoolnbsp/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jim Willard: Don’t let Vermont miss the AI boom]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Where many people see risk, they should seek opportunity instead.Some very large companies with deep pockets are desperate to find places to build artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, thanks to resistance in many states. Amazon recently announced a $12 billion data-center expansion, and Google has signed long-term power deals to support new facilities. Vermont is desperate to solve systemic and intertwined problems, including lack of affordable housing, not enough young famili]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jim-willard-dont-let-vermont-miss-the-ai-boom/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 13:05:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jim-willard-dont-let-vermont-miss-the-ai-boom/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Narain Batra: The politics of ‘after Trump’]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Narain Batra, a professor, historian, journalist and author whose work spans freedom, artificial intelligence, media and geopolitics. He will teach a weekly seminar in April, &ldquo;India, America and the Shaping of the Modern World,&rdquo; in person and on Zoom at the Osher Institute at Dartmouth College.&nbsp;Is Pete Buttigieg a beautiful angel beating his luminous wings in the void, or is he a hard-rock pragmatist who could go to the White House?&nbsp;He came to New Ham]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/narain-batra-the-politics-of-after-trump/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 13:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/narain-batra-the-politics-of-after-trump/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tom Donahue wins Rutland mayor race in rare write-in election]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tom Donahue. Photo by Greta Solsaa/VTDiggerRUTLAND CITY &mdash; Voters elected Tom Donahue as Marble City&rsquo;s next mayor, a choice made through a rare write-in ballot.Faced with a blank line for the mayoral election ballot measure, 1,323 voters inked the name Tom Donahue for Rutland&rsquo;s highest post, according to unofficial results issued by the City Clerk&rsquo;s office Tuesday night. Donahue won with 40.4% of the 3,276 write-in votes cast for mayor.&nbsp;Seldom seen in the city, the w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tom-donahue-wins-rutland-mayor-race-in-rare-write-in-election/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:28:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tom-donahue-wins-rutland-mayor-race-in-rare-write-in-election/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rutland City elects Tom Donahue as next mayor via write-in ballot]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tom Donahue. Photo by Greta Solsaa/VTDiggerRUTLAND CITY &mdash; Voters elected Tom Donahue as Marble City&rsquo;s next mayor, a choice made through a rare write-in ballot.Faced with a blank line for the mayoral election ballot measure, 1,323 voters inked the name Tom Donahue for Rutland&rsquo;s highest post, according to unofficial results issued by the City Clerk&rsquo;s office Tuesday night.&nbsp;Seldom seen in the city, the write-in election was triggered by the unexpected resignation of for]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-city-elects-tom-donahue-as-next-mayor-via-write-in-ballot/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:28:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-city-elects-tom-donahue-as-next-mayor-via-write-in-ballot/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Air National Guard supporting war in Iran]]></title><description><![CDATA[A youngster peers at a pair of F-35 jets at an Open House held by the Vermont Air National Guard at the airbase in South Burlington on Sunday, September 11, 2022. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Air National Guard is positioned to assist with the war in the Middle East, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a press briefing Monday.&nbsp;Caine said that the Vermont Air National Guard was part of a forces buildup in the region over the past month. After the bui]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-air-national-guard-supporting-war-in-iran/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 23:22:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-air-national-guard-supporting-war-in-iran/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Air National Guard deployed to war in Iran]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the first two F-35 fighter jets to arrive at the Vermont Air National Guard base in South Burlington does a flyover at the Burlington International Airport on Thursday, September 19, 2019.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated at 5:32 p.m.The Vermont Air National Guard is positioned to assist with the war in the Middle East, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a press briefing Monday.&nbsp;Caine said that the Vermont Air National Guard was part of a forces buil]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-air-national-guard-deployed-to-war-in-iran/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 23:22:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-air-national-guard-deployed-to-war-in-iran/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New lawsuit challenges restrictions on school choice in Vermont’s education reform law]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rice Memorial High School. Photo via FacebookTwo parents from Georgia, Vermont, have filed a lawsuit challenging the state&rsquo;s education reform law, claiming it arbitrarily violates their children&rsquo;s access to private school and limits their educational opportunity.The lawsuit, filed on Friday in Washington County Superior Court, centers on Vermont&rsquo;s publicly funded tuition system, which allows families in districts without a public school for certain grades to use public dollars]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-lawsuit-challenges-restrictions-on-school-choice-in-vermonts-education-reform-law/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 23:15:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-lawsuit-challenges-restrictions-on-school-choice-in-vermonts-education-reform-law/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Latest results: 2026 Vermont Town Meeting voting]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rockingham residents stand and hold up their voter cards during the school district portion of Town Meeting at the Bellows Falls Opera House on Saturday, Feb. 28. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAmid concerns about the cost of living, Vermonters from northwestern Alburgh to southeastern Vernon used Town Meeting voting to express their opinions on everything from local spending to state universal health care to the national and global actions of President Donald Trump.The state&rsquo;s 247 munici]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/latest-results-2026-vermont-town-meeting-voting/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 23:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/latest-results-2026-vermont-town-meeting-voting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawsuit alleges Vermont prison failed to treat diabetic inmate before fatal fall]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lisa Steadman, themother of Jason Colebaugh, speaks about his case during a press conference in Burlington on Monday, March 2, 2026, on the one year anniversary of his death while incarcerated. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; The family of a man who reportedly died last year after an injury in prison is suing the Vermont Department of Corrections and its health care provider, claiming that prison and medical staff didn&rsquo;t properly treat the man&rsquo;s diabetes, leading t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawsuit-alleges-vermont-prison-failed-to-treat-diabetic-inmate-before-fatal-fall/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:46:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawsuit-alleges-vermont-prison-failed-to-treat-diabetic-inmate-before-fatal-fall/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[PHOTOS: Vermont Town Meeting Day 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[A voter casts their ballot at the polls at Mt. Mansfield Union High School in Jericho on Town Meeting Day on Tuesday, March 3. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTown Meeting Day is here. That means VTDigger photographer Glenn Russell is stationed around the state, capturing the scenes in Vermont communities &mdash; including Colchester, Cornwall, Franklin, Jericho and Rockingham.Rockingham residents stand and hold up their voter cards during the school district portion of Town Meeting at the Bello]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-vermont-town-meeting-day-2026/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-vermont-town-meeting-day-2026/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Susan Marie Hunter]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 08/24/1955Kerbs Memorial Hospital, St. Albans VermontDied: 02/05/2026University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington VermontDetails of service:A celebration of Susan&rsquo;s life will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026. There will be a mass in Susan&rsquo;s honor at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 65 Canada Street, Swanton, Vermont, at 11:00 AM. It will be followed by a Christian burial at St. Mary&rsquo;s Cemetery with a reception following at the parish center h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/susan-marie-hunter/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:32:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/susan-marie-hunter/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ellen Parent: Keep AI out of schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Ellen Parent, a high school English teacher who lives in Berlin.Let&rsquo;s say you wake up one morning and decide it&rsquo;s finally time to get ripped. Being absolutely chiseled will make it easy to lift heavy objects, help you feel strong and competent and &mdash; let&rsquo;s be honest &mdash; get you ready for swimsuit season. So you head to the gym.Gyms are great places to get strong. They have instruments specially designed to build your muscles. They have trainers a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ellen-parent-keep-ai-out-of-schools/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 13:05:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ellen-parent-keep-ai-out-of-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[2025 was a much better year for BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont headquarters in Berlin on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAfter years of financial precarity, BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont, the state&rsquo;s largest health insurer, is on the path to financial recovery for 2025, the company reported Monday.In 2025, the insurer saw $2 billion in revenue and paid out $1.8 billion in claims. It had an operating gain of $53 million for 2025, company executives reported in a press call Monday.&nbsp;It&rs]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/2025-was-a-much-better-year-for-bluecross-blueshield-of-vermont/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 01:11:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/2025-was-a-much-better-year-for-bluecross-blueshield-of-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge considers competency for man accused of shooting, wounding three Palestinian students ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton appears during his competency hearing in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Monday, March 2, 2026. Eaton is charged in the shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent in Burlington in November of 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &ndash; A Vermont judge heard conflicting testimony about whether a Burlington man who is charged with shooting and wounding three Palestinian students more than two years ago in Burlington is competent to stand]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-considers-competency-for-man-accused-of-shooting-wounding-three-palestinian-students/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:13:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-considers-competency-for-man-accused-of-shooting-wounding-three-palestinian-students/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bradford voters reject proposal to double police force]]></title><description><![CDATA[Justice of the Peace Larry Coffin, left, Peter Terry, chair of the Trustees of Public Funds, middle, and Josh Allen, Selectbaord vice chair, right, tally paper ballots for the vote on whether to hire two additional police officers, during Town Meeting in Bradford on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Voters declined the proposal to double the number of officers with 113 against and 72 in favor. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Alex Ebrahimi was first published in Valley News on March]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bradford-voters-reject-proposal-to-double-police-force/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:02:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bradford-voters-reject-proposal-to-double-police-force/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont moderator set to gavel in his 60th annual Town Meeting]]></title><description><![CDATA[John McClaughry gavels in his 50th annual Kirby Town Meeting in 2016, as seen in a picture now hanging in the town hall. Photo courtesy Town of KirbyJohn McClaughry was a 29-year-old newcomer in the Northeast Kingdom outpost of Kirby when local leaders &mdash; scanning the 1967 Town Meeting crowd for a moderator &mdash; hit him with a surprise.&ldquo;I was nominated and seconded, there were no other candidates, and I suddenly found the gavel in my hand,&rdquo; the now 88-year-old recently recal]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-moderator-set-to-gavel-in-his-60th-annual-town-meeting/</link><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:47:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-moderator-set-to-gavel-in-his-60th-annual-town-meeting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chris Young: If education is the answer, stop undermining it]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Chris Young, president of the Vermont Principals Association (VPA), Rebecca Fillion, past-president of the VPA, and Holly Russell-Vroegop, the president-elect of the VPA.In his January State of the State address, Gov. Phil Scott pinned Vermont&rsquo;s hopes and dreams on the education system. It was encouraging, perhaps even inspiring, to hear Gov. Scott acknowledge that education can be solely responsible for achieving his vision for Vermont. Previously, this recognition]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/chris-young-if-education-is-the-answer-stop-undermining-it/</link><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:24:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/chris-young-if-education-is-the-answer-stop-undermining-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A different door to access mental health care]]></title><description><![CDATA[A space designed with humanity at its coreAt the heart of Chittenden County&rsquo;s Mental Health Urgent Care (MHUC) is a people-first philosophy to mental health care. For starters, visitors are considered guests, not patients, the walls are covered in murals and artwork, and the fourth-floor space is full of light and looks out over Burlington and Lake Champlain. It&rsquo;s designed intentionally, meant to be warm and welcoming. Cushy couches line the reception area, and a sign greets guests]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-different-door-to-access-mental-health-care/</link><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-different-door-to-access-mental-health-care/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thomas L. Toleno]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 11/29/1943Las Vegas. NVDied: 02/11/2026Marlboro, VTDetails of service:A celebration of life is being planned tentatively for Labor Day weekend 2026 at his Marlboro home.&nbsp;&nbsp;Please visit https://www.forevermissed.com/thomas-toleno/about for more information.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thomas Leslie Toleno, 82, of Marlboro, Vermont, died peacefully at home on February 11, 2026, surrounded by the love of his wife, family and friends, and the snow-covered forest he called home. In accordance with his]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thomas-l-toleno/</link><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:02:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thomas-l-toleno/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Peter Walke: The cheapest energy is the energy we don’t use ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Peter Walke, the managing director of Efficiency Vermont.The cheapest energy is the energy we don&rsquo;t use. This simple fact has guided Efficiency Vermont for more than two decades. It remains critical for Vermont&rsquo;s energy future.Efficiency Vermont is the state&rsquo;s energy efficiency utility, created in 2000 and overseen by the Public Utility Commission to help households and businesses reduce energy use and lower costs.<br />
READ MORE<br />
As we plan for the years ahead]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/peter-walke-the-cheapest-energy-is-the-energy-we-dont-use/</link><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 13:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/peter-walke-the-cheapest-energy-is-the-energy-we-dont-use/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Vermont prisons, religious volunteers provide support and hope]]></title><description><![CDATA[Prison pastors Josh Riggs and Peter Finch pose for a portrait in Burlington on Feb. 17, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMost Wednesday nights, Josh Riggs puts on sweatpants and a t-shirt, packs his holy water and his bible, and heads to prison.It might not be what one would expect a pastor to wear. But for Riggs, it&rsquo;s an intentional choice. His congregation at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility women&rsquo;s prison in South Burlington, wears prison-issued sweats.So he wear]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-vermont-prisons-religious-volunteers-provide-support-and-hope/</link><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:05:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-vermont-prisons-religious-volunteers-provide-support-and-hope/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger’s 2026 guide to Vermont Town Meeting voting]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermonters are set to cast ballots on local spending and leaders this Town Meeting season. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDigger<br />
Rutland City, population 15,807, will vote for a new mayor by write-in ballot. Cabot, population 1,443, will debate spending $10,000 to dispose of 1,500 tires dumped in local waters and wetlands. And Holland, population 632, will face its own uniquely challenging issue: specifically, the lack of one that will draw a crowd.&ldquo;I really wanted to add something contr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdiggers-2026-guide-to-vermont-town-meeting-voting/</link><pubDate>Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:59:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdiggers-2026-guide-to-vermont-town-meeting-voting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont has few guardrails to restrict how lawyers use AI ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Grand Isle County Court in North Hero. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIt wasn&rsquo;t adding up. A New Hampshire attorney representing a divorce client filed a legal brief that quoted from a previous court case. But when Vermont Supreme Court justices went to the case he referenced, the quote was nowhere to be found.In a November hearing, they asked the attorney where the quote came from.&nbsp;&ldquo;Your honor, my client used an AI, um, helper&rdquo; said the attorney.&nbsp;Justice Willia]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-has-few-guardrails-to-restrict-how-lawyers-use-ai/</link><pubDate>Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:56:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-has-few-guardrails-to-restrict-how-lawyers-use-ai/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Amid ICE enforcement fears, Ramadan binds local Muslims in solidarity, support]]></title><description><![CDATA[Muslims pray during sundown services after breaking their daily fast during Ramadan at the Islamic Society of Vermont in South Burlington on Sunday, Feb. 22. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSOUTH BURLINGTON &mdash; Maryam Khan met her best friend at the local mosque she has been attending since she was born.&nbsp;The Middlebury high school student was among volunteers serving fruit salad from a folding table in the gym of the Islamic Society of Vermont last weekend.&ldquo;For as long as I can re]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/amid-ice-enforcement-fears-ramadan-binds-local-muslims-in-solidarity-support/</link><pubDate>Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/amid-ice-enforcement-fears-ramadan-binds-local-muslims-in-solidarity-support/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Then Again: True crime in 1870s Rutland]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ann Freese was murdered in her Rutland home on June 9, 1874. John P. Phair, the accused, was said to be motivated by money. Photos via newspaper.comThe first sign of trouble was smoke, as it so often is. It signaled that a house was on fire. Several neighbors hurried into the home. Finding no one on the ground floor, they raced up to the landing, only to be met by thick smoke and forced to turn back. Two men then climbed ladders to look for anyone trapped in a second-floor bedroom. Peering thro]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-true-crime-in-1870s-rutland/</link><pubDate>Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:49:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-true-crime-in-1870s-rutland/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘Is Time a Concept?’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;A Ripple in Time&rdquo; by Lauren McCabe.Young Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sreid@youngwritersproje]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-is-time-a-concept/</link><pubDate>Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:46:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-is-time-a-concept/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s congressional delegation condemns US attacks on Iran]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Bernie Sanders, left, Rep. Becca Balint, center, and Sen. Peter Welch. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s congressional delegation unilaterally condemned President Donald Trump&rsquo;s decision to attack Iran Saturday, warning that the strikes could throw the U.S. into a reckless war.&nbsp;&ldquo;President Trump, along with his right-wing extremist Israeli ally Benjamin Netanyahu, has begun an illegal, premeditated and unconstitutional war,&rdquo; U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-V]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-congressional-delegation-condemns-us-attacks-on-iran/</link><pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 20:19:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-congressional-delegation-condemns-us-attacks-on-iran/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Teeth are the key for biologists to understand the health of Vermont’s deer population]]></title><description><![CDATA[White-tailed deer. Photo via PexelsEach year, biologists from the Vermont Fish &amp; Wildlife Department turn to a strange source to understand the health of the state&rsquo;s deer population: teeth.The state&rsquo;s biologists have to balance maintaining the health of Vermont&rsquo;s deer herd with the priorities of hunters as they draft hunting regulations for the following year. Understanding the age of the deer population is key to how the regulations are written, and the internal structure]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/teeth-are-the-key-for-biologists-to-understand-the-health-of-vermonts-deer-population/</link><pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:51:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/teeth-are-the-key-for-biologists-to-understand-the-health-of-vermonts-deer-population/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Woodstock Village Trustees to hold second hearing on police chief’s demotion]]></title><description><![CDATA[Woodstock Police Chief Joe Swanson listens during a hearing about his job performance held by the Woodstock Village Board of Trustees on March 19, 2025. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsThis story by Clare Shanahan was first published by the Valley News on Feb. 26.WOODSTOCK &mdash; The Village Trustees will try once again to demote Police Chief Joe Swanson, who has been embroiled in a legal battle with the village since the first effort to remove him from his role more than a year ago.A Winds]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/woodstock-village-trustees-to-hold-second-hearing-on-police-chiefs-demotion/</link><pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:50:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/woodstock-village-trustees-to-hold-second-hearing-on-police-chiefs-demotion/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Flor Diaz Smith: Dear Gov. Phil Scott]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Gov. Phil Scott,I was deeply surprised and dismayed that you publicly announced your intention to vote against the Washington Central School District budget so close to Town Meeting Day. The timing of this announcement prompts me to seek clarification and raise several important questions.As a resident of Berlin, I wonder whether you had the opportunity to attend any of our budget meetings to gain a fuller understanding of the thoughtful and deliberate process behind the development of thi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/flor-diaz-smith-dear-gov-phil-scott/</link><pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 01:35:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/flor-diaz-smith-dear-gov-phil-scott/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s Human Rights Commission seeks funding to sustain its work amid federal cuts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Big Hartman, executive director of the Vermont Human Rights Commission. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&ldquo;The federal government is no longer a partner with us,&rdquo; Big Hartman, executive director of the Vermont Human Rights Commission, told the House Appropriations Committee earlier this month. &ldquo;And, there&rsquo;s more need than ever.&rdquo;Hartman was asking legislators to help keep the commission&rsquo;s current operations whole for the upcoming 2027 fiscal year, which star]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-human-rights-commission-seeks-funding-to-sustain-its-work-amid-federal-cuts/</link><pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-human-rights-commission-seeks-funding-to-sustain-its-work-amid-federal-cuts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermonter John Caldwell, father of US cross-country skiing, dies at age 97]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermonter John Caldwell is the father of U.S. cross-country skiing and grandfather of 2018 Olympians Patrick and Sophie Caldwell. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerJohn Caldwell, the Vermonter who literally wrote the book on cross-country skiing, has died at age 97.&ldquo;It is with heavy hearts that we share the news,&rdquo; the New England Nordic Ski Association posted Friday on its Facebook page.Caldwell&rsquo;s trailblazing 1964 how-to guide, simply titled &ldquo;The Cross-Country Ski B]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonter-john-caldwell-father-of-us-cross-country-skiing-dies-at-age-97/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 23:35:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonter-john-caldwell-father-of-us-cross-country-skiing-dies-at-age-97/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Open doors no more: Vermont Statehouse to close some public entrances, add daily screening]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 7, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Public access to the Vermont Statehouse is going to start looking very different.Officials plan to limit visitors to a single point of entry every day that legislators are in session starting as soon as next month, Agatha Kessler, the Statehouse&rsquo;s Sergeant-at-Arms, said Friday.As it stands &mdash; and has long been the case &mdash; anyone can enter the Statehouse through several different,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/open-doors-no-more-vermont-statehouse-to-close-some-public-entrances-add-daily-screening/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 23:25:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/open-doors-no-more-vermont-statehouse-to-close-some-public-entrances-add-daily-screening/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rutland City’s hectic mayoral race packed with write-in candidates]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rutland City Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerRutland City voters will elect a new mayor on Town Meeting Day in a rare write-in race that has left candidates only a month to campaign.The election was set in motion on Jan. 29, after current Mayor Mike Doenges unexpectedly announced his resignation midway through his second term.&nbsp;After a mayoral vacancy, the Board of Aldermen president would normally fill the role until the next annual meeting, according to the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-citys-hectic-mayoral-race-packed-with-write-in-candidates/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 22:50:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-citys-hectic-mayoral-race-packed-with-write-in-candidates/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State’s Attorney will not prosecute Williston ICE office protesters]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Chittenden County State&rsquo;s Attorney has declined to prosecute charges against the 13 people cited by Vermont State Police for criminal trespass during a civil disobedience action in a Williston business park on Feb. 9.&ldquo;Our office protects the community by focusing on solving problems and meeting needs instead of simply obtaining convictions,&rdquo; wrote State&rsquo;s Attorney Sarah George in letters dated Feb. 25 to Vermont State Police Detective Trooper Brandon Degre.The partic]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/states-attorney-will-not-prosecute-williston-ice-office-protesters/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:52:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/states-attorney-will-not-prosecute-williston-ice-office-protesters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Emily Anderson: Fragile wetlands could lose protection]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Emily Anderson, policy manager at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE), a wildlife research nonprofit based in White River Junction.&nbsp;For a few weeks in the spring of 2020, visiting vernal pools &mdash; ephemeral springtime wetlands &mdash; became my after-work ritual. Every day brought discoveries: freshly laid salamander eggs, tadpoles darting among submerged leaves, raccoon tracks in the soft earth. Each pool offered its own private drama, watched only by a few n]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/emily-anderson-fragile-wetlands-could-lose-protection/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 01:13:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/emily-anderson-fragile-wetlands-could-lose-protection/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[30 years on, a Vermont cult classic film rings true]]></title><description><![CDATA[The late Tunbridge farmer turned &ldquo;Man with a Plan&rdquo; film star Fred Tuttle holding a picture of his father holding a picture of his father. Photo by Peter MillerThere&rsquo;s a &ldquo;magnetic&rdquo; charisma in some politicians that&rsquo;s similar to that of a movie star, said Rep. John O&rsquo;Brien, D-Tunbridge, between meetings of the House Agriculture Committee Thursday.&ldquo;Fred Tuttle had that,&rdquo; he said.This week marks the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Vermont cult clas]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/30-years-on-a-vermont-cult-classic-film-rings-true/</link><pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/30-years-on-a-vermont-cult-classic-film-rings-true/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Northfield pays nearly $65K in separation agreement with former town manager]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Northfield municipal building on Friday, August 1, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerNorthfield has paid former town manager Jeff Schulz nearly $65,000 in separation costs following his sudden departure from the position in December.The town&rsquo;s five-member selectboard approved a severance agreement with Schulz after a 4-1 vote on Dec. 17, two months after the longtime employee announced his plan to retire or resign in 2026. Schulz then left the position in December while on leave.Sc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/northfield-pays-nearly-65k-in-separation-agreement-with-former-town-manager/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/northfield-pays-nearly-65k-in-separation-agreement-with-former-town-manager/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mad River Glen ski area buys 1,100 surrounding acres]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Sunnyside chair sits idle at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMad River Glen ski area has purchased more than 1,000 acres of surrounding land that it plans to conserve and maintain for backcountry use.&nbsp;The cooperatively owned ski area closed the $2.5 million deal Tuesday, according to Matt Lillard, general manager of the resort. Famous for its single person chairlift and skier-only exclusivity, the Fayston ski area is]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mad-river-glen-ski-area-buys-1100-surrounding-acres/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:21:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mad-river-glen-ski-area-buys-1100-surrounding-acres/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Health insurance, inflation and federal funding cuts: Here’s what’s driving school budget increases this year]]></title><description><![CDATA[Adam Bunting, superintendent of the Champlain Valley School District, speaks before a joint meeting of the House and Senate education committees at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 13. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermonters headed to the polls on Town Meeting Day will cast votes on critical decisions around school district budgets and the future of small elementary schools, as property taxes and education reform remain top of mind for lawmakers and voters.Adam Bunting, the Champlain Vall]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/health-insurance-inflation-and-federal-funding-cuts-heres-whats-driving-school-budget-increases-this-year/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 17:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/health-insurance-inflation-and-federal-funding-cuts-heres-whats-driving-school-budget-increases-this-year/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Corporate requests for public records are weighing down already burdened town officials in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[The side entrance doors, as well as the center doors (not seen), were open at the Statehouse in Montpelier as temperatures rose into the low 50&rsquo;s on Feb. 16, 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerCOLCHESTER &mdash; In one of Vermont&rsquo;s largest towns, most of the requests officials get for public records aren&rsquo;t coming from local residents. Instead, said Renae Marshall, Colchester&rsquo;s deputy town manager, they&rsquo;re coming from people &mdash; and companies &mdash; arou]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/corporate-requests-for-public-records-are-weighing-down-already-burdened-town-officials-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/corporate-requests-for-public-records-are-weighing-down-already-burdened-town-officials-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Anya Schwartz: Pledges won’t bring peace]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,With Town Meeting Day around the corner on Tuesday, March 3, many of us will be asked to weigh in on pledges concerning Israel and Palestine.&nbsp;I want the ongoing Israeli military occupation in the West Bank and the soul-shattering violence in Gaza to end. Yet I find the Apartheid-Free Communities (AFC) pledge &mdash; which urges organizations to boycott and divest from Israel over its policies toward Palestinians &mdash; circulating in Vermont towns deeply problematic.&nbsp;<br />
REA]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/anya-schwartz-pledges-wont-bring-peace/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:23:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/anya-schwartz-pledges-wont-bring-peace/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Francine Miller: Why I’m voting for the Apartheid-Free Communities pledge]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,As a Jewish Vermonter supportive of the Apartheid-Free Communities (AFC) pledge &mdash; which calls on organizations to boycott and divest from Israel in response to its policies toward Palestinians &mdash; on the ballot in some of our towns on Town Meeting Day next Tuesday, March 3, I want to respond to Michael Cohen&rsquo;s recent opinion piece urging people to support more funding for efforts at bringing Israelis and Palestinians together instead of the pledge.I support more fund]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/francine-miller-why-im-voting-for-the-apartheid-free-communities-pledge/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:20:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/francine-miller-why-im-voting-for-the-apartheid-free-communities-pledge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[An inside look at Beta Technologies’ big plans for Vermont ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Blain Newton, chief information officer at BETA Technologies, explains a detail of the cockpit of an electric aircraft at a manufacturing facility in South Burlington on Thursday, Feb. 12. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSOUTH BURLINGTON &mdash; Beta Technologies opened its nearly 200,000-square-foot aircraft manufacturing facility less than three years ago, but the company is already bursting at the seams and planning to knock down walls.&nbsp;The building is literally running out of desks &mda]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-inside-look-at-beta-technologies-big-plans-for-vermont/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 02:02:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-inside-look-at-beta-technologies-big-plans-for-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Connecticut man reaches plea deal on reduced charge in Northeast Kingdom fatal shooting]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Superior Court building and the Orleans County Court House in Newport on March 18, 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Connecticut man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a reduced charge of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a Derby woman two years ago in Vermont&rsquo;s Northeast Kingdom.Jakiy Tramaine Corey Keith, 26, had been facing a charge of first-degree murder in the death of&nbsp; 29-year-old Kayla Wright of Derby after police said he shot her multiple times earl]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/connecticut-man-reaches-plea-deal-on-reduced-charge-in-northeast-kingdom-fatal-shooting/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:34:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/connecticut-man-reaches-plea-deal-on-reduced-charge-in-northeast-kingdom-fatal-shooting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[This Town Meeting Day, Vermont towns consider calling for universal health care ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Middlebury Chapel at Middlebury College in Middlebury on Nov. 19, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAbout 18 months ago, Jack Mayer, Ellen Oxfeld and Michael Palmer began meeting in their local coffee shop to discuss ways that they, as concerned citizens, could improve the health care system in Vermont. They called themselves the Little Seeds, both for the Middlebury cafe where they congregated and for the movement they saw germinating.&nbsp;With Town Meeting Day ahead on March 3, t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/this-town-meeting-day-vermont-towns-consider-calling-for-universal-health-care/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:18:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/this-town-meeting-day-vermont-towns-consider-calling-for-universal-health-care/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Landowners could restrict hunters with purple paint under bill in Vermont house]]></title><description><![CDATA[Photo by Natalie Williams/VTDiggerRose Gale misses the good old days, in the early 1960s, when she would ask to hunt on a neighbor&rsquo;s land over a cup of coffee.&nbsp;&ldquo;Usually in the end he also ended up with a couple of steaks,&rdquo; the Salisbury woman told the House Environment Committee Wednesday.&nbsp;But in recent years, Gale said she&rsquo;s seen more landowners put no trespassing signs on their property, closing off access to hunters. It&rsquo;s &ldquo;a clear indication to m]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/landowners-could-restrict-hunters-with-purple-paint-under-bill-in-vermont-house/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:16:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/landowners-could-restrict-hunters-with-purple-paint-under-bill-in-vermont-house/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont National Guard to train Ukrainian soldiers in Germany]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont National Guard soldiers assigned to Task Force Saber, a multinational training mission for Ukrainian soldiers, case their colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at Grafenwoehr, Germany, on Feb. 19, 2026. Photo by Francisco Torres/U.S. ArmyThe 86th Infantry Brigade, a mountain warfare specialized unit of the Vermont National Guard, has been deployed to Germany to train Ukrainian forces.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;As Task Force Alpine assumes responsibility, we do so with humility &mdash;]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-national-guard-to-train-ukrainian-soldiers-in-germany/</link><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:34:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-national-guard-to-train-ukrainian-soldiers-in-germany/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott to bring pilot ‘accountability court’ model to Rutland County]]></title><description><![CDATA[Merchants Row in Rutland on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; On the heels of a Burlington pilot court praised by state officials, Gov. Phil Scott announced Wednesday that he plans to replicate the &ldquo;accountability court&rdquo; model in Rutland County.&nbsp;In the Burlington pilot court, defendants were fast tracked-through the legal system if they faced many legal cases. And with social workers hired to sit in the courtroom, defendants were connecte]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-phil-scott-to-bring-pilot-accountability-court-model-to-rutland-county/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:21:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-phil-scott-to-bring-pilot-accountability-court-model-to-rutland-county/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: How Ben Ogden became the best men’s cross-country skier in US Olympic history]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ben Ogden, of the United States, poses after winning the silver medal in the cross-country skiing men&rsquo;s sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Tesero, Italy on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Photo by Evgeniy Maloletka/APThe Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.When cross country skier Ben Ogden wo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-how-ben-ogden-became-the-best-mens-cross-country-skier-in-us-olympic-history/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 22:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-how-ben-ogden-became-the-best-mens-cross-country-skier-in-us-olympic-history/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Community land trust exploring the acquisition of Sterling College campus]]></title><description><![CDATA[The greater Craftsbury community is weighing potential uses for the Sterling College campus once the school closes its doors to students this summer.Headwaters Community Trust, founded in 2024, announced in a recent newsletter it is exploring the acquisition of the campus.&ldquo;It is one of those generational opportunities,&rdquo; said Linda Ramsdell, president of the community land trust&rsquo;s board of directors. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really big and we&rsquo;re a really young, new land trust an]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/community-land-trust-exploring-the-acquisition-of-sterling-college-campus/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 22:24:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/community-land-trust-exploring-the-acquisition-of-sterling-college-campus/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Supreme Court sides with Tunbridge in longstanding trails case]]></title><description><![CDATA[Keegan Tierney of the Green Mountain Club walks a section of the Burrows Trail that was re-routed during a tour of a rebuilding project at Camel&rsquo;s Hump State Park in Huntington in October 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Clare Shanahan was first published in the Valley News on Feb. 24.&nbsp;TUNBRIDGE &mdash; The Vermont Supreme Court reaffirmed municipalities&rsquo; rights to maintain public trails in the latest ruling in a years-long legal battle over two trails in Tunb]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-supreme-court-sides-with-tunbridge-in-longstanding-trails-case/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:57:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-supreme-court-sides-with-tunbridge-in-longstanding-trails-case/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont House advances data protections for people who use genetic testing sites]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jeff Robb, a Seattle resident wintering in Tucson, signs a banner supporting Nancy Guthrie in Tucson, Ariz., on Friday, Feb. 13. Photo by Ty ONeil/APInvestigators desperate for leads in the abduction of Nancy Guthrie from her Arizona home are turning to a new tool in their search, according to reports this week: databases of genetic data compiled by companies that offer ancestry tracing direct to consumers online.That news, in addition to concerns over a 2023 breach of data from the DNA testing]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-advances-data-protections-for-people-who-use-genetic-testing-sites/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-advances-data-protections-for-people-who-use-genetic-testing-sites/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neil Ryan: Save small farms from Act 181 ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Neil Ryan, a third-generation Vermont farmer and consultant helping brands and nonprofits in Corinth.&nbsp;Rural Vermont is more than a &ldquo;forest block,&rdquo; as defined by planners via geographic information system maps and rulemaking. Rural Vermont is a human institution created by generations of men and women who loved the land and their way of life.I am a third-generation Vermont farmer who has called three different farms in three Vermont towns home. Each of thos]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/neil-ryan-save-small-farms-from-act-181/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:17:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/neil-ryan-save-small-farms-from-act-181/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marc Cote: Who pays for prescription discount cards?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I appreciated VTDigger&rsquo;s recent article on Vermont&rsquo;s consideration of joining the ArrayRx prescription discount card program. Efforts to make medications more affordable are important, and pharmacists share that goal. However, it is essential to understand how these programs function and who ultimately bears their financial impact.Community pharmacies do not set drug prices. We must purchase medications at market rates, maintain facilities, employ licensed professionals]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marc-cote-who-pays-for-prescription-discount-cards/</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:01:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marc-cote-who-pays-for-prescription-discount-cards/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermonters head to Massachusetts to help with aftermath of winter storm ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Agency of Transportation vehicles assemble before driving to Massachusetts to assist with snow removal on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Photo courtesy of Vermont Agency of TransportationWhen Vermont&rsquo;s snow plows roll before breakfast, it&rsquo;s usually for a mess on our roads. On Tuesday, it was for Massachusetts.&nbsp;As Massachusetts and other parts of New England grapple with the aftermath of an intense snowstorm, VTrans stepped in to help. The agency sent over 30 pieces of equipment and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-head-to-massachusetts-to-help-with-aftermath-of-winter-storm/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:35:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-head-to-massachusetts-to-help-with-aftermath-of-winter-storm/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jenny L. Copeland]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 08/07/1945Mason City, IowaDied: 02/19/2026Bradford, VTDetails of service:A Celebration of Life has been scheduled for April 18 at 11:00 a.m., at the Bradford Academy, 172 Main Street, Bradford, VT 05033. &nbsp;A reception will follow next door in the Gathering Room&nbsp;at Grace Methodist Church.Jenny Louise Abrams CopelandJenny L. Copeland of South Road, Bradford, VT, died unexpectedly at home on February 19, 2026.&nbsp; She was 80.Jenny Louise Abrams was born August 7, 1945, at Park Hos]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jenny-l-copeland/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:59:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jenny-l-copeland/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers stop short of an immediate fix for Section 8 shortfall]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Robin Scheu speaks with fellow lawmakers on the first day of the 2026 Vermont legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 6. Photo by Brian Stevenson/Vermont PublicThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.State lawmakers have decided not to give immediate cash aid to prop up a rental assistance program facing federal cuts, opting to consider funding later this year.Federal Section 8 housing vouchers help thou]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-stop-short-of-an-immediate-fix-for-section-8-shortfall/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:58:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-stop-short-of-an-immediate-fix-for-section-8-shortfall/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stephen J. Murphy]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 01/17/1950Died:Details of service:Calling hours will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 5-7:00 p.m. at Guare &amp; Sons Funeral Home, 30 School Street, Montpelier, Vermont.A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Augustine&rsquo;s Church, 16 Barre Street, Montpelier, Vermont.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Augustine&rsquo;s Parish Community Luncheon, 16 Barre Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, or to Central Vermont Pregn]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stephen-j-murphy/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:37:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stephen-j-murphy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turning dreams into reality: overcoming obstacles to become a psychiatric nurse]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;When I say Miss Danielle is my mom, everyone says how much they love her,&rdquo; shared Lee Blanco. His mom is a teacher at Albany Community School, and Lee draws inspiration from the connection she builds with her students. &ldquo;She does this thing as a teacher where she makes a point of calling all of her kids&rsquo; parents the first week of classes. That&rsquo;s so inspiring to me because you need that connection. It makes me think about what it means for people and what I could do]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/turning-dreams-into-reality-overcoming-obstacles-to-become-a-psychiatric-nurse/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:36:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/turning-dreams-into-reality-overcoming-obstacles-to-become-a-psychiatric-nurse/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turning dreams into reality: how Lee Blanco is overcoming obstacles to become a psychiatric nurse]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;When I say Miss Danielle is my mom, everyone says how much they love her,&rdquo; shared Lee Blanco. His mom is a teacher at Albany Community School, and Lee draws inspiration from the connection she builds with her students. &ldquo;She does this thing as a teacher where she makes a point of calling all of her kids&rsquo; parents the first week of classes. That&rsquo;s so inspiring to me because you need that connection. It makes me think about what it means for people and what I could do]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/turning-dreams-into-reality-how-lee-blanco-is-overcoming-obstacles-to-become-a-psychiatric-nurse/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:36:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/turning-dreams-into-reality-how-lee-blanco-is-overcoming-obstacles-to-become-a-psychiatric-nurse/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont plugs into the data center conversation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont has so far escaped the arrival of giant data centers, but developers have begun &ldquo;kicking tires or sniffing around,&rdquo; according to top Vermont utility lawyer who spoke to lawmakers in February.&nbsp;Lawmakers are trying to get in front of the possible arrival of data centers, which have begun querying the state as the Trump administration pushes for the development of data centers, fueled by the rise of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.&nbsp;The Legislature is consid]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-plugs-into-the-data-center-conversation/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 21:38:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-plugs-into-the-data-center-conversation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dennis Anthony Ross]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 11/03/1952Whitehall, New YorkDied: 01/30/2026Marshfield, VermontDetails of service:Planning is underway for a Spring gathering to celebrate Dennis&rsquo;s life and connection to community and the land; details will follow. Dennis asked that those who wish to honor his life with a financial contribution direct those resources to EarthWalk Together, a 501c3 with the mission: to inspire, mentor and grow caring learning communities rooted in nature, in service to and with a love for, children]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dennis-anthony-ross/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:46:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dennis-anthony-ross/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ryan Csizmesia: Compassion without consequences is failing our schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Ryan Csizmesia, the principal of Canaan Memorial Schools.In response to VTDigger&rsquo;s recent article on Vermont&rsquo;s declining proficiency rates, I write not as a partisan voice, but as a principal who is in school every day.&nbsp;We are told by state leaders that transformation is essential and consolidation is overdue, and by union officials that data is being politicized. Perhaps all of that is true. But while leaders debate educational structure, something far mo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ryan-csizmesia-compassion-without-consequences-is-failing-our-schools/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:35:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ryan-csizmesia-compassion-without-consequences-is-failing-our-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[To spotlight Trump cuts to health insurance, Welch brings Vermont lawmaker to the State of the Union ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Alyssa Black, left, and U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger.<br />
Alyssa Black may find herself singing Talking Heads this week.&nbsp;On Tuesday, the Democratic state representative from Essex Town plans to travel to Washington D.C. to attend the State of the Union address as the guest of U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt.&nbsp;Since receiving the invitation last week, she said she keeps repeating the line from the song &ldquo;Once in a Lifetime,&rdquo; that goes &ldquo;Well]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/to-spotlight-trump-cuts-to-health-insurance-welch-brings-vermont-lawmaker-to-the-state-of-the-union/</link><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:25:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/to-spotlight-trump-cuts-to-health-insurance-welch-brings-vermont-lawmaker-to-the-state-of-the-union/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont struggling to take full advantage of heat pumps]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cody Stephenson, a contractor with Vermont Energy, installs a heat pump in October 2017. Photo courtesy of Efficiency VermontZachary Moss&nbsp;is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont&rsquo;s Reporting &amp; Documentary Storytelling program.Heat pumps could help Vermont reach its climate goals, but several factors are making it hard to take full advantage of their potential, according to the 2026 Annual Energy Report by the Vermont Department of Public Se]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-struggling-to-take-full-advantage-of-heat-pumps/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-struggling-to-take-full-advantage-of-heat-pumps/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont officials optimistic after US Supreme Court ruling against Trump tariffs, but trade uncertainty persists]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, speaks during a press conference at Leahy Burlington International Airport in South Burlington on Monday, Feb. 23. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.SOUTH BURLINGTON &mdash; The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that many of the Trump administration&rsquo;s international tariffs from the past year were levied illegally. Despite ongoing uncertainty over a new set of tariffs the Whi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-officials-optimistic-after-us-supreme-court-ruling-against-trump-tariffs-but-trade-uncertainty-persists/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:45:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-officials-optimistic-after-us-supreme-court-ruling-against-trump-tariffs-but-trade-uncertainty-persists/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[For Vermont’s favorite Olympians, there’s no rest — nor revelry — for the weary]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont skier Mac Forehand celebrates his score during the men&rsquo;s freestyle big air finals Feb. 17 at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Photo by Abbie Parr/Associated Press. For Vermonters returning to everyday routines after the escape of the 2026 Winter Olympics, take heart: Medal winners with ties to the Green Mountain State also have to go back to the grind.&ldquo;So soon, like so soon,&rdquo; Mikaela Shiffrin, a graduate of Burke Mountain Academy, told NBC of most skiers&rsquo; plans]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-vermonts-favorite-olympians-theres-no-rest-nor-revelry-for-the-weary/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:14:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-vermonts-favorite-olympians-theres-no-rest-nor-revelry-for-the-weary/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Opening doors to care: how Open Access and CCBHC are changing mental health in Rutland County]]></title><description><![CDATA[Community Care Network-Rutland Mental Health Services serves more than 3,500 people each year throughout Rutland County across the areas of mental health, developmental disabilities and substance use treatment and recovery services.For many people, the decision to seek help for a mental health or substance use concern doesn&rsquo;t come easily. It often arrives in a brief window of courage &ndash; one phone call, one step through a door. When that moment is met with long wait times or complicate]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/opening-doors-to-care-how-open-access-and-ccbhc-are-changing-mental-health-in-rutland-county/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:56:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/opening-doors-to-care-how-open-access-and-ccbhc-are-changing-mental-health-in-rutland-county/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont recommends continued, but reduced, NEK moose hunting]]></title><description><![CDATA[Joey Davis spends much of his time in the woods of the Northeast Kingdom. He guides moose hunts, and in the spring he combs the woods for antlers that moose have naturally shed.&nbsp;But he often finds something he&rsquo;s not hoping for: dead moose calves, killed by winter ticks.&nbsp;Winter ticks are native to northeastern New England and have become a serious problem for moose in some places. Tens of thousands of them can live on just one animal, according to research published in the Canadi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-recommends-continued-but-reduced-nek-moose-hunting/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:07:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-recommends-continued-but-reduced-nek-moose-hunting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Benjamin Brickner: The rising stakes of Town Meeting Day]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Benjamin Brickner, an attorney and chair of the Pomfret Selectboard. The views expressed are solely those of the author.Vermonters will soon gather in town halls, at polling places and around well-worn tables to shape their future. Some will raise hands from folding chairs, as Elmore has done for generations. Others will mark ballots on a long Tuesday, as Killington now does. Waterbury will do both on the same day. The formats differ, but the purpose is the same: citizens]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/benjamin-brickner-the-rising-stakes-of-town-meeting-day/</link><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/benjamin-brickner-the-rising-stakes-of-town-meeting-day/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Six years in, long Covid is still with many Vermonters — and they say the system is failing them ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mary Kate Shanahan has long covid.Seen in South Burlington on Friday, February 13, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAli knew something was wrong with her body.&nbsp;She&rsquo;d always been an active Vermonter and a full-time nurse. But in 2024, she began experiencing shortness of breath, chest pain or sheer exhaustion after the slightest exertion.&nbsp;So she went to the emergency room &mdash; twice. Both times, the doctors performed a battery of tests: a chest CT scan, an echocardiogram, b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/six-years-in-long-covid-is-still-with-many-vermonters-and-they-say-the-system-is-failing-them/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/six-years-in-long-covid-is-still-with-many-vermonters-and-they-say-the-system-is-failing-them/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[More cash-strapped Vermont communities seek local taxes on rooms, meals, alcohol and sales]]></title><description><![CDATA[Signs posted in many Vermont communities call for property tax changes. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerAs Vermont municipalities aim to pinch pennies this March Town Meeting season, a rising number are seeking to pull in more spare change by piggybacking on state taxes and proposing their own 1% local charges on rooms, meals, alcohol and sales.Voters in almost 20 cities and towns will be asked to join the nearly 40 now accessing some combination of such fees, according to a VTDigger surv]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-cash-strapped-vermont-communities-seek-local-taxes-on-rooms-meals-alcohol-and-sales/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-cash-strapped-vermont-communities-seek-local-taxes-on-rooms-meals-alcohol-and-sales/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Erica Fuller: AmeriCorps opens doors]]></title><description><![CDATA[After reading VTDigger&rsquo;s recent article highlighting an impressive new, young Vermonter, Matthew Carey, I want to commend him for the determination and resilience he&rsquo;s shown in defying the odds.&nbsp;What stands out to me is the notable impact that AmeriCorps and other federally and state-funded programs have had on his life. Matthew describes the doors opened by his AmeriCorps service, such as the educational award that helps make college more affordable, and the career pathway tow]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/erica-fuller-americorps-opens-doors/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/erica-fuller-americorps-opens-doors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘Dear New York City’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;I Know a Spot,&rdquo; by Bradee Traverse, 17, of West Rutland.Young Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-dear-new-york-city/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-dear-new-york-city/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Craftivism’ makes a comeback as local knitters spin yarns about ICE resistance]]></title><description><![CDATA[South Burlington resident Kathy Wilder works on a new &ldquo;Melt the ICE&rdquo; red hat. Photo by Sophia Balunek/Sheburne NewsKathy Wilder and Anne Morgan were peacefully seated in the Marabella KidSpace at the South Burlington Public Library last Thursday, a knitting needle in each hand, yarn twined through their fingers.Wilder had already gotten to work on a project &mdash; a red triangular hat with a braided tassel &mdash; by the time the clock struck 2 p.m., when others were due to join th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/craftivism-makes-a-comeback-as-local-knitters-spin-yarns-about-ice-resistance/</link><pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/craftivism-makes-a-comeback-as-local-knitters-spin-yarns-about-ice-resistance/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As Vermont lawmakers work to consolidate schools, how will they handle school district debt?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, speaks as the committee is briefed on the proposed 2026 state budget at the Statehouse in Montpelier in February 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont school districts are more than $480 million in debt from the costs of renovating school buildings, according to data from the State Aid for School Construction Advisory Board. That might sound pretty steep, but experts say it&rsquo;s not necessarily a bad t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-vermont-lawmakers-work-to-consolidate-schools-how-will-they-handle-school-district-debt/</link><pubDate>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-vermont-lawmakers-work-to-consolidate-schools-how-will-they-handle-school-district-debt/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After 16 days in ICE custody, Steven Tendo is heading back to Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Steven Tendo, a refugee from Uganda seeking political asylum in the U.S., speaks with supporters after receiving a letter announcing a year-long stay of his deportation in St. Albans on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUgandan minister, health care worker and asylum-seeker Steven Tendo is expected to return home to Vermont on Friday after being detained for 16 days, his lawyer said.U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took Tendo, 41, into custody on Feb. 4 outside]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-16-days-in-ice-custody-steven-tendo-is-heading-back-to-vermont/</link><pubDate>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:18:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-16-days-in-ice-custody-steven-tendo-is-heading-back-to-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont settles lawsuits over foster case licenses denied due to anti-LGBTQ beliefs ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Officials with the Department for Children and Families at a legislative meeting. Photo by Peter D&rsquo;Auria/VTDiggerThe state of Vermont has settled two lawsuits brought over the Department for Children and Families&rsquo; policies surrounding care for LGBTQ foster children.The state has now revised its policies prohibiting those with anti-LGBTQ beliefs from receiving a foster license, according to court documents filed Friday.The settlements come less than a week before plaintiffs in the tw]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-settles-lawsuits-over-foster-case-licenses-denied-due-to-anti-lgbtq-beliefs/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 23:11:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-settles-lawsuits-over-foster-case-licenses-denied-due-to-anti-lgbtq-beliefs/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Scott appoints Jack Brigham to the Vermont House]]></title><description><![CDATA[The House of Representatives chamber at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerGov. Phil Scott appointed Jack Brigham to a vacant House seat Friday.Brigham will represent part of St. Albans City and St. Albans Town, replacing Casey Toof, a Republican who was serving as assistant minority leader when he resigned last month.&nbsp;&ldquo;Jack has been active in his community and understands the issues of his constituents well,&rdquo; Scott said in a s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-appoints-jack-brigham-to-the-vermont-house/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:51:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-appoints-jack-brigham-to-the-vermont-house/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Senate President Phil Baruth says he won’t run for reelection]]></title><description><![CDATA[Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, pictured on February 3, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated 12:31 p.m.Phil Baruth, the president pro tempore of the Vermont Senate, will not run for reelection this year.Baruth, a Democrat/Progressive from the Chittenden Central district, announced his decision to retire at the end of this year&rsquo;s legislative session on the Senate floor Friday.<br />
The pro tem lives in Burlington. He has served in the Senate since 2011.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-senate-president-phil-baruth-says-he-wont-run-for-reelection/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:25:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-senate-president-phil-baruth-says-he-wont-run-for-reelection/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont seeks to join 5 states in drug-purchasing consortium]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak pictured on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe pathway a prescription drug takes from a manufacturer to a pharmacy to a patient&rsquo;s hands &mdash; and how its cost is determined along the way &mdash; is often an opaque and confusing one.Vermont&rsquo;s state treasurer, backed by some health care-focused lawmakers, wants to make that process more transparent and make the drugs more affordable by introducing a bulk buying prescriptio]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-seeks-to-join-5-states-in-drug-purchasing-consortium/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-seeks-to-join-5-states-in-drug-purchasing-consortium/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont students are ‘well below’ proficiency goals in math and English, according to state report]]></title><description><![CDATA[Champlain Valley School District school busses in Hinesburg on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA majority of Vermont&rsquo;s students are &ldquo;well below&rdquo; math and English language arts proficiency goals, while the state&rsquo;s public education system &ldquo;is not yet consistently delivering strong and sustained outcomes for all students.&rdquo;That&rsquo;s according to the Vermont State Report Card, the Vermont Agency of Education&rsquo;s annual assessment of stu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-students-are-well-below-proficiency-goals-in-math-and-english-according-to-state-report/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-students-are-well-below-proficiency-goals-in-math-and-english-according-to-state-report/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Michael M. Cohen: Build bridges, not walls]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Rabbi Michael M. Cohen, rabbi emeritus of the Israel Congregation and Director for Community Relations for the Friends of the Arava Institute. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the organizations with which he is affiliated.A Jewish sage and leader of ancient Israel who lived and worked in Jerusalem during the decades before 100 B.C., Yehoshua ben Perachyah, said, &ldquo;Judge every person favorably.&rdquo; We should not preju]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michael-m-cohen-build-bridges-not-walls/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michael-m-cohen-build-bridges-not-walls/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why people incompetent to stand trial could receive treatment in Vermont’s prisons]]></title><description><![CDATA[Part of the security fence at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield seen on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerEveryone is innocent until proven guilty, right?&nbsp;If someone charged with a violent crime is deemed a threat to public safety, they might be held without bail. And if that person is also incompetent to stand trial, they could remain in prison for years until they pass a competency evaluation.&nbsp;But the state currently lacks a process to resto]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-people-incompetent-to-stand-trial-could-receive-treatment-in-vermonts-prisons/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-people-incompetent-to-stand-trial-could-receive-treatment-in-vermonts-prisons/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jordana Churchill and Kate Paarlberg-Kvam: You don’t get to choose the facts ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This letter is from Jordana Churchill, an educator and member of the Vermont Coalition for Palestinian Liberation, and Kate Paarlberg-Kvam, who has spent time in the West Bank as a human rights observer.Dear Editor,As Vermonters, we write to agree with the title of Mark Treinkman&rsquo;s recent opinion piece. Facts do matter in Vermont&rsquo;s discourse about the actions of the State of Israel.As people of conscience whose tax dollars and elected officials have made these actions possible, the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jordana-churchill-and-kate-paarlberg-kvam-you-dont-get-to-choose-the-facts/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:23:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jordana-churchill-and-kate-paarlberg-kvam-you-dont-get-to-choose-the-facts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Poultney man charged with first-degree murder in deadly quarry beating]]></title><description><![CDATA[RUTLAND &mdash; Two men have been arrested in a monthslong investigation into the beating death of a Rutland County man at a West Pawlet quarry, with one of the suspects facing a charge of first-degree murder.Court records made public following the arrests over the past week show that police say the beating stemmed from a drug robbery turned deadly on the quarry property where the man who was killed lived in a camper and worked for over 20 years.&nbsp;Richard Mattison, 42, of Poultney, pleaded]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/poultney-man-charged-with-first-degree-murder-in-deadly-quarry-beating/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 22:56:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/poultney-man-charged-with-first-degree-murder-in-deadly-quarry-beating/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former Caledonia County victim’s advocate charged with sexually exploiting crime victim]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont State Police cruiserThe Vermont State Police arrested on Thursday a former Caledonia County victim&rsquo;s advocate on charges he used his position to sexually exploit a crime victim and then tried to cover it up.State Police say that last May, Anthony Jackson-Miller, 39, allegedly entered into a sexual relationship with a victim he was assigned to represent and then took steps to cover up that relationship. At the time, he was employed by the Caledonia County State&rsquo;s Attorney&rsq]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-caledonia-county-victims-advocate-charged-with-sexually-exploiting-crime-victim/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 19:28:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-caledonia-county-victims-advocate-charged-with-sexually-exploiting-crime-victim/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beta Technologies board member resigns after appearance in Epstein files]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dean Kamen. Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/APTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Dean Kamen resigned from the Beta Technologies board of directors Wednesday, following revelations surrounding his relationship with Jeffery Epstein.&ldquo;Dean Kamen has voluntarily stepped down,&rdquo; read a statement from the South Burlington-based electric airplane company in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Thursday morning. &ldquo;]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-technologies-board-member-resigns-after-appearance-in-epstein-files/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 18:21:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-technologies-board-member-resigns-after-appearance-in-epstein-files/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont legislators elect Henry ‘Hank’ Harder to lead state’s National Guard]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hank Harder, a retired general and candidate to be the next Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard, speaks before a joint meeting of the House and Senate government operations committees at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Henry &ldquo;Hank&rdquo; Harder was elected to serve as the next leader of the Vermont National Guard on Thursday by the state House and Senate.&nbsp;Harder is a retired Air National Guard genera]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-legislators-elect-henry-hank-harder-to-lead-states-national-guard/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-legislators-elect-henry-hank-harder-to-lead-states-national-guard/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bernie heads to California to talk AI with tech leaders]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, speaks during a press conference with U.S. Senator Peter Welch, D-Vermont,at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, February 6, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story was produced in partnership with NOTUS, a publication from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Allbritton Journalism Institute. VTDigger has partnered with NOTUS to cover federal actions affecting Vermont.U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, is in California this week during the Senate&rsquo;s r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bernie-heads-to-california-to-talk-ai-with-tech-leaders/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:45:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bernie-heads-to-california-to-talk-ai-with-tech-leaders/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brian Powell]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: Aug. 27, 1951Montpelier, VermontDied: Feb. 8, 2026Berlin, VermontDetails of service:Visitation will take place at Guare &amp; Sons Funeral Home on Feb. 25, 2026, beginning at 10a.m. An informal memorial service will begin at 11:30 a.m. His interment will be private at the family&rsquo;s lot at Green Mount Cemetery, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, please do something kind for someone, as Brian was a pillar of such kindness.Brian Powell, a strong member of the Montpelier commun]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brian-powell/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:28:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brian-powell/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Peggy Stevens: Keep poison out of our water]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,H.652, a bill banning landfill leachate disposal in the Lake Memphremagog watershed, is an important piece of legislation.&nbsp;Sponsored by Reps. Woodman Page, R-Newport City, and Larry Labor, R-Morgan, and co-sponsored by 19 bipartisan representatives &mdash; Republicans, Democrats, Progressives and Independents &mdash; the bill would prohibit the disposal of landfill leachate, treated or not, anywhere in the Memphremagog watershed.&nbsp;The current experimental leachate treatment]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/peggy-stevens-keep-poison-out-of-our-water/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/peggy-stevens-keep-poison-out-of-our-water/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s county fairs are thriving. Now they worry updated water rules could threaten that.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The 4-day-long Tunbridge World&rsquo;s Fair&rsquo;s first day on Thursday, September 11, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerNine million dollars: That&rsquo;s how much Vermont&rsquo;s county fairs bring in, Vermont Farm Bureau lobbyist Jackie Folsom told the Senate Institutions Committee Wednesday afternoon. That&rsquo;s a whole lot of creemees.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s such an influx of cash that, in Bondville, fairgoers completely wipe out the two local ATMs and organizers have had to import two add]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-county-fairs-are-thriving-now-they-worry-updated-water-rules-could-threaten-that/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-county-fairs-are-thriving-now-they-worry-updated-water-rules-could-threaten-that/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How the Rev. Jesse Jackson helped shape Vermont’s progressive moment]]></title><description><![CDATA[Presidential candidate Jesse Jackson speaks in St. Albans during a 1984 bus tour of the state. Photo by Glenn Russell&ldquo;We are nothing, here in Vermont, if not tenacious.&rdquo;&nbsp;So began a letter to the Rev. Jesse Jackson from Ellen David Friedman, then-committee member of the Rainbow Coalition of Vermont, asking him &mdash; for the second time &mdash; to visit the state for his 1988 presidential campaign.&nbsp;Jackson eventually agreed, speaking in Montpelier in December 1987, and at]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-the-rev-jesse-jackson-helped-shape-vermonts-progressive-moment/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-the-rev-jesse-jackson-helped-shape-vermonts-progressive-moment/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How the Rev. Jesse Jackson helped shape the Vermont’s progressive moment]]></title><description><![CDATA[Presidential candidate Jesse Jackson speaks in St. Albans during a 1984 bus tour of the state. Photo by Glenn Russell&ldquo;We are nothing, here in Vermont, if not tenacious.&rdquo;&nbsp;So began a letter to the Rev. Jesse Jackson from Ellen David Friedman, then-committee member of the Rainbow Coalition of Vermont, asking him &mdash; for the second time &mdash; to visit the state for his 1988 presidential campaign.&nbsp;Jackson eventually agreed, speaking in Montpelier in December 1987, and at]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-the-rev-jesse-jackson-helped-shape-the-vermonts-progressive-moment/</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-the-rev-jesse-jackson-helped-shape-the-vermonts-progressive-moment/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawrence Ross Simmons]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: July 22, 1943Kenmore, New York<br />
Died: Feb. 16 2026Colchester, VermontDetails of service:<br />
There is no service planned at this time.Lawrence Ross Simmons of Jericho, Vermont, died on Feb. 16, 2026, from complications related to Crohn&rsquo;s disease. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Marjorie Lynde Simmons; daughter Lori Hollander; brother David and sister-in-law Pam and their daughters Lauren Gray and Megan O&rsquo;Donnoghue; sister-in-law Sue Simmons, her son Drew Simmons and daughter]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawrence-ross-simmons/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:42:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawrence-ross-simmons/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Senator’s school consolidation proposal would allow 2-year period for voluntary mergers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Seth Bongartz, D-Bennington, waits for the Senate to convene at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Monday, June 16, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSen. Seth Bongartz, D-Bennington, the Senate Education Committee chair, introduced a school consolidation proposal Tuesday that would create a two-year on-ramp period for school districts to voluntarily merge.Bongartz&rsquo;s map overlays 11 new supervisory unions over the state&rsquo;s existing supervisory unions, and seeks to halve the stat]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/senators-school-consolidation-proposal-would-allow-2-year-period-for-voluntary-mergers/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:17:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/senators-school-consolidation-proposal-would-allow-2-year-period-for-voluntary-mergers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[MaryDiane Baker: No war vote, no Guard]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,There&rsquo;s a bipartisan state-level effort in the Vermont House for the Defend the Guard Act, H.355. This bill declares that our Guard can only be deployed to participate in an armed conflict when the U.S. Congress has used its constitutional power to declare war. This power resides solely with Congress, not the White House.&nbsp;Two recent events bring this to the forefront and underscore the need to pass H.355 now. The White House deployed Vermont Air National Guard units to Pu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marydiane-baker-no-war-vote-no-guard/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:50:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marydiane-baker-no-war-vote-no-guard/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can Vermont lawmakers ease the housing crisis by helping renters — and also landlords?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tenant Nora Aronds outside her home in Burlington on Monday, February 16, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.Each time the nonrenewal notice came, Nora Aronds felt the same sinking feeling.&nbsp;The 29-year-old social services worker has lived in seven Burlington apartments in the nearly eight years since she graduated from the University of Vermont. Three of tho]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/can-vermont-lawmakers-ease-the-housing-crisis-by-helping-renters-and-also-landlords/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:20:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/can-vermont-lawmakers-ease-the-housing-crisis-by-helping-renters-and-also-landlords/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Samantha’s road to a brighter future]]></title><description><![CDATA[Samantha&rsquo;s been behind the wheel since she graduated from high school. First for her own small business, Little Taxi LLC in Franklin County, and later for Special Services Transportation Agency (SSTA), she drives those who don&rsquo;t or can&rsquo;t drive from here to there and back again&mdash;to medical appointments, the grocery store, or the pharmacy.&nbsp;Several years ago, Samantha was struggling with a tough relationship, parenting, and her own health. She was sinking into mental he]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/samanthas-road-to-a-brighter-future/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:32:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/samanthas-road-to-a-brighter-future/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont-schooled Mikaela Shiffrin wins gold, Ben Ogden a second silver in Olympic skiing]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates winning a gold medal Wednesday in the women&rsquo;s Alpine slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Photo by Jacquelyn Martin/Associated PressThe Green Mountain State has two more winners at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games in Italy.Vermont-schooled skier Mikaela Shiffrin continued her redemption tour after a 2024 crash at the Killington World Cup by winning gold Wednesday in the women&rsquo;s slalom.Shiffrin, a 30-year-old Burke Mountain Academy graduate, is]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-schooled-mikaela-shiffrin-wins-gold-ben-ogden-a-second-silver-in-olympic-skiing/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:32:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-schooled-mikaela-shiffrin-wins-gold-ben-ogden-a-second-silver-in-olympic-skiing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dana Fowler: Wake boats shouldn’t push others off the water]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is in the middle of yet another rulemaking process, proposing to revise its Use of Public Waters Rules as they relate to wakesports on Vermont&rsquo;s inland lakes. I thought we had finished this process two years ago, and yet here we go again.&nbsp;As the DEC has reopened the process, wakesports proponents have mobilized to prevent any changes to the rules the DEC adopted in 2024. They have brought in a lobbyist, boating industry repre]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dana-fowler-wake-boats-shouldnt-push-others-off-the-water/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dana-fowler-wake-boats-shouldnt-push-others-off-the-water/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[It’s not just state government facing transportation funding challenges. Ask Morristown.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Catlin and Keshia Passonno, who are married, remove line striping targets along South Street in Woodstock on July 7, 2021. The street was recently resurfaced as part of the town&rsquo;s paving project.Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsIt&rsquo;s common sense that changing your oil is more cost-effective than waiting for your engine to seize and replacing it wholesale. So why do we handle roads differently?&nbsp;That was the metaphor Jordan St. Onge, Morristown&rsquo;s highway superintendent, u]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-not-just-state-government-facing-transportation-funding-challenges-ask-morristown/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-not-just-state-government-facing-transportation-funding-challenges-ask-morristown/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont skier Mac Forehand wins Olympic silver in big air ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont skier Mac Forehand celebrates his silver medal Tuesday in the men&rsquo;s freestyle big air finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Associated PressVermont skier Mac Forehand, offering what the New York Times deemed &ldquo;a sport-defining performance,&rdquo; won a silver medal Tuesday in the big air event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.The 24-year-old Stratton Mountain School graduate from Winhall has a history of amazing spectators each time he]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-skier-mac-forehand-wins-olympic-silver-in-big-air/</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:20:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-skier-mac-forehand-wins-olympic-silver-in-big-air/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mike Fry: The naked truth about Vermont’s nudity bill]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont legislators who introduced H.683 have the best of intentions, no doubt. If passed, the bill would make public nudity throughout Vermont illegal &mdash; as it already is in Burlington &mdash; and punishable by a $500 fine.&nbsp;But it wouldn&rsquo;t solve any real-world problems, and would exacerbate the scourge of body shaming, which is associated with issues like low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorders and many other challenges. That is one]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mike-fry-the-naked-truth-about-vermonts-nudity-bill/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:47:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mike-fry-the-naked-truth-about-vermonts-nudity-bill/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Allen Gilbert: Police shootings are rising — again]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Allen Gilbert, a former journalist, teacher and executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Vermont.&nbsp;In 2014, when I worked at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), I was surprised when an Associated Press reporter, Wilson Ring, called me and asked if I knew anybody who kept a list of police fatalities in Vermont. This was at the time of the police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, which became a national issue.&n]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/allen-gilbert-police-shootings-are-rising-again/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:43:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/allen-gilbert-police-shootings-are-rising-again/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hancock man turns himself into police, denies murder charge]]></title><description><![CDATA[A hearing on the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy in Bristol concluded Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Addison County Superior criminal court in Middlebury. Photo by Alan Keays/VTDiggerA Hancock man pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon to a charge of second-degree murder in the shooting death of another man earlier this month in Addison County.Tanner Leary, 23, appeared in handcuffs in Addison County Superior criminal court in Middlebury after turning himself into authorities hours earlier.&nbsp]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hancock-man-turns-himself-into-police-denies-murder-charge/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:34:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hancock-man-turns-himself-into-police-denies-murder-charge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hancock man turns himself in to police, denies murder charge]]></title><description><![CDATA[A hearing on the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy in Bristol concluded Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Addison County Superior criminal court in Middlebury. Photo by Alan Keays/VTDiggerA Hancock man pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon to a charge of second-degree murder in the shooting death of another man earlier this month in Addison County.Tanner Leary, 23, appeared in handcuffs in Addison County Superior criminal court in Middlebury after turning himself in to authorities hours earlier.&nbs]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hancock-man-turns-himself-in-to-police-denies-murder-charge/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:34:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hancock-man-turns-himself-in-to-police-denies-murder-charge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington mayor signs executive order outlining local ICE protocols]]></title><description><![CDATA[Burlington&rsquo;s Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak signed an executive order pertaining to ICE actions in City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. Photo by Auditi Guha/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak signed an executive order Tuesday to establish citywide protocols in response to potential surge in ICE activity as has been seen throughout the country.Cities like Minneapolis and Portland, Maine have seen large-scale and violent immigration crackdowns in recent weeks.&ldquo;There is no in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-mayor-signs-executive-order-outlining-local-ice-protocols/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:17:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-mayor-signs-executive-order-outlining-local-ice-protocols/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Scott says he’ll meet with Trump in DC — but only if event is bipartisan]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott pauses before speaking after a meeting of the Emergency Board at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, November 13, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerGov. Phil Scott announced Tuesday morning that he was heading to Washington, D.C., this week to meet with other governors and President Donald Trump.But soon after, Vermont&rsquo;s Republican leader looked poised to possibly reverse course, with his office saying Scott was considering staying home.&nbsp;This morning, Scott&r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-says-hell-meet-with-trump-in-dc-but-only-if-event-is-bipartisan/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:06:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-says-hell-meet-with-trump-in-dc-but-only-if-event-is-bipartisan/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Immigration judge rules Mohsen Mahdawi can’t be deported]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mohsen Mahdawi speaks after being released in Burlington on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Photo by Caleb Kenna/VTDiggerAn immigration judge has blocked the Trump administration from deporting Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist who was arrested by federal agents in Colchester last year during a U.S. citizenship interview.&nbsp;The federal judge, Nina Froes, ruled Friday that evidence the Trump administration had submitted to show why Mahdawi should be removed]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/immigration-judge-rules-mohsen-mahdawi-cant-be-deported/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:01:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/immigration-judge-rules-mohsen-mahdawi-cant-be-deported/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kelly Stoddard Poor: Don’t leave older Vermonters stranded]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Kelly Stoddard Poor, associate state director of AARP Vermont.&nbsp;As Vermont lawmakers confront a projected $33 million deficit in the state&rsquo;s Transportation Fund, the Legislature faces tough decisions about what to cut. But one thing should be off the table: public transit.&nbsp;Cutting transit funding &mdash; especially at a time when reductions to Medicaid are imminent &mdash; would put thousands of Vermonters at risk and ultimately cost the state far more than]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kelly-stoddard-poor-dont-leave-older-vermonters-stranded/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kelly-stoddard-poor-dont-leave-older-vermonters-stranded/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thousands of Vermonters could lose food assistance as new work requirements take effect next month]]></title><description><![CDATA[A client visits the HOPE (Helping Overcome Poverty&rsquo;s Effects) food shelf in Middlebury on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.New federal work requirements limiting eligibility for the nation&rsquo;s largest food assistance program will take effect for many in Vermont on March 1.&nbsp;Roughly 3,000 people may lose benefits on that day, according to Ivy Enoch, director of policy a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thousands-of-vermonters-could-lose-food-assistance-as-new-work-requirements-take-effect-next-month/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:28:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thousands-of-vermonters-could-lose-food-assistance-as-new-work-requirements-take-effect-next-month/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[This justice system experiment has seen little use in Vermont. Will lawmakers expand it?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Prosecutor Zach Weight, right, speaks with public defender Sandra Lee during a break at the Chittenden County Community Accountability Court in Burlington on Friday, November 21, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Lawmakers are grappling with whether to continue a program designed to prevent defendants awaiting trial from committing more offenses.&nbsp;Two years ago, Vermont lawmakers noticed competing issues. State prisons were filling up with more detainees who were held]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/this-justice-system-experiment-has-seen-little-use-in-vermont-will-lawmakers-expand-it/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:01:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/this-justice-system-experiment-has-seen-little-use-in-vermont-will-lawmakers-expand-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Michael Snyder: Vermont’s forests need management, not mandates]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Michael Snyder, a forester and former commissioner of Vermont&rsquo;s Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation.Vermonters care deeply about forests &mdash; for clean water, wildlife, recreation, climate resilience, locally sourced wood, and the very character of the places we call home. That shared concern helps explain the appeal of H.276, a proposal to designate large areas of state land as &ldquo;wildlands.&rdquo;But as introduced, the bill would move Vermont in the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michael-snyder-vermonts-forests-need-management-not-mandates/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 22:51:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michael-snyder-vermonts-forests-need-management-not-mandates/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lake Champlain fully freezes for the first time in 7 years]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lake Champlain froze fully for the first in seven years and was declared closed last week. People were spotted walking on the frozen lake downtown Burlington on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. Photo by Auditi Guha/VTDiggerFrigid temperatures have caused Lake Champlain to fully freeze for the first time since March 2019. On Friday, the National Weather Service declared the lake officially iced over and closed.Aerial photography and high-resolution satellite imagery were used to determine&nbsp;full ice co]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lake-champlain-fully-freezes-for-the-first-time-in-7-years/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 22:21:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lake-champlain-fully-freezes-for-the-first-time-in-7-years/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Health department urges caution after rabid bat bites Strafford resident]]></title><description><![CDATA[A sign posted at upper left at the Strafford General Store, in South Strafford, Vermont, provides information about the recent discovery of a rabid bat in the Town of Strafford on Feb. 13, 2026. The Strafford Volunteer Fire Department also advertises a rabies vaccination clinic to take place on March 7. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsSTRAFFORD &mdash; Vermont Department of Health officials are urging residents to exercise caution after a person was bitten by a rabid bat in town.The indi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/health-department-urges-caution-after-rabid-bat-bites-strafford-resident/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 20:27:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/health-department-urges-caution-after-rabid-bat-bites-strafford-resident/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s sole Olympic-sized ski jump caps annual competition with a surprise]]></title><description><![CDATA[Henry Loher, 17, of Lake Placid, New York, jumps at Brattleboro&rsquo;s Harris Hill over the Presidents Day weekend in 2026. Photo by Dana SpragueBRATTLEBORO &mdash; The Slovenian at the top of this town&rsquo;s Harris Hill &mdash; Vermont&rsquo;s sole Olympic-sized ski jump &mdash; was one leap away from a historic trophy win.If only the high school senior from Lake Placid hadn&rsquo;t shown up this Presidents Day weekend with a surprise.Urh Rosar, who previously won the annual February contes]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-sole-olympic-sized-ski-jump-caps-annual-competition-with-a-surprise/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:19:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-sole-olympic-sized-ski-jump-caps-annual-competition-with-a-surprise/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[John K. DeBrosse]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: July 17, 1961Fort Wayne, IndianaDied: Dec. 22, 2025Colchester, VermontDetails of service:<br />
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., with a service at approximately 3 p.m. at The Essex Farmhouse at the Resort &amp; Spa, Essex Junction, Vermont.After a gallant, 10-year effort of living and dealing with the day-to-day challenges of Parkinson&rsquo;s Disease, John Kenneth DeBrosse passed away on Dec. 22, 2025 quietly at his beloved home on the shores o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-k-debrosse/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:43:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-k-debrosse/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gloria Boiselle Good]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: July 7, 1936Burlington, VermontDied: February 12, 2026Land O&rsquo; Lakes, FloridaDetails of service:<br />
A&nbsp;celebration of Gloria&rsquo;s life will be announced and held in Vermont in the spring. Memorial donations may be made to Mercy Connections, mercyconnections.orgGloria Ann Good died on Feb. 12, 2026, in Land O&rsquo; Lakes, Florida.&nbsp; She was born in Burlington, Vermont on July 7, 1936, to Gertrude Goyette Boiselle and Clyde Stevens Boiselle.&nbsp;Gloria graduated from Cathedra]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gloria-boiselle-good/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gloria-boiselle-good/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Showing up for what matters: Vermont’s path to strengthening local news]]></title><description><![CDATA[Community Meeting, Wallingford, Vermont<br />
Photo Credit: Caleb KennaVermont has long been a place where people show up for their neighbors, their towns, and their communities. From Town Meeting Day to paper pull-tab signs on library bulletin boards to volunteer fire departments, life here is rooted in participation and trust. Local news is part of that fabric.A new statewide report reveals that while Vermonters deeply value local news, and while the state has a strong foundation of locally owned o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/showing-up-for-what-matters-vermonts-path-to-strengthening-local-news/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:40:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/showing-up-for-what-matters-vermonts-path-to-strengthening-local-news/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Crossroads intensive transitional-aged youth outpatient program: a lifeline of hope and recovery for those with mental health needs]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont&rsquo;s youth mental health crisis is showing up most clearly among young adults trying to transition to adulthood. Anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicidal thoughts are affecting more young people and with greater intensity than in previous generations. For many, weekly therapy isn&rsquo;t enough, but hospitalization alone doesn&rsquo;t create lasting change. That&rsquo;s where NFI&rsquo;s Crossroads Transitional-Aged Youth (TAY) Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is making a l]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/crossroads-intensive-transitional-aged-youth-outpatient-program-a-lifeline-of-hope-and-recovery-for-those-with-mental-health-needs/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:38:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/crossroads-intensive-transitional-aged-youth-outpatient-program-a-lifeline-of-hope-and-recovery-for-those-with-mental-health-needs/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tom Pelham: When property taxes outpace COLAs]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Vermonters face a disturbing &mdash; perhaps even cruel &mdash; conflict of economic forces.According to the Social Security Administration, there is an established population of 133,773 Vermonters 65 and older, nearly 21% of the state&rsquo;s population, who rely on Social Security.This population, which comprised 71,968 women and 61,805 men in 2024, is clearly not positioned to absorb a big property tax increase in 2026.Last November, Social Security recipients were notified that]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tom-pelham-when-property-taxes-outpace-colas/</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tom-pelham-when-property-taxes-outpace-colas/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Police investigate suspicious death in Corinth]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Vermont State Police cruiser seen in Burlington on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont State Police are investigating a death after receiving a 911 call late Saturday that a man had been shot at a home on Richardson Road in Corinth.Police said troopers responded at about 11:15 p.m. and found a man unresponsive inside the residence. Emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.The death is considered suspicious, according to a state police news re]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/police-investigate-suspicious-death-in-corinth/</link><pubDate>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 20:25:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/police-investigate-suspicious-death-in-corinth/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘How many roads’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Snow Day&rdquo; by Amelia Van Driesche, 19, of Burlington.Young Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sreid@]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-how-many-roads/</link><pubDate>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-how-many-roads/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Then Again: In Vermont, the oldest ski patrol in the country]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brian Lindner has delved into the history of the Mount Mansfield Ski Patrol, which he has been a member of for more than 50 years. Photo courtesy of Brian LindnerOn a March day in 2015, ski patrollers near the summit of Mt Mansfield received an urgent call: A skier two-thirds of the way down the mountain had suffered a heart attack. The man had been standing, talking with a friend, when he collapsed. A Sugarbush ski patroller, who happened to be skiing at Stowe that day, witnessed the man fall.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-in-vermont-the-oldest-ski-patrol-in-the-country/</link><pubDate>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 13:02:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-in-vermont-the-oldest-ski-patrol-in-the-country/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[March bond requests down 84% in Vermont’s biggest cities and towns]]></title><description><![CDATA[A sign encourages March voting in Brattleboro. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerIn a sign that public concerns about affordability aren&rsquo;t limited to groceries and household goods, Vermont&rsquo;s most-populated cities and towns are set to ask voters this March for nearly $44 million in capital projects &mdash; an 84% drop from last year&rsquo;s $275 million wish list of proposals.Only nine of the state&rsquo;s 29 municipalities with at least 5,000 people are seeking bond requests for]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/march-bond-requests-down-84-in-vermonts-biggest-cities-and-towns/</link><pubDate>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/march-bond-requests-down-84-in-vermonts-biggest-cities-and-towns/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont bill would repeal retirement mandate for professors]]></title><description><![CDATA[Steven Zdatny, professor of history, standing in front of his classroom at the University of Vermont. Photo by Mona AbouVia Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internshipVermont lawmakers have advanced a bill that would repeal a state statute requiring college professors to retire at age 70.&nbsp;H.532 passed the House in late January and is now in the Senate Committee on Education. If passed, the change would take effect July 1.The bill&rsquo;s sponsor, Rep. Marc Mihaly,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-bill-would-repeal-retirement-mandate-for-professors/</link><pubDate>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-bill-would-repeal-retirement-mandate-for-professors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Renee Seacor: Time to bring catamounts home?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Renee Seacor, the Northeast Rewilding Director at Mighty Earth, working on catamount restoration in Vermont.Did you know that white-tailed deer, moose and even wild turkey were once nearly extinct in Vermont?Over the last century, wildlife professionals and communities across the region have worked together to bring back numerous species that were lost to unregulated hunting and widespread habitat destruction &mdash; at a time when our forests were nearly stripped bare. To]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/renee-seacor-time-to-bring-catamounts-home/</link><pubDate>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/renee-seacor-time-to-bring-catamounts-home/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont legislators hear the benefits — and costs — of road crossings for wildlife]]></title><description><![CDATA[A young moose crosses Route 100 in Troy on Friday, June 7, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&ldquo;What you see on screen is really my worst nightmare,&rdquo; Jens Hawkins-Hilke, a planner at Vermont&rsquo;s Department of Fish and Wildlife, told the House Transportation Committee on Friday.&ldquo;A foggy road, a large moose and a vehicle moving very quickly.&rdquo;Hawkins-Hilke was pitching the committee, with a slideshow behind him, on the utility of building dedicated crossings for wildli]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-legislators-hear-the-benefits-and-costs-of-road-crossings-for-wildlife/</link><pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-legislators-hear-the-benefits-and-costs-of-road-crossings-for-wildlife/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont students protest ICE in coordinated walkouts]]></title><description><![CDATA[About 200 students at South Burlington High School protest against ICE during a walkout on Friday, February 13, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSOUTH BURLINGTON&mdash;Holding placards and shouting slogans, scores of South Burlington High School students formed a line along Dorset Street during an organized walkout Friday afternoon to protest actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement across the nation.&ldquo;A lot of my aunts and uncles have immigrated from Chile and Peru,&rdquo;]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-students-protest-ice-in-coordinated-walkouts/</link><pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:19:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-students-protest-ice-in-coordinated-walkouts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mary Just Skinner]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: July 7, 1946<br />
IndianaDied: Jan. 9, 2026<br />
CaliforniaDetails of service:<br />
There will be no funeral or calling hours, but there will be a celebration of Mary&rsquo;s life at the Old Labor Hall in Barre on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 2:00pm. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the Barre Historical Society or the Vermont ACLU. Condolence notes can be sent to the Skinner family at P.O. Box 412, Montpelier, VT 05601. Mary&rsquo;s ashes will be interred in Middlesex at a small fa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mary-just-skinner/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 20:58:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mary-just-skinner/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Priscilla R. Baker]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: Sept. 7, 1946Lancaster, OhioDied: Feb. 5, 2026Middlebury, VermontDetails of servicesThere will be celebration of Priscilla&rsquo;s life in the spring.Living life intentionally, building networks and connections(&ldquo;Obituaries are not about the dead, but about the living and giving a person a second life.&rdquo;&nbsp;Obit.&nbsp; 2016 documentary about the NYTimes Obituary Dept.&nbsp;)At Priscilla Baker&rsquo;s preschool in Ferrisburgh, Otter Creek School, in the 1980s, a girl, maybe 4 y]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/priscilla-r-baker/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 20:22:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/priscilla-r-baker/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A rare condition can send kids into fits of rage. Treatment could help — if insurance covers it. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Elizabeth Bechard arm-wrestles with her son as his twin sister looks on at home in Essex on Thursday, February 5, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerJust days before Christmas in 2023, Elizabeth Bechard&rsquo;s 7-year-old son woke in the middle of the night, screaming. He and his twin sister had been battling winter strep infections, Bechard said, but this was different from the discomfort of a scratchy throat and fever.In the weeks that followed, he became wracked with obsessive compulsive d]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-rare-condition-can-send-kids-into-fits-of-rage-treatment-could-help-if-insurance-covers-it/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:12:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-rare-condition-can-send-kids-into-fits-of-rage-treatment-could-help-if-insurance-covers-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Records: Palmer left first police job after poor performance, policy violations]]></title><description><![CDATA[CLAREMONT &mdash; Nearly two decades before Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer would face sexual misconduct charges, which led to the temporary suspension of his law enforcement certification last week, he had a short, troubled tenure with the Claremont Police Department in New Hampshire.Documents recently obtained from Claremont police shed light on the beginning of a law enforcement career mired in controversy.In September 2006, at 19 years old, Palmer was hired as a patrol officer with the C]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/records-palmer-left-first-police-job-after-poor-performance-policy-violations/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:47:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/records-palmer-left-first-police-job-after-poor-performance-policy-violations/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ray Pelletier: Connectivity is just the beginning]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Ray Pelletier, an adjunct professor at Norwich University who served on the CVFiber Communication Union District board of directors for more than four years.&nbsp;Vermont has invested enormous public resources into connectivity, creating Communications Union Districts and committing more than $100 million in state and federal broadband funding to expand last-mile fiber infrastructure so Vermonters can get online.That work matters. It is necessary. But it is no longer suffi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ray-pelletier-connectivity-is-just-the-beginning/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ray-pelletier-connectivity-is-just-the-beginning/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Should students have voting power on Vermont’s school boards?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, chair of the House Education Committee, speaks as the committee takes testimony from Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Feb. 4, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe sea change underway in Vermont&rsquo;s public education system will affect many &mdash; school boards, administrators, teachers and (of course!) taxpayers.But perhaps no other demographic is more affected than, well, the kids themselves.A new bill introduce]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/should-students-have-voting-power-on-vermonts-school-boards/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/should-students-have-voting-power-on-vermonts-school-boards/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Norm Etkind: Act 250 expansion risks rural housing]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,What will rural Vermont be like after implementing the new Act 250 requirements? From Dec. 31, 2026, Act 250 permits will be required for any development, including single-family homes, in areas that meet certain criteria.&nbsp;&nbsp;These are contained in Act 181, which reduced some Act 250 requirements in developed areas and increased them in the rest of the state.<br />
READ MORE<br />
These include habitat connectors, headwater streams and other areas that meet the act&rsquo;s environmental]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/norm-etkind-act-250-expansion-risks-rural-housing/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:20:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/norm-etkind-act-250-expansion-risks-rural-housing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Settlement will keep Green River Reservoir dam operating — for now  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Green River Reservoir dam. Photo by DEC Dam Safety ProgramA hydroelectric dam on the Green River in Hyde Park will continue operating under a settlement between the dam&rsquo;s operator, state agencies and conservation and recreation groups, state officials announced at a press conference on Wednesday.&rdquo;The settlement provides some certainty for the fate of the dam and Green River Reservoir State Park, although questions remain about the facility&rsquo;s long-term future.&ldquo;This agreem]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/settlement-will-keep-green-river-reservoir-dam-operating-for-now/</link><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/settlement-will-keep-green-river-reservoir-dam-operating-for-now/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘On our own’: Vermont is getting less help from the feds to keep elections secure]]></title><description><![CDATA[A resident scans his Town Meeting Day ballots inside the Barre Municipal Auditorium on March 1, 2022. File photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s secretary of state says it could get more difficult to keep elections secure because of recent federal funding cuts and other policy changes backed by the Trump administration that have limited cybersecurity information-sharing between states.&nbsp;From 2022 to 2024, Vermont received a $1 million grant each year under decades-old federal legi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/on-our-own-vermont-is-getting-less-help-from-the-feds-to-keep-elections-secure/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 23:25:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/on-our-own-vermont-is-getting-less-help-from-the-feds-to-keep-elections-secure/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Barbara Mayhew-Belatski]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: Sept. 23, 1954Windsor, VermontDied: Jan. 26, 2026Burlington, VermontDetails of servicesPlease join us on Feb. 7, 2026, in honoring Barbara. There will be a Memorial Service at Cabot Funeral Home from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., followed by a gathering at Norman Williams Public Library from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. An online viewing of the service will be made available through&nbsp;https://www.cabotfh.com.Donations in her memory can be made to Toys for Tots, St. Jude Children&rsquo;s Research Hospita]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/barbara-mayhew-belatski/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:54:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/barbara-mayhew-belatski/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wayne Steele Darling]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: Oct. 2, 1946Nampa, IdahoDied: Jan. 23, 2026Monkton, VermontDetails of servicesA Celebration of Wayne&rsquo;s Life will be held at a later date in both Idaho and Vermont.Memorial donations may be made in Wayne&rsquo;s honor to:Sandy Hook Promise (SHP)<br />
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)<br />
Monkton Town Forest CommitteeWayne Steele Darling, born Oct. 2, 1946, in Nampa, Idaho, died at home in Vermont on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, at age 79.Wayne grew up in Idaho and graduated from Borah High Scho]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/wayne-steele-darling/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 20:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/wayne-steele-darling/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stratton-trained skier Jessie Diggins wins Olympic bronze in 10K freestyle]]></title><description><![CDATA[Stratton-trained skier Jessie Diggins smiles after winning a bronze medal Thursday in the 10-kilometer cross-country freestyle race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated PressStratton-trained athlete Jessie Diggins, the most-awarded U.S. cross-country skier of all time, didn&rsquo;t let bruised ribs stop her from winning a bronze medal Thursday at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.The 34-year-old racer, set to retire at the end of this winte]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stratton-trained-skier-jessie-diggins-wins-olympic-bronze-in-10k-freestyle/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:20:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stratton-trained-skier-jessie-diggins-wins-olympic-bronze-in-10k-freestyle/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Iso Bock: End the era of corporate money in politics]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I am a freshman from Lake Region Union High School in the Northeast Kingdom. I&rsquo;m 14, and elections have changed dramatically since I was born.Fifteen years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court&rsquo;s Citizens United decision allowed both nonprofit and for-profit corporations to spend unlimited money in elections by recognizing corporate political spending as protected speech under the First Amendment.<br />
READ MORE<br />
Since then, billions of dollars &mdash; much of it from large, out-of-stat]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/iso-bock-end-the-era-of-corporate-money-in-politics/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/iso-bock-end-the-era-of-corporate-money-in-politics/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont receives $93 million in federal funds to expand broadband access]]></title><description><![CDATA[The NEK Broadband offices and warehouse in Danville on Sept. 3, 2025. File hoto by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Vermont will receive about $93 million in federal funding to continue constructing its broadband internet network in some of the state&rsquo;s most remote rural areas, officials said Tuesday.&nbsp;The new resources will allow high-speed internet connections to reach over 99% of Vermonters, according to Ver]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-receives-93-million-in-federal-funds-to-expand-broadband-access/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:51:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-receives-93-million-in-federal-funds-to-expand-broadband-access/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gina Tron: Strengthen Vermont’s survivors’ bill of rights]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Gina Tron, a volunteer for the nonprofit organization Rise, an advocate for survivor-centered reforms, and a survivor of sexual assault.&nbsp;Sitting in the Special Victims Division of the New York Police Department (NYPD), I fought back tears as I scoured through mugshots, an effort the detective told me was pointless. Just a few minutes earlier, when I said I wanted to call a friend to be with me, he threatened to throw out what he termed my &ldquo;iffy case.&rdquo;At th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gina-tron-strengthen-vermonts-survivors-bill-of-rights/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 02:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gina-tron-strengthen-vermonts-survivors-bill-of-rights/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Rep. Becca Balint warns state may be ‘in the crosshairs’ of Trump]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vermont, speaks during a press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.When Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., traveled to Minneapolis on a Congressional oversight mission several weeks]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-rep-becca-balint-warns-state-may-be-in-the-crosshairs-of-trump/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:59:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-rep-becca-balint-warns-state-may-be-in-the-crosshairs-of-trump/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Rep. Becca Balint on ICE, Epstein and presidential fealty]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vermont, speaks during a press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.When Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., traveled to Minneapolis on a Congressional oversight mission several weeks]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-rep-becca-balint-on-ice-epstein-and-presidential-fealty/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:59:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-rep-becca-balint-on-ice-epstein-and-presidential-fealty/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As pilot program sunsets in Burlington, lawmakers look to bring ‘accountability court’ elsewhere ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Prosecutor Zach Weight, left, speaks during Chittenden County Community Accountability Court in Burlington on Friday, November 21, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&ldquo;I think we learned things that we already knew,&rdquo; Defender General Matt Valerio told both the House and Senate judiciary committees Wednesday.&nbsp;Burlington&rsquo;s accountability court pilot was successful, Valerio said, because it embedded social workers in the legal system.&nbsp;Before the court&rsquo;s pilot beg]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-pilot-program-sunsets-in-burlington-lawmakers-look-to-bring-accountability-court-elsewhere/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:31:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-pilot-program-sunsets-in-burlington-lawmakers-look-to-bring-accountability-court-elsewhere/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rutland police panel drops interim from Matthew Prouty’s title, naming him permanent chief ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rutland City&rsquo;s new polie chief, Matt Prouty, in 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerInterim Rutland City Police Chief Matthew Prouty will soon take over the role on a permanent basis.The Rutland City Police Commission this week agreed to name Prouty to the post, effective March 1. In selecting Prouty to become the city&rsquo;s next police chief, the commission opted not to conduct a wider search.&ldquo;We decided this was not the time for a long, drawn-out search,&rdquo; Patricia Br]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-police-panel-drops-interim-from-matthew-proutys-title-naming-him-permanent-chief/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:09:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-police-panel-drops-interim-from-matthew-proutys-title-naming-him-permanent-chief/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Calais, Worcester residents vote against shuttering schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[Doty Memorial School in Worcester. Photo courtesy of Christina Pollard/The Bridge<br />
Calais and Worcester residents on Tuesday voted against shuttering two community elementary schools in the Washington Central Unified Union School District.In Worcester, 212 residents voted against shuttering the Doty Memorial School, while 114 approved of plans to close. In neighboring Calais, 398 residents voted against closing the Calais Elementary School, with 249 in favor.Tuesday&rsquo;s results marked a reje]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/calais-worcester-residents-vote-against-shuttering-schools/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:13:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/calais-worcester-residents-vote-against-shuttering-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marilee Kemsley]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: June 3, 1954Pewaukee, WisconsinDied: Jan. 23, 2026Colchester, VermontDetails of servicesA celebration of life will be held by the family at a later date.Please share memories, stories, and photos of Marilee at www.champlaincremation.com.&nbsp;Marilee Conrad Kemsley (72) went home on Jan. 23, 2026, surrounded by love. She is survived by her loving husband of 38 years, Michael, and their daughter, Mae Lin Kemsley Kirn, and her husband, Spencer, and her grandson, Graham.Marilee also had many]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marilee-kemsley/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 20:42:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marilee-kemsley/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Robert David Hepburn]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: July 9, 1963Worcester, MassachusettsDied: Jan. 27, 2026Eden, VermontDetails of servicesA public celebration of Bob&rsquo;s life will be held later this year. In memory of Bob, please consider donating to North Country Animal League (NCAL) in Morrisville, or making a gift in his name to benefit students at Green Mountain Technology &amp; Career Center at Lamoille Union High School (Attn: Karen Collier, 738 Rte 15 West, Hyde Park, VT 05655).Robert &ldquo;Bob&rdquo; Hepburn, 62, died of natu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/robert-david-hepburn/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 19:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/robert-david-hepburn/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Audrey Graham]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: Oct. 8, 1919Brooklyn, New YorkDied: Jan. 19, 2026Bennington, VermontDetails of servicesGifts in memory of Audrey may be sent to All Saints Church, Scarborough Rd, Briarcliff Manor, NY (www.allsaintsbriarcliff.org) or Hudson Link (www.hudsonlink.org). The family will be arranging a memorial service in the spring.To order&nbsp;memorial trees&nbsp;or send flowers to the family in memory of Audrey Graham, please visit our&nbsp;flower store.Audrey Clarissa Graham died peacefully and gracefully]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/audrey-graham/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 19:09:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/audrey-graham/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[From homelessness to college: how Matthew Carey found his calling]]></title><description><![CDATA[Matthew Carey graduated from online high school using the free public Wi-Fi at Brattleboro&rsquo;s Brooks Memorial Library. The world was just emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, and he&rsquo;d recently relocated to Brattleboro from Pennsylvania. He took the bus to the library every day to finish his classes.&nbsp;Matthew&rsquo;s family life is complicated, as he puts it. He moved to Brattleboro with his father and his three siblings. The family was homeless and struggling financially. At that]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/from-homelessness-to-college-how-matthew-carey-found-his-calling/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:44:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/from-homelessness-to-college-how-matthew-carey-found-his-calling/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Smugglers’ Notch Resort sold to new Burke Mountain owners]]></title><description><![CDATA[Skiers and boarders ride up the Madonna II lift at Smugglers&rsquo;Notch Resort in Jeffersonville on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSmugglers&rsquo; Notch Resort has sold.The mountain announced a &ldquo;collaborative ownership transition&rdquo; Wednesday that will move ownership from Bill Stritzler to Bear Den Partners, a ski resort operator that also owns Burke Mountain.&nbsp;The new owners will continue to honor existing season passes, and all employees are expected to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/smugglers-notch-resort-sold-to-new-burke-mountain-owners/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/smugglers-notch-resort-sold-to-new-burke-mountain-owners/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Smugglers’ Notch Resort sells]]></title><description><![CDATA[Skiers and boarders ride up the Madonna II lift at Smugglers&rsquo;Notch Resort in Jeffersonville on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSmugglers&rsquo; Notch Resort has sold.The mountain announced a &ldquo;collaborative ownership transition&rdquo; Wednesday that will move ownership from Bill Stritzler to Bear Den Partners, a ski resort operator that also owns Burke Mountain.&nbsp;The new owners will continue to honor existing season passes, and all employees are expected to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/smugglers-notch-resort-sells/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/smugglers-notch-resort-sells/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle scores Olympic silver in super-G]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle, a second-generation Alpine racer from Cochran&rsquo;s Ski Area in Richmond, repeated his Olympic medal-winning feat of four years ago by scoring silver in the men&rsquo;s super-G Wednesday at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an honor,&rdquo; the 33-year-old Starksboro resident could be heard saying as he received his latest medal on television after a race that combined the speed of downhill with the gate-dodging turns of giant]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-skier-ryan-cochran-siegle-scores-olympic-silver-in-super-g/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:29:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-skier-ryan-cochran-siegle-scores-olympic-silver-in-super-g/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Immigration detentions push dozens of children into foster care, including in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[A federal agent wears a badge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the immigration court at Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York on June 9, 2025. Photo by Yuki Iwamura/APThis story was produced in partnership with NOTUS, a publication from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Allbritton Journalism Institute. VTDigger has partnered with NOTUS to cover federal actions affecting Vermont.At least 32 children of immigrants entered foster care over the past year after their parents were detained o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/immigration-detentions-push-dozens-of-children-into-foster-care-including-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/immigration-detentions-push-dozens-of-children-into-foster-care-including-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mark Treinkman: Facts matter in the Israel-Hamas debate]]></title><description><![CDATA[On Sept. 19, U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt. described the Israel&ndash;Hamas war using long-debunked accusations and recycled falsehoods.&nbsp;Since then, a cease-fire has taken effect, and Hamas has returned all the hostages, marking what would be the first genocide in history conducted on a schedule set by its alleged victims.With the end of this two-year war, we must turn our attention to how Hamas successfully spread antisemitic hate while deceiving many leaders of the free world, despite th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mark-treinkman-facts-matter-in-the-israel-hamas-debate/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mark-treinkman-facts-matter-in-the-israel-hamas-debate/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont develops catalog of prevetted home designs for faster building]]></title><description><![CDATA[Chris Yuen, Essex Junction&rsquo;s community development director, writes a comment under a display of one of the home designs proposed by the state for builders to use and be able to fast-track though local zoning at an informational meeting in Essex Junction on Saturday, Feb. 7. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.In order to build the housing of the future, Vermont i]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-develops-catalog-of-prevetted-home-designs-for-faster-building/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-develops-catalog-of-prevetted-home-designs-for-faster-building/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Alex Herzog: Education reform must work for rural Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Alex Herzog, director of career and technical education at Lyndon Institute.When Gov. Phil Scott delivered his 2026 State of the State address, he framed education reform &mdash; now referred to as education transformation &mdash; as a prerequisite for Vermont&rsquo;s long-term economic and demographic stability.&nbsp;His emphasis on cradle-to-career pathways, funding equity and workforce alignment reflects a growing consensus: the state&rsquo;s education system must be be]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/alex-herzog-education-reform-must-work-for-rural-vermont/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 03:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/alex-herzog-education-reform-must-work-for-rural-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Challenging to track’: Officials consider solutions to spiraling IT deficit]]></title><description><![CDATA[Adam Greshin, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Finance and Management on Jan. 14, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s primary annual IT operations fund went from $1 million in the black three years ago to $25 million in the red last year, according to state officials.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;m here today,&rdquo; said Adam Greshin, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Finance and Management, as he spoke with the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Commit]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/challenging-to-track-officials-consider-solutions-to-spiraling-it-deficit/</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/challenging-to-track-officials-consider-solutions-to-spiraling-it-deficit/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Edwin Merton Owre]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: Oct. 26, 1928<br />
Tillamook, OregonDied: Jan. 3, 2026<br />
Colchester, VermontDetails of servicesA memorial in celebration of Ed&rsquo;s life will likely take place when the weather warms and the days lengthen. Details to be announced. Anyone who wishes to give a token in honor of Ed&rsquo;s memory may consider donating in his name to one of his favorite charities: &lsquo;Best Friends Animal Society&rsquo; at bestfriends.org or the World Wildlife Fund at wwf.org.Professor and career artist Edwin M]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/edwin-merton-owre/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 23:17:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/edwin-merton-owre/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Immigration court blocks deportation of Turkish student who was detained in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk reads from a prepared statement following a court hearing outside the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Boston. Photo by Leah Willingham/APA federal immigration judge has blocked the Trump administration&rsquo;s attempt to deport R&uuml;meysa &Ouml;zt&uuml;rk, the Turkish student who was detained last year in Vermont and other states by immigration agents.According to a court filing published Monday, the judg]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/immigration-court-blocks-deportation-of-turkish-student-who-was-detained-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 23:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/immigration-court-blocks-deportation-of-turkish-student-who-was-detained-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Measles detected in Washington County wastewater ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A representation of a measles virus particle. Image via the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionVermont health officials have detected measles in Washington County wastewater.The finding triggered an alert to area health care providers, specifically those at Central Vermont Medical Center, in Berlin, to be on the lookout for the disease if patients come in with measles symptoms &mdash;&nbsp;which can include a blotchy rash, a high fever, dry cough and runny nose. Measles can be deadly, es]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/measles-detected-in-washington-county-wastewater/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 22:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/measles-detected-in-washington-county-wastewater/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[11 arrested during ICE protest at Williston business park]]></title><description><![CDATA[A demonstrator is arrested at a protest at ICE&rsquo;s National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center in Williston on Monday, Feb. 9. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWILLISTON &mdash; A group of older adults were arrested Monday during a civil disobedience action in the Williston office park that houses a large digital surveillance office run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Eleven of about two dozen protesters were charged with trespassing, and three were issued citations and releas]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/11-arrested-during-ice-protest-at-williston-business-park/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 21:32:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/11-arrested-during-ice-protest-at-williston-business-park/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s Ben Ogden wins silver, Paula Moltzan bronze in Olympic skiing]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermonter Ben Ogden celebrates after winning a silver medal in the cross-country sprint at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Tesero, Italy, on Feb. 10. Photo by Matthias Schrader/Associated PressThe Green Mountain State has scored its first two medalists at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.Fifty years after Bill Koch won the nation&rsquo;s first cross-country medal, fellow Vermonter Ben Ogden became the second U.S. man to do so by nabbing silver Tuesday in the men&rsquo;s sprint.<br />
READ]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-ben-ogden-wins-silver-paula-moltzan-bronze-in-olympic-skiing/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:19:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-ben-ogden-wins-silver-paula-moltzan-bronze-in-olympic-skiing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Heidi Schumacher: Missing school and missing out]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Your recent article on school absenteeism reflects a critical issue impacting Vermont schools and communities. Mirroring national trends, one in four Vermont students is now chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of the school year for any reason, a significant increase from pre-pandemic levels.As the article highlights, schools are working hard to re-engage families &mdash; and there are many bright spots to be celebrated. But the root causes of absenteeism are too big]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/heidi-schumacher-missing-school-and-missing-out/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:11:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/heidi-schumacher-missing-school-and-missing-out/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Public pushes back on US Forest Service proposal to use controlled burns in Green Mountain National Forest]]></title><description><![CDATA[The U.S. Forest Service&rsquo;s plan to conduct controlled burning over the next 15 years in areas near popular recreation spots Lake Dunmore and Silver Lake has faced public opposition during a comment period that ends this week.&nbsp;&nbsp;The project, called Northern Escarpment Ecological Restoration and Fire Resilience, is designed to promote the area&rsquo;s resistance to wildland fires, pest infestations and drought, the Forest Service says. The project covers four areas spanning 2,770 ac]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/public-pushes-back-on-us-forest-service-proposal-to-use-controlled-burns-in-green-mountain-national-forest/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/public-pushes-back-on-us-forest-service-proposal-to-use-controlled-burns-in-green-mountain-national-forest/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Emma Paradis and Lisa Grefe: Nonprofits get it done]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Emma Paradis and Lisa Grefe, who are co-directors of Common Good Vermont, the state association of nonprofits, a program of United Way of Northwest Vermont.Across Vermont, nonprofits are the backbone of our communities &mdash; filling gaps, meeting critical needs and enhancing our quality of life.&nbsp;From disaster recovery and food access to youth programs, workforce development, arts and culture, and health care, nonprofits are people helping people &mdash; making sure]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/emma-paradis-and-lisa-grefe-nonprofits-get-it-done/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 01:10:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/emma-paradis-and-lisa-grefe-nonprofits-get-it-done/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ellen Yount named new director of the Vermont Afghan Alliance]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Afghan Alliance announced Monday the appointment of Ellen Yount of Starksboro as its new executive director, effective March 4. Photo courtesy of VAA.A former international development expert will take over as the Vermont Afghan Alliance&rsquo;s new executive director, the organization announced Monday.&nbsp;Ellen Yount, of &#8203;&#8203;Starksboro, will succeed Molly Gray, who announced last month that she will run for lieutenant governor.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are excited to welcome her as o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ellen-yount-named-new-director-of-the-vermont-afghan-alliance/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:41:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ellen-yount-named-new-director-of-the-vermont-afghan-alliance/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beta Technologies board member steps back following appearance in Epstein files]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dean Kamen. Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/APTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Dean Kamen, a director on the board of Beta Technologies, has stepped back from his role at the company after the U.S. Department of Justice released files tying him to Jeffrey Epstein.&ldquo;BETA treats these matters with utmost seriousness,&rdquo; the South Burlington-based electric plane company said in a statement last week. &ldquo;Dean Kamen has voluntarily]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-technologies-board-member-steps-back-following-appearance-in-epstein-files/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:19:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-technologies-board-member-steps-back-following-appearance-in-epstein-files/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Farmworkers could face declining wages in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Christa Alexander and her husband Mark Fasching, rear, own Jericho Settlers Farm in Jericho. Seen on Thursday, February 5, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont farmworkers could earn significantly lower wages this year under new federal rules, a shift that could affect more than 100 workers hoping to find jobs in the state this spring.&nbsp;&nbsp;The farmworker wages fall under a federal program administered by the Department of Labor called H-2A, a temporary visa status for agricultura]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/farmworkers-could-face-declining-wages-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:01:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/farmworkers-could-face-declining-wages-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[FEMA denies disaster aid for 2025 flooding, leaving NEK towns scrambling]]></title><description><![CDATA[A closed bridge over the Calendar Brook on Route 5 in Lyndonville on July 11, 2025, after being damaged by flooding.File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Federal Emergency Management Agency will not provide money to help towns in Vermont&rsquo;s Northeast Kingdom recover from major flooding in 2025, the agency told state officials in a Feb. 7 letter.&nbsp;On July 10, 2025, torrential rain and flash flooding caused major damage to homes, roads, bridges and other public infrastructure in Sutton]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fema-denies-disaster-aid-for-2025-flooding-leaving-nek-towns-scrambling/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 23:51:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fema-denies-disaster-aid-for-2025-flooding-leaving-nek-towns-scrambling/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont National Guard’s F-35s may be headed to Middle East, reports say]]></title><description><![CDATA[An F-35 fighter jet from the Vermont Air National Guard&rsquo;s fleet in 2020. File photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDiggerFighter jets from the Vermont National Guard were spotted landing at a Portuguese air force base late last month &mdash; likely en route to join other U.S. forces amassing for a potential attack on Iran, according to reports from defense industry publications.The Vermont guard F-35s seen touching down at Lajes Field &mdash; which is in the Azores, a mid-Atlantic island chain contr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-national-guards-f-35s-may-be-headed-to-middle-east-reports-say/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:57:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-national-guards-f-35s-may-be-headed-to-middle-east-reports-say/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Home is best: creating affordable and accessible housing for Vermonters with disabilities]]></title><description><![CDATA[A lack of affordable and accessible housing in Vermont is a critical issue that affects many Vermonters, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). In response to this challenge, individuals with I/DD, their parents, advocates, service providers, state leaders, and housing partners have unified to create new housing options in partnership with developers, architects, and funders. An example of this statewide collaboration is the legislatively appointed Act 69 Comm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/home-is-best-creating-affordable-and-accessible-housing-for-vermonters-with-disabilities/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:29:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/home-is-best-creating-affordable-and-accessible-housing-for-vermonters-with-disabilities/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Orleans County town fights industrial solar project]]></title><description><![CDATA[An industrial solar project proposed for a longtime hayfield in Lowell has become the subject of controversy in the small town.Located directly across the street from Lowell Graded School, the 44-acre plot has been in agricultural use for over a century, townspeople say. The V-shaped field is relatively flat and is bordered by forest and a handful of residences, as well as an electrical substation. It&rsquo;s also close to the center of the Northeast Kingdom town, near the &ldquo;Four Corners&r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/orleans-county-town-fights-industrial-solar-project/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/orleans-county-town-fights-industrial-solar-project/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jason Batchelder: Slow down for mountain lions]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jason Batchelder, commissioner of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department; Andrea Shortsleeve, chief of operations; John Austin, director of the Wildlife Division; Alison Thomas, director of the Outreach Division; and Justin Stedman, director of the Game Warden Service.A campaign is underway to bring mountain lions to Vermont, led by the nonprofit Mighty Earth. As the state agency that would be responsible for these cats if Mighty Earth succeeds, Vermont Fish and Wildlife]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jason-batchelder-slow-down-for-mountain-lions/</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jason-batchelder-slow-down-for-mountain-lions/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘Longhand’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Bridges,&rdquo; by Ursa Goldenrose, 16, HardwickYoung Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sreid@youngwrite]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-longhand/</link><pubDate>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 13:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-longhand/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermonter Bob Yates Jr. was one of the first Patriots. His football legacy lives on still.]]></title><description><![CDATA[As Vermonters sit down with their beers and wings to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, they will not see one of their own on the field. There are no native sons representing the state during Sunday&rsquo;s big game. In fact, no Vermont-born players are on a single NFL roster at all. Period.Still, there is a home-state connection: A Vermonter, born and bred in Montpelier, was on the very first Patriots team. Two generations later, his family members are still devoted fans.The New England Patriots,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonter-bob-yates-jr-was-one-of-the-first-patriots-his-football-legacy-lives-on-still/</link><pubDate>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonter-bob-yates-jr-was-one-of-the-first-patriots-his-football-legacy-lives-on-still/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[To debate or not to debate? On world issues, that is Vermont’s Town Meeting question.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermonters who called for a nuclear arms freeze at 1982 Town Meetings carry a banner in New York City that June. Photo by Toby Talbot/Associated Press<br />
Most Vermonters tap March Town Meetings to chew over proposed local spending and, on occasion, a potluck lunch. But residents in Newfane, population 1,645, have bit into a smorgasbord of larger issues, be it calls to ban genetically modified foods in 2002, impeach President George W. Bush in 2006, oppose the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in 2024 or pl]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/to-debate-or-not-to-debate-on-world-issues-that-is-vermonts-town-meeting-question/</link><pubDate>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/to-debate-or-not-to-debate-on-world-issues-that-is-vermonts-town-meeting-question/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Morristown, an industrial park proposal gets a rocky reception]]></title><description><![CDATA[Morrisville business owner Hank Glowiak talks during a Morristown Selectboard meeting on Monday, Feb. 2 that drew scores of residents concerned about Manufacturing Solutions, Inc.&rsquo;s proposed industrial park on Route 100, across from the Morrisville-Stowe airport. Photo by Gordon Miller/News &amp; CitizenThis story by Patrick Bilow was first published in News &amp; Citizen on Feb. 5, 2026.A Morristown Selectboard meeting last Monday saw the highest attendance in years, board chair Don McDo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-morristown-an-industrial-park-proposal-gets-a-rocky-reception/</link><pubDate>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-morristown-an-industrial-park-proposal-gets-a-rocky-reception/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When schools are too small for kids to thrive]]></title><description><![CDATA[Katherine Quimby Johnson is a freelance writer and editor, and writes the local news column for the News &amp; Citizen in Morrisville.I&rsquo;ve been following the debate over small schools for what feels like decades. For all the talk about the merits and costs of small schools, there are two points I have yet to see raised. Both concern the student experience in small elementary schools.The first is teacher and student compatibility. Teachers may all use the same methods and be equally profes]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-schools-are-too-small-for-kids-to-thrive/</link><pubDate>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-schools-are-too-small-for-kids-to-thrive/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lake Champlain ice is all it’s cracked up to be]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rescue personnel bring a boat onto the ice of Lake Champlain to rescue skaters who were trapped by a widening gap on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Photo via City of Vergennes Fire DepartmentJohn Rosenthal finds skating across the deep-blue ice of Lake Champlain at bike-level speeds to be &ldquo;dramatic and exciting.&rdquo;&nbsp;But the 75-year-old Charlotte resident has long known that ice skating on such a large, natural surface is not without risks.&nbsp;&ldquo;We never say ice is safe, only skateable, b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lake-champlain-ice-is-all-its-cracked-up-to-be/</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lake-champlain-ice-is-all-its-cracked-up-to-be/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[John Steen: Deliver us from privatization]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,In c. 500 B.C., Herodotus wrote, &ldquo;Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.&rdquo;&nbsp;The iconic phrase often called the Postal Service&rsquo;s motto &mdash; adapted from Herodotus and famously inscribed on New York City&rsquo;s main post office &mdash; has long symbolized the reliability of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). It pains me to see that proud institution now being reduced and distorte]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-steen-deliver-us-from-privatization/</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 02:09:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-steen-deliver-us-from-privatization/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s US senators celebrate more than $58 million in earmarks for local projects ]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, left, and U.S. Senator Peter Welch, D-Vermont, speak during a press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, February 6, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont&rsquo;s congressional delegation plans to funnel more than $58 million in federal funds to projects around the state including housing and infrastructure projects, technical school programs and construction for Vermont Air National Guard facilities.&nbsp;U.S. S]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-us-senators-celebrate-more-than-58-million-in-earmarks-for-local-projects/</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 01:18:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-us-senators-celebrate-more-than-58-million-in-earmarks-for-local-projects/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s US senators celebrate more than $100 million in earmarks for local projects ]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, left, and U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt, speak during a press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, Feb. 6. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont&rsquo;s congressional delegation plans to funnel more than $100 million in federal funds to projects around the state including housing and infrastructure projects, technical school programs and construction for Vermont Air National Guard facilities.&nbsp;U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-us-senators-celebrate-more-than-100-million-in-earmarks-for-local-projects/</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 01:18:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-us-senators-celebrate-more-than-100-million-in-earmarks-for-local-projects/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cold snap expected to hit Vermont, exacerbating risks of heating fuel shortages ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Marie Devaney clears snow from a car on Wallace Street in Waterbury on Jan. 26, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAs Vermonters prepare for another frigid weekend, a season of multiple cold snaps has led to heating fuel and firewood shortages.&nbsp;Beginning Saturday, a blast of arctic air will drop temperatures across Vermont, with windchills causing lows down to feel like minus 20 to minus 35 degrees, according to Matthew Clay, a meteorologist at the Burlington office of the National Weath]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cold-snap-expected-to-hit-vermont-exacerbating-risks-of-heating-fuel-shortages/</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 01:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cold-snap-expected-to-hit-vermont-exacerbating-risks-of-heating-fuel-shortages/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont pursues junk food ban for 3SquaresVT recipients]]></title><description><![CDATA[Photo via PexelsTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Vermont officials are pursuing a ban on some &ldquo;non-nutritious items&rdquo; for recipients of the state&rsquo;s largest food assistance program.&nbsp;Recipients would no longer be able to use funds from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, called 3SquaresVT in Vermont, to purchase certain goods. Elsewhere, such restrictions have ranged from only &ldquo;soft drinks&rdquo; in Color]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-pursues-junk-food-ban-for-3squaresvt-recipients/</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 01:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-pursues-junk-food-ban-for-3squaresvt-recipients/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont hospitals say collaboration is saving them money. Now, they’re joining forces. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Michael Costa, CEO of Gifford Health Care in Randolph, speaks during a press conference at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin on Oct. 31, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWhen Michael Costa came aboard as CEO of Randolph&rsquo;s Gifford Hospital in 2024, he couldn&rsquo;t help but notice that the hospital&rsquo;s inpatient beds were relatively empty. Meanwhile, Dartmouth Hitchcock&rsquo;s and UVM Medical Center&rsquo;s beds seemed to be overflowing.&nbsp;&ldquo;So, we started]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-hospitals-say-collaboration-is-saving-them-money-now-theyre-joining-forces/</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 00:49:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-hospitals-say-collaboration-is-saving-them-money-now-theyre-joining-forces/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neighbor to Mountain Top in the crosshairs of cross-country trail dispute  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Supreme Court ruled Friday in favor of Mountain Top Resort &mdash; a well-known cross-country skiing spot in Chittenden &mdash; in the latest development of over a yearlong legal fight with an adjoining neighbor, who altered the route of two of the resort&rsquo;s ski trails.&nbsp;&nbsp;The clash with Mountain Top began in the summer of 2024 when the neighbors in the dispute, John and Deborah Gerlach, relocated two trails without consulting the resort, according to the original lawsu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/neighbor-to-mountain-top-in-the-crosshairs-of-cross-country-trail-dispute-/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 23:05:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/neighbor-to-mountain-top-in-the-crosshairs-of-cross-country-trail-dispute-/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As Act 250 overhaul takes shape, some question whether it strikes the right balance]]></title><description><![CDATA[This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.Two years ago, lawmakers set in motion a transformation of Act 250, the half-century-old development-review law that many credit with keeping Vermont looking like Vermont: compact towns and cities surrounded by fields and forests. Now, those reforms are beginning to come into focus.We&rsquo;re taking a look at how the changes enacted in 2024&rsquo;s Act 181 are mat]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-act-250-overhaul-takes-shape-some-question-whether-it-strikes-the-right-balance/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 22:45:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-act-250-overhaul-takes-shape-some-question-whether-it-strikes-the-right-balance/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont jails publish immigrant detainee data]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Immigration Detainee Dashboard provides information on people detained in Vermont jails on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Screenshot via Vermont Department of Corrections<br />
Vermont correctional facilities have held more than 900 detainees apprehended by federal immigration authorities since January 2025, according to new data released by the Vermont Department of Corrections Friday.&nbsp;The numbers, compiled in a dashboard on the de]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-jails-publish-immigrant-detainee-data/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 22:27:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-jails-publish-immigrant-detainee-data/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Investing close to home: how Vermonters are putting their money to work locally]]></title><description><![CDATA[What if your investment portfolio included the childcare center down the street, the new affordable housing development in your county, or the local restaurant opening downtown?For a growing number of Vermonters, that&rsquo;s exactly what investing looks like. Instead of sending their money to distant corporations and abstract funds, they&rsquo;re choosing to invest close to home by supporting projects that strengthen their communities while still earning a financial return.This approach is kno]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/investing-close-to-home-how-vermonters-are-putting-their-money-to-work-locally/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:44:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/investing-close-to-home-how-vermonters-are-putting-their-money-to-work-locally/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Obsolete IT systems have cost Vermont child services funding — but no one knows how much]]></title><description><![CDATA[Theo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Vermont is missing out on huge opportunities for federal money for child welfare services &mdash; perhaps millions of dollars, lawmakers fear &mdash; because of a 43-year-old IT system. And due to flaws in that very system, officials say it&rsquo;s also impossible to know how much funding Vermont has lost out on.&ldquo;The total monetary impact remains unknown,&rdquo; said Family Services Division head Aryka]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/obsolete-it-systems-have-cost-vermont-child-services-funding-but-no-one-knows-how-much/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/obsolete-it-systems-have-cost-vermont-child-services-funding-but-no-one-knows-how-much/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s school enrollment is declining. Students needing special education are on the rise. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Education Secretary Zoie Saunders at the Statehouse in Montpelier on April 23, 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s special educators have a unique problem. Students with individualized education programs, or IEPs, are spending more time in regular classroom settings than the national average &mdash; a positive for the state&rsquo;s public education system.But concurrently, Vermont sends those students to out-of-district schools at a rate more than double the national avera]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-school-enrollment-is-declining-students-needing-special-education-are-on-the-rise/</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-school-enrollment-is-declining-students-needing-special-education-are-on-the-rise/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[House lawmaker’s proposed school consolidation map would combine 119 districts into 27]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, chair of the House Education Committee, speaks during a press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerRep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, the House Education Committee chair, on Thursday introduced the first concrete proposal presented this legislative session to consolidate Vermont&rsquo;s dozens of school districts.The proposal would merge the state&rsquo;s 119 districts &mdash; and the 52 entities that g]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/house-lawmakers-proposed-school-consolidation-map-would-combine-119-districts-into-27/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 23:46:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/house-lawmakers-proposed-school-consolidation-map-would-combine-119-districts-into-27/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Prosecution and defense push for delay in slain border agent case ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The I-91 highway southbound lane in Coventry on Jan. 29, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerProsecutors and defense attorneys are jointly seeking to delay proceedings in the case of a murder suspect accused of fatally shooting a U.S. Border Patrol agent in northern Vermont, a crime that could carry the death penalty.Federal Judge Christina Reiss had set a Thursday deadline for lawyers to file motions in the case against Theresa Youngblut. However, Youngblut&rsquo;s legal team and federal]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/prosecution-and-defense-push-for-delay-in-slain-border-agent-case/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 23:24:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/prosecution-and-defense-push-for-delay-in-slain-border-agent-case/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Prosecution and defense push for delay in murdred border agent case ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The I-91 highway southbound lane in Coventry on Wednesday on Jan. 29, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerProsecutors and defense attorneys are jointly seeking to delay proceedings in the case of a murder suspect accused of fatally shooting a U.S. Border Patrol agent in northern Vermont, a crime that could carry the death penalty.Federal Judge Christina Reiss had set a Thursday deadline for lawyers to file motions in the case against Theresa Youngblut. However, Youngblut&rsquo;s legal tea]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/prosecution-and-defense-push-for-delay-in-murdred-border-agent-case/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 23:24:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/prosecution-and-defense-push-for-delay-in-murdred-border-agent-case/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Prosecution and defense push for delay in murdered border agent case ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The I-91 highway southbound lane in Coventry on Jan. 29, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerProsecutors and defense attorneys are jointly seeking to delay proceedings in the case of a murder suspect accused of fatally shooting a U.S. Border Patrol agent in northern Vermont, a crime that could carry the death penalty.Federal Judge Christina Reiss had set a Thursday deadline for lawyers to file motions in the case against Theresa Youngblut. However, Youngblut&rsquo;s legal team and federal]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/prosecution-and-defense-push-for-delay-in-murdered-border-agent-case/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 23:24:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/prosecution-and-defense-push-for-delay-in-murdered-border-agent-case/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont is overhauling Act 250. Here’s what the development maps look like so far ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.Two years ago, lawmakers set in motion a transformation of Act 250, the half-century-old development-review law that many credit with keeping Vermont looking like Vermont: compact towns and cities surrounded by fields and forests. Now, those reforms are beginning to come into focus.We&rsquo;re taking a look at how the changes enacted in 2024&rsquo;s Act 181 are mat]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-overhauling-act-250-heres-what-the-development-maps-look-like-so-far/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 21:16:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-overhauling-act-250-heres-what-the-development-maps-look-like-so-far/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mary Alice Bisbee: Health care costs are breaking Vermont schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Those of us who have long pushed for universal, single-payer health care for every Vermonter are well aware that health insurance costs for education staff &mdash; including teachers, maintenance workers and other school employees &mdash; represent the fastest-growing expense in education funding.There is a simple solution. If health insurance funding were removed from education budgets and instead covered through a statewide universal health care system run by the state, or by a si]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mary-alice-bisbee-health-care-costs-are-breaking-vermont-schools/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mary-alice-bisbee-health-care-costs-are-breaking-vermont-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Health care costs are breaking Vermont schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Those of us who have long pushed for universal, single-payer health care for every Vermonter are well aware that health insurance costs for education staff &mdash; including teachers, maintenance workers and other school employees &mdash; represent the fastest-growing expense in education funding.There is a simple solution. If health insurance funding were removed from education budgets and instead covered through a statewide universal health care system run by the state, or by a si]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/health-care-costs-are-breaking-vermont-schools/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/health-care-costs-are-breaking-vermont-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gina Galfetti: Vermont’s conservation math doesn’t add up]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Rep. Gina Galfetti, R-Barre Town, who lives in Barre and serves on the House Committee on Institutions and Corrections.Vermont has committed itself to ambitious conservation goals through Act 59, the Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act, often referred to as the state&rsquo;s &ldquo;30&times;30 and 50&times;50&rdquo; initiative.&nbsp;These goals aim to conserve 30% of Vermont&rsquo;s land by 2030 and 50% by 2050. Achieving them, however, will be impossible]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gina-galfetti-vermonts-conservation-math-doesnt-add-up/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:32:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gina-galfetti-vermonts-conservation-math-doesnt-add-up/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fast food wage bill would raise minimum pay to $20 an hour in 2027]]></title><description><![CDATA[The state&rsquo;s coat of arms inside the Vermont Statehouse. Courtesy photoMona Abou is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont&rsquo;s Reporting &amp; Documentary Storytelling program.Vermont lawmakers introduced a bill this month that would increase the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 an hour. If approved, the new pay rate would take effect in Jan. 2027.&nbsp;The bill,&nbsp;H.713, would also create a new state council to study and recommend wor]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fast-food-wage-bill-would-raise-minimum-pay-to-20-an-hour-in-2027/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fast-food-wage-bill-would-raise-minimum-pay-to-20-an-hour-in-2027/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Will Vermonters be able to get their cars inspected every other year? ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Photo by Nati Harnik/APVermonters don&rsquo;t drive rust buckets for no reason. When people are avoiding a $200 repair on their car, it&rsquo;s because they don&rsquo;t have $200 to spare, Sen. Andrew Perchlik, D/P-Washington, said Wednesday in the Senate Transportation Committee.&nbsp;He&rsquo;s among the lawmakers considering a bill, S.211, that would allow Vermonters to get their vehicles inspected every other year instead of annually. Some senators hope the change could make the inspection]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/will-vermonters-be-able-to-get-their-cars-inspected-every-other-year/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/will-vermonters-be-able-to-get-their-cars-inspected-every-other-year/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: How Sen. Bernie Sanders went from ‘political loser’ to progressive trailblazer]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dan Chaisson&rsquo;s new book is &ldquo;Bernie for Burlington: The Rise of the People&rsquo;s Politician&rdquo; (Penguin 2026). Cover art by Alison Bechdel. Photo by Lisa AbitbolThe Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Young Bernie Sanders arrived in Vermont in 1964 as part of a counter-cultural w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-how-sen-bernie-sanders-went-from-political-loser-to-progressive-trailblazer/</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:13:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-how-sen-bernie-sanders-went-from-political-loser-to-progressive-trailblazer/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ugandan minister Steven Tendo, who faced brutal torture abroad, detained by ICE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Steven Tendo, a refugee from Uganda seeking political asylum in the U.S., speaks with supporters after receiving a letter announcing a year-long stay of his deportation in St. Albans on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated 5:51 p.m.Steven Tendo, a Ugandan minister and nursing assistant who moved to Vermont in 2021 while seeking asylum, was detained in Shelburne on Wednesday morning by federal immigration agents, according to the union he&rsquo;s a part of and the a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ugandan-minister-steven-tendo-who-faced-brutal-torture-abroad-detained-by-ice/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 19:07:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ugandan-minister-steven-tendo-who-faced-brutal-torture-abroad-detained-by-ice/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ugandan asylum seeker Steven Tendo detained by ICE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Steven Tendo, a refugee from Uganda seeking political asylum in the U.S., speaks with supporters after receiving a letter announcing a year-long stay of his deportation in St. Albans on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSteven Tendo, a Ugandan minister and nursing assistant who moved to Vermont in 2021 while seeking asylum, was detained in Shelburne on Wednesday morning by federal immigration agents, according to the union he&rsquo;s a part of and the advocacy group Mig]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ugandan-asylum-seeker-steven-tendo-detained-by-ice/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 19:07:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ugandan-asylum-seeker-steven-tendo-detained-by-ice/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott calls on Sheriff Palmer to resign ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer answers questions from members of the media after his arraignment in Rutland County Superior criminal court in Rutland on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash;- Gov. Phil Scott said Windsor County sheriff Ryan Palmer should resign amid the slew of sex crimes charges he is facing.&nbsp;Scott&rsquo;s call for Palmer&rsquo;s resignation came the day after all nineteen Windsor County lawmakers publicly released a letter tha]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-phil-scott-calls-on-sheriff-palmer-to-resign/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 19:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-phil-scott-calls-on-sheriff-palmer-to-resign/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A childhood accident inspired Noah to pursue a career as a physical therapist]]></title><description><![CDATA[When Noah Paquette was 13, he hyperextended his knee in a trampoline accident. A torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus meant surgery and extensive physical therapy. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m fully healed now, thanks to PT,&rdquo; Noah shared. &ldquo;But it was a really important part of my day and my week, that time I took to get better. And it was so hard. I loved it though and it&rsquo;s what really inspired me to pursue exercise science in college,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Now a junior at the University of Vermon]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-childhood-accident-inspired-noah-to-pursue-a-career-as-a-physical-therapist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:56:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-childhood-accident-inspired-noah-to-pursue-a-career-as-a-physical-therapist/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Senate president wants state dollars to cover policing costs if anti-ICE protests break out]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Robin Scheu, D-Middlebury, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWhen Vermont lawmakers set aside $50 million in this year&rsquo;s budget to help plug feared future federal funding cuts made by the Trump administration, they weren&rsquo;t sure exactly what that pot of money would be used for, or when. Now, a year into Trump&rsquo;s second term, they]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-senate-president-wants-state-dollars-to-cover-policing-costs-if-anti-ice-protests-break-out/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-senate-president-wants-state-dollars-to-cover-policing-costs-if-anti-ice-protests-break-out/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rutland City prepares for rare write-in election after mayor resigned]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rutland City Hall on Dec. 1, 2021.File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe timing of Rutland City mayor Mike Doenges&rsquo; resignation plan announced last week created an unusual dilemma for residents who wondered what would come next. Now, the smoke has cleared, with a write-in election underway.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Doenges&rsquo; resignation, planned for Feb. 27, came halfway through his term and five days before the next Town Meeting Day, sending Rutland residents reeling with the news and wond]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-city-prepares-for-rare-write-in-election-after-mayor-resigned/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:10:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-city-prepares-for-rare-write-in-election-after-mayor-resigned/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont nurses raise alarms about proposed federal loan limits]]></title><description><![CDATA[Michelle Wade of the Vermont Nurse Practicioners Association speaks with a lobbyist in the cafeteria at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA coalition of nearly 150 nurses descended on the Statehouse Tuesday morning, filling the House gallery, meeting with lawmakers and congregating in the cafeteria.Though an annual affair, this year&rsquo;s visit had added urgency, arriving on the heels of federal changes that have heightened many nurses&rsquo; conc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-nurses-raise-alarms-about-proposed-federal-loan-limits/</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-nurses-raise-alarms-about-proposed-federal-loan-limits/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Proposed Senate bill would make plug-in solar easier to own]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ben Edgerly Walsh of Vermont Public Interest Research Group showing legislative committee members the plug-in solar system on Jan. 7, 2026. Photo courtesy Anne Watson/CNSKate Kampner is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont&rsquo;s Reporting &amp; Documentary Storytelling program.Sen. Anne Watson, D/P-Washington, wants Vermonters to generate their own power. She said&nbsp;S.202, a bill that would loosen the reins on solar plug-in installation, would do ju]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/proposed-senate-bill-would-make-plug-in-solar-easier-to-own/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 22:38:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/proposed-senate-bill-would-make-plug-in-solar-easier-to-own/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Michael Drescher to serve on Vermont Supreme Court after lieutenant governor breaks tie ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Supreme Court nominee Michael Drescher speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, January 13. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated at5:08 p.m.MONTPELIER &mdash; Lawmakers narrowly confirmed Michael Drescher&rsquo;s seat on the Vermont Supreme Court after Republican Lt. Gov. John Rodgers cast a rare tie-breaking vote in the divided chamber Tuesday.&nbsp;The contentious vote on Drescher came after senators weighed their ethical questions in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michael-drescher-to-serve-on-vermont-supreme-court-after-lieutenant-governor-breaks-tie/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 18:35:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michael-drescher-to-serve-on-vermont-supreme-court-after-lieutenant-governor-breaks-tie/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Michael Drescher appointed to Vermont Supreme Court after Lt. Gov. John Rodgers breaks tie ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Supreme Court nominee Michael Drescher speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, January 13. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Senators narrowly confirmed Michael Drescher&rsquo;s seat on the Vermont Supreme Court after Republican Lt. Gov John Rodgers cast a rare tie breaking vote in the divided chamber Tuesday.&nbsp;The contentious vote on Drescher came after senators weighed their ethical questions in appointing him. Many]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michael-drescher-appointed-to-vermont-supreme-court-after-lt-gov-john-rodgers-breaks-tie/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 18:35:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michael-drescher-appointed-to-vermont-supreme-court-after-lt-gov-john-rodgers-breaks-tie/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jordan Hepburn: What we lose when we close rural schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,On Tuesday, Feb. 10, Calais and Worcester residents will be asked to vote on whether to close their elementary schools as part of a broader consolidation effort.<br />
I choose to vote no because I value a small school in a rural farmland setting. In my view, the benefit of access to a chorus, art, a librarian and a nurse does not outweigh the value of Calais Elementary School&rsquo;s physical, social and cultural setting.In a very rural town in the Northeast Kingdom, I attended a multigr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jordan-hepburn-what-we-lose-when-we-close-rural-schools/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:16:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jordan-hepburn-what-we-lose-when-we-close-rural-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jack Mayer: Health care delayed is health care denied]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jack Mayer, a retired Vermont pediatrician and public health epidemiologist and cancer researcher at Columbia University.&nbsp;My young patient &mdash; let&rsquo;s call him Brian &mdash; had been sick for a few days and was getting worse. His dad&rsquo;s job at the local mill didn&rsquo;t provide health insurance, and the family paid out of pocket.&nbsp;&nbsp;Their financial situation was difficult.&nbsp;Brian&rsquo;s mom was trying to treat him at home, but finally called]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jack-mayer-health-care-delayed-is-health-care-denied/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 13:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jack-mayer-health-care-delayed-is-health-care-denied/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Amid outcry, Montpelier council scraps proposal to gain veto power over citizen petitions]]></title><description><![CDATA[Montpelier City Hall. Photo by Carla Occaso/The BridgeThis story by Marisa D. Keller was first published in The Bridge on Jan. 30, 2026.A city charter change proposal was removed from the Jan. 21 Montpelier City Council agenda after an outcry from residents. The proposed change, submitted by District 2 councilor Pelin Kohn, would allow the council to veto non-legally-binding ballot items brought by citizen petition. If the councilors had voted to pass the proposal, it would then have appeared o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/amid-outcry-montpelier-council-scraps-proposal-to-gain-veto-power-over-citizen-petitions/</link><pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 01:13:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/amid-outcry-montpelier-council-scraps-proposal-to-gain-veto-power-over-citizen-petitions/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Calais, Worcester residents will vote next week on whether to close their small elementary schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[Doty Memorial School in Worcester. Photo courtesy of Christina Pollard/The BridgeCalais and Worcester residents will be asked to vote next week on whether to close their elementary schools as part of a broader effort to consolidate operations in the Washington Central Unified Union School District.Under the plan, the Doty Memorial School in Worcester and the Calais Elementary School would close by the end of the school year. Residents will vote in person on Tuesday, Feb. 10.The district current]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/calais-worcester-residents-will-vote-next-week-on-whether-to-close-their-small-elementary-schools/</link><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:46:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/calais-worcester-residents-will-vote-next-week-on-whether-to-close-their-small-elementary-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rutland County assistant judge resigns, plans to run as independent for Vermont Senate]]></title><description><![CDATA[David Wolk. Courtesy photoLong-time public official Dave Wolk stepped down from the role of Rutland County assistant judge on Monday, ahead of a bid for state senate.&nbsp;After more than a three-decade hiatus from the legislature, Wolk plans to run as an independent for one of the three Rutland County state senate seats.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not really in step with some of the very loud voices on the far right or even the far left,&rdquo; Wolk said. &ldquo;I make decisions on the issues.&rdquo;Wolk]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-county-assistant-judge-resigns-plans-to-run-as-independent-for-vermont-senate/</link><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:34:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-county-assistant-judge-resigns-plans-to-run-as-independent-for-vermont-senate/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why therapeutic schools matter for Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[When traditional schools aren&rsquo;t working, what comes next?When &ldquo;Ethan&rdquo; arrived at Kindle Farm School, he had already experienced years of disruption in school. Suspensions were frequent, frustration came quickly, and staying in class for a full day was impossible. At home, his parents were exhausted and worried, fielding constant calls, wondering what would happen next, and fearing their child was running out of options. Like many students who come to Kindle Farm, Ethan wanted t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-therapeutic-schools-matter-for-vermont/</link><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 17:26:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-therapeutic-schools-matter-for-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bruce Roy: Taxed to the max —  enough is enough]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,It&rsquo;s happening again. Surprise, surprise!&nbsp;In December 2025, the Vermont commissioner of taxes released the joint office education tax rate letter describing the property tax increase residential homeowners will face next year.&nbsp;<br />
READ MORE<br />
The letter projects property tax bills to increase by an average of 12% next year. This doesn&rsquo;t include planned increases in local town spending.With this new property tax increase, Vermont taxpayers will have seen a phenomenal]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bruce-roy-taxed-to-the-max-enough-is-enough/</link><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:06:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bruce-roy-taxed-to-the-max-enough-is-enough/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont has no facility for people incompetent to stand trial. Could that finally change? ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health Emily Hawes. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerKelly Carroll&rsquo;s daughter was slashed to death five years ago &mdash; and she thinks the man accused of murdering the 26-year-old slipped through cracks in the system.The Pownal man charged with killing Emily Hamman was previously charged with other violent crimes and found incompetent to stand trial, meaning he was unable to take part in his own defense or understand the charges he was facing.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-has-no-facility-for-people-incompetent-to-stand-trial-could-that-finally-change/</link><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-has-no-facility-for-people-incompetent-to-stand-trial-could-that-finally-change/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘Ours’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Welcome,&rdquo; by Isla Segal, 14, WoodstockYoung Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sreid@youngwriterspr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-ours/</link><pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 13:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-ours/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Leanne Harple: Don’t treat rural schools as mistakes]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Rep. Leanne Harple, D-Glover, who serves on the House Committee on Education.The Northeast Kingdom &mdash; known to all who live here as the NEK &mdash; is where I was born, where I grew up, and where I am now raising my own children on the same dirt road where I grew up.&nbsp;My love for the NEK runs deep. One of the things I cherish most about this place is that we have always done things a little differently &mdash; and often a little better &mdash; than the rest of the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/leanne-harple-dont-treat-rural-schools-as-mistakes/</link><pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 13:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/leanne-harple-dont-treat-rural-schools-as-mistakes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Then Again: The ‘perfect run’ that made her Olympic alpine legend]]></title><description><![CDATA[Andrea Mead Lawrence, center, awaits race results during the 1952 Olympics in Oslo, Norway. Photo courtesy of U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of FameIt would have been natural for Andrea Mead Lawrence to be nervous as her skis nudged the starting line and she awaited the race official&rsquo;s tap on her back and the command to go. The moment she had been training so hard for &mdash; the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway &mdash; had arrived.&nbsp;Lawrence wasn&rsquo;t the only one waiting her sho]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-the-perfect-run-that-made-her-olympic-alpine-legend/</link><pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-the-perfect-run-that-made-her-olympic-alpine-legend/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Then Again: The ‘perfect run’ that made an Olympic legend]]></title><description><![CDATA[Andrea Mead Lawrence, center, awaits race results during the 1952 Olympics in Oslo, Norway. Photo courtesy of U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of FameIt would have been natural for Andrea Mead Lawrence to be nervous as her skis nudged the starting line and she awaited the race official&rsquo;s tap on her back and the command to go. The moment she had been training so hard for &mdash; the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway &mdash; had arrived.&nbsp;Lawrence wasn&rsquo;t the only one waiting her sho]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-the-perfect-run-that-made-an-olympic-legend/</link><pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-the-perfect-run-that-made-an-olympic-legend/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Vermont sportscaster’s behind-the-scenes replay of a half-century of Olympics]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thetford-based announcer Peter Graves poses with Vermont-schooled Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin. Photo courtesy of Peter Graves<br />
Peter Graves was an aspiring 27-year-old sportscaster when ABC offered him a 1980 Winter Olympics gig with a two-week paycheck that rivaled his annual entry-level salary.The one stipulation: &ldquo;Did I know Bill Koch,&rdquo; he recently recounted to VTDigger, &ldquo;and did I have access to him?&rdquo;&nbsp;Graves said &ldquo;yes&rdquo; about Koch, the publicity-adv]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-sportscasters-behind-the-scenes-replay-of-a-half-century-of-olympics/</link><pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-sportscasters-behind-the-scenes-replay-of-a-half-century-of-olympics/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Upper Valley Red Cross volunteers remain committed in spite of dwindling ranks]]></title><description><![CDATA[Linda Nordman, of White River Junction, closes up a Red Cross storage unit in West Lebanon, N.H., on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Nordman, who says she is sometimes &ldquo;a bit fanatical&rdquo; about being prepared,&rdquo; keeps her van loaded with kits of toiletries, phone chargers, teddy bears, pet food and resources for people who have been impacted by fires and other catastrophic events. &ldquo;I know what it&rsquo;s like to be desperate and need help.&rdquo; Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley News]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/upper-valley-red-cross-volunteers-remain-committed-in-spite-of-dwindling-ranks/</link><pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 12:51:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/upper-valley-red-cross-volunteers-remain-committed-in-spite-of-dwindling-ranks/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Donald Trump reshaped Vermont in just 1 year]]></title><description><![CDATA[Clockwise from top left: Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in January 2025; Vermonter and Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi is released from federal detainment in Burlington in April 2025; Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark has filed more than 40 lawsuits against the Trump administration over the past year; and protests against the Immigration Customs and Enforcement Department have spread across the state, contin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-donald-trump-reshaped-vermont-in-just-1-year/</link><pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-donald-trump-reshaped-vermont-in-just-1-year/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kesha Ram Hinsdale: The tax Vermonters have never heard of]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Vt., the majority leader of the Vermont Senate, representing Chittenden-Southeast.Vermont is in the middle of a deep affordability crisis, and most people assume the solutions must be complicated, slow, or politically impossible.&nbsp;But one of the most effective tools we have is already on the books, quietly working &mdash; and generating more revenue than expected.&nbsp;I know because I wrote the law.It&rsquo;s a vacancy tax, embedded today in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kesha-ram-hinsdale-the-tax-vermonters-have-never-heard-of/</link><pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 04:11:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kesha-ram-hinsdale-the-tax-vermonters-have-never-heard-of/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Community rallies for longtime Somali taxi driver detained by ICE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hussien Noor Hussien with his wife Runbila Aden. Photo courtesy of Runbila AdenBurlington-area community members plan to rally next week to support a longtime Somali resident who was detained by federal immigration officers at the airport on New Year&rsquo;s Day.Hussien Noor Hussien, 63, has been held at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans since. The rally coincides with his next scheduled hearing at U.S. District Court in Burlington at 11 a.m. Wednesday.Hussien&rsquo;s frie]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/community-rallies-for-longtime-somali-taxi-driver-detained-by-ice/</link><pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 01:39:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/community-rallies-for-longtime-somali-taxi-driver-detained-by-ice/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A new bill in Vermont would expand school choice for pre-K students in Essex County]]></title><description><![CDATA[Democratic Majority Leader Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Chittenden Southeast, listens to debate at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Feb. 25, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerParents in the Northeast Kingdom&rsquo;s Essex County &mdash;&nbsp;the most rural county in the state &mdash; have few options when it comes to finding a pre-K program for their children. At least, one this side of the Connecticut River.But lawmakers and local school officials hope to change that.S.214, a bill introduced b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-new-bill-in-vermont-would-expand-school-choice-for-pre-k-students-in-essex-county/</link><pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-new-bill-in-vermont-would-expand-school-choice-for-pre-k-students-in-essex-county/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘The pit’ in Newport may soon be sold as mop up from EB-5 scandal nears end]]></title><description><![CDATA[Michael Goldberg, the court-appointed receiver in the EB-5 fraud case, speaks at a Statehouse news conference on April 13, 2017. File photo by Michael Dougherty/VTDiggerThe federally-appointed person charged with overseeing properties at the center of an investor fraud scandal that rocked Vermont appears to be winding down his work after nearly a decade on the job.&nbsp;Michael Goldberg wrote in a recent court filing that he expected soon to sell off the last receivership property, a piece of l]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-pit-in-newport-may-soon-be-sold-as-mop-up-from-eb-5-scandal-nears-end/</link><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:11:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-pit-in-newport-may-soon-be-sold-as-mop-up-from-eb-5-scandal-nears-end/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont House backs Gov. Phil Scott’s call for ‘pause’ of Trump’s immigration crackdown]]></title><description><![CDATA[Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington,, addresses her colleagues on the first day of the second year of the legislative biennium at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; The Vermont House passed a resolution Thursday backing a recent statement by Gov. Phil Scott that called for a &ldquo;pause&rdquo; of federal immigration enforcement operations after the killing of a second protestor in Minneapolis.The resolution w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-backs-gov-phil-scotts-call-for-pause-of-trumps-immigration-crackdown/</link><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:42:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-house-backs-gov-phil-scotts-call-for-pause-of-trumps-immigration-crackdown/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘ICE Out’ national event leads to protests, small business closures across Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Buch Spieler Records in Montpelier is closed Friday to protest federal immigration enforcement, on Jan. 29, 2026. Photo by Charlotte Oliver/VTDiggerA nationwide call to protest President Trump&rsquo;s violent immigration crackdown led Vermonters to take to the streets and small business owners to close their doors across the state Friday.&nbsp;In Vermont, at least 15 small businesses announced that they would be closing for all or part of the day in response to the &ldquo;ICE Out&rdquo; movemen]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-out-national-event-leads-to-protests-small-business-closures-across-vermont/</link><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:24:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-out-national-event-leads-to-protests-small-business-closures-across-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont man dies in Mississippi prison ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility, run by CoreCivic. Photo by Alan Keays/VTDiggerA Bennington man incarcerated in Mississippi died Thursday after he was found unresponsive in his cell. Titus Peters, 42, has been imprisoned by the state of Vermont since 2017.&nbsp;In 2019, Peters was moved to Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in Mississippi to continue serving his prison sentence for the crimes he committed&nbsp; in Vermont, according to a statement from the Vermont Department of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-man-dies-in-mississippi-prison/</link><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 18:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-man-dies-in-mississippi-prison/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Matt Wormser: Vermont needs real education reform, not more reports]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Matt Wormser, a member of the Shelburne selectboard.As a member of the Shelburne selectboard, one of the unfortunate benefits of my service is the continual reminder of tradeoffs, which acutely come into focus during budget season.&nbsp;This year, we are struggling to maintain services and limit our property tax increases to twice the rate of inflation &mdash; an unsustainable pace even in the best of times.This pales in comparison to the forecast for my colleagues on the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/matt-wormser-vermont-needs-real-education-reform-not-more-reports/</link><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/matt-wormser-vermont-needs-real-education-reform-not-more-reports/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[More extreme cold to hit Vermont, capping off week of below-zero temperatures]]></title><description><![CDATA[A truck leaves the town garage in Bolton with a fresh load of sand to treat local roads on Thursday, January 29, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerEmergency shelters and warming centers that have stayed open throughout a long week of cold temperatures are beginning to feel the strain as extreme lows are expected again Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re tired, but we&rsquo;re happy that we&rsquo;re helping people,&rdquo; said Roxanne Carelli, executiv]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-extreme-cold-to-hit-vermont-capping-off-week-of-below-zero-temperatures/</link><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:43:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-extreme-cold-to-hit-vermont-capping-off-week-of-below-zero-temperatures/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A ‘top priority in this building’: Senate health committee seeks to broaden access to primary care]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Ginny Lyons, D-Chittenden Southeast, speaks on the floor of the Senate at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIt was 4:30 on a Friday afternoon when Dr. Anne Morris faced a problem that may sound all too familiar for many primary care providers. By Morris&rsquo;s telling, a patient looked at her, teary-eyed, and asked, &ldquo;Why does everything have to be so hard?&rdquo;In this particular instance, Morris, who is a primary care physician]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-top-priority-in-this-building-senate-health-committee-seeks-to-broaden-access-to-primary-care/</link><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:38:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-top-priority-in-this-building-senate-health-committee-seeks-to-broaden-access-to-primary-care/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New immigration legal services expand into southern and central Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jill Martin Diaz, executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project in Burlington, Aug. 27, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerImmigrant communities in southern and central Vermont will have expanded access to legal services through a new partnership announced this week.&nbsp;The new program, the Immigration Community Lawyering Initiative, is a partnership between Vermont Legal Aid and Vermont Asylum Assistance Project. Through the initiative, Vermont Legal Aid is setting up a forma]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-immigration-legal-services-expand-into-southern-and-central-vermont/</link><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:10:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-immigration-legal-services-expand-into-southern-and-central-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Senate panel won’t recommend Micheal Drescher for Vermont Supreme Court ]]></title><description><![CDATA[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 &mdash; After receiving hundreds of emails about the governor&rsquo;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]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/senate-panel-wont-recommend-micheal-drescher-for-vermont-supreme-court/</link><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:29:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/senate-panel-wont-recommend-micheal-drescher-for-vermont-supreme-court/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Senate panel won’t recommend Michael Drescher for Vermont Supreme Court ]]></title><description><![CDATA[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 &mdash; After receiving hundreds of emails about the governor&rsquo;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]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/senate-panel-wont-recommend-michael-drescher-for-vermont-supreme-court/</link><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:29:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/senate-panel-wont-recommend-michael-drescher-for-vermont-supreme-court/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rutland City mayor Mike Doenges announces resignation]]></title><description><![CDATA[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.<br />
The decision came after Doenges received a &ldquo;once-in-a-decade&rdquo; 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]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-city-mayor-mike-doenges-announces-resignation/</link><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:43:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-city-mayor-mike-doenges-announces-resignation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont schools are making headway to address chronic absenteeism, but rates remain stubbornly high]]></title><description><![CDATA[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&rsquo;s superintendent, said he&rsquo;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]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-schools-are-making-headway-to-address-chronic-absenteeism-but-rates-remain-stubbornly-high/</link><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:24:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-schools-are-making-headway-to-address-chronic-absenteeism-but-rates-remain-stubbornly-high/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Laura Hill-Eubanks: Quiet, please!]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Laura Hill-Eubanks, a Vermont attorney with expertise in environmental law and policy.&nbsp;Vermont has a noise problem.&nbsp;There are a significant number of loud motor vehicles on our roads, and they are getting louder and the noise more pervasive.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;The second is l]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/laura-hill-eubanks-quiet-please/</link><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/laura-hill-eubanks-quiet-please/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rubaina Anjum: What will you do when ICE comes for you?]]></title><description><![CDATA[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&rsquo;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.&nbsp;Our state&rsquo;s picturesque landsc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rubaina-anjum-what-will-you-do-when-ice-comes-for-you/</link><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 01:04:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rubaina-anjum-what-will-you-do-when-ice-comes-for-you/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mary Sullivan: Honor Burlington’s vote on guns in bars]]></title><description><![CDATA[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.&nbsp;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&rsquo;ve yet to see it implemented.&nbsp;All charter changes must be approved by the Vermont Legislature before being e]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mary-sullivan-honor-burlingtons-vote-on-guns-in-bars/</link><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 01:02:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mary-sullivan-honor-burlingtons-vote-on-guns-in-bars/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Winter weather compounds Vermont’s shortage of blood donations]]></title><description><![CDATA[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&rsquo;s Northern New England Region.&nbsp;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&rsquo;s communications director for the organization.&ldquo;]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/winter-weather-compounds-vermonts-shortage-of-blood-donations/</link><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:36:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/winter-weather-compounds-vermonts-shortage-of-blood-donations/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawmakers weigh expanded consumer protections as fiber optic transitions spark concern]]></title><description><![CDATA[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.&nbsp;Sarah Davis, of Fidium Fiber, told the committee that such a bill was not only unnecessary but also]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-weigh-expanded-consumer-protections-as-fiber-optic-transitions-spark-concern/</link><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:34:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-weigh-expanded-consumer-protections-as-fiber-optic-transitions-spark-concern/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer denies sexual misconduct charges, says he won’t resign]]></title><description><![CDATA[Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer appears at his arraignment in Rutland County Superior criminal court in Rutland on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerRUTLAND &mdash; Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer has pleaded not guilty to several criminal charges accusing him of sexual misconduct and stalking.Palmer&rsquo;s arraignment Wednesday afternoon in Rutland County Superior criminal court came a day after Vermont State Police announced they had summoned him to court to f]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/windsor-county-sheriff-ryan-palmer-denies-sexual-misconduct-charges-says-he-wont-resign/</link><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:47:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/windsor-county-sheriff-ryan-palmer-denies-sexual-misconduct-charges-says-he-wont-resign/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rutland County sheriff deputy fired for racist messages, misconduct letter says]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rutland County Sheriff Department on January 28, 2026. Photo by Greta Solssa/VTDigger<br />
A Rutland County sheriff&rsquo;s deputy was ousted from the department this week after he sent racist text messages, an internal affairs investigation found.In a group chat with other officers, former deputy Ryder Paskevich sent an image of officers in Klu Klux Klan garments taking Black people into custody, according to a Brady letter sent on Tuesday by Rutland County States Attorney Ian Sullivan.&nbsp;Paskev]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-county-sheriff-deputy-fired-for-racist-messages-misconduct-letter-says/</link><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:38:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-county-sheriff-deputy-fired-for-racist-messages-misconduct-letter-says/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Local clergy see Minnesota as ‘testing ground’ for Trump’s immigration crackdown]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rabbi David Fainsilber of the Jewish Community of Greater Stowe and Rev. Dr. Becca Girrell, pastor of the United Community Church of Morrisville, at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL, on a visit during an interfaith civil rights trip in 2025. Photo courtesy of Rev. Becca GirrellThe Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-local-clergy-see-minnesota-as-testing-ground-for-trumps-immigration-crackdown/</link><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:32:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-local-clergy-see-minnesota-as-testing-ground-for-trumps-immigration-crackdown/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Esther Charlestin, Gov. Scott challenger in 2024, launches lieutenant governor bid]]></title><description><![CDATA[Democratic&nbsp;lieutenant governor&nbsp;candidate Esther Charlestin speaks with other attendees at a party function in Burlington on October 4, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerEsther Charlestin, the former Democratic nominee for governor of Vermont, launched a bid for the state&rsquo;s second-highest office on Wednesday.Charlestin is the third Democrat to join this year&rsquo;s race for lieutenant governor. Molly Gray, who held the office from 2021 to 2023, announced her bid just after Ne]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/esther-charlestin-gov-scott-challenger-in-2024-launches-lieutenant-governor-bid/</link><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:09:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/esther-charlestin-gov-scott-challenger-in-2024-launches-lieutenant-governor-bid/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kim Fitzgerald: Healthy aging starts with housing]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Kim Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of Cathedral Square, a Vermont nonprofit affordable housing organization.Vermont has one of the oldest populations in the nation, a severe housing shortage, and rising health care costs. As the legislative session begins, new research offers evidence about an investment that addresses these realities: age-specific, affordable housing with supportive services for adults 55 and older.A recent study from NORC at the University of Chicag]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kim-fitzgerald-healthy-aging-starts-with-housing/</link><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kim-fitzgerald-healthy-aging-starts-with-housing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[South Burlington students start school food pantry for classmates]]></title><description><![CDATA[Seniors Ally Leduc, left, and Katie Williamson, at South Burlington High School&rsquo;s new food shelf, which they launched shortly before the school&rsquo;s winter break. Photo by Sophia BalunekThis story by Sophia Balunek was first published in The Other Paper on Jan. 22, 2026.j28% of students this year in the South Burlington School District qualify for free or reduced lunch, which means they are living at or below the poverty line, according to data presented at a November school board meet]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/south-burlington-students-start-school-food-pantry-for-classmates/</link><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:06:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/south-burlington-students-start-school-food-pantry-for-classmates/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[What happens when the state and towns clash over reservoirs]]></title><description><![CDATA[Berlin Pond is the City of Montpelier&rsquo;s water supply on Nov. 7, 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSometimes, the law is a head scratcher.Take, for example, the Thurman W. Dix Reservoir, a little over 100-acre pond in Orange that serves as Barre City&rsquo;s water supply.&nbsp;The Granite City owns all the land around the reservoir, allowing fishing access at two designated points and granting hunting permission through permits. But because the reservoir provides clean water to tho]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-happens-when-the-state-and-towns-clash-over-reservoirs/</link><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:49:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-happens-when-the-state-and-towns-clash-over-reservoirs/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Windsor County Sheriff charged with soliciting prostitution, other sex crimes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer&rsquo;s walks through the former state prison on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.. (Valley News &ndash; James M. Patterson)Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer is facing 12 criminal charges after he was arrested Tuesday for a slew of sex crimes.The Vermont State Police began investigating Palmer in July after receiving anonymous tips about possible mismanagement of funds within the sheriff&rsquo;s office, according to a state police press release.&nbsp;&ldquo;During the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/windsor-county-sheriff-charged-with-soliciting-prostitution-other-sex-crimes/</link><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:35:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/windsor-county-sheriff-charged-with-soliciting-prostitution-other-sex-crimes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont clergy travel to Minneapolis to observe and protest Trump’s immigration crackdown]]></title><description><![CDATA[People protest against ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in downtown Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 25. Photo by Adam Gray/APMore than a dozen Vermont faith leaders traveled to Minneapolis last week to see the impacts of the Trump administration&rsquo;s immigration crackdown first-hand and bolster the ranks of people there who have protested against the government&rsquo;s actions.The group of 14 clergy were invited on the trip by local religious leaders. Some of the Vermont leaders were on t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-clergy-travel-to-minneapolis-to-observe-and-protest-trumps-immigration-crackdown/</link><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-clergy-travel-to-minneapolis-to-observe-and-protest-trumps-immigration-crackdown/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Disaster response’: The extraordinary efforts to prevent homeless Vermonters from freezing to death]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sarah Russell, emergency services director at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, encourages an unhoused person to go with her to a cold weather shelter in Burlington on Friday, Jan. 23. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.BURLINGTON &ndash; Sarah Russell steered the shuttle bus into the grocery store parking lot where, a few minutes before, a stranger]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/disaster-response-the-extraordinary-efforts-to-prevent-homeless-vermonters-from-freezing-to-death/</link><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 23:22:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/disaster-response-the-extraordinary-efforts-to-prevent-homeless-vermonters-from-freezing-to-death/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former Vermont Department of Corrections chief to lead Rikers Island jails]]></title><description><![CDATA[Department of Corrections Commissioner Nicholas Deml speaks in Montpelier on May 2, 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerNick Deml, former commissioner of the Vermont Department of Corrections, will lead the Rikers Island jail complex in New York City.&nbsp;Federal district judge Laura Taylor Swain picked Deml for the role Tuesday, the New York Times reported.&nbsp;In May, the judge first decided an outside official &mdash;&nbsp;rather than a member of the mayor&rsquo;s staff &mdash; shoul]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-vermont-department-of-corrections-chief-to-lead-rikers-island-jails/</link><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 23:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-vermont-department-of-corrections-chief-to-lead-rikers-island-jails/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sky Barsch to step down as CEO in June]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sky Barsch at an event in Warren. File photo. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Board of Trustees of the Vermont Journalism Trust today announced that Sky Barsch has decided to step down as Chief Executive Officer of VTDigger, effective June 1, 2026. Sky will continue to serve as CEO until then, working closely with the Board and leadership team to advance the organization&rsquo;s priorities and support a strong, thoughtful transition.&nbsp;Sky joined VTDigger in 2023 at a pivotal moment, foll]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sky-barsch-to-step-down-as-ceo-in-june/</link><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:50:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sky-barsch-to-step-down-as-ceo-in-june/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Briana Kohlbrenner: End-of-life care is under threat]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Briana Kohlbrenner, a volunteer coordinator with University of Vermont Home Health and Hospice and a member of the Hospice United union bargaining team.&nbsp;University of Vermont Home Health and Hospice (UVMHHH) is at a crossroads. As Vermont&rsquo;s population ages, the demand for hospice care is growing.&nbsp;We encourage community members to access hospice services early, as it allows patients and their families more time to focus on individualized goals and be support]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/briana-kohlbrenner-end-of-life-care-is-under-threat/</link><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:05:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/briana-kohlbrenner-end-of-life-care-is-under-threat/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Maryellen Griffin: Evictions cause homelessness. We can’t afford more.  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Maryellen Griffin, a staff attorney with Vermont Legal Aid who lives in Danville.The data confirms what common sense tells us: eviction is a leading cause of homelessness. Thousands of Vermonters are already homeless, including hundreds of children, and legislative proposals to speed up evictions will only make things worse.&nbsp;&nbsp;Landlords filed 1,818 eviction cases in Vermont in 2024. If we speed up the eviction process, where will these households go?&nbsp;<br />
READ MO]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/maryellen-griffin-evictions-cause-homelessness-we-cant-afford-more/</link><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/maryellen-griffin-evictions-cause-homelessness-we-cant-afford-more/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont is failing to meet its energy-reduction targets, state auditor finds]]></title><description><![CDATA[Photo via Adobe StockVermont is failing to meet and monitor its own longstanding goals to formally reduce the amount of energy the state consumes &mdash; laws and systems aimed both at reducing cost and impact on the environment &mdash; according to a recent report from the State Auditor&rsquo;s Office.At the center of auditor Doug Hoffer&rsquo;s report are the shortcomings of two initiatives: the State Agency Energy Plan, which is an evolving document providing guidance since 1992 for state ag]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-failing-to-meet-its-energy-reduction-targets-state-auditor-finds/</link><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:43:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-failing-to-meet-its-energy-reduction-targets-state-auditor-finds/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont government is failing to reduce its energy use to meet its reduction targets, state auditor finds]]></title><description><![CDATA[Photo via Adobe StockVermont&rsquo;s state government is failing to meet and monitor its own longstanding goals to formally reduce the amount of energy the state consumes &mdash; laws and systems aimed both at reducing cost and impact on the environment &mdash; according to a recent report from the State Auditor&rsquo;s Office.At the center of auditor Doug Hoffer&rsquo;s report are the shortcomings of two initiatives: the State Agency Energy Plan, which is an evolving document providing guidanc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-government-is-failing-to-reduce-its-energy-use-to-meet-its-reduction-targets-state-auditor-finds/</link><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:43:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-government-is-failing-to-reduce-its-energy-use-to-meet-its-reduction-targets-state-auditor-finds/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal agency cancels sending Vermont workers to assist ICE in Minnesota]]></title><description><![CDATA[Federal immigration officers deploy tear gas Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has reportedly canceled its plan to send some of its Vermont workers to Minnesota &mdash; for now.According to an employee who works for the federal agency in one of its Vermont offices, USCIS notified workers by email Monday that its plan to temporarily deploy a few employees to Minnesota to assist the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-agency-cancels-sending-vermont-workers-to-assist-ice-in-minnesota/</link><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:36:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-agency-cancels-sending-vermont-workers-to-assist-ice-in-minnesota/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Snowed in — unless you’re skiing: Vermont schools close as slopes fill up]]></title><description><![CDATA[Winter storms blanketed Vermont with snow over the weekend and Monday, forcing schools to close, impacting road conditions and driving the masses to ski slopes.&nbsp;At least 8 inches of snow accumulation was reported across that state, with some locations reporting close to 15 inches over the course of the storm, according to the National Weather Services.&nbsp;Snow from the storm was lighter and more powdery because of the low moisture content, according to Adrianna Kremer, a meteorologist in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/snowed-in-unless-youre-skiing-vermont-schools-close-as-slopes-fill-up/</link><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:11:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/snowed-in-unless-youre-skiing-vermont-schools-close-as-slopes-fill-up/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Scott calls on Trump to ‘pause’ immigration crackdown after agents kill Minnesota man]]></title><description><![CDATA[About 300 protesters gather outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Williston on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe day after federal immigration agents fatally shot Minneapolis protestor Alex Pretti, Vermont Republican Gov. Phil Scott condemned the violence of federal immigration agents.&nbsp;&ldquo;Enough&hellip;it&rsquo;s not acceptable for American citizens to be killed by federal agents for exercising their God-given and constitutional rights t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-calls-on-trump-to-pause-immigration-crackdown-after-agents-kill-minnesota-man/</link><pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:09:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-calls-on-trump-to-pause-immigration-crackdown-after-agents-kill-minnesota-man/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Solving student mental health and affordability challenges through partnership]]></title><description><![CDATA[From L to R: NKHS Lincoln Street School Team: Renee Norrie, Jennifer Thompson (STJS Special Educator), Brahms Barrett, Jennifer Alexander-Whitmore, Hannah Ainsworth<br />
As Vermont grapples with education reform and rising property taxes, one partnership, among many in the Vermont Care Partners (VCP) network, is proving that innovation through collaboration can address both student mental health needs and affordability concerns in the Northeast Kingdom. This year, St. Johnsbury School District and N]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/solving-student-mental-health-and-affordability-challenges-through-partnership/</link><pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 15:35:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/solving-student-mental-health-and-affordability-challenges-through-partnership/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Even more mail delays, explained: How two quiet USPS changes are reshaping delivery in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[A postal worker assists a customer at the post office in Montpelier on Oct. 7, 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe U.S. Postal Service in Vermont has quietly implemented changes to the way mail is processed that are expected to further slow down the delivery speed of many mail categories for Vermonters.&nbsp;Vermont is the latest region to join Regional Transportation Optimization, a new strategy that ends evening collection of mail that&rsquo;s more than 50 miles away from regional m]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/even-more-mail-delays-explained-how-two-quiet-usps-changes-are-reshaping-delivery-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/even-more-mail-delays-explained-how-two-quiet-usps-changes-are-reshaping-delivery-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Amy Spear and Megan Sullivan: Vermont trails the nation]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Amy Spear, president of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and Megan Sullivan, vice president of government affairs for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.Each year, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce sets legislative priorities grounded in one core objective: advancing the Vermont economy. As we enter the 2026 session, Vermont stands at a defining moment.&nbsp;Affordability pressures, demographic decline and rising operating costs are converging just as our state needs more worke]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/amy-spear-and-megan-sullivan-vermont-trails-the-nation/</link><pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 13:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/amy-spear-and-megan-sullivan-vermont-trails-the-nation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[More than a dozen athletes with Vermont ties named to U.S. Olympic team]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mac Forehand of Winhall executes a trick in a World Cup freestyle ski finals in Colorado in 2022. Photo by Hugh Carey/Associated Press<br />
Ask Julia Kern about her upcoming trip to Italy and she&rsquo;ll talk up the appetizers and savory scenery. Then comes the main course &mdash; the one where she&rsquo;ll compete alongside more than a dozen other athletes with Vermont ties at the 2026 Winter Olympics.Like a majority of the state&rsquo;s qualifying skiers for Alpine, biathlon, cross-country and fr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-than-a-dozen-athletes-with-vermont-ties-named-to-us-olympic-team/</link><pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 12:56:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-than-a-dozen-athletes-with-vermont-ties-named-to-us-olympic-team/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As child care growth gains momentum across Vermont, some regions lag behind]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jena Desautels, left, helps her daughter Adalee Pelletier, age 4, get dressed at Little Shepherd Child Care and Preschool in St. Albans City on Thursday, Jan. 22. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Nicole Streeter thought she&rsquo;d had it tough when she found only minimal child care options for her daughter while living in North Hero. Then, she and her husband moved to Franklin County.&ldquo;There were no openi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-child-care-growth-gains-momentum-across-vermont-some-regions-lag-behind/</link><pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 12:52:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-child-care-growth-gains-momentum-across-vermont-some-regions-lag-behind/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Copley Hospital workers vote to reaffirm union]]></title><description><![CDATA[Copley Hospital in Morrisville on Oct. 19, 2023. File photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont PublicThis story by Aaron Calvin was first published in News &amp; Citizen on Jan. 22, 2026.Just over a year after they&nbsp;first voted to form a labor union, Copley Hospital workers voted to continue the union in a rare decertification vote, which, if successful, would have led to its dissolution.The Copley support staff voted last Wednesday 73-38 to maintain the union, in a secret ballot election]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/copley-hospital-workers-vote-to-reaffirm-union/</link><pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 12:50:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/copley-hospital-workers-vote-to-reaffirm-union/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘Smile’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Self-Portrait,&rdquo; by Ramsey Davis, 16, of WolcottYoung Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;sreid@young]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-smile/</link><pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 12:49:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-smile/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dan Petherbridge: Stop treating camps like a cash cow]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro, wants to tax second homes at a higher rate to pay for education.&nbsp;First of all, nonhomesteads already pay a higher education rate. I&rsquo;m a retired Vermont homeowner who pays ridiculously high property taxes on my home and camp.&nbsp;<br />
READ MORE<br />
Rather than spend money on an RV, cruise or elaborate trip, we decided to buy a small camp as our way to recreate and vacation.&nbsp;Why should camp owners be singled out every year to make]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dan-petherbridge-stop-treating-camps-like-a-cash-cow/</link><pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:48:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dan-petherbridge-stop-treating-camps-like-a-cash-cow/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Peter Welch: The perils and promise of ‘America First’]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., who represents Vermont in the U.S. Senate.As far back as the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775, our small state has wielded outsized influence in the nation and the world.&nbsp;Former Vermont senator Warren Austin was the country&rsquo;s first ambassador to the United Nations. My predecessor, Sen. Patrick Leahy, worked tirelessly to build relations with people and governments in other countries.&nbsp;<br />
READ MORE<br />
In Washington and abroad, Leahy fou]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/peter-welch-the-perils-and-promise-of-america-first/</link><pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:40:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/peter-welch-the-perils-and-promise-of-america-first/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New specialty license plate would feature Vermont Green FC’s logo]]></title><description><![CDATA[A proposed design for a specialty license plate featuring Vermont Green FC&rsquo;s logo. Photo courtesy of the Office of the State Treasuer<br />
Fans of Vermont Green FC, the popular semi-professional soccer team based in Burlington, may not need a bumper sticker much longer to flex their support out on the road.The club &mdash; along with Vermont State Treasurer and Green fan Mike Pieciak &mdash; is asking legislators to create a new, specialty license plate featuring its colorful crest. The Senate]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-specialty-license-plate-would-feature-vermont-green-fcs-logo/</link><pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-specialty-license-plate-would-feature-vermont-green-fcs-logo/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New speciality license plate would feature Vermont Green FC’s logo]]></title><description><![CDATA[A proposed design for a specialty license plate featuring Vermont Green FC&rsquo;s logo. Photo courtesy of the Office of the State Treasuer<br />
Fans of Vermont Green FC, the popular semi-professional soccer team based in Burlington, may not need a bumper sticker much longer to flex their support out on the road.The club &mdash; along with Vermont State Treasurer and Green fan Mike Pieciak &mdash; is asking legislators to create a new, specialty license plate featuring its colorful crest. The Senate]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-speciality-license-plate-would-feature-vermont-green-fcs-logo/</link><pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-speciality-license-plate-would-feature-vermont-green-fcs-logo/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Howard Center to end program that provides clean syringes]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Howard Center in Burlington on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Photo by Corey MacDonald/VTDiggerBurlington&rsquo;s Howard Center intends to shut down its sterile syringe distribution program, and the services surrounding it, this summer, according to a letter from its CEO and confirmed by the Health Department.The Safe Recovery Program is one arm of the substance use treatment, mental health treatment, and developmental disabilities services that the Burlington nonprofit offers. The program provid]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/howard-center-to-end-program-that-provides-clean-syringes/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:50:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/howard-center-to-end-program-that-provides-clean-syringes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Freeze first, then bury: Vermont prepares for one-two combo of coldest temps and heaviest snow this winter]]></title><description><![CDATA[A plow clears snow from Browns Trace in Jericho Center on Thursday April 4, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAfter a weekend of projected extreme cold temperatures, Vermont is expected to be hit with heavy snowfall as a massive winter storm rolls over the state.The National Weather Service is predicting between 8 inches of snow in the north part of the state and 12 to 18 inches in south and central Vermont. Temperatures are expected to drop to well below zero over the weekend and snow storm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/freeze-first-then-bury-vermont-prepares-for-one-two-combo-of-coldest-temps-and-heaviest-snow-this-winter/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:31:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/freeze-first-then-bury-vermont-prepares-for-one-two-combo-of-coldest-temps-and-heaviest-snow-this-winter/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[What comes after climate fights? Better numbers, lawmakers say]]></title><description><![CDATA[Traffic at an intersection along Route 302 in Berlin on April 19, 2022. File photo by Natalie Williams/VTDiggerInstead of launching a shiny new climate program this year, lawmakers are looking at a more concrete means to meet legally binding goals to reduce carbon emissions: data collection.&nbsp;A proposed greenhouse gas reporting program would collect data on emissions from fuel suppliers, largely for heating and transportation, which together make up about 70% of state emissions. The Agency]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-comes-after-climate-fights-better-numbers-lawmakers-say/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 22:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-comes-after-climate-fights-better-numbers-lawmakers-say/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Midwives plan birth center for Central Vermont, community invited to weigh in]]></title><description><![CDATA[Organizers and founders of the Green Mountain Birth Center, from left to right: Vicki Rich, Heidi Riendeau, Alison Fischman, Erinn Mandeville, Lindsay Lachant and Mary Lou Kopas. Photo by Nate Beyer/The Bridge<br />
This story by Tracy Brannstorm was first published in The Bridge on Jan. 22, 2026.Vermont is the only state in the Northeast without a freestanding birth center. That could soon change: a team of Vermont midwives is developing the Green Mountain Birth Center and inviting the public to wei]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/midwives-plan-birth-center-for-central-vermont-community-invited-to-weigh-in/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 21:57:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/midwives-plan-birth-center-for-central-vermont-community-invited-to-weigh-in/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bob Warrington: Controlled burns protect Vermont’s air]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,The smoke-filled, unhealthy air quality last summer reminded us all again how wildfires out West and in Canada still affect us here in Vermont.&nbsp;Beyond our exposure to smoke and particulate matter, the massive amounts of carbon dioxide released further stoke global warming and increase the likelihood of more wildfires.Risk of severe forest fires centers on the density and dryness of the trees, shrubs, grasses and forest debris that act as fuel.&nbsp;<br />
READ MORE<br />
While we value tre]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bob-warrington-controlled-burns-protect-vermonts-air/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 04:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bob-warrington-controlled-burns-protect-vermonts-air/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Flor Diaz Smith: You don’t balance a budget by ignoring the biggest expense]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Flor Diaz Smith, president of the Vermont School Boards Association.Now that legislators have returned to Montpelier and are back in session, Act 73, the state&rsquo;s sweeping education reform law, is once again taking center stage.&nbsp;Much of the public debate so far has focused on school district mergers, consolidation and governance. Those questions matter. But amid the focus on how schools are organized, we risk overlooking what is driving education costs in the fir]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/flor-diaz-smith-you-dont-balance-a-budget-by-ignoring-the-biggest-expense/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:14:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/flor-diaz-smith-you-dont-balance-a-budget-by-ignoring-the-biggest-expense/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How a middle-schooler got the Vermont Senate to upgrade its seating]]></title><description><![CDATA[Legilslative pages sit in chairs in the well of the Senate chamber at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 7, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThere are a host of historic fixtures adorning the Vermont Senate chamber, far from the least of which are the black leather chairs stationed behind each senator&rsquo;s desk. But for the legislative pages tasked with attending to lawmakers&rsquo; needs during floor sessions, the seating has long been less luxurious: small, wooden stools with no back]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-a-middle-schooler-got-the-vermont-senate-to-upgrade-its-seating/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-a-middle-schooler-got-the-vermont-senate-to-upgrade-its-seating/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Early numbers show many Vermonters dropping their insurance for 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[Photo via Adobe StockSharon Poddick is someone who budgets down to the last dollar. When she lost her job in companywide layoffs a little over a year ago &mdash;&nbsp;and with it, her employer-sponsored health insurance &mdash;&nbsp;she and her husband started buying health care from Vermont Health Connect, the state&rsquo;s Affordable Care Act marketplace.They started to &ldquo;tighten everywhere we could tighten&rdquo; when it came to their budget, as Poddick described it. Her car is paid off]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/early-numbers-show-many-vermonters-dropping-their-insurance-for-2026/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:41:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/early-numbers-show-many-vermonters-dropping-their-insurance-for-2026/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Economic development leader denies embezzling as court records reveal new details of probe ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Melissa Bounty. Photo courtesy of Central Vermont Economic Development CorporationBARRE &mdash; The former leader of a nonprofit economic development organization has denied a charge accusing her of embezzling more than $70,000 from the group.A charging document filed ahead of Thursday&rsquo;s arraignment for Melissa Bounty also provided new details into what authorities say she spent the money on.&nbsp;&ldquo;She was making weekly purchases from Amazon which were not received at the office but]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/economic-development-leader-denies-embezzling-as-court-records-reveal-new-details-of-probe/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:16:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/economic-development-leader-denies-embezzling-as-court-records-reveal-new-details-of-probe/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Here’s where Vermont shelters are opening to help in extreme cold]]></title><description><![CDATA[People who are unhoused line up to be admitted to a temporary shelter in Burlington on March 18, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.With subzero temperatures expected to set in on Friday, communities across Vermont are opening emergency shelters for people experiencing homelessness.VTDigger/Vermont Public confirmed that seven extreme cold weather shelter location]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/heres-where-vermont-shelters-are-opening-to-help-in-extreme-cold/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:05:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/heres-where-vermont-shelters-are-opening-to-help-in-extreme-cold/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brattleboro hospital nurses threaten strike amid budget woes]]></title><description><![CDATA[A sign marks the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital campus on Belmont Avenue. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDigger.A union representing nurses at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital is threatening to strike after the 500-employee facility changed its contract offer upon projecting a $14.5 million annual budget shortfall for the current fiscal year.The 135-member Brattleboro Federation of Nurses said the hospital had proposed wage increases totaling 11% over three years, only to reduce that figure during]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-hospital-nurses-threaten-strike-amid-budget-woes/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-hospital-nurses-threaten-strike-amid-budget-woes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Temps to plummet as bitter cold front approaches, prompting emergency shelters to open]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rev. Jay Voorhees, pastor of Grace, Northfield and Trinity Methodist churches, near Montpelier&rsquo;s cold weather shelter at City Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerExtreme cold temperatures are expected across the state of Vermont starting Friday night and continuing into Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, which forecasted windchills to drop to as low as minus 40 degrees in some areas.&nbsp;Two arctic fronts are anticipated to roll across Vermont in co]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/temps-to-plummet-as-bitter-cold-front-approaches-prompting-emergency-shelters-to-open/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:54:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/temps-to-plummet-as-bitter-cold-front-approaches-prompting-emergency-shelters-to-open/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont hires contractor with troubled record in $21.5 million deal for new youth residential program]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont has inked a five-year contract worth up to $21.5 million with a Pennsylvania company to run a new three-bed program for youth in state custody despite documented past allegations of negligence and mistreatment.Cornell Abraxas Group will run the West River Haven, a crisis-stabilization youth program in Brattleboro meant for children who require short-term specialized care and do not have another immediate placement option.West River Haven will offer support to children for up to 45 days,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-hires-contractor-with-troubled-record-in-215-million-deal-for-new-youth-residential-program/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:52:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-hires-contractor-with-troubled-record-in-215-million-deal-for-new-youth-residential-program/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[David Moats: America’s promise of freedom is being tested]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by David Moats, of Salisbury. He is editorial page editor emeritus at the Rutland Herald, where he won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for a series of editorials on Vermont&rsquo;s civil union law.Twenty-three new citizens from 12 countries took the oath of allegiance to the United States at the federal courthouse in Burlington on Jan. 14. They came from four continents and represented a slice of America as diverse as might be expected.&nbsp;What united them was their pledge&mdash;to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/david-moats-americas-promise-of-freedom-is-being-tested/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 03:22:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/david-moats-americas-promise-of-freedom-is-being-tested/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Agency of Transportation proposes more layoffs as revenue sputters]]></title><description><![CDATA[Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn speaks during an interview at the Vermont Agency of Transportation District 6 maintenance facility in Berlin on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s administration is proposing to lay off as many as 19 employees at the state Agency of Transportation in order to save money in its budget for the fiscal year starting in July.Overall, the governor&rsquo;s fiscal year 2027 budget would cut 31]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-agency-of-transportation-proposes-more-layoffs-as-revenue-sputters/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 01:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-agency-of-transportation-proposes-more-layoffs-as-revenue-sputters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont USCIS employees tapped to help ICE enforcement in Minnesota]]></title><description><![CDATA[A federal agent wears a badge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the immigration court at Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York on June 9, 2025. Photo by Yuki Iwamura/APAt least seven U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employees based in Vermont have been told they will be temporarily reassigned to Minnesota to help with expanding enforcement actions there, according to an employee.The employee, who has worked at a USCIS office in Vermont for several years and is not one of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-uscis-employees-tapped-to-help-ice-enforcement-in-minnesota/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:35:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-uscis-employees-tapped-to-help-ice-enforcement-in-minnesota/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[3 years after Act 76, lawmakers eye Vermont’s lagging child care workforce]]></title><description><![CDATA[Taylor Kuske leads her charges on an outdoor excursion at Turtle Island Children&rsquo;s Center in Montpelier on Thursday, November 13, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerToddlers can enter a state of conflict every 20 minutes, Shannon Edmonds-Folsom told lawmakers Wednesday morning. It&rsquo;s a symptom of their gradual development, the child care manager at Jay Peak Resort said &mdash; and it&rsquo;s part of what makes caring for young children such a challenging career.&ldquo;Sounds like t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/3-years-after-act-76-lawmakers-eye-vermonts-lagging-child-care-workforce/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:32:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/3-years-after-act-76-lawmakers-eye-vermonts-lagging-child-care-workforce/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State issues warning but won’t intervene in Brattleboro hospital budget saga]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Brattleboro Memorial Hospital campus on Belmont Avenue. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDigger<br />
Vermont health care regulators have issued a warning, but won&rsquo;t intervene, as new leaders at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital work to control a projected $14.5 million annual budget shortfall.&ldquo;We want Brattleboro to thrive,&rdquo; Owen Foster, chair of the state&rsquo;s Green Mountain Care Board, said during a pair of review hearings that ended Wednesday. &ldquo;The solution to make sure]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-issues-warning-but-wont-intervene-in-brattleboro-hospital-budget-saga/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:45:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-issues-warning-but-wont-intervene-in-brattleboro-hospital-budget-saga/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Scott endorses bill that would cap spending for school districts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Senate President Pro Tempore PhilBaruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, listens as the Senate Judiciary Committee discusses a bill concerning the masking of law enforcement personnel at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerGov. Phil Scott during his budget address on Tuesday threw support behind legislation sponsored by Senate Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, that would cap school district spending in future years.Scott&rsquo;s endorsement of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-endorses-bill-that-would-cap-spending-for-school-districts/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:29:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-endorses-bill-that-would-cap-spending-for-school-districts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: House Speaker Jill Krowinski on the state budget, federal  immigration crackdown]]></title><description><![CDATA[Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, at the Statehouse in Montpelier on May 28, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Jill Krowinski,D-Burlington, was elected Speaker of the House in 2021. It was the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and st]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-house-speaker-jill-krowinski-on-the-state-budget-federal-immigration-crackdown/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:22:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-house-speaker-jill-krowinski-on-the-state-budget-federal-immigration-crackdown/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Williston passes resolution opposing ICE]]></title><description><![CDATA[About 300 protesters gather outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Williston on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&ldquo;I&rsquo;m assuming you&rsquo;re not all here for the budget,&rdquo; Ted Kenney, chair of the Williston Selectboard, told the crowd of people attending the Tuesday night meeting. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m assuming you&rsquo;re here to talk about ICE.&rdquo;Soon after, the five-member town board unanimously passed the first known resolution in the stat]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/williston-passes-resolution-opposing-ice/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:16:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/williston-passes-resolution-opposing-ice/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Norwich University appoints new provost]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lea Williams will serve as Norwich University&rsquo;s provost. Photo courtesy Norwich University.<br />
Norwich University has appointed Lea Williams as provost and dean of the faculty, the university announced in a press release Tuesday.&nbsp;Williams was appointed to serve as acting provost in May and then as interim provost in August. In her new role, she is expected to act as the chief academic officer, overseeing academic programs, faculty affairs and institutional learning initiatives, accordin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/norwich-university-appoints-new-provost/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:34:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/norwich-university-appoints-new-provost/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[BETA Technologies—the coolest thing in Vermont (and the coolest place to work!) ]]></title><description><![CDATA[BETA Technologies, headquartered in South Burlington, made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange in November. At home, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce named Alia, its electric airplane, the Coolest Thing in Vermont. Reflecting on the incredible achievements of 2025, BETA is moving swiftly to grow its most valuable asset&mdash;team talent.&nbsp;BETA employees are builders and pilots, designers and inventors, flying what they build themselves. And, culture is everything. All employees, regardl]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-technologiesthe-coolest-thing-in-vermont-and-the-coolest-place-to-work/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:19:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-technologiesthe-coolest-thing-in-vermont-and-the-coolest-place-to-work/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lydia’s close-knit family inspired her to pursue a future in nursing]]></title><description><![CDATA[The youngest of seven, Lydia Ste. Marie describes her family as loving, full of energy, and busy. She learned early the value of care, connection, and responsibility&mdash;lessons that ultimately led her to pursue a degree in nursing.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always known I was meant to help people,&rdquo; she said. Initially, that interest showed up as an interest in teaching. Her mother, Cathi, works as a childcare provider, and two of Lydia&rsquo;s sisters are teachers. It&rsquo;s clear Lydia admire]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lydias-close-knit-family-inspired-her-to-pursue-a-future-in-nursing/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:47:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lydias-close-knit-family-inspired-her-to-pursue-a-future-in-nursing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[PHOTOS: Hundreds of Vermonters protest ICE in Williston]]></title><description><![CDATA[About 300 protesters gather outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Williston on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWILLISTON &mdash; Braving below-freezing temperatures and a stiff breeze, about 300 people protested outside an Immigration Customs and Enforcement facility here Tuesday evening. Chanting demonstrators blocked traffic before gathering in front of the ICE building to demand an end to the federal agency&rsquo;s presence in Vermont.Speakers r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-hundreds-of-vermonters-protest-ice-in-williston/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-hundreds-of-vermonters-protest-ice-in-williston/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[John Bossange: Using TIFs to fund growth is a big risk]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by John Bossange, the president of the board of directors of Better (not Bigger) Vermont.For taxpayers in Vermont, the success of designating Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts to promote commercial and residential development must be understood as a program with inherent risks.&nbsp;In many cities and towns across America, TIF has been a tool used by municipalities to finance public infrastructure, including streets, sidewalks, public water, public sewage treatment and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-bossange-using-tifs-to-fund-growth-is-a-big-risk/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:10:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-bossange-using-tifs-to-fund-growth-is-a-big-risk/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers consider the tricky legality of unmasking ICE ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A person confronts a U.S. Border Patrol officer on Wednesday, Jan. 14 in Minneapolis. Photo by Adam Gray/AP<br />
Sign up for Final Reading<br />
VTDigger&rsquo;s newsletter for Vermont policy nerds, political geeks and the rest of us. Delivered to your inbox Tuesday-Friday during the legislative session. Subscribe<br />
Senators in the Judiciary Committee are trying to thread a needle, hashing out a bill that could stop law enforcement officers &mdash; including federal agents operating in Vermont &mdash; from]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-consider-the-tricky-legality-of-unmasking-ice/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:33:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-consider-the-tricky-legality-of-unmasking-ice/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Scott forecasts comeback for nuclear]]></title><description><![CDATA[Spent nuclear fuel casks stored at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in Vernon on July 11, 2019. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerGov. Phil Scott, long a proponent of nuclear energy, threw his weight behind a bill Tuesday that could usher in a comeback for nuclear in 2026.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a better way to lower energy prices and reduce emissions much faster if you&rsquo;re willing to work with us to change course,&rdquo; Scott told lawmakers in his budget address on Tuesday.The gov]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-forecasts-comeback-for-nuclear/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:29:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-forecasts-comeback-for-nuclear/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Northfield fills key vacancies with interim hires, signs agreement for police coverage]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Northfield municipal building on Aug. 1, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerNorthfield started the year with some key interim hires and signed an agreement with Montpelier for police coverage in the small Washington County town of about 5,900.Steven Mackenzie, an engineer and former city manager in Barre, came out of retirement this month to serve as the interim town manager on a part-time basis.&nbsp;Introduced at a Jan. 13 selectboard meeting, Mackenzie said he learned about the vacancy]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/northfield-fills-key-vacancies-with-interim-hires-signs-agreement-for-police-coverage/</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 23:57:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/northfield-fills-key-vacancies-with-interim-hires-signs-agreement-for-police-coverage/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Scott pushes for ‘disciplined’ spending with $9.4 billion state budget proposal]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott delivers his budget address at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated at 6:38 p.m.MONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont Gov. Phil Scott proposed a $9.4 billion budget to state lawmakers on Tuesday that he called a &ldquo;disciplined&rdquo; spending plan in the face of waning support &mdash; and more cuts likely to come &mdash; from the federal government.&nbsp;Scott&rsquo;s proposal, which lays out spending for a one-year period st]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-pushes-for-disciplined-spending-with-94-billion-state-budget-proposal/</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 20:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-pushes-for-disciplined-spending-with-94-billion-state-budget-proposal/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott unveils $9.4 billion state budget proposal]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott delivers his budget address at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont Gov. Phil Scott proposed a $9.4 billion budget to state lawmakers on Tuesday that he called a &ldquo;disciplined&rdquo; spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year in the face of wavering support from the federal government.Scott&rsquo;s proposal is about 3% larger than the budget he and the Legislature put in place for the current ye]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-phil-scott-unveils-94-billion-state-budget-proposal/</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 20:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-phil-scott-unveils-94-billion-state-budget-proposal/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Maureen Larkin Seiple]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born&nbsp;Aug. 13, 1926Northhampton, MassachusettsDied&nbsp;Jan. 18, 2026Pasadena, CaliforniaDetails of servicesThe family will hold a celebration of Maureen&rsquo;s life this summer.&nbsp;Maureen Larkin Seiple, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, teacher and world traveler, passed away peacefully, at the age of 99, on Jan. 8, 2026. She touched many lives in her near-century on this planet, and left it a better place.Maureen was born in Northampton, Massachusetts on Aug. 13, 1]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/maureen-larkin-seiple/</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:33:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/maureen-larkin-seiple/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Linda Smith: Education reform requires hard choices]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I am a school board member, but I write today as a past teacher. I am a Democrat, but I support the governor&rsquo;s efforts to change our education system because we will be in crisis otherwise.Almost three years ago, the Joint Fiscal Office Report identified possible options to contain educational costs, including encouraging or mandating more mergers, consolidating administrative services and moving education spending decisions to a statewide level.&nbsp;But there was very little]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/linda-smith-education-reform-requires-hard-choices/</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 02:31:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/linda-smith-education-reform-requires-hard-choices/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Struggling South Royalton deli prepares for new ownership]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brenda Cohen, 78, of Tunbridge, adds a bucket on Thursday, Jan. 15, to the 30 yard dumpster she filled with the help of friends and family as they cleaned out RB&rsquo;s Deli over a ten day period in South Royalton. Daisey Darling, who had leased the business from Cohen, closed the deli and convenience store abruptly in December. Cohen said she will keep ownership of the building, which also has two apartments upstairs, but has a buyer for the business who hopes to be opening in April. Photo by]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/struggling-south-royalton-deli-prepares-for-new-ownership/</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:02:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/struggling-south-royalton-deli-prepares-for-new-ownership/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington music venue Radio Bean seeks new owner ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The crowd at Radio Bean on Nov. 8, 2025. Photo by Charlotte Oliver/VTDigger.After owning Radio Bean for more than 25 years, Lee Anderson announced Sunday that he&rsquo;s ready to hand off the downtown Burlington bar and music venue and let what he calls &ldquo;the spirit of the Bean&rdquo; live on with someone else.&nbsp;The news comes only six months after Nectar&rsquo;s, a fixture of the Queen City&rsquo;s music scene, announced it would close in July. The business was floundering as a result]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-music-venue-radio-bean-seeks-new-owner/</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 23:39:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-music-venue-radio-bean-seeks-new-owner/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After three decades of work, Randolph housing organization to shutter]]></title><description><![CDATA[Peter Reed, executive director of Randolph Area Community Development Corporation, visits the Salisbury Square construction in April 2025. RACDC successfully completed phase one of its plan for the site, erecting a set of apartment buildings, but phase two will be left to future developers as the organization winds down. Photo by Maryellen Apelquist/The Herald<br />
This story by Tim Calabro was first published in The Herald on Jan. 15, 2026.After more than 30 years of developing and managing afforda]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-three-decades-of-work-randolph-housing-organization-to-shutter/</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 23:23:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-three-decades-of-work-randolph-housing-organization-to-shutter/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After 3 decades of work, Randolph housing organization to shutter]]></title><description><![CDATA[Peter Reed, executive director of Randolph Area Community Development Corporation, visits the Salisbury Square construction in April 2025. RACDC successfully completed phase one of its plan for the site, erecting a set of apartment buildings, but phase two will be left to future developers as the organization winds down. Photo by Maryellen Apelquist/The Herald<br />
This story by Tim Calabro was first published in The Herald on Jan. 15, 2026.After more than 30 years of developing and managing afforda]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-3-decades-of-work-randolph-housing-organization-to-shutter/</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 23:23:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-3-decades-of-work-randolph-housing-organization-to-shutter/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘The Brave’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Above the Clouds,&rdquo; by Juniper Franks, 14, of FairfieldYoung Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;srei]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-the-brave/</link><pubDate>Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-the-brave/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hinesburg and new police union agree to three-year contract]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Hinesburg Community Police Department seen on Thursday, February 20, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Briana Brady was first published in The Citizen on Jan. 15, 2026.The Hinesburg police union, recognized by the town last June, has officially inked a contract with the town of Hinesburg.The contract, which will go into effect in July, is set to last until June 2029 and outlines a slew of worker protections and benefits along with a step system for annual pay raises. The co]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hinesburg-and-new-police-union-agree-to-three-year-contract/</link><pubDate>Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:54:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hinesburg-and-new-police-union-agree-to-three-year-contract/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hinesburg and new police union agree to 3-year contract]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Hinesburg Community Police Department seen on Thursday, February 20, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Briana Brady was first published in The Citizen on Jan. 15, 2026.The Hinesburg police union, recognized by the town last June, has officially inked a contract with the town of Hinesburg.The contract, which will go into effect in July, is set to last until June 2029 and outlines a slew of worker protections and benefits along with a step system for annual pay raises. The co]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hinesburg-and-new-police-union-agree-to-3-year-contract/</link><pubDate>Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:54:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hinesburg-and-new-police-union-agree-to-3-year-contract/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Capping a historic career, Stratton-trained skier Jessie Diggins is anything but retiring]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jessie Diggins meets with members of the Bill Koch Youth Ski League this past summer at Stratton Mountain. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDigger<br />
Many teenagers wallpaper their bedrooms with pinups of hot celebrities. Jessie Diggins, the most-awarded U.S. cross-country skier in history, instead tacked up an &ldquo;Endless Winter&rdquo; poster of a less-recognized hero: Vermonter Bill Koch, the first American Nordic racer to win an Olympic medal.&ldquo;He looked like he was having fun,&rdquo; Di]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/capping-a-historic-career-stratton-trained-skier-jessie-diggins-is-anything-but-retiring/</link><pubDate>Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/capping-a-historic-career-stratton-trained-skier-jessie-diggins-is-anything-but-retiring/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Lamoille, school enrollment projected to decline by decade’s end]]></title><description><![CDATA[The one-room Elmore School. Courtesy photoThis story by Patrick Bilow was first published in News &amp; Citizen on Jan. 15, 2026.A study commissioned by the Lamoille South Supervisory Union predicts that school enrollments in Stowe, Morristown and Elmore will decline 10% by the 2030 school year, reflecting trends in rural towns throughout Vermont as the state ages and grows increasingly expensive.At recent Stowe and Elmore-Morristown school board meetings, Lamoille South Supervisory Union Super]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-lamoille-school-enrollment-projected-to-decline-by-decades-end/</link><pubDate>Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:50:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-lamoille-school-enrollment-projected-to-decline-by-decades-end/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Emilie Tenenbaum and Sharron Harrington: Why Vermont must stay committed to child care]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Emilie Tenenbaum, the executive director of Let&rsquo;s Grow Kids Action Network, and Sharron Harrington, the executive director of the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children.Across political lines and communities, most Vermonters agree that young families should be able to afford to live and work here.&nbsp;The good news is that the long-term investments in child care arising from Act 76 (Vermont&rsquo;s landmark child care law passed in 2023) are moving]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/emilie-tenenbaum-and-sharron-harrington-why-vermont-must-stay-committed-to-child-care/</link><pubDate>Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/emilie-tenenbaum-and-sharron-harrington-why-vermont-must-stay-committed-to-child-care/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Narain Batra: Growth is pushing the Upper Valley to breaking point]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Narain Batra, a professor, historian, journalist and author whose work spans freedom, artificial intelligence, media and geopolitics.&nbsp;The Upper Valley, a most extraordinary economic and cultural heartbeat of the vast twin-state region, is currently at a turning point where outstanding institutional growth is colliding with a bucolic infrastructure that&rsquo;s pushing against its limits and raising the question of affordability.The colossal footprint of Dartmouth Heal]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/narain-batra-growth-is-pushing-the-upper-valley-to-breaking-point/</link><pubDate>Sat, 17 Jan 2026 02:35:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/narain-batra-growth-is-pushing-the-upper-valley-to-breaking-point/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hartford justice center helps people get on their feet after prison]]></title><description><![CDATA[Isaiah Taylor, of White River Junction, rotates pizzas on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. Taylor is the assistant manager at the LISTEN Dining Hall in White River Junction. Taylor has been helped by the Hartford Community Restorative Justice Center. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsThis story by Sophia Langlois was first published in Valley News on Jan. 13, 2026.WHITE RIVER JUNCTION &mdash; Isaiah Taylor recalls growing up in Woodsville in an extended family beset by violence and drugs. When he sough]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hartford-justice-center-helps-people-get-on-their-feet-after-prison/</link><pubDate>Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:40:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hartford-justice-center-helps-people-get-on-their-feet-after-prison/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Final Reading: It’s a bird, it’s a plane — it’s ‘unidentified anomalous phenomena’ Vermont lawmakers want to investigate]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Troy Headrick, I-Burlington, speaks before the House Government Operations Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, Jan. 16. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerHe started with an apology.&ldquo;If your inbox looks at all like mine since the introduction of this bill, I think I owe you all an apology,&rdquo; Rep. Troy Headrick, I-Burlington, told the House Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee.Why had Headrick&rsquo;s bill &mdash; one of more than 600 in play in the H]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-vermont-lawmakers-want-to-investigate/</link><pubDate>Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-vermont-lawmakers-want-to-investigate/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stowe resorts lobby for short-term rental cap carveouts]]></title><description><![CDATA[A snow bank at von Trapp Lodge. File photo by Gordon Miller/Stowe Reporter<br />
This story by Aaron Calvin was first published in the Stowe Reporter on Jan. 15, 2026.As the Stowe Selectboard continues to consider a cap on the number of short-term rentals, the town&rsquo;s major resorts are arguing that they should be exempted from further regulation.Consideration of a&nbsp;short-term rental cap&nbsp;began last fall, when the planning commission sent a letter to the selectboard recommending such a re]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stowe-resorts-lobby-for-short-term-rental-cap-carveouts/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 23:36:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stowe-resorts-lobby-for-short-term-rental-cap-carveouts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawmakers take up stopgap funding for Section 8 housing vouchers ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kathleen Berk, executive director of the Vermont State Housing Authority, speaks to lawmakers about financial challenges related to the Section 8 federal housing voucher program on Nov. 5, 2025 in Montpelier. David Littlefield / Vermont PublicThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.With federal funds dwindling for a key housing assistance program, Vermont lawmakers are looking at using state money to slo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-take-up-stopgap-funding-for-section-8-housing-vouchers/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 22:20:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-take-up-stopgap-funding-for-section-8-housing-vouchers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[BlueCross BlueShield’s new CEO takes over as insurer faces federal and statewide challenges]]></title><description><![CDATA[On Saturday, Beth Roberts officially took the helm as the new president and CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont.Less than a week later, the window closed on open enrollment for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, without any extension of the federal tax credits that made those plans affordable for thousands of Vermonters.It&rsquo;s no secret that Roberts assumes the role as the health care industry &mdash; and her new employer, specifically &mdash; faces dire straits.<br />
READ MORE<br />
BlueCross]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bluecross-blueshields-new-ceo-takes-over-as-insurer-faces-federal-and-statewide-challenges/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 21:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bluecross-blueshields-new-ceo-takes-over-as-insurer-faces-federal-and-statewide-challenges/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s top economists say state revenue on track despite fears of downgrade]]></title><description><![CDATA[Economists Jeff Carr, right, and Tom Kavet brief the Emergency Board on the forecast for state revenues at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, January 16, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; The economists tasked with diagnosing Vermont&rsquo;s fiscal health every six months kept their top-line revenue estimates almost unchanged in a new report to a panel of lawmakers and Gov. Phil Scott on Friday.However, Tom Kavet and Jeff Carr told the state&rsquo;s Emergency Board, t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-top-economists-say-state-revenue-on-track-despite-fears-of-downgrade/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:40:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-top-economists-say-state-revenue-on-track-despite-fears-of-downgrade/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s top economists say state revenue is steady as tight budget cycle nears]]></title><description><![CDATA[Economists Jeff Carr, right, and Tom Kavet brief the Emergency Board on the forecast for state revenues at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, January 16, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated 5:05 p.m.MONTPELIER &mdash; The economists tasked with diagnosing Vermont&rsquo;s fiscal health every six months kept their top-line revenue estimates almost unchanged in a new report to a panel of lawmakers and Gov. Phil Scott on Friday.At the same time, Tom Kavet and Jeff Carr told the state&]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-top-economists-say-state-revenue-is-steady-as-tight-budget-cycle-nears/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:40:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-top-economists-say-state-revenue-is-steady-as-tight-budget-cycle-nears/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[School-based mental health in a time of unknown funding and increased need: creative collaboration at Lamoille County Mental Health Services]]></title><description><![CDATA[Stepping into the 25-26 school year, Lamoille County Mental Health Services&rsquo; (LCMHS) School Based Mental Health Services, like many of the Vermont Care Partners network agencies, partners with local school districts to address the changing needs of school communities. While continuing to offer Success Beyond Six services that are funded through local dollars, with a Medicaid match that assists in making services more affordable to schools and districts, LCMHS&rsquo; School Based Clinician]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/school-based-mental-health-in-a-time-of-unknown-funding-and-increased-needcreative-collaboration-at-lamoille-county-mental-health-services/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:51:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/school-based-mental-health-in-a-time-of-unknown-funding-and-increased-needcreative-collaboration-at-lamoille-county-mental-health-services/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kayce Bradley: Stop attacking our independent schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Kayce Bradley, who lives in Concord. She has two sons and is an independent hairstylist.&nbsp;&nbsp;This past December, my son Cody packed his bags for Michigan to begin a specialized welding program. He has found a career path he is passionate about and is confident in his skills after earning a high school diploma with high honors.If you had seen him several years ago, before he started high school at St. Johnsbury Academy, you might not have believed this future was pos]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kayce-bradley-stop-attacking-our-independent-schools/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kayce-bradley-stop-attacking-our-independent-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Loralee Tester: Kindness can’t fix a state in crisis]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Loralee Tester, the executive director of the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce.Vermonters are, without question, some of the most well-meaning people you will ever meet. We shovel each other out after snowstorms. We show up with casseroles.&nbsp;We volunteer, donate, coach and serve on boards &mdash; sometimes four or five or more. We respond when help is needed, not because we have to, but because it is who we are.That generosity is one of Vermont&rsquo;s greatest st]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/loralee-tester-kindness-cant-fix-a-state-in-crisis/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:52:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/loralee-tester-kindness-cant-fix-a-state-in-crisis/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Final Reading: Facing growing uncertainty, Vermont food assistance leaders seek new funds. Lawmakers say money is tight.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Clients visit the HOPE (Helping Overcome Poverty&rsquo;s Effects) food shelf in Middlebury on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFood assistance leaders are pushing hard this legislative session to expand aid programs and fill gaps left by federal cuts &mdash; but the response from lawmakers continues to be cautious.Becka Warren, who manages the Vermont Food Security Coalition, told the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry on Thursday afternoon]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-facing-growing-uncertainty-vermont-food-assistance-leaders-seek-new-funds-lawmakers-say-money-is-tight/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:36:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-facing-growing-uncertainty-vermont-food-assistance-leaders-seek-new-funds-lawmakers-say-money-is-tight/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont organizations merge accessible recreation and conservation goals in ‘first-of-its-kind’ outdoor center in Rochester]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Rochester land has an established trail network connected to the Ridgeline Outdoor Collective&rsquo;s&#8239;multi-use&#8239;Rochester Valley&#8239;network, as well as the&#8239;larger&#8239;Velomont&#8239;Trail&#8239;system &mdash; and public access is now secured for the future. Photo courtesy of Vermont Land TrustRochester will be home to the first multiuse, adaptive outdoor recreation center in Vermont, project partners Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports and Vermont Land Trust announced Wed]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-organizations-merge-accessible-recreation-and-conservation-goals-in-first-of-its-kind-outdoor-center-in-rochester/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:07:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-organizations-merge-accessible-recreation-and-conservation-goals-in-first-of-its-kind-outdoor-center-in-rochester/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Candidates to lead Vermont National Guard say they’d resign if facing unlawful order]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brigadier General Hank Harder and Colonel Brent Zeigler, the two candidates vying to be the next Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; The two candidates vying to be the next leader of the Vermont National Guard both told lawmakers this week they would resign that post rather than carry out an unlawful order from their superiors in the state or federal government.Vermont&rsquo;s Legislature elects an adjutant general, which is the top]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/candidates-to-lead-vermont-national-guard-say-theyd-resign-if-facing-unlawful-order/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 21:26:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/candidates-to-lead-vermont-national-guard-say-theyd-resign-if-facing-unlawful-order/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Champlain Valley schools face federal investigation over transgender athlete policy]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ninth-graders arrive for the first day of school at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s largest school district is being investigated under federal allegations that it has violated laws surrounding transgender student athletes&rsquo; participation in sports.The Champlain Valley School District is among 18 entities in 10 states being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education&rsquo;s Office for Civil]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/champlain-valley-schools-face-federal-investigation-over-transgender-athlete-policy/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/champlain-valley-schools-face-federal-investigation-over-transgender-athlete-policy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ryan McLaren, former top aide to Peter Welch, enters lieutenant governor race]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ryan McLaren announced he&rsquo;s running for lieutenant governor in January 2026. Courtesy Ryan McLaren.Updated at 5:30 p.m.Ryan McLaren, a former top aide to U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., announced a campaign to be the state&rsquo;s next lieutenant governor on Thursday.The Essex Junction resident&rsquo;s bid was widely expected. He will face former Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, who announced her 2026 campaign for the state&rsquo;s second highest office last week, in this year&rsquo;s Democratic primar]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ryan-mclaren-former-top-aide-to-peter-welch-enters-lieutenant-governor-race/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ryan-mclaren-former-top-aide-to-peter-welch-enters-lieutenant-governor-race/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ryan McLaren, former aide to Peter Welch, enters lieutenant governor race]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ryan McLaren announced he&rsquo;s running for lieutenant governor in January 2026. Courtesy Ryan McLaren.Ryan McLaren, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., announced a campaign to be the state&rsquo;s next lieutenant governor on Thursday.The Essex Junction resident&rsquo;s bid was widely expected. He will face former Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, who announced her 2026 campaign for the state&rsquo;s second highest office last week, in this year&rsquo;s Democratic primary. On the Republican sid]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ryan-mclaren-former-aide-to-peter-welch-enters-lieutenant-governor-race/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ryan-mclaren-former-aide-to-peter-welch-enters-lieutenant-governor-race/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Valerie Ann Sevene]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born&nbsp;Feb. 26, 1954Burlington, VermontDied&nbsp;Dec. 29, 2025Clinton, KentuckyDetails of servicesA celebration of life will be held at a later date.Valerie Ann Sevene (Place), 71, of Clinton, Kentucky, passed away peacefully in her home with her loving family by her side, after a short battle with lung cancer. She was born in Burlington, to Wilfred H. Place and Elodia E. Cramer-Putnam.Valerie had a deep love for her family and brought joy to all who knew her. She also loved the beach; campi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/valerie-ann-sevene/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:15:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/valerie-ann-sevene/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stephanie Jill Mapes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born&nbsp;Jan 3, 1961Wilmington, DelawareDied&nbsp;Jan. 6, 2026Burlington, VermontDetails of servicesAt Stephanie&rsquo;s request there will be no formal services at this time, she asked for a springtime memorial service.&nbsp;With peace in her heart and her loved ones by her side, Stephanie Jill Mapes, age 65, peacefully put her angel wings on and sailed into her new life on Jan. 6, 2026.&nbsp;She leaves her husband Scott Michael Mapes, son Scott Lennon Mapes and his fianc&eacute; Cosette Giro]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stephanie-jill-mapes/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stephanie-jill-mapes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont school bus companies are hard to come by. The lack of competition is causing transportation costs to rise.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Champlain Valley School District school busses in Hinesburg on Monday, January 5, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerYears ago, when the Mountain Views Supervisory Union would bid for student busing services, officials would get several competing offers to pick from, the district&rsquo;s superintendent recently pointed out.Now, the district is lucky if they get a single bid, Superintendent Sherry Sousa said. And they&rsquo;re not alone.Over the past decade, Vermont has seen fewer and fewer co]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-school-bus-companies-are-hard-to-come-by-the-lack-of-competition-is-causing-transportation-costs-to-rise/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:51:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-school-bus-companies-are-hard-to-come-by-the-lack-of-competition-is-causing-transportation-costs-to-rise/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brian Bloomfield: Equity means giving the shorter kid a stool]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Brian Bloomfield, Ph.D., head of school at Lyndon Institute and chair of the Council of Independent Schools for Vermont.In my first year of teaching, a mentor pulled me aside to talk about equity. I was struggling to connect with a few students, and she offered a simple illustration: if two students are trying to reach the top of a cabinet and one is shorter, treating them the same does not give them the same chance. Equity means giving the shorter student a stool.Nearly 3]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brian-bloomfield-equity-means-giving-the-shorter-kid-a-stool/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:27:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brian-bloomfield-equity-means-giving-the-shorter-kid-a-stool/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Cartoonist Alison Bechdel on hope, humor, and ‘waking up’ in dark times]]></title><description><![CDATA[Alison Bechdel. Photo by Elena SiebertThe Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.&ldquo;Who can draw when the world is burning?&rdquo; asks celebrated Vermont cartoonist Alison Bechdel in her new graphic novel, Spent.This tension between the political and personal has been a deep well for Bechdel in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-cartoonist-alison-bechdel-on-hope-humor-and-waking-up-in-dark-times/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:17:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-cartoonist-alison-bechdel-on-hope-humor-and-waking-up-in-dark-times/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Final Reading: Should Vermont end its first-of-a-kind PCB testing program in schools? ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Committee chair Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, speaks during a meeting of the House Education Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, Jan. 8. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerI&rsquo;d venture that most high school buildings do not have escalators. Not in Vermont at least. Burlington&rsquo;s high school students, however, have a big one, right smack in the middle of their makeshift school at the former Macy&rsquo;s department store.For five years, the former outlet has served as a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-should-vermont-end-its-first-of-a-kind-pcb-testing-program-in-schools/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:36:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-should-vermont-end-its-first-of-a-kind-pcb-testing-program-in-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Senators interrogate Vermont Supreme Court nominee about prosecuting on behalf of Trump]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Supreme Court nominee Michael Drescher, center, speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee as fellow nominee Christina Nolan, second from left, listens at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Michael Drescher prosecuted cases on behalf of the federal government in Vermont during the first year of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s administration &mdash;&nbsp; which dealt him historic immigration cases like those of R&uuml;meys]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/senators-interrogate-vermont-supreme-court-nominee-about-prosecuting-on-behalf-of-trump/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/senators-interrogate-vermont-supreme-court-nominee-about-prosecuting-on-behalf-of-trump/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New plan for Vermont homelessness would largely end the use of motel rooms]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Eric Maguire, R-Rutland City, listens to testimony in the House Human Services Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, Jan. 14. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.Lawmakers have a new plan to overhaul Vermont&rsquo;s response to homelessness, an issue that has remained stubbornly persistent in recent years even as state leaders have thrown hundreds]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-plan-for-vermont-homelessness-would-largely-end-the-use-of-motel-rooms/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:39:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-plan-for-vermont-homelessness-would-largely-end-the-use-of-motel-rooms/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Drought cost Vermont farmers $15.9M ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The preliminary results of a 2025 state survey show that last year&rsquo;s drought cost Vermont farms more than $15.9 million.Most farmers said it was the worst drought they&rsquo;d ever seen, according to the survey, which was conducted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and the Vermont Agriculture Recovery Task Force. The final survey is expected to be published by the end of January, according to the agency. Numbers are not expected to significantly change. (As of publica]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/drought-cost-vermont-farmers-159m/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:35:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/drought-cost-vermont-farmers-159m/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Scott’s $75 million property tax buydown could become bargaining chip in budget talks]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Andrew Perchlik, D/P-Washington, left and Rep. Robin Scheu, D-Middlebury. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont Gov. Phil Scott wants to use the state&rsquo;s annual midyear budget tuneup to set aside $75 million for property tax relief. But legislative leaders said they would rather hold on to that money, at least for the time being.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s just not appropriate to be doing it at this point in time,&rdquo; said Rep. Robin Scheu, D-Middlebury, who chairs the b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scotts-75-million-property-tax-buydown-could-become-bargaining-chip-in-budget-talks/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2026 22:10:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scotts-75-million-property-tax-buydown-could-become-bargaining-chip-in-budget-talks/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Activists target ICE digital surveillance site in Williston]]></title><description><![CDATA[Video courtesy of activists<br />
Activists ramped up their objections to federal immigration enforcement this week by dropping a bright yellow banner at a Williston business park where a digital surveillance operation run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials is located.The banner, spread out across six windows of a building in the White Cap Business Park, read &ldquo;ICE Violates Rights Here.&rdquo; It was dropped on the night of Jan. 11 and removed by a cherry picker in the early m]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/activists-target-ice-digital-surveillance-site-in-williston/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:21:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/activists-target-ice-digital-surveillance-site-in-williston/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marv Greenberg: Fact-finding travel to Israel isn’t unethical]]></title><description><![CDATA[Marv Greenberg is a lay leader at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, a proud Zionist and a supporter of the State of Israel.Dear Editor,I am appalled and shocked that our Vermont pro-Palestinian groups are filing an ethics complaint and calling for the resignations of the five Vermont legislators who traveled to Israel on a much-needed fact-finding mission.&nbsp;<br />
READ MORE<br />
These legislators were going to Israel, a strong U.S. ally and a democracy, to see what happened on October 7, 2023, and what has been]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marv-greenberg-fact-finding-travel-to-israel-isnt-unethical/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2026 01:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marv-greenberg-fact-finding-travel-to-israel-isnt-unethical/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Signed, sealed, delayed: Montpelier Post Office struggles with long wait times — again]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tom McDonough spent 29 years working for the U.S. Postal Service, mainly as a postal clerk. So he&rsquo;s very familiar with dealing with frustrated customers waiting for their packages.Customers like himself.&nbsp;&ldquo;The point of view of the clerk up there, I understand,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I can see what they&rsquo;re faced with.&rdquo;McDonough has been waiting for nearly two weeks for his packages, which include medication, tax information and now-outdated Christmas cards. He can see]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/signed-sealed-delayed-montpelier-post-office-struggles-with-long-wait-times-again/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2026 01:25:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/signed-sealed-delayed-montpelier-post-office-struggles-with-long-wait-times-again/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Final Reading: Christina Nolan, Vermont Supreme Court hopeful, explains why she brought a gun to court]]></title><description><![CDATA[Christina Nolan and Michael Drescher. Photos courtesy of the Office of Gov. Phil Scott&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to take the opportunity to tell you a little bit about how the gun got in my bag,&rdquo; Christina Nolan, a prospective Vermont Supreme Court justice and former top federal prosecutor in the state, told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.&nbsp;The committee was hearing from Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s most recent two nominees to the Vermont Supreme Court, as their appointments require]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-christina-nolan-vermont-supreme-court-hopeful-explains-why-she-brought-a-gun-to-court/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:46:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-christina-nolan-vermont-supreme-court-hopeful-explains-why-she-brought-a-gun-to-court/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont sees increase in flu as cases around the country surge ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Flu is surging around the country, and Vermont is not immune to the national trend, though the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&rsquo;s most recent dashboard for the disease identifies the state&rsquo;s illness prevalence as lower than much of the U.S.In Vermont, about 20-25% of tests have come back positive this season, according to a state dashboard with data through Jan. 3.Statewide, nearly 8% of visits to a Vermont emergency room or urgent care were due to flu-like illness]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-sees-increase-in-flu-as-cases-around-the-country-surge/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:06:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-sees-increase-in-flu-as-cases-around-the-country-surge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[What do you call the top federal prosecutor in Vermont? Well, that depends. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Speaker&rsquo;s gavel and podium in the House of Representatives chamber at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 7, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThere&rsquo;s new leadership in charge of the U.S. Attorney&rsquo;s Office in Vermont, though President Donald Trump has not yet appointed anyone to run the place on a permanent basis and the title of the person in charge keeps changing.At the moment, the U.S. Department of Justice Department website lists Jonathan Ophardt, a longtime prose]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-do-you-call-the-top-federal-prosecutor-in-vermont-well-that-depends/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 23:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-do-you-call-the-top-federal-prosecutor-in-vermont-well-that-depends/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New federal funds to help Vermont keep up with rapid changes to child care and Pre-K]]></title><description><![CDATA[File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Vermont has received a nearly $13 million federal grant to strengthen its child care and pre-Kindergarten programs, among other early childhood services, officials said Monday.The grant comes from the Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five program in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which has supported parts of Vermont&rsquo;s early childhood landsca]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-federal-funds-to-help-vermont-keep-up-with-rapid-changes-to-child-care-and-pre-k/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:48:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-federal-funds-to-help-vermont-keep-up-with-rapid-changes-to-child-care-and-pre-k/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Secure your future: application deadline is February 11 for 2026-27 VSAC scholarships]]></title><description><![CDATA[Do you need help paying for college or career training in fall 2026? Scholarships can be a great way to fund your future. It&rsquo;s worth it to review VSAC&rsquo;s Scholarships &amp; Forgivable Loans 2026&ndash;2027 booklet&mdash;so you don&rsquo;t miss out on the chance to receive free money.&nbsp;If you&rsquo;re a high school senior or a returning college or training student, now is the time to apply for any of the 150+ VSAC-administered scholarships and forgivable loans. The VSAC scholarshi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/secure-your-future-application-deadline-is-february-11-for-2026-27-vsac-scholarships/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:03:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/secure-your-future-application-deadline-is-february-11-for-2026-27-vsac-scholarships/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger thanks readers for supporting our year end member drive]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger reporter Carly Berlin covers a meeting of the Joint Fiscal Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDear Readers,VTDigger is grateful to the 3,357 members who contributed during our 2025 Year End Member Drive. Together, we raised $456,000 to sustain our nonprofit news coverage.&nbsp;During the drive, VTDigger members also sent 3,300 meals to the Vermont Foodbank and 1,233 days of emergency heat to local homes via the Warmth]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-thanks-readers-for-supporting-our-year-end-member-drive/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:27:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-thanks-readers-for-supporting-our-year-end-member-drive/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Zoie Saunders: It’s not all about taxes, stupid]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Zoie Saunders, Vermont&rsquo;s secretary of education.&nbsp;Education transformation in Vermont is not just about property taxes. It is about building and sustaining the best education system in America.At a moment when nearly every other state is diverting dollars away from public education, Vermont has chosen a different path.&nbsp;Last year, a bipartisan coalition passed Act 73 &mdash; a bill that doubles down on public education as the great equalizer, the pathway out]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/zoie-saunders-its-not-all-about-taxes-stupid/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:25:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/zoie-saunders-its-not-all-about-taxes-stupid/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Zoie Saunders: It’s not all about taxes]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Zoie Saunders, Vermont&rsquo;s secretary of education.&nbsp;Education transformation in Vermont is not just about property taxes. It is about building and sustaining the best education system in America.At a moment when nearly every other state is diverting dollars away from public education, Vermont has chosen a different path.&nbsp;Last year, a bipartisan coalition passed Act 73 &mdash; a bill that doubles down on public education as the great equalizer, the pathway out]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/zoie-saunders-its-not-all-about-taxes/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:25:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/zoie-saunders-its-not-all-about-taxes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[It’s not all about taxes, stupid]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is Zoie Saunders is Vermont&rsquo;s secretary of education.&nbsp;Education transformation in Vermont is not just about property taxes. It is about building and sustaining the best education system in America.At a moment when nearly every other state is diverting dollars away from public education, Vermont has chosen a different path.&nbsp;Last year, a bipartisan coalition passed Act 73&mdash;a bill that doubles down on public education as the great equalizer, the pathway out of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-not-all-about-taxes-stupid/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:25:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-not-all-about-taxes-stupid/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge denies bail in deadly vehicle chase despite report blaming Rutland police]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tate Rheaume in Rutland County Superior criminal court on Tuesday April 9, 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Vermont judge has rejected a renewed request to release a former Rutland County man facing a murder charge stemming from a vehicle pursuit that killed a young Rutland City police officer.David Sleigh, an attorney for Tate Rheaume, argued in recent court filings that revelations from an internal affairs investigation that criticized officers&rsquo; actions in the July 2023 deadl]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-denies-bail-in-deadly-vehicle-chase-despite-report-blaming-rutland-police/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:19:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-denies-bail-in-deadly-vehicle-chase-despite-report-blaming-rutland-police/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Montpelier council chooses next city manager after months-long search]]></title><description><![CDATA[Montpelier Mayor Jack McCullough, right, with Kelly McNicholas Kury. Courtesy photo.This story by Carla Occaso was first published in The Bridge on Jan. 11, 2026.After a months-long process, the Montpelier City Council announced on Jan. 11 its choice of Kelly McNicholas Kury to be the next city manager of the city. McNicholas Kury, of Pitkin County, Colorado, is due to start Feb. 17. Meanwhile, Facilities and Sustainability Director Chris Lumbra is serving as acting city manager following the d]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/montpelier-council-chooses-next-city-manager-after-months-long-search/</link><pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:37:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/montpelier-council-chooses-next-city-manager-after-months-long-search/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Vermont pays for schools — and how it might change]]></title><description><![CDATA[Members of the House Ways and Means Committee listen to testimony on education finance during a remote joint meeting with other House and Senate committees at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 25, 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s education funding system is notoriously complicated and totally unique.Following years of rising property taxes &mdash; and a watershed 2024 election animated, in part, by a debate over how the state pays for its schools &mdash; lawmakers en]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-vermont-pays-for-schools-and-how-it-might-change/</link><pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:17:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-vermont-pays-for-schools-and-how-it-might-change/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawsuit claims Burlington underrepresents Republicans on voter registration board ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Burlington City Hall. Photo via Adobe StockA civil lawsuit claims Burlington is flouting state law by avoiding appointing more Republicans to a board responsible for maintaining the voter registration list and ensuring fair elections. The city has filed a motion to dismiss.Filed Nov. 25 in Vermont Superior Court by two residents, the lawsuit alleges the city &ldquo;has refused to permit Republicans their statutory-required, minimum representation&rdquo; on the Board for Registration of Voters.T]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawsuit-claims-burlington-underrepresents-republicans-on-voter-registration-board/</link><pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:10:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawsuit-claims-burlington-underrepresents-republicans-on-voter-registration-board/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hundreds gather at Upper Valley ‘ICE Out for Good’ actions over the weekend]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brian Clancy, of Lebanon, joins a chant during a rally in Lebanon, NH, on Saturday, Jan. 10, condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the killing last Wednesday of Renee Good in Minneapolis, Minn. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m pissed off, quite frankly,&rdquo; said Clancy. &ldquo;and I&rsquo;m a middle class white male, and I&rsquo;m terrified.&rdquo; More than 300 people attended the rally. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Marion Umpleby was first published in the Valley News]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hundreds-gather-at-upper-valley-ice-out-for-good-actions-over-the-weekend/</link><pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 22:17:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hundreds-gather-at-upper-valley-ice-out-for-good-actions-over-the-weekend/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Parent Child Centers help families meet basic needs in critical moments]]></title><description><![CDATA[It is increasingly common for staff at the Parent Child Center of NCSS to receive daily requests from families seeking support to meet their basic needs. Many are facing impossible choices between buying groceries, diapers, or paying their heating bill. Inquiries regarding these necessities have steadily increased across the community, and both Parent Child Centers and VCP network agencies are providing the resources to meet these needs.The Role of Parent Child Centers in Supporting Vermont&rsq]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/parent-child-centers-help-families-meet-basic-needs-in-critical-moments/</link><pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:48:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/parent-child-centers-help-families-meet-basic-needs-in-critical-moments/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘A once-in-a-generation opportunity’: Housing infrastructure program kicks off this month]]></title><description><![CDATA[Construction continues on a housing project in Colchester on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.The city of St. Albans recently bought the longtime office building of the local newspaper. Officials want to build apartments there &ndash; but first, the place needs work, and a new state program could help foot the bill.&nbsp;Dirty soil must be clea]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-once-in-a-generation-opportunity-housing-infrastructure-program-kicks-off-this-month/</link><pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-once-in-a-generation-opportunity-housing-infrastructure-program-kicks-off-this-month/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Writers Project: ‘Can we be friends?’]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;A Moment&rsquo;s Pause,&rdquo; by Bradee Traverse, 17, of West RutlandYoung Writers Project is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists that started in Burlington in 2006. Each week,&nbsp;VTDigger&nbsp;publishes the writing and art of young Vermonters who post their work on&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for youth, ages 13-19.&nbsp;To find out more, please go to&nbsp;youngwritersproject.org&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-can-we-be-friends/</link><pubDate>Sun, 11 Jan 2026 12:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/young-writers-project-can-we-be-friends/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The rise and fall and rise of Vermont-schooled skier Mikaela Shiffrin]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont-schooled Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates a successful World Cup run at the Killington Ski Resort. Photo by Andrew ShinnThe last time many Vermonters saw Mikaela Shiffrin, the Alpine ski racer was standing atop Killington&rsquo;s Superstar trail, seemingly a minute away from scoring an unprecedented 100th World Cup win.Then, figuratively and literally, she went downhill fast.The Burke Mountain Academy graduate had snagged the lead in the first of two giant-slalom runs on Nov. 30, 2024, only]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-rise-and-fall-and-rise-of-vermont-schooled-skier-mikaela-shiffrin/</link><pubDate>Sun, 11 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-rise-and-fall-and-rise-of-vermont-schooled-skier-mikaela-shiffrin/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Student-charged bill would give voting rights on school boards]]></title><description><![CDATA[South Burlington high school student Isa Harrington (third in from the right) sits with students from the Governor&rsquo;s Institute this summer. (Courtesy photo)Isa Harrington, a South Burlington High School student, is a firm believer in the democratic process &mdash; even though she hasn&rsquo;t had a chance to exercise her rights to the fullest extent yet, as she is only 17.Still, the right to vote has been heavy on her mind since the summer months, when she joined the Governor&rsquo;s Inst]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/student-charged-bill-would-give-voting-rights-on-school-boards/</link><pubDate>Sun, 11 Jan 2026 11:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/student-charged-bill-would-give-voting-rights-on-school-boards/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Final Reading: Those sketchy, too-good-to-be-true ticket sites? They are — and some lawmakers want them gone.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Flynn Theater in Burlington during a March 2019 speaking event featuring then-presidential candidate John Hickenlooper. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerPicture this. You love the Indigo Girls. Imagine your excitement, then, when you discover they&rsquo;re playing at your favorite local venue, The Flynn, in Burlington. You click the first link and go to purchase tickets, only to discover an exorbitant $250 price tag. You love the Indigo Girls, but you also need to pay your mortgage, so you pa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-those-sketchy-too-good-to-be-true-ticket-sites-they-are-and-some-lawmakers-want-them-gone/</link><pubDate>Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:57:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-those-sketchy-too-good-to-be-true-ticket-sites-they-are-and-some-lawmakers-want-them-gone/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State issues probation to Bennington program caring for people with intellectual disabilities]]></title><description><![CDATA[United Counseling Service&rsquo;s headquarters on Ledgehill Drive in Bennington. Photo courtesy of United Counseling ServiceState officials gave a warning to United Counseling Service this December: Fix your longstanding problems, or risk losing your current ability to operate.The state&rsquo;s problem with the nonprofit provider&rsquo;s service lines for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities include safety concerns that &ldquo;put clients and staff at risk of harm&rdquo; &mda]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-issues-probation-to-bennington-program-caring-for-people-with-intellectual-disabilities/</link><pubDate>Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:02:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-issues-probation-to-bennington-program-caring-for-people-with-intellectual-disabilities/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s pagans find comfort and creativity in new surge of interest in witchcraft]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jillian Kirby at home in Burlington on Friday, January 2, 2026. Kirby sometimes describes herself as a &ldquo;placebo witch&rdquo;. Kirby has become an ordained atheopagan cleric, part of a community of atheists who incorporate pagan beliefs. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMaggie Byers first felt drawn to paganism during a rough patch in her life.&nbsp;Her marriage fell apart during the Covid-19 pandemic, and she began to reevaluate many aspects of herself that she&rsquo;d taken for granted: he]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-pagans-find-comfort-and-creativity-in-new-surge-of-interest-in-witchcraft/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 22:13:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-pagans-find-comfort-and-creativity-in-new-surge-of-interest-in-witchcraft/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Signaling or substance? Vermont lawmakers propose restrictions on ICE, but their enforcement is questionable. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Nader Hashim, D-Windham, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, at the Statehouse in Montpelier on April 16, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerCan Vermont lawmakers restrict how federal immigration authorities operate in the state?Democrats are poised to try this session, mulling legislation that would limit where civil immigration arrests can occur and would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing masks in most cases.&nbsp;Vermonters should be able to visit sensitive locations]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/signaling-or-substance-vermont-lawmakers-propose-restrictions-on-ice-but-their-enforcement-is-questionable/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:52:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/signaling-or-substance-vermont-lawmakers-propose-restrictions-on-ice-but-their-enforcement-is-questionable/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Signaling or substance? Vermont lawmakers propose restrictions on ICE, but enforcement is questionable. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Nader Hashim, D-Windham, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, at the Statehouse in Montpelier on April 16, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerCan Vermont lawmakers restrict how federal immigration authorities operate in the state?Democrats are poised to try this session, mulling legislation that would limit where civil immigration arrests can occur and would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing masks in most cases.&nbsp;Vermonters should be able to visit sensitive locations]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/signaling-or-substance-vermont-lawmakers-propose-restrictions-on-ice-but-enforcement-is-questionable/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:52:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/signaling-or-substance-vermont-lawmakers-propose-restrictions-on-ice-but-enforcement-is-questionable/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stevie Paquette: When ethics are questioned, Vermonters deserve answers — not sponsored narratives]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Stevie Paquette, a Colchester resident pursuing a master&rsquo;s degree in social work, with an interest in ethics, human rights and Palestinian self-determination.&nbsp;I am writing this as a Vermonter, a constituent and someone who is openly anti-Zionist and believes in the legitimacy and self-determination of the Palestinian people. I also believe deeply in ethical, transparent government and public accountability.&nbsp;When a number of local lawmakers traveled to Israe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stevie-paquette-when-ethics-are-questioned-vermonters-deserve-answers-not-sponsored-narratives/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 01:12:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stevie-paquette-when-ethics-are-questioned-vermonters-deserve-answers-not-sponsored-narratives/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Final Reading: House tax chair weighs potential revenue losses due to Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, listens to testimony during a committee meeting at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, Jan. 8. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThat&rsquo;s what Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro, wants the Vermont tax system to be, she said Thursday morning. But following the passage of federal tax law changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, she said, that lofty goal may have become harder to ensure. And she worries]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-house-tax-chair-weighs-potential-revenue-losses-due-to-trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:50:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-house-tax-chair-weighs-potential-revenue-losses-due-to-trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rep. Casey Toof, Vermont House’s No. 2 Republican, to resign]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Casey Toof, R-St. Albans Town, speaks during a press conference held by Republican representatives to discuss an education reform bill at the Statehouse in Montpelier on April 8, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe No. 2 Republican in the Vermont House, Rep. Casey Toof of St. Albans Town, will resign his seat next week. Toof has served as assistant minority leader since 2023 and has represented his Franklin County town in the chamber since 2019.The 40-year-old said he&rsquo;s leaving]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rep-casey-toof-vermont-houses-no-2-republican-to-resign/</link><pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:16:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rep-casey-toof-vermont-houses-no-2-republican-to-resign/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Citing damning report of police actions, attorney calls for release of suspect in crash that killed Rutland officer]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tate Rheaume waves to his family as he is held on bail in Rutland County Superior criminal court on April 9, 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe attorney for a Rutland County man facing a murder charge in a fatal crash that killed an officer is asking a judge to reconsider an order holding his client without bail, citing an internal affairs report that strongly criticizes the actions of police leading to the deadly chase.David Sleigh, a lawyer for 22-year-old Tate Rheaume, in recent c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/citing-damning-report-of-police-actions-attorney-calls-for-release-of-suspect-in-crash-that-killed-rutland-officer/</link><pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:09:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/citing-damning-report-of-police-actions-attorney-calls-for-release-of-suspect-in-crash-that-killed-rutland-officer/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[School districts would face spending caps under bill by Vermont Senate’s leader]]></title><description><![CDATA[Senate President Tempore Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, right, confers with Sen. Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor, at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont school districts could see their spending capped beginning in 2028 if the Legislature passes a bill introduced Thursday by Senate Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden Central.The bill, S.220, is meant to contain the growing cost of public education in Vermont while lawmakers get back to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/school-districts-would-face-spending-caps-under-bill-by-vermont-senates-leader/</link><pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 22:19:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/school-districts-would-face-spending-caps-under-bill-by-vermont-senates-leader/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Final Reading: Has Burlington’s special accountability court worked?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jaye Pershing Johnson on Jan. 3, 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerCourt backlog.&nbsp;The phrase has defined a malaise that&rsquo;s permeated the Vermont Legislature&rsquo;s work on public safety initiatives in recent years. When Covid-19 slowed down the judicial system, criminal cases piled up, leading defendants and victims to wait years for resolution.Enter the Chittenden County accountability docket. Proposed by Gov. Phil Scott last fall, the pilot project dedicated court time and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-has-burlingtons-special-accountability-court-worked/</link><pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:52:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-has-burlingtons-special-accountability-court-worked/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Health officials reaffirm existing childhood vaccine schedule in light of federal changes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dr. Rick Hildebrant, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Health, speaks before the Senate Health and Welfare Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scaled back federal guidelines for childhood vaccines Monday, moving six immunizations out of the &ldquo;recommended&rdquo; category. Following the federal action, Vermont officials and health experts are reaffirming the state&rsquo;s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-health-officials-reaffirm-existing-childhood-vaccine-schedule-in-light-of-federal-changes/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 23:51:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-health-officials-reaffirm-existing-childhood-vaccine-schedule-in-light-of-federal-changes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawmakers try to keep education reform on track as Gov. Phil Scott calls the issue Vermont’s ‘most critical challenge’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Seth Bongartz, D-Bennington, left, and Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, right, chairs of the Senate and House education committees respectively on March 13, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER&mdash;Vermont lawmakers in the early days of the 2026 legislative session are trying to keep the education reforms started last session on track.But the efforts appear on shaky ground after the state&rsquo;s school redistricting task force refused to deliver a map of proposed consolidated s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-try-to-keep-education-reform-on-track-as-gov-phil-scott-calls-the-issue-vermonts-most-critical-challenge/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 23:39:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-try-to-keep-education-reform-on-track-as-gov-phil-scott-calls-the-issue-vermonts-most-critical-challenge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: ‘An act of war’ — Sen. Peter Welch on Trump’s Venezuela and Capitol insurrection]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont on July 7, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Conversation with David Goodman&nbsp;is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen below and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.President Donald Trump marked the new year by launching a military assault on Venezuela and abducting President Nicol&aacute;s Maduro. Some 75 people in Venezuela were killed i]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-an-act-of-war-sen-peter-welch-on-trumps-venezuela-and-capitol-insurrection/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 22:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-an-act-of-war-sen-peter-welch-on-trumps-venezuela-and-capitol-insurrection/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘We just need to do it’: In address to lawmakers, Gov. Phil Scott stays bullish on education reform plans]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott enters the House of Representatives chamber to deliver his State of the State address at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; In his annual address to Vermont legislators Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Phil Scott urged the House and Senate to move forward with the sweeping education reform project lawmakers started last year at his administration&rsquo;s urging.But as the 2026 legislative session got underway th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/we-just-need-to-do-it-in-address-to-lawmakers-gov-phil-scott-stays-bullish-on-education-reform-plans/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:45:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/we-just-need-to-do-it-in-address-to-lawmakers-gov-phil-scott-stays-bullish-on-education-reform-plans/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Resolutions become reality as goals turn into achievements]]></title><description><![CDATA[The new year offers an opportunity to reflect upon aspirations&mdash;and commit to the work needed to achieve them. Students of all ages are putting in the effort to bring their goals to fruition. Education continues to shape pathways for learners at every stage, and 2026 brings new possibilities for learning of all kinds. The stories revisited below highlight seven student experiences.Full-time firefighting is in Bailey&rsquo;s futureBailey Shepard&rsquo;s goal grew from the sense of belonging]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/resolutions-become-reality-as-goals-turn-into-achievements/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:39:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/resolutions-become-reality-as-goals-turn-into-achievements/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jewish group files ethics complaints against Vermont legislators who took paid trip to Israel]]></title><description><![CDATA[Wafic Faour speaks during a press conference during which activists called for the resignation of five state representatives who recently went on an Israeli-sponsored trip to the Middle-Eastern country at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, Jan. 6. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; A Jewish group that opposes Israel&rsquo;s military campaign in Gaza has lodged ethics complaints against the five members of the Vermont House who traveled to Israel last September on a trip tha]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jewish-group-files-ethics-complaints-against-vermont-legislators-who-took-paid-trip-to-israel/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jewish-group-files-ethics-complaints-against-vermont-legislators-who-took-paid-trip-to-israel/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Benjamin Brickner: Vermont’s cost crises are connected. Our solutions should be, too.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Benjamin Brickner, of Pomfret. He is a practicing attorney and chair of the Pomfret Selectboard.As towns and school districts across Vermont finalize their budgets, local officials are staring down a familiar question: with healthcare, housing, personnel and other non-discretionary costs out of control, what gets cut?For Pomfret and its 916 residents, hard choices are inevitable. Road maintenance may be scaled back. Overworked staff may go without needed support. Taxes sti]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/benjamin-brickner-vermonts-cost-crises-are-connected-our-solutions-should-be-too/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:46:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/benjamin-brickner-vermonts-cost-crises-are-connected-our-solutions-should-be-too/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Final Reading: First day of the Vermont Legislature brings back-to-school feel. Just ask the kids.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington,, addresses her colleagues on the first day of the second year of the legislative biennium at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, Jan. 6.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerHappy first day back to school session! How was your summer? The floors are a little cleaner and the eyes are a little brighter as the both the Senate and the House of Representatives begin their second year of the biennium.&nbsp;The House gaveled back into session Tuesday mo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-first-day-of-the-vermont-legislature-brings-back-to-school-feel-just-ask-the-kids/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:06:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-first-day-of-the-vermont-legislature-brings-back-to-school-feel-just-ask-the-kids/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ethics complaints against senators with private school ties dismissed by Senate panel]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Scott Beck, R-Caledonia, left, and Sen. Seth Bongartz, D-Bennington, right, listen as Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro, speaks as House and Senate members of the education reform bill conference committee meet at the Statehouse in Montpelier on May 28, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Senate Ethics Panel dismissed two complaints against Sens. Seth Bongartz, D-Bennington, and Scott Beck, R-Caledonia, and found their conduct was not unethical under the state&rsquo;s Sena]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ethics-complaints-against-senators-with-private-school-ties-dismissed-by-senate-panel/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 23:08:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ethics-complaints-against-senators-with-private-school-ties-dismissed-by-senate-panel/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Clear theme emerges on opening day of Vermont’s Legislature: Tough choices ahead]]></title><description><![CDATA[Representatives chat in the House chamber before the start of business on the first day of the second year of the legislative biennium at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, Jan. 6. From left to right are Rep. Chris Taylor, R-Milton; Rep. Lisa Hango, R-Berkshire; and Rep. Leland Morgan, R-Milton. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; House Speaker Jill Krowiniski had some less-than-cheery opening remarks to her colleagues to kick off the 2026 Vermont legislative session.&ldquo;]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/clear-theme-emerges-on-opening-day-of-vermonts-legislature-tough-choices-ahead/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 22:59:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/clear-theme-emerges-on-opening-day-of-vermonts-legislature-tough-choices-ahead/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Your starter kit for the 2026 Vermont legislative session]]></title><description><![CDATA[Read the story on VTDigger here:Your starter kit for the 2026 Vermont legislative session.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/your-starter-kit-for-the-2026-vermont-legislative-session/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 22:55:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/your-starter-kit-for-the-2026-vermont-legislative-session/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Martha Boyce Colyer]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born&nbsp;March 26, 1953Albany, N.Y.Died&nbsp;Dec. 31, 2025Colchester, VermontDetails of servicesIn lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lund Family Center in Burlington or a charity of your choice, especially those that help children and families.Martha Boyce Colyer of Colchester, wife of Lawrence (Larry) Keyes died on Dec. 31, 2025 at home in the presence of her family.Martha was born in Albany N.Y. She attended the Albany Academy for Girls.She received a BA in Art from Elmira Colleg]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/martha-boyce-colyer/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 15:53:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/martha-boyce-colyer/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Final Reading: Here’s your indispensable tool for surviving the 2026 legislative session]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Speaker&rsquo;s gavel and podium in the House of Representatives chamber at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 7, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s legislative session this year will be one for the ages. Can lawmakers pull off the generational transformation of the public education system they started last year, or will they take an easier way out? What state programs will be on the chopping block during an agonizing budget cycle? How will electeds try to counteract the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-heres-your-indispensable-tool-for-surviving-the-2026-legislative-session/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:45:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/final-reading-heres-your-indispensable-tool-for-surviving-the-2026-legislative-session/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger’s staff photographer looks back on his 15 favorite images of 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[As the new year gets underway, we&rsquo;re taking a moment to look back at the images that helped tell Vermont&rsquo;s story in 2025. From civic engagement and legislative whispers; surprise federal visits and overlooked municipal drama; to the end of a critical housing program and the expansion of an immigration crackdown &mdash; VTDigger was on the ground to capture the scene.<br />
Our veteran staff photographer Glenn Russell selected and reflected on his favorite images of the year.U.S. Departmen]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdiggers-staff-photographer-looks-back-on-his-15-favorite-images-of-2025/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:34:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdiggers-staff-photographer-looks-back-on-his-15-favorite-images-of-2025/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott taps Christina Nolan and Michael Drescher for state’s highest court]]></title><description><![CDATA[Christina Nolan and Michael Drescher. Photos courtesy of the Office of Gov. Phil ScottGov. Phil Scott made two appointments to the Vermont Supreme Court, naming one former top federal prosecutor and another currently serving in that role for Vermont to fill the open spots on the state&rsquo;s high court.&nbsp;&nbsp;Scott, a Republican, announced in a press release Monday the appointments of Christina Nolan, who served as U.S. Attorney for Vermont from 2017 to 2021 during the first President Don]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-phil-scott-taps-christina-nolan-and-michael-drescher-for-states-highest-court/</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 20:31:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-phil-scott-taps-christina-nolan-and-michael-drescher-for-states-highest-court/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Suzanne Chant]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born&nbsp;Sept. 29, 1951Darby, PennsylvaniaDied&nbsp;Dec. 25, 2025Colchester, VermontDetails of servicesA memorial service is planned for spring.Suzanne Chant, 74, of South Burlington, died on Dec. 25, 2025, alongside family and friends, after a long illness.Suzanne is survived by her children Gerry Canavan and wife Jaimee Hills, Patrick Canavan, and Ariel Chant and partner Will Willoughby. She was &ldquo;Susu&rdquo; to grandchildren Hannah, Zoey, Dalton, and Connor, and step-granddaughters Jal]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/suzanne-chant/</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:11:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/suzanne-chant/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Anne Pratt Slatin]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born&nbsp;Oct. 31, 1944Buffalo, N.Y.Died&nbsp;Oct. 17, 2025Stamford, N.Y.Anne Pratt Slatin passed away on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at The Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, N.Y., at the age of 80 from pneumonia.<br />
She was born on Oct. 31, 1944, in Bu&#64256;alo, New York, to Mary McNeil and Wilson Holly Pratt. Her early summers were spent at Camp Otsego in Cooperstown, where she began as a camper and later taught sailing &mdash; friendships from those years stayed with her for life.In 19]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/anne-pratt-slatin/</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 16:50:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/anne-pratt-slatin/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bruce Cole]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born&nbsp;April 19, 1933Medford, MassachusettsDied&nbsp;Dec. 24, 2025Marlboro, VermontDetails of servicesHe has been laid to rest in King Cemetery in Marlboro. A celebration of life for Bruce will be held mid-April 2026. Letters of condolence can be sent to the family at P.O. Box 133, Marlboro, Vermont 05344.Bruce Cole, 92, of Marlboro, passed away peacefully on Dec. 24, 2025, surrounded by his family. Born on April 19, 1933, in Medford, Massachusetts, Bruce was the son of Barbara Sawyer Cole a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bruce-cole/</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 16:19:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bruce-cole/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Molly Gray is running for Vermont lieutenant governor — again]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lt. Gov. Molly Gray speaks to a crowd at the Amtrak station in St. Albans July 19, 2021. File photo by Riley Robinson/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; Molly Gray, the former Vermont lieutenant governor who also ran, unsuccessfully, for a seat in Congress, wants her old job back.Gray announced her campaign for the state&rsquo;s second-highest office Monday morning at a coffee shop in the South End of Burlington. Gray is running as a Democrat; if she wins the party&rsquo;s primary in August, she&rsquo;]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/molly-gray-is-running-for-vermont-lieutenant-governor-again/</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/molly-gray-is-running-for-vermont-lieutenant-governor-again/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s congressional delegation condemns attack on Venezuela and capture of Maduro]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Bernie Sanders, left, Rep. Becca Balint, center, and Sen. Peter Welch. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s congressional delegation condemned the U.S. military&rsquo;s attack on Venezuela over the weekend that led to the capture of the country&rsquo;s leader, Nicol&aacute;s Maduro.U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, and Vermont Democrats U.S. Sen. Peter Welch and U.S. Rep Becca Balint, all labeled Maduro a brutal authoritarian but said President Donald Trump&rsquo;s attacks on the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-congressional-delegation-condemns-attack-on-venezuela-and-capture-of-maduro/</link><pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 16:05:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-congressional-delegation-condemns-attack-on-venezuela-and-capture-of-maduro/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Eyeing cuts to federal support, Vermont lawmakers face tough decisions over food and heating assistance]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Theresa Wood, left, and Sen. Ginny Lyons. File photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Facing federal funding cuts and potentially faltering tax revenues ahead of this week&rsquo;s legislative session, Vermont lawmakers say decisions over food and heating assistance programs serving their most vulnerable constituents will be particularly difficult.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re coming back to the basic hierarchy of needs he]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/eyeing-cuts-to-federal-support-vermont-lawmakers-face-tough-decisions-over-food-and-heating-assistance/</link><pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 12:54:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/eyeing-cuts-to-federal-support-vermont-lawmakers-face-tough-decisions-over-food-and-heating-assistance/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Corinth studio offers a window into an artist’s life]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kathy Chapman works on cleaning a segment on a stained-glass window. Photo by Amelia Cunningham.Amelia Cunningham is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont&rsquo;s journalism internship for Bradford Journal Opinion.CORINTH &mdash; At the end of a long, wood-lined road in Corinth, Kathy Chapman&rsquo;s studio stands nestled among the trees. The modest workspace &mdash; with panoramic views of the surrounding forest &mdash; serves as a quiet refuge from the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/corinth-studio-offers-a-window-into-an-artists-life/</link><pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 12:30:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/corinth-studio-offers-a-window-into-an-artists-life/</guid></item></channel></rss>