<?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>Fri, 23 Oct 2026 23:58:00 +0200</lastBuildDate><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont commits $15.3M to expand heating assistance amid high fuel prices]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Dead River Company fuel truck on a snowy Main Street in downtown Brattleboro, Vermont. Photo by Artaxerxes/Wikimedia CommonsTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Vermont officials approved a $15.3 million state funding package to expand home heating aid programs on Friday.The state administers lump-sum seasonal fuel assistance benefits for financially qualifying households and also directs funds to a program that provides aid in crises when eligible]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-commits-153m-to-expand-heating-assistance-amid-high-fuel-prices/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2026 23:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-commits-153m-to-expand-heating-assistance-amid-high-fuel-prices/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Patricia Foulkes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 01/30/1944St. Louis, MODied: 09/23/2026Burlington, VTDetails of service:<br />
Patricia’s friends and family will hold a celebration of her life on November 8th at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier with a reception to follow.Patricia “Pat” Foulkes of Montpelier passed away unexpectedly on September 23, 2026, at the age of 82.Born in St. Louis to Carl and Margaret Leupold, she moved at age eight to Jacksonville, Florida where she grew up alongside her two brothers. She graduated]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/patricia-foulkes/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2026 23:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/patricia-foulkes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Return of the ‘Mountain Brigade’ from training Ukrainian troops]]></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/VTDiggerThe Vermont National Guard’s 86th Infantry Brigade will soon touch down on Green Mountain soil as its deployment to train Ukrainian soldiers in Germany comes to an end.As the National Guard returns home, active U.S. Army units are taking over the training.“They have done a very valuable mission in their training respon]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/return-of-the-mountain-brigade-from-training-ukrainian-troops/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/return-of-the-mountain-brigade-from-training-ukrainian-troops/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[At vigil, memories of two who died while unhoused and a call for change]]></title><description><![CDATA[Community members form a large circle during a candlelight vigil at Trinity United Methodist Church in Montpelier on Oct. 16. Photo by Tracy Brannstrom/The Bridge<br />
This story by Tracy Brannstrom was first published in The Bridge on Oct. 20, 2026. MONTPELIER — Two people who died this fall while experiencing homelessness were remembered at a candlelight vigil Oct. 16 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Montpelier.The deaths of Faith Deuso and Jeff Santamore have reverberated through Montpeli]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-vigil-memories-of-two-who-died-while-unhoused-and-a-call-for-change/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-vigil-memories-of-two-who-died-while-unhoused-and-a-call-for-change/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Magical thinking won’t fix Vermont’s problems]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Matt Swenson, the founder of Omnidex Solutions, an independent research and strategic analysis company. He lives in Vermont.Vermont’s future depends on whether ordinary people can build a decent life here. That means work that pays the bills, a healthy workplace and communities where starting a business or raising a family feels possible.Too much of our politics runs on magical thinking. Pass another program, raise another tax, give another reassuring speech and the prob]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/magical-thinking-wont-fix-vermonts-problems/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2026 21:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/magical-thinking-wont-fix-vermonts-problems/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Journalism Club to discuss Vermont election coverage on Nov. 5 in Williston]]></title><description><![CDATA[Shaun Robinson speaks during a VTDigger eventin Manchester on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe second meeting of Vermont’s new Journalism Club will focus on how local and state reporters covered the 2026 elections.Readers and reporters will convene just two days after the midterms at Wild Meadows Books &amp; Café in Williston on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m. They’ll discuss Vermont’s highly competitive statewide and legislative races — and how voters get t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/journalism-club-to-discuss-vermont-election-coverage-on-nov-5-in-williston/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2026 18:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/journalism-club-to-discuss-vermont-election-coverage-on-nov-5-in-williston/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The last Democratic legislator in Rutland County is leaving office. What could that mean for the county’s political future?]]></title><description><![CDATA[(Left to Right) Former Rep. Mary Howard (D-Rutland) and former Sen. Cheryl Hooker (D-Rutland) by Glenn Russell/VTDigger; Independent Rutland County Senate candidate Dave Wolk, courtesy photo; Incumbent Republican candidates Sens. Brian Collamore, David Weeks and Terry Williams by Glenn Russell; Mortimer Proctor, courtesy of the Vermont Historical Society. Background photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger, photo Illustration by Greta Solsaa/VTDigger.This year, the sole Democrat from Rutland County in t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-last-democratic-legislator-in-rutland-county-is-leaving-office-what-could-that-mean-for-the-countys-political-future/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-last-democratic-legislator-in-rutland-county-is-leaving-office-what-could-that-mean-for-the-countys-political-future/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Could nuclear power return to Vernon?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Spent nuclear fuel casks are stored at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon in July 2019. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Susan Smallheer was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Oct. 22, 2026. VERNON — There could be another nuclear reactor in Vernon’s future.Vermont Public Service Commissioner Kerrick Johnson told the Vernon Selectboard on Tuesday evening that a new, small modular nuclear reactor might be a good fit at the Vermont Yankee site, whic]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/could-nuclear-power-return-to-vernon/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/could-nuclear-power-return-to-vernon/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Separate ballot asks voters to decide $54.9 million career center bond]]></title><description><![CDATA[An architect’s drawing shows the proposed site plan for the new facility on the U-32 campus. Image courtesy of CVCCA version of this story by Lisa Scagliotti was published in the Waterbury Roundabout on Oct. 17, 2026.For the second year in a row, voters in 18 Washington County communities are being asked to consider supporting a bond to pay for a new Central Vermont Career Center.But this year’s $54.9 million proposal is dramatically different — and a fraction of the cost — from the $14]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/separate-ballot-asks-voters-to-decide-549-million-career-center-bond/</link><pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/separate-ballot-asks-voters-to-decide-549-million-career-center-bond/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[National education funding expert takes the helm of the State Board of Education]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tammy Kolbe, vice chair of the Vermont Board of Education, testifies before the House Education Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier in February 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe state board tasked with setting education standards for Vermont’s schools elected a new chair: Tammy Kolbe, a researcher and national expert in education funding. Kolbe has served as acting chair of the State Board of Education since former chair Jennifer Samuelson suddenly resigned during a meeting]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/national-education-funding-expert-takes-the-helm-of-the-state-board-of-education/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/national-education-funding-expert-takes-the-helm-of-the-state-board-of-education/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beta Technologies takes electric planes to new territories]]></title><description><![CDATA[A BETA Technologies Alia vertical take-off and landing all-electric airplane is on display during the opening of BETA’s electric aircraft production facility in South Burlington on Monday, October 2, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont-based aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies has received federal certification to fly potential customers aboard its ALIA eVTOL, an all-electric aircraft capable of taking off and landing vertically.The approval marks a new step toward commercial ope]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-technologies-takes-electric-planes-to-new-territories/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-technologies-takes-electric-planes-to-new-territories/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bernie Sanders makes rare Vermont campaign appearance, stumping with Amanda Janoo to push universal primary care]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont speaks during an event with democratic gubernatorial candidate Amanda Janoo in Winooski on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWINOOSKI — Bernie Sanders is a regular sight on the campaign trail — just not much in his home state. On Thursday, though, Vermont’s independent U.S. senator stood alongside Amanda Janoo and voiced support for the gubernatorial candidate’s proposal to offer primary healthcare to everyone in the state, fr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bernie-sanders-makes-rare-vermont-campaign-appearance-stumping-with-amanda-janoo-to-push-universal-primary-care/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 22:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bernie-sanders-makes-rare-vermont-campaign-appearance-stumping-with-amanda-janoo-to-push-universal-primary-care/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rural Vermont is done being the state’s expendable class]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Megan Durling, a teacher and an organizer for Rural Vermont Rising.The laws coming out of the Statehouse are not written for rural Vermont. They are written to serve Burlington and Montpelier, ignoring how they will affect Brighton and Manchester. That exclusion is breaking us.Rural Vermont Rising formed this spring in response not just to Act 181 but to the broad pattern of regulatory exclusion that it laid bare. Like so many of our laws, it was written without rural folk]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rural-vermont-is-done-being-the-states-expendable-class/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 21:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rural-vermont-is-done-being-the-states-expendable-class/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stick season approaches, but a beautiful weekend ahead across Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Foliage forecast data courtesy of Explore Fall – https://www.explorefall.com<br />
This year, VTDigger is teaming up with Henry’s Weather Channel to help answer the annual question of when and where peak foliage will make its appearance across the state.Each week, we’ll bring you an updated look at how foliage is unfolding statewide, paired with a weekend forecast, so you can plan your drive, hike or porch-sitting accordingly. Henry brings meteorological experience and on-the-ground reporting w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stick-season-approaches-but-a-beautiful-weekend-ahead-across-vermont/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 20:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stick-season-approaches-but-a-beautiful-weekend-ahead-across-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[International and out-of-state students are an asset, not a threat]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I have spent more than 30 years working in information technology at four institutions of higher education, and I’ve consulted for many others. In my experience, the suggestion that admitting an international or out-of-state student takes away an educational opportunity from an in-state student misses many things, of which I will point out three.First, most of the time, international and out-of-state students do not pay the same amount to attend an institution as do in-state stude]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/international-and-out-of-state-students-are-an-asset-not-a-threat/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 20:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/international-and-out-of-state-students-are-an-asset-not-a-threat/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[5 takeaways from Phil Scott and Amanda Janoo’s first debate of the campaign]]></title><description><![CDATA[Republican Gov. Phil Scott, left, and Democratic nominee for governor Amanda Janoo. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont’s leading candidates for governor agreed at their first debate of the campaign Wednesday that the state is facing a slew of challenges that make life unaffordable. But Republican Gov. Phil Scott and his Democratic and Progressive challenger, Amanda Janoo, presented at times polar opposite ideas for what to do about it. The debate, hosted by Vermont Public, was friendly]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/5-takeaways-from-phil-scott-and-amanda-janoos-first-debate-of-the-campaign/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/5-takeaways-from-phil-scott-and-amanda-janoos-first-debate-of-the-campaign/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Scott put property taxes and school consolidation center stage. Now Amanda Janoo is rallying opposition.]]></title><description><![CDATA[A sign questioning the property tax rate seen in Jericho on Friday, October 16, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerJERICHO — Henry Listenik Jr. says he’s paying double what he did last year in property taxes. The 69-year-old voted for Gov. Phil Scott in 2024, but Listenik said he doesn’t think Scott has followed through on his promises. Now Listenik doesn’t know who to vote for.The Jericho resident said that his kids, who are parents themselves, are considering moving out of state be]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-put-property-taxes-and-school-consolidation-center-stage-now-amanda-janoo-is-rallying-opposition/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-put-property-taxes-and-school-consolidation-center-stage-now-amanda-janoo-is-rallying-opposition/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Emergency medicine responders meet with Becca Balint to talk rural health bottlenecks]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., speaks during a discussion the challenges faced by first responders at Milton Rescue in Milton on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMILTON — U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., wanted to see how heavy a stretcher is. She got some help lifting it out of the back of one of Milton’s retired ambulances as part of her Wednesday visit with the Chittenden County town’s emergency medicine providers.The ambulance was old and without the now-stand]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/emergency-medicine-responders-meet-with-becca-balint-to-talk-rural-health-bottlenecks/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 01:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/emergency-medicine-responders-meet-with-becca-balint-to-talk-rural-health-bottlenecks/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Another approval, another appeal in long-running fight over private airstrip in Lincoln]]></title><description><![CDATA[A 900-foot airstrip at the home of BETA founder Kyle Clark in Lincoln seen on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerLINCOLN — A controversial private airstrip got the stamp of approval from the Vermont Transportation Board this month in what could have been one of the final steps in a years-long process.But two Lincoln residents are pushing back — as they have for years. Residents Marilyn Ganahl and Sarah Laird filed an appeal Monday to the Vermont Supreme Court, asking]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/another-approval-another-appeal-in-long-running-fight-over-private-airstrip-in-lincoln/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/another-approval-another-appeal-in-long-running-fight-over-private-airstrip-in-lincoln/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Budget cuts are hurting patients]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor, We are practicing clinicians, trainees and recently retired doctors who serve on the Vermont Medical Society’s board and are deeply concerned about healthcare affordability and access in the state. Despite sharing these goals with state regulators and lawmakers, we believe many current strategies unwittingly threaten the very access they seek to improve. As hospitals are required to quickly and dramatically reduce costs without increasing income, they have limited tools to bala]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/budget-cuts-are-hurting-patients/</link><pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/budget-cuts-are-hurting-patients/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Essex failed to warn voters about a tax vote. Now the November result might not count.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Poll workers await the next voters at the Essex Town polls on Town Meeting Day in March 2023. File photo by Auditi Guha/VTDiggerEssex residents will vote on whether to add new local taxes this November — but the matter is far from settled. A yes vote in a few days would need another sign-off by voters in March, due to a missed deadline for alerting the town. A no vote, on the other hand, means the measure fails.“In this case, ignorance is not bliss,” Bruce Post, a former Essex selectboa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/essex-failed-to-warn-voters-about-a-tax-vote-now-the-november-result-might-not-count/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/essex-failed-to-warn-voters-about-a-tax-vote-now-the-november-result-might-not-count/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Children who witness domestic violence are victims too]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Meghan Masterson, executive director of KidSafe Collaborative, and Lauren Porell, director of program services for Steps to End Domestic Violence, who are writing on behalf of the Chittenden County Children Exposed to Domestic Violence Committee.Domestic and intimate partner violence doesn’t just affect the adults directly involved, as became tragically evident recently when a Burlington man was accused of killing his wife with a flashlight in front of three children. Na]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/children-who-witness-domestic-violence-are-victims-too/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/children-who-witness-domestic-violence-are-victims-too/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State panel sanctions ex-Rutland officer for violations of anti-bias policing and other policies]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Rutland City Police Department seen on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Criminal Justice Council disciplined a second officer who worked for the Rutland&nbsp; Police Department for violating the Vermont Fair and Impartial Policing Policy.The council, which oversees police officer conduct in the state, voted Tuesday to issue a written warning to Nicholas Fontana for improperly seeking identification of people in a vehicle at a traffic stop and turning]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-panel-sanctions-ex-rutland-officer-for-violations-of-anti-bias-policing-and-other-policies/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-panel-sanctions-ex-rutland-officer-for-violations-of-anti-bias-policing-and-other-policies/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: ‘We can’t solve our problems with the same thinking that created them.’ Amanda Janoo would ‘lead a different way.’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Candidate for governor Amanda Janoo speaks during a Democratic Party unity rally in Burlington on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. 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 and subscribe for free on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Spotify, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Who is Amanda Janoo? And how is this political novice polling closely with Vermont Gov. Phil Scot]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-we-cant-solve-our-problems-with-the-same-thinking-that-created-them-amanda-janoo-would-lead-a-different-way/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-we-cant-solve-our-problems-with-the-same-thinking-that-created-them-amanda-janoo-would-lead-a-different-way/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Picture future you: How young teens can explore their potential at VSAC’s career and STEM fairs ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Think back to middle school. Maybe you hadn&rsquo;t thought much about life beyond high school, or maybe you hadn&rsquo;t spent much time outside of your community or home state. What if someone encouraged you to think bigger and more broadly about your possibilities? What if you could find a way to reach out of your comfort zone and into your curiosities?&nbsp;That&rsquo;s the experience LaKysha Patnode had when she was a student, and exactly what she&rsquo;s hoping to pay forward for other Ve]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/picture-future-you-how-young-teens-can-explore-their-potential-at-vsacs-career-and-stem-fairs/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/picture-future-you-how-young-teens-can-explore-their-potential-at-vsacs-career-and-stem-fairs/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Advocates for homeless Vermonters say new rules put ‘process over people’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Motel 6 in Colchester on Oct. 20, 2026. Carly Berlin/Vermont PublicCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.&nbsp;At a series of heated meetings, advocates for unhoused Vermonters called on Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s administration to reverse course on its implementation of a sweeping homelessness law passed earlier this year.The architects of the legislation and others have argued that the Department for Children and Families&rsquo; new rules]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/advocates-for-homeless-vermonters-say-new-rules-put-process-over-people/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/advocates-for-homeless-vermonters-say-new-rules-put-process-over-people/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beta seeks approval for master build plan]]></title><description><![CDATA[The floor of Beta Technologies&rsquo; production facility in South Burlington. Photo courtesy of Katherine Levasseur/Beta TechnologiesThis story by Briana Brady was first published in The Other Paper on Oct. 15, 2026.Beta Technologies&rsquo; master plan is heading toward approval from South Burlington&rsquo;s Development Review Board.For the next 10 years, the plan aims to provide a flexible framework for how the company will build out over 100 acres off Williston Road. In its plans for growth,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-seeks-approval-for-master-build-plan/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 01:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-seeks-approval-for-master-build-plan/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Layoffs announced at Vermont Information Processing in Colchester]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Information Processing in Colchester seen in August 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Vermont Information Processing, a beverage industry software firm based in Colchester, announced layoffs to employees Tuesday.&nbsp;The cuts come less than two years after the previously employee-owned company was acquired by private equity firm Warburg Pincus for roughly $1 billion. Last month, Vermont Informatio]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/layoffs-announced-at-vermont-information-processing-in-colchester/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/layoffs-announced-at-vermont-information-processing-in-colchester/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Attorneys seek spring trial for man facing murder charge in Rutland deadly police chase]]></title><description><![CDATA[Supporters of Rutland City police officer Jessica Ebbighausen attend a hearing for Tate Rheaume in Rutland County Superior criminal court in April 2024. Rheaume is charged in the crash that killed Ebbighausen in 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe driver accused of crashing his pickup truck and killing a Rutland police officer during a motor-vehicle pursuit more than three years ago is expected to stand trial next spring with the case to be heard in Rutland County.Attorney David Sleig]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/attorneys-seek-spring-trial-for-man-facing-murder-charge-in-rutland-deadly-police-chase/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/attorneys-seek-spring-trial-for-man-facing-murder-charge-in-rutland-deadly-police-chase/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brattleboro shelter resident pleads guilty in 2023 killing]]></title><description><![CDATA[Zaaina Mahvish-Jammeh, 42, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder during a hearing at Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Mahvish-Jammeh admitted to killing Leah Rosin-Pritchard, a shelter coordinator with Groundworks Collaborative, on April 3, 2023. Photo by Kristopher Radder/Brattleboro ReformerThis story by Chris Mays was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Oct. 20, 2026.BRATTLEBORO &mdash; The shelter resident accused of killing shelter coordinat]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-shelter-resident-pleads-guilty-in-2023-killing/</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-shelter-resident-pleads-guilty-in-2023-killing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[What do foul-mouthed candidates think they’re gaining?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,What the heck do the few people running for office who use bad language in public think they gain? I know two things they don&rsquo;t gain: the admiration of Vermont&rsquo;s older voters who see that language as shocking or, at the very least, in bad taste. And they don&rsquo;t gain the admiration of younger voters because even though, unfortunately, they are used to hearing bad language, they don&rsquo;t say, &ldquo;Wow, I&rsquo;d like that person a lot more if they used the F-word]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-do-foul-mouthed-candidates-think-theyre-gaining/</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-do-foul-mouthed-candidates-think-theyre-gaining/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont experts say bats need our help. How do we get over our fear of them?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Fish &amp; Wildlife Department staff and TNC partners conduct an annual hibernaculum bat count for a partner university&rsquo;s white-nose research in 2024. Photo courtesy of Vermont Fish &amp; Wildlife Dept.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s some bats in the freezer over there.&rdquo;That&rsquo;s what Alyssa Bennett remembers her boss saying to her when she was starting her job as a small-mammal biologist at the Vermont Fish &amp; Wildlife Department 15 years ago.Bats are elusive creatures, so whene]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-experts-say-bats-need-our-help-how-do-we-get-over-our-fear-of-them/</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-experts-say-bats-need-our-help-how-do-we-get-over-our-fear-of-them/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont taxpayers can’t compare school budgets. The state could fix that.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Matt Rkiouak, founder of Hunger Mountain Intelligence, a growth and automation consultancy for small and mid-sized businesses.Every March, Vermonters vote on school budgets they cannot compare with the district next door. Each district lays out its budget differently. What one district calls &ldquo;special education shared services&rdquo; is three separate lines in the next. When a budget goes up, the explanation is a list of pressures: health insurance, special education,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-taxpayers-cant-compare-school-budgets-the-state-could-fix-that/</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-taxpayers-cant-compare-school-budgets-the-state-could-fix-that/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lewis M. Holmes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 04/16/1938Troy, New YorkDied: 10/17/2026South BurlingtonDetails of service:Lewis Meredith Holmes lived an engaged life as both a scientist and a humanist, with respect for the mind, the earth and the many people with whom he shared his life. He worked professionally in research, editing and teaching in Europe and the United States.Lewis was born on April 16, 1938, in Troy, New York to Lynn C. and Caroline Kosegarten Holmes and grew up in Fairport, a suburb of Rochester, with older brother]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lewis-m-holmes/</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 01:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lewis-m-holmes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Local businessman donates $4 million to financially ailing Brattleboro Memorial Hospital]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Brattleboro Memorial Hospital campus on Belmont Avenue. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerBrattleboro Memorial Hospital, seeking to recover from a multimillion-dollar budget deficit, announced Monday that a local businessman has offered a $4 million infusion.Willy Buhlmann, who emigrated from Switzerland in 1970 to found and recently sell his Swiss Precision Turning machine shop, is donating the money to the southeastern Vermont healthcare hub&rsquo;s depleted investment account, the ho]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/local-businessman-donates-4-million-to-financially-ailing-brattleboro-memorial-hospital/</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/local-businessman-donates-4-million-to-financially-ailing-brattleboro-memorial-hospital/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Clement “Ted” Meunier]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 04/06/1937Burlington, VTDied: 10/12/2026Richford, VTDetails of service:A service to honor Ted&rsquo;s remarkable life will be held on October 25, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. at the Fairfax United Church in Fairfax, Vermont. Following, there will be a military remembrance held at the Underhill Rod and Gun Club, refreshments provided, starting at 3 p.m.Clement &ldquo;Ted&rdquo; Meunier,&nbsp;beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2026, with h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/clement-ted-meunier/</link><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/clement-ted-meunier/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[ICE looks to boost staffing at intelligence hubs in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Graffiti was visible on the outside of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security building in Williston in Oct. 2025. File photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDiggerU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could hire more workers at its offices in Vermont as part of a $100 million plan to boost intelligence-gathering for the branch of the agency that carries out arrests and deportations, federal records show.&nbsp;The plan, which is not final, calls for 24 positions evenly split between ICE&rsquo;s Law Enfor]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-looks-to-boost-staffing-at-intelligence-hubs-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 23:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-looks-to-boost-staffing-at-intelligence-hubs-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Portion of I-91 in northern Vermont named for border agent killed in line of duty]]></title><description><![CDATA[FILE &ndash; In this undated and unknown location photo released by the Department of Homeland Security shows Border Patrol Agent David Maland posing with a service dog. (Department of Homeland Security via AP, File)A state panel has approved a measure to name a northern portion of Interstate 91 in honor of David Maland, a U.S. Border Patrol agent who authorities say was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop on that roadway more than a year ago.The Vermont Transportation Board issued]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/portion-of-i-91-in-northern-vermont-named-for-border-agent-killed-in-line-of-duty/</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 23:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/portion-of-i-91-in-northern-vermont-named-for-border-agent-killed-in-line-of-duty/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Windsor, no longer a prison town, still maintains a connection to people who die in state custody]]></title><description><![CDATA[Two flat granite stones engraved with the names of men who died while incarcerated at Southern State Correctional Facility are set in the grass at the end of a row of white crosses. Photo by Noel Clark/VTDiggerWINDSOR &mdash; Tucked behind a Windsor neighborhood and marked only by a small green-and-white sign sits a nearly 60-acre expanse of the state&rsquo;s incarceration history going back 150 years.In the shadow of a forested band of pines at the back of Ascutney Cemetery stand four rows of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/windsor-no-longer-a-prison-town-still-maintains-a-connection-to-people-who-die-in-state-custody/</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/windsor-no-longer-a-prison-town-still-maintains-a-connection-to-people-who-die-in-state-custody/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[PHOTOS: First snowflakes fly around Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[This year, VTDigger is teaming up with Henry&rsquo;s Weather Channel to help answer the annual question of when and where peak foliage will make its appearance across the state.Each week, we&rsquo;ll bring you an updated look at how foliage is unfolding statewide, paired with a weekend forecast, so you can plan your drive, hike or porch-sitting accordingly. Henry brings meteorological experience and on-the-ground reporting with photos and videos from across the region.<br />
STOWE &mdash;&nbsp;First s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-first-snowflakes-fly-around-vermont/</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-first-snowflakes-fly-around-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fewer Vermont retailers are accepting food assistance benefits. Here’s why.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Johanna Doren, the direct markets and local food access director at the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont.&nbsp;In 2025, 619 Vermont food retailers accepted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from customers. By August 2026, just 574 were authorized to do so. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that the number of Vermont retailers that can accept SNAP declined during this period at more than double the rate of the previous five]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fewer-vermont-retailers-are-accepting-food-assistance-benefits-heres-why/</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fewer-vermont-retailers-are-accepting-food-assistance-benefits-heres-why/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rural Vermont needs the young to choose this place]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Neil Ryan, a third-generation Vermont farmer and consultant helping brands and nonprofits in Corinth.Vermont is bleeding its young. A University of New Hampshire poll in July found that almost two-thirds of Vermonters ages 18 to 34 plan to leave this state. In September, Vermont Public asked Vermonters what they&rsquo;d tell an 18-year-old about building a life here. About half said the young should move away.This is a tragedy. And it is a disgrace. Our state government sh]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rural-vermont-needs-the-young-to-choose-this-place/</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 20:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rural-vermont-needs-the-young-to-choose-this-place/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[What can we do? An answer from Vermont’s premiere theater.]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Leslie Swackhamer, Executive Director, Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, and Jay Wahl, Executive Director, the FlynnWe began with an impossibly large question: What is the current state of democracy in America?But underneath it was a smaller and much more personal one: What can we do? What should we do?What can a couple of Vermonters who run a performing arts organization and a playwriting prize do? Some days, hiding under the bed seems like a reasonable option. The world feels frightening. The 2]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-can-we-do-an-answer-from-vermonts-premiere-theater/</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 18:35:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-can-we-do-an-answer-from-vermonts-premiere-theater/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Then Again: Hoff overcame opponent and power of incumbency to make history]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Times Argus newspaper of Nov. 7, 1962 announces Phil Hoff&rsquo;s stunning victory. Via Newspapers.comHistory is not destiny. That said, historically speaking, if you want to get elected governor of Vermont, it helps to already be governor of Vermont. Incumbency has historically offered a tremendous electoral advantage. In fact, it has been 64 years since an incumbent governor has lost an election. That&rsquo;s 23 times in a row that an incumbent governor has stood for re-election and won.&]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-hoff-overcame-opponent-and-power-of-incumbency-to-make-history/</link><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 16:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-hoff-overcame-opponent-and-power-of-incumbency-to-make-history/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont colleges should recruit closer to home]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,If Vermont schools hadn&rsquo;t overlooked the current pool of stateside kids looking for a quality Vermont college, enrollment at those places wouldn&rsquo;t have collapsed as it has. Until college administrators get smart, they&rsquo;ll have a parade of international students using Vermont as an entryway to America and not for higher learning.&nbsp;<br />
READ MORE<br />
Why weren&rsquo;t students from northern New England, where I lived for 42 years, and other stateside locations tapped for]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-colleges-should-recruit-closer-to-home/</link><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 14:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-colleges-should-recruit-closer-to-home/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After upsets in 2024, parties focus on key races for balance of power in Vermont Senate]]></title><description><![CDATA[Democratic incumbent Sen. Ruth Hardy, left, speaks during an Addison County Senate candidates forum in Addison on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Seated next to her are Republican challenger Andrew Klein, Republican incumbent Sen. Steve Heffernan, and Democratic challenger Hannah Sessions. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.On election night in November 2024, a red wave crashed over the Vermont Senate.&nbsp;In a singl]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-upsets-in-2024-parties-focus-on-key-races-for-balance-of-power-in-vermont-senate/</link><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 14:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-upsets-in-2024-parties-focus-on-key-races-for-balance-of-power-in-vermont-senate/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Hollywood, VT’ project spotlights the Green Mountain State’s movie history]]></title><description><![CDATA[A movie crew films Alfred Hitchcock&rsquo;s comic mystery &ldquo;The Trouble with Harry&rdquo; in the Northeast Kingdom town of Craftsbury in the fall of 1954. Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures/Vermont Life magazine<br />
Alia Quart Khan can pitch her &ldquo;Hollywood, VT&rdquo; project in 25 words: Los Angeles film publicist moves to small-town Vermont during the Covid-19 pandemic, only to strike upon, study and share the state&rsquo;s movie history.Ask the 45-year-old for more specifics &mdash; tak]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hollywood-vt-project-spotlights-the-green-mountain-states-movie-history/</link><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 13:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hollywood-vt-project-spotlights-the-green-mountain-states-movie-history/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[To tax or not to tax: Two towns consider a local option tax this November]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hinesburg Town Hall seen in November 2021. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerStowe&rsquo;s highway foreman was driving this summer when he came upon an unpleasant sight: a hole in the deck of the Weeks Hill Road bridge.Many Vermont towns would need to wait a long time to access state funding for bridge repairs, Will Fricke, Stowe&rsquo;s assistant city manager, said.But Stowe had a revenue source tucked away.&ldquo;Because of local option taxes, we were lucky enough to, you know, have those c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/to-tax-or-not-to-tax-two-towns-consider-a-local-option-tax-this-november/</link><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 12:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/to-tax-or-not-to-tax-two-towns-consider-a-local-option-tax-this-november/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Coffee for the community]]></title><description><![CDATA[Debbie Scherrer greets visitors to Saturday&rsquo;s pop-up caf&eacute; on the porch of Rochester&rsquo;s Kimball building. Photo by Tim Calabro/White River Valley HeraldThis story by Tim Calabro was first published in the White River Valley Herald on Oct. 8, 2026.When the Rochester Caf&eacute; closed early this summer, residents worried about losing more than a place to get breakfast. The caf&eacute; had been a gathering spot in the village center, and its closure came just before hundreds of v]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/coffee-for-the-community/</link><pubDate>Sat, 17 Oct 2026 14:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/coffee-for-the-community/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pro-Phil Scott super PAC launches ad buy, another signal Vermont governor’s race could be close]]></title><description><![CDATA[Democratic nominee for governor Amanda Janoo, left, and Republican Gov. Phil Scott. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWith Election Day around the corner, big bucks are rolling into Vermont from a pro-Phil Scott super PAC tied to the Republican Governors Association. His challenger, Amanda Janoo, hasn&rsquo;t received the same support from the analogous Democratic organization &mdash; and says she doesn&rsquo;t want it &mdash; though her campaign has raised more money than Scott&rsquo;s, the late]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pro-phil-scott-super-pac-launches-ad-buy-another-signal-vermont-governors-race-could-be-close/</link><pubDate>Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pro-phil-scott-super-pac-launches-ad-buy-another-signal-vermont-governors-race-could-be-close/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Addison County lands $3 million grant to fight addiction]]></title><description><![CDATA[These officials represent organizations that will deploy the $3 million grant, recently won by United Way of Addison County, to boost services for people struggling with substance use disorder. Pictured from left are Chelsea Delisle of the Charter House Coalition, Jubilee McGill and Danielle Wallace of the Peer Revery Center; United Way&rsquo;s Celia Heath, Heidi Melbostad of Mountain Community Health, Helena Van Voorst of United Way, and Taylor Morley of the Counseling Service of Addison Count]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/addison-county-lands-3-million-grant-to-fight-addiction/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2026 22:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/addison-county-lands-3-million-grant-to-fight-addiction/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In his third congressional race, Republican Gerald Malloy is looking for middle ground]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gerald Malloy, Republican candidate for Vermont&rsquo;s U.S. House of Representatives seat. Photo by Emma White/VTDiggerIt&rsquo;s been six years and two big losses since &ldquo;Deploy Malloy&rdquo; first entered Vermonters&rsquo; vocabulary &mdash; but this time he&rsquo;s taking a different tack.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The slogan belongs to Gerald Malloy, a U.S. army veteran, former defense contractor at Lockheed Martin, Bowhead and Raytheon, and perennial congressional candidate in the Green]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-his-third-congressional-race-republican-gerald-malloy-is-looking-for-middle-ground/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2026 22:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-his-third-congressional-race-republican-gerald-malloy-is-looking-for-middle-ground/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A free press under pressure: New York Times’ Eric Lipton speaks in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Eric Lipton, a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner and investigative reporter for The New York Times, talks to an audience at the Delta Hotel in South Burlington on 9 October 2026. Photo by Daria Bishop for Vermont Digger.Eric Lipton, an investigative journalist for the New York Times, spoke Friday, Oct. 9, at Delta Hotels in South Burlington about his reporting on profiteering within the Trump administration. More than 180 people attended the sold out event, hosted by VTDigger and Seven Days.Lipto]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-free-press-under-pressure-new-york-times-eric-lipton-speaks-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2026 21:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-free-press-under-pressure-new-york-times-eric-lipton-speaks-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Popular Brousseau Mountain trail in Essex County conserved for peregrine falcons and future generations]]></title><description><![CDATA[The view looking southeast from Brousseau Mountain in Norton on September 4, 2021. Photo by K. Fiegenbaum/VTDiggerA remote, scenic hike in the border town of Norton has been permanently preserved for public access.Ann Sage, who grew up in the tiny Essex County town, and her husband, Victor Peters, sold a 21-acre parcel to the town of Norton this summer, Vermont Land Trust announced earlier this month. The town conserved the parcel, which hosts a quarter mile of the popular Brousseau Mountain Tr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/popular-brousseau-mountain-trail-in-essex-county-conserved-for-peregrine-falcons-and-future-generations/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2026 21:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/popular-brousseau-mountain-trail-in-essex-county-conserved-for-peregrine-falcons-and-future-generations/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rural Vermont is losing its say over its own land]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Loralee Tester, executive director of the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce.In 1989, the Galick family sold its farm in West Haven to The Nature Conservancy. The family believed this well-established organization would protect the generations of labor they had given to the land they loved.The conservancy now plans to demolish it. The farmhouse, cow barn, creamery, sheep barn and machine shop are all slated to be torn down, even though some of the buildings date back to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rural-vermont-is-losing-its-say-over-its-own-land/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2026 21:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rural-vermont-is-losing-its-say-over-its-own-land/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermonters relieved and conflicted after Trump backs off execution livestream]]></title><description><![CDATA[An armed guard walks around the fortified Lawrence William Judicial Center as the sentencing phase for Maj. Nidal Hasan continues, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013, in Fort Hood, Texas. Hasan was convicted of killing 13 of his unarmed comrades in the deadliest attack ever on a U.S. military base. Photo by Eric Gay/APNancy Welch was driving to the barn to see her horses when news of a planned livestreamed execution came over her car stereo. The barn is where she normally goes for an escape. This time, she]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-relieved-and-conflicted-after-trump-backs-off-execution-livestream/</link><pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-relieved-and-conflicted-after-trump-backs-off-execution-livestream/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Barre wins flood recovery funds for long-awaited North End housing]]></title><description><![CDATA[The playground at Wobby Park in Barre City&rsquo;s North End will be redeveloped into 17 townhomes. Photo by David Littlefield / Vermont Public<br />
Carly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.A few months after flooding devastated Barre City in 2023, Gov. Phil Scott unveiled a bold vision for redeveloping his hometown. Buildings near the river in the city&rsquo;s hard-hit North End neighborhood would be demolished and converted back to a floodplai]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/barre-wins-flood-recovery-funds-for-long-awaited-north-end-housing/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2026 23:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/barre-wins-flood-recovery-funds-for-long-awaited-north-end-housing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Expenses for EB-5 mop-up total $14 million as judge OKs $1 million more in fees]]></title><description><![CDATA[Michael Goldberg, the court-appointed receiver in the EB-5 fraud case, speaks at a Statehouse news conference in 2017. File photo by Michael Dougherty/VTDiggerMore than $14 million in legal and financial expenses have been rung up over 10 years since the largest investor fraud scandal in Vermont&rsquo;s history, according to an Oct. 9 court filing by the receiver overseeing properties in the Northeast Kingdom that were engulfed in the scheme.Michael Goldberg, the court-appointed receiver, submi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/expenses-for-eb-5-mop-up-total-14-million-as-judge-oks-1-million-more-in-fees-2/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2026 22:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/expenses-for-eb-5-mop-up-total-14-million-as-judge-oks-1-million-more-in-fees-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Expenses for EB-5 mop up total $14 million as judge OKs $1 million more in fees]]></title><description><![CDATA[Michael Goldberg, the court-appointed receiver in the EB-5 fraud case, speaks at a Statehouse news conference in 2017. File photo by Michael Dougherty/VTDiggerMore than $14 million in legal and financial expenses have been rung up over 10 years since the largest investor fraud scandal in Vermont&rsquo;s history, according to an Oct. 9 court filing by the receiver overseeing properties in the Northeast Kingdom that were engulfed in the scheme.Michael Goldberg, the court-appointed receiver, submi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/expenses-for-eb-5-mop-up-total-14-million-as-judge-oks-1-million-more-in-fees/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2026 22:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/expenses-for-eb-5-mop-up-total-14-million-as-judge-oks-1-million-more-in-fees/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Don’t pour more money into a broken healthcare system]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Every attempt at public involvement in healthcare in Vermont in the last 25 years has not only failed, but left Vermont with some of the highest-cost healthcare and insurance in the world &mdash; though not the best outcomes.The public explanations for this situation appear to be tired bull: We are older and sicker and get less money from the government. Until we can publicly explain this train wreck and get some accountability, I would be extraordinarily reluctant to shovel more mo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-pour-more-money-into-a-broken-healthcare-system/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2026 22:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-pour-more-money-into-a-broken-healthcare-system/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After a stormy week, cold arrives and much of Vermont passes peak foliage]]></title><description><![CDATA[Fallen leaves cover a picnic table in Jericho Center on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. . Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger<br />
This year, VTDigger is teaming up with Henry&rsquo;s Weather Channel to help answer the annual question of when and where peak foliage will make its appearance across the state.Each week, we&rsquo;ll bring you an updated look at how foliage is unfolding statewide, paired with a weekend forecast, so you can plan your drive, hike or porch-sitting accordingly. Henry brings meteoro]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-a-stormy-week-cold-arrives-and-much-of-vermont-passes-peak-foliage/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2026 22:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-a-stormy-week-cold-arrives-and-much-of-vermont-passes-peak-foliage/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s land laws should incentivize people who heal the land]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Ben Falk, a land planner and the founder of Whole Systems Design. He lives in Moretown.&ldquo;A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community,&rdquo; the conservationist Aldo Leopold wrote in &ldquo;A Sand County Almanac,&rdquo; his classic account of restoring a worn-out Wisconsin farm.&nbsp;For 25 years, I&rsquo;ve tried to put Leopold&rsquo;s &ldquo;land ethic&rdquo; into practice at my beat-up, abandoned sheep pas]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-land-laws-should-incentivize-people-who-heal-the-land/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2026 21:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-land-laws-should-incentivize-people-who-heal-the-land/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[English programs face rising anxiety amid fears of immigration enforcement]]></title><description><![CDATA[Helene Rassias-Miles, Executive Director of the Rassias Center for World Languages and Cultures, leads a training session with her team while refining future lesson plans in Hanover, Nh., on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. Photo by Sophia Sahni/Valley NewsThis story by Sophia Sahni first appeared in the Valley News on Oct. 12, 2026.Across the Upper Valley, a network of free English language learning programs serves immigrants at every level.In Hanover, New Hampshire, the Supporting Refugees Club, crea]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/english-programs-face-rising-anxiety-amid-fears-of-immigration-enforcement/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2026 20:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/english-programs-face-rising-anxiety-amid-fears-of-immigration-enforcement/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Robert A. Burley, FAIA]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 12/11/1927Buffalo, New YorkDied: 09/23/2026Shelburne, VermontDetails of service:There will be a memorial event to honor Bob&rsquo;s life at the Mad River Glen Basebox on Saturday, October 24, at 2:00 p.m. All are welcome. Please bring memories and stories to share.Bob Burley read The New York Times nearly every day of his adult life, and would have appreciated us starting in Times style:Robert A. &ldquo;Bob&rdquo; Burley, a longtime resident of Waitsfield, who started his brilliant 60-yea]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/robert-a-burley-faia/</link><pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/robert-a-burley-faia/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Stealing Elections, American Style: Voting rights attorney David Walbert on how the 2026 election could be hijacked — and saved]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Author David Walbert and his latest book, &ldquo;Stealing Elections, American Style.&rdquo; Courtesy photoElection deniers, egged on by President Donald Trump, are now running elections in numerous locales across the country. The playbook for stealing el]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-stealing-elections-american-style-voting-rights-attorney-david-walbert-on-how-the-2026-election-could-be-hijacked-and-saved/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 23:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-stealing-elections-american-style-voting-rights-attorney-david-walbert-on-how-the-2026-election-could-be-hijacked-and-saved/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Feds issue warning on grant funds after Vermont identifies own mistakes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Education Secretary Zoie Saunders, left, and Tammy Kolbe, acting State Board of Education chair. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont spent nearly eight years incorrectly choosing schools that needed state resources to address widening achievement gaps, according to Zoie Saunders, Vermont&rsquo;s secretary of education. The state caught the error itself this spring and reported the mistake to the federal government within hours &mdash; then heard nothing for months.Then, in September, offici]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/feds-issue-warning-on-grant-funds-after-vermont-identifies-own-mistakes/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 23:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/feds-issue-warning-on-grant-funds-after-vermont-identifies-own-mistakes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Fuck the Flock cameras’: On big tech, Vermont’s candidates for governor differ on style and substance]]></title><description><![CDATA[A license plate reader camera on VT Route 7A in Manchester seen on Thursday, June 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&ldquo;Fuck the Flock cameras, dude. Let&rsquo;s ban &lsquo;em.&rdquo;Amanda Janoo, the Democratic nominee for governor of Vermont in this fall&rsquo;s election, left no room for doubt about her feelings on the controversial license plate readers used by police in Vermont and around the country in a social media video last week.&nbsp;In the same post, Janoo also said Vermon]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fuck-the-flock-cameras-on-big-tech-vermonts-candidates-for-governor-differ-on-style-and-substance/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 22:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fuck-the-flock-cameras-on-big-tech-vermonts-candidates-for-governor-differ-on-style-and-substance/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turn Trump’s $90 payment into a campaign check]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Several acquaintances have told me they recently received $90 deposits in their checking accounts. They determined the money was sent under the authority of the president.&nbsp;Whether this was or is an attempt by President Donald Trump to buy people&rsquo;s votes in the Nov. 3 election is something I don&rsquo;t know. I do know I think it is a good idea that these acquaintances said they were donating their $90 to candidates of their choice.I will check with my bank this week to se]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/turn-trumps-90-payment-into-a-campaign-check/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 22:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/turn-trumps-90-payment-into-a-campaign-check/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Engaged young voters across Vermont aim to get their peers to the polls]]></title><description><![CDATA[Voting stickers are pictured from a previous Vermont election. File photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerIan Goldfeld said he has seen an uptick in attendance for the University of Vermont&rsquo;s Political Science Club lately.&nbsp;Goldfeld, a junior who serves as the club&rsquo;s president, said that the nonpartisan organization&rsquo;s attendance fell after the 2024 presidential election, but that buzz surrounding November&rsquo;s general election has students eager to learn about candidate]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/engaged-young-voters-across-vermont-aim-to-get-their-peers-to-the-polls/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 21:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/engaged-young-voters-across-vermont-aim-to-get-their-peers-to-the-polls/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cheaper tuition alone won’t get first-generation students to college]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by David Stahler Jr., a writing and literature teacher at Lyndon Institute.Vermont is making college more affordable, and that is good news. But a lower tuition bill doesn&rsquo;t teach students how to apply, manage a college workload or see college as a place where they belong.For many first-generation and low-income students, the barrier is not the price. It is the distance between the life they know and the one no one has shown them how to reach. Federally funded Upward Bo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cheaper-tuition-alone-wont-get-first-generation-students-to-college/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 20:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cheaper-tuition-alone-wont-get-first-generation-students-to-college/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former Vermont Rep. Noel Neely died two days before being found, documents show]]></title><description><![CDATA[A street sign for Douglas Hill Road in Norwich near the Neely residence. Photo courtesy of Valley NewsThis story by Alex Ebrahimi was first published in the Valley News on Oct. 13, 2026.NORWICH &mdash; Former Vermont Rep. Noel Neely died two days before police found her body, according to details from search warrant applications.The investigation, Vermont State Police wrote in an affidavit establishing probable cause to search her residence and a vehicle on the property, concerned &ldquo;the su]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-vermont-rep-noel-neely-died-two-days-before-being-found-documents-show/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-vermont-rep-noel-neely-died-two-days-before-being-found-documents-show/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tuition free college or training? Yes!]]></title><description><![CDATA[As seasons change, it&rsquo;s always a good time to think about what&rsquo;s next and evaluate options. And when it comes to college, training, and career changes, there&rsquo;s truly no better time than the present to go back to school, finish a degree, or start something new.&nbsp;Education unlocks economic opportunity. The cost of education is also a huge factor&mdash;but did you know VSAC and our partners offer many opportunities to earn a degree, tuition free?These programs are available t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tuition-free-college-or-training-yes/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tuition-free-college-or-training-yes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[An ‘arms embargo’ organization could cost Vermont dearly]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,The Vermont People&rsquo;s Arms Embargo (VPAE) has listed 35 Vermont companies that support thousands of jobs across our state in what effectively amounts to a blacklist. These employers provide skilled work across a range of industries, including positions advertised at six-figure salaries. Their employees own homes, raise families and send their children to Vermont schools. Losing these employers and the jobs they support could be catastrophic for communities already struggling wi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-arms-embargo-organization-could-cost-vermont-dearly/</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-arms-embargo-organization-could-cost-vermont-dearly/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Essex parking saga comes to a close]]></title><description><![CDATA[Construction of the Essex County Courthouse in Guildhall abuts the Essex County Sheriff&rsquo;s Deprtment on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. . Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Essex County sheriff lost his bid to block a parking lot redesign he says would jeopardize public safety.Judge Joseph McLean recently dismissed Sheriff Trevor Colby&rsquo;s appeal, finding that his concerns about department operations did not establish grounds to challenge the project under local zoning bylaws.The revise]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/essex-parking-saga-comes-to-a-close/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/essex-parking-saga-comes-to-a-close/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Essex County parking saga comes to a close]]></title><description><![CDATA[Construction of the Essex County Courthouse in Guildhall abuts the Essex County Sheriff&rsquo;s Deprtment on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. . Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Essex County sheriff lost his bid to block a parking lot redesign he says would jeopardize public safety.Judge Joseph McLean recently dismissed Sheriff Trevor Colby&rsquo;s appeal, finding that his concerns about department operations did not establish grounds to challenge the project under local zoning bylaws.The revise]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/essex-county-parking-saga-comes-to-a-close/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/essex-county-parking-saga-comes-to-a-close/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM Health watchdog turns its sights to Vermont’s broader healthcare system]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mike Smith pictured at the Vermont Technical College campus in Williston in May 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe independent watchdog group tasked with assessing UVM Health&rsquo;s finances since spring 2025 used the final months of its assignment to propose a broader look at how regulators, lawmakers and insurers can address healthcare affordability beyond the state&rsquo;s largest health network.&nbsp;&ldquo;We wanted to lay out some direction for everyone to pay attention to,&rd]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-watchdog-turns-its-sights-to-vermonts-broader-healthcare-system/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-watchdog-turns-its-sights-to-vermonts-broader-healthcare-system/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington man accused of killing his wife with a flashlight denies murder charge]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bal Khadka is arraigned in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Khadka is charged with second degree murder in the death of his wife Lila. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Burlington man is accused of killing his wife by beating her with a flashlight in front of young children, according to charging documents made public Tuesday.&nbsp;Bal Khadka, 44, through his attorney, entered not guilty pleas Tuesday morning during his arraignment in Chittenden Supe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-man-accused-of-killing-his-wife-with-a-flashlight-denies-murder-charge/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-man-accused-of-killing-his-wife-with-a-flashlight-denies-murder-charge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Supreme Court closes case in Westmore residents’ fight against telecommunications tower]]></title><description><![CDATA[A photo of Lake Willoughby in Westmore shows the location proposed for a 140-foot tall telecommunications tower. Photo courtesy of Donna Dzugas-Smith.Approval for a 140-foot telecommunications tower near Lake Willoughby remains in place after the Vermont Supreme Court on Tuesday formally closed residents&rsquo; legal challenge over its impact on the scenic landscape.Tuesday&rsquo;s notice certified the case back to the Public Utility Commission following an appeal by seven Westmore residents wh]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-supreme-court-closes-case-in-westmore-residents-fight-against-telecommunications-tower/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-supreme-court-closes-case-in-westmore-residents-fight-against-telecommunications-tower/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Manufacturing leaders tackle Vermont workforce challenges]]></title><description><![CDATA[Business and community leaders gathered for the Brattleboro Development Credit Corp.&rsquo;s Brattleboro Regional Manufacturing Event in Brattleboro on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. The event highlighted the importance of manufacturing to Southern Vermont&rsquo;s economy and workforce. Photo by Kristopher Radder/Brattleboro ReformerThis story by Charlotte King was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Oct. 11, 2026.The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) brought together employ]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/manufacturing-leaders-tackle-vermont-workforce-challenges/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/manufacturing-leaders-tackle-vermont-workforce-challenges/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Newport mayor strives to revitalize city after years of struggle]]></title><description><![CDATA[Newport Mayor Rick Ufford-Chase on Monday, October 5, 2026. . Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerNEWPORT &mdash; Rick Ufford-Chase hears what people say about Newport.He sees what&rsquo;s come to be known as &ldquo;the pit,&rdquo; an empty, fenced-in block of space that was once supposed to be a hotel before developers were caught in the EB-5 scandal, the biggest instance of fraud in Vermont&rsquo;s history. He has witnessed a constant cycle of hopeful businesses shutter their doors on Main Street.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/newport-mayor-strives-to-revitalize-city-after-years-of-struggle/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 21:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/newport-mayor-strives-to-revitalize-city-after-years-of-struggle/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Behind tinted windows, ICE is watching]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Devon Thomas, an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ.On Monday, Oct. 5, I joined Vermont&rsquo;s clergy in attending a funeral service at the doors of the Williston Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. This service of remembrance was to recognize 98 people who were killed by ICE or died in its custody, according to a bulletin given out at the service, and to highlight a system of cruelty our governing administration is using against our migrant neighbor]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/behind-tinted-windows-ice-is-watching/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 21:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/behind-tinted-windows-ice-is-watching/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Evelyn Beliveau]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 04/08/1931MaineDied: 09/30/2026Jericho, VermontDetails of service:Memorial Service<br />
Sunday, November 22, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.First Congregational Church39 Main StEssex Junction, VT 05452<br />
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, 39 Main St, Essex Junction, VT 05452.Evelyn Vinton Beliveau, 95, of Jericho, Vermont, died September 30, 2026, in her home.<br />
Lyn was born in 1931. The second of four children of Bill and Cathe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/evelyn-beliveau/</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/evelyn-beliveau/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Supreme Court sides with school board on principal firing]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brattleboro Union High School. File photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerThis story by Chris Mays was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Oct. 8. 2026.BRATTLEBORO &mdash; The Vermont Supreme Court upheld the school board&rsquo;s firing of a high school principal.The court said that after an internal investigation into complaints that former BUHS principal Steve Perrin &ldquo;mistreated a female student on multiple occasions and attempted to prevent a mandatory report of child abuse,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-supreme-court-sides-with-school-board-on-principal-firing/</link><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-supreme-court-sides-with-school-board-on-principal-firing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM Medical Center unions approve contracts and avert a strike]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals President Nicole DiVita, right, and Jacob Berkowitz, president of UVMMC Support Staff United, pictured on Oct. 2. Photo by Olivia Gieger/VTDiggerThe two unions representing University of Vermont Medical Center&rsquo;s support staff and technical professionals have both voted to ratify their contracts, narrowly averting a strike. More than 2,000 of the 3,300 employees in the unions voted, representatives for the unions said, with more than 89]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-medical-center-unions-approve-contracts-and-avert-a-strike/</link><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 23:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-medical-center-unions-approve-contracts-and-avert-a-strike/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Our schools are being crushed by state mandates]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Caty Sutton, the superintendent of the Hartford School District; the Hartford School Board; the Hartford School District leadership and the Hartford Education Association leadership.It is with great disappointment, discouragement and disillusionment that we write to express our profound concerns about what transpired throughout the last legislative session. As we anticipate what will come this year, those decisions will significantly affect and shape our fate as a district]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/our-schools-are-being-crushed-by-state-mandates/</link><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 23:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/our-schools-are-being-crushed-by-state-mandates/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Let’s have a substantive debate on energy affordability]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I am looking forward to Wednesday, Oct. 21, when the two candidates for governor will debate. Affordability is bound to be the general topic. And that discussion will likely fan out in different directions, such as healthcare affordability and the cost of education.&nbsp;I am especially interested in energy affordability. I want to know what the candidates can tell us about addressing the needs of Vermonters locked into a dependency on gas and diesel for transport and fuel oil and p]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lets-have-a-substantive-debate-on-energy-affordability/</link><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 21:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lets-have-a-substantive-debate-on-energy-affordability/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A new tree pest could be catching a ride on your car]]></title><description><![CDATA[A spotted lanternfly in Brooklyn in an undated photograph. Photo by Rhododendrites&nbsp;(CC BY-SA 4.0)If you&rsquo;re not keeping an eye on smears of dried mud on your car, forest pest educators like Ginger Nickerson say now&rsquo;s a good time to pick up the habit. Nickerson and other experts warn that spotted lanternflies could be hitching a ride into Vermont, where they pose a threat to trees and other plants.&ldquo;They could lay their eggs on anything that you have outdoors, like your car,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-new-tree-pest-could-be-catching-a-ride-on-your-car/</link><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 21:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-new-tree-pest-could-be-catching-a-ride-on-your-car/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger named Distinguished News Site, earns top investigative reporting honors]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger earned Distinguished News Site honors and two top investigative journalism awards at the 2026 New England Newspaper &amp; Press Association Leadership Summit. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVTDigger was recognized as a Distinguished News Site for online publications in the region by the New England Newspaper &amp; Press Association at its 2026 Leadership Summit held in Sturbridge, Mass., on Friday.&nbsp;In addition, VTDigger reporters received two of the three top A-Mark prizes, &ldqu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-named-distinguished-news-site-earns-top-investigative-reporting-honors/</link><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-named-distinguished-news-site-earns-top-investigative-reporting-honors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Vermont degree should come with a green card]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Justin Neuman, who is a professor of literary studies at Eugene Lang College, The New School and a developer of philosophical software.&nbsp;I&rsquo;m in the export business. I teach literary studies to college students.That&rsquo;s not how professors usually describe themselves, but it should be. American colleges and universities sell one of the world&rsquo;s most desirable goods or services: an American education.Education is an unusual export because when someone buys]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-degree-should-come-with-a-green-card/</link><pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2026 17:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-degree-should-come-with-a-green-card/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Political mailer sparks Vermont disclosure complaint]]></title><description><![CDATA[Attorney General Charity Clark discusses the work of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Waterbury in December 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Ryan Pacheco was first published in the Manchester Journal on Oct. 8, 2026.BENNINGTON COUNTY &mdash; A second round of politically critical postcards have been mailed to Bennington County residents by &ldquo;Common Sense PAC&rdquo;, the Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee (IEPAC) that was resp]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/political-mailer-sparks-vermont-disclosure-complaint/</link><pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2026 15:34:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/political-mailer-sparks-vermont-disclosure-complaint/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fight trafficking by decriminalizing consensual adult sex work]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Henri Binx, a co-founder and co-director of the Ishtar Collective and a member of Safe Sex Work Vermont.Vermont has an opportunity to strengthen its response to human trafficking by reforming our state&rsquo;s archaic anti-prostitution laws.Vermont&rsquo;s prostitution laws criminalize &ldquo;sexual intercourse for hire&rdquo; and &ldquo;indiscriminate sexual intercourse without hire,&rdquo; any sex outside marriage. They contribute to the stigma around sex work and reinfo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fight-trafficking-by-decriminalizing-consensual-adult-sex-work/</link><pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2026 14:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fight-trafficking-by-decriminalizing-consensual-adult-sex-work/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Political polls historically underestimate Phil Scott. Will 2026 be different?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott leaves the House of Representatives chamber after delivering his state of the state address at the Statehouse in Montpelier in January 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIn Vermont politics, late-summer polling has a habit of making Gov. Phil Scott look vulnerable &mdash; right up until election night proves he isn&rsquo;t.Two new September surveys appear to tell different stories about this year&rsquo;s governor&rsquo;s race. One, published by the University of New Hamps]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/political-polls-historically-underestimate-phil-scott-will-2026-be-different/</link><pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2026 14:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/political-polls-historically-underestimate-phil-scott-will-2026-be-different/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[At odds over the “Aud,” Vermont Coyotes announce departure from Barre]]></title><description><![CDATA[A practice session with the Vermont Coyotes basketball team. Photo courtesy of Vermont CoyotesBARRE &mdash; A fist bump from a Vermont Frost Heaves player turned Anthony Marques into a fan who attended 102 of the team&rsquo;s consecutive games. Years later, he brought a team of his own, the Vermont Coyotes, to Barre.When he started the state&rsquo;s only minor-league basketball team in 2024, it felt natural to bring them to Barre, said Brandy Marie, the team&rsquo;s staff performance analyst.&n]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-odds-over-the-aud-vermont-coyotes-announce-departure-from-barre/</link><pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2026 13:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-odds-over-the-aud-vermont-coyotes-announce-departure-from-barre/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont high schools feel the pinch with fewer international students enrolling]]></title><description><![CDATA[St. Johnsbury Academy viewed from the north. Photo by Ascended Dreamer &ndash; CC BY 4.0.International student enrollment at some Vermont high schools is down by about half after Trump administration policy changes, including a requirement that foreign students allow vetting of their social media accounts.The decline in international students impacts the culture and bottom line at these schools, a number of them historic private academies that serve as de facto public high schools for the surro]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-high-schools-feel-the-pinch-with-fewer-international-students-enrolling/</link><pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-high-schools-feel-the-pinch-with-fewer-international-students-enrolling/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[For Vermont cell users, breaking up is easy to do]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jewett Brook Road in the Roy Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Barnet on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Liberty Darr was first published in the News &amp; Citizen on Oct. 1, 2026.It&rsquo;s a familiar reality for many people in Lamoille County: The phone call dropped. The texts won&rsquo;t send.Even in the height of this digital age, there are people without cell phone service.Most recent driving test data from the state show that large swaths of th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-vermont-cell-users-breaking-up-is-easy-to-do/</link><pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2026 14:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-vermont-cell-users-breaking-up-is-easy-to-do/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Godnicks celebrates 100 years of furnishing Rutland]]></title><description><![CDATA[Owners Brent, left, and Brian Godnick stand in the showroom of Godnicks Grand Furniture recently. Photo by Gabby Blanchard/Community News ServiceFor Community News Service, a VTSU-Castleton internship, for Rutland HeraldIn 1926, Irving Godnick opened the first furniture store of a now 100-year-old family business.&ldquo;The business was started by Godnicks and is still run by Godnicks,&rdquo; Brian Godnick said in a recent interview.In a small space upstairs in the Tuttle Block on Center Street]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/godnicks-celebrates-100-years-of-furnishing-rutland/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 23:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/godnicks-celebrates-100-years-of-furnishing-rutland/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Man taken into custody in Vermont faces murder charge in his mother’s death in Massachusetts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ryan Hanafin appears on a video conference from Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in St. Johnsbury on Friday, October 9, 2026. Screenshot by Alan J. Keays/VTDiggerA Massachusetts man wanted in connection with the death of his mother in the Bay State appeared in a Vermont court Friday after he was taken into custody a day earlier in Warren.Ryan Hanafin, 22, agreed during a brief hearing Friday afternoon in Washington County criminal court in Barre to be extradited to Massachusetts. MassLi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/man-taken-into-custody-in-vermont-faces-murder-charge-in-his-mothers-death-in-massachusetts/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 23:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/man-taken-into-custody-in-vermont-faces-murder-charge-in-his-mothers-death-in-massachusetts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[PAC money is rolling in as Vermont’s election nears]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;I Voted&rdquo; stickers await voters who cast their ballots in Cambridge in March 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWith less than a month until Vermont&rsquo;s general election, campaign cash is rolling in from political action committees and a group backing a proposal to enshrine the right to union organizing in the state Constitution.Of the roughly 70 PACs set up in Vermont ahead of the November election, the top five largest spenders have so far put a combined $233,265 into r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pac-money-is-rolling-in-as-vermonts-election-nears/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 22:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pac-money-is-rolling-in-as-vermonts-election-nears/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[School budgets run on diesel]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,For most Vermonters, the price of gas is something they notice at the pump.But for our school leaders, fuel prices are something that&rsquo;s everywhere, especially diesel. It is in the yellow buses rolling before sunrise, taking students to school and career and technical education programs and then carrying athletes to games and children home. When diesel prices rise, the money has to come from somewhere.Yes, rising fuel prices are now an education issue. Our school budgets run on]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/school-budgets-run-on-diesel/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 21:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/school-budgets-run-on-diesel/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Police identify officer and victim involved in Williston shooting]]></title><description><![CDATA[Police tape showing a blurred scene with vehicles and lights in the distance. Photo via Adobe StockVermont State Police have identified the people involved in Thursday&rsquo;s police shooting in Williston.&nbsp;Officer Ethan Favreau joined the Williston Police Department in Sept. 2019, after having previously served with the Chittenden County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office. Photo provided by Vermont State PoliceOfficer Ethan Favreau of the Williston Police Department shot and injured Michael McGovern,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/police-identify-officer-and-victim-involved-in-williston-shooting/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 19:35:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/police-identify-officer-and-victim-involved-in-williston-shooting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[John Rodgers sought to tie Molly Gray to ‘mistreatment of migrant workers.’ Here’s what records show.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration, within the Department of Labor, issued two citations to Four Corners Farm that were settled in 2025. Photo by Liam Elder-Connors / Vermont PublicCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.Republican Lt. Gov. John Rodgers launched a new line of attack against Democratic challenger Molly Gray at Vermont Public&rsquo;s debate on Tuesday, accusing the farm operated by Gray&rsquo;s family]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-rodgers-sought-to-tie-molly-gray-to-mistreatment-of-migrant-workers-heres-what-records-show-2/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-rodgers-sought-to-tie-molly-gray-to-mistreatment-of-migrant-workers-heres-what-records-show-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[John Rodgers sought to tie Molly Gray to ‘mistreatment of migrant workers.’ Here’s what records show]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration, within the Department of Labor, issued two citations to Four Corners Farm that were settled in 2025. Photo by Liam Elder-Connors / Vermont PublicCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.Republican Lt. Gov. John Rodgers launched a new line of attack against Democratic challenger Molly Gray at Vermont Public&rsquo;s debate on Tuesday, accusing the farm operated by Gray&rsquo;s family]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-rodgers-sought-to-tie-molly-gray-to-mistreatment-of-migrant-workers-heres-what-records-show/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/john-rodgers-sought-to-tie-molly-gray-to-mistreatment-of-migrant-workers-heres-what-records-show/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Michael DeForge]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 12/7/1949Montpelier, VermontDied: 10/01/2026Northfield, VermontDetails of service:There will be no public services for Michael. He will be interred at the Graves Cemetery in Duxbury next to his mother and father.Michael Charles DeForge, 76, of Morrisville passed away on October 1, 2026 at Mayo nursing home with his daughter Jasmine, his best friend Pete Jones, and his son-in-law Jonathan by his side.He was born to Marjorie (Bailey) DeForge and Robert DeForge in Montpelier, and was the eld]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michael-deforge/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michael-deforge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont general election ballots mailed later than expected]]></title><description><![CDATA[Official ballots sent out by mail to voters for the 2026 general election in Vermont. Photo by Noel Clark/VTDiggerSome Vermonters can expect their general election ballots a week late this year due to manufacturing problems, according to Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve never had a scenario like this,&rdquo; she said.Election ballots were mailed to all registered Vermont voters on Wednesday, a week after the deadline mandated by Vermont&rsquo;s universal mail-in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-general-election-ballots-mailed-later-than-expected/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-general-election-ballots-mailed-later-than-expected/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Police face barrage of questions but provide few answers about shooting by Williston officer]]></title><description><![CDATA[Photo via Adobe StockWILLISTON &mdash; Questions linger after authorities say a Williston police officer shot and injured a man early Thursday. A press conference by police Thursday afternoon revealed little about what led the officer to shoot the man.&nbsp;Police say the matter remains under investigation.&nbsp;The man was treated at the University of Vermont Medical Center for a gunshot wound to his hip, Maj. Ashley Barnes, commander of the state police criminal division, told reporters at th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/police-face-barrage-of-questions-but-provide-few-answers-about-shooting-by-williston-officer/</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/police-face-barrage-of-questions-but-provide-few-answers-about-shooting-by-williston-officer/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A decade of remembering: Good grows from grief]]></title><description><![CDATA[Top from left: Janie Chase Cozzi, Eli Brookens; bottom from left: Cyrus Zschau, Mary Harris, Liam Hale.<br />
This story by Lee Kahrs was first published in the Waterbury Roundabout on Oct. 7, 2026.You can see them at night, white stars shining on the side of barns, bridges, businesses and homes in the Mad River Valley all the way to Waterbury. Not just during the holidays, but all year round, lit up in remembrance of five lives cut short.On Oct. 8, five families, multiple schools, communities spanni]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-decade-of-remembering-good-grows-from-grief/</link><pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 23:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-decade-of-remembering-good-grows-from-grief/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Universal primary care is at the center of the race for governor. How would it work?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hospital staff tend to a patient on a gurney. Photo via Adobe StockProposals for universal primary care have become a central platform point in the race for Vermont&rsquo;s top state office.&nbsp;The Democratic candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, Amanda Janoo and Molly Gray, tout free publicly funded primary care as their chief healthcare policy proposal leading into the Nov. 3 general election.&nbsp;Proponents of the policy say it can reduce costs by keeping people healthier in th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/universal-primary-care-is-at-the-center-of-the-race-for-governor-how-would-it-work/</link><pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 23:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/universal-primary-care-is-at-the-center-of-the-race-for-governor-how-would-it-work/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont school districts scramble to cover the increased cost of diesel]]></title><description><![CDATA[School buses line up to drop off students at the Allen Brook School in Williston in September 2020. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWith diesel prices hitting record highs, Vermont school districts are taking on unexpected costs to bus students to school. The spike is forcing districts to consider cutting other spending or tapping their reserves.Champlain Valley School District expects to spend $200,000 over its budget on diesel fuel if prices remain at current levels, according to Meghan M]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-school-districts-scramble-to-cover-the-increased-cost-of-diesel/</link><pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 23:20:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-school-districts-scramble-to-cover-the-increased-cost-of-diesel/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A salute to the Northeast Kingdom’s sharpest wit]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,As I sit here on the south shore of Lake Memphremagog in Newport on this gorgeous autumn day, gazing east into rural Vermont farmland, north into rural Quebec and west into rural Vermont, and having researched Jay Stroud, the headmaster extraordinaire of Tabor Academy (now several years retired), I see with profound clarity the large ironic bulge out of the left side of his cheek in his recent commentary for VTDigger.<br />
READ MORE<br />
I hunted long and hard for words to describe the best t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-salute-to-the-northeast-kingdoms-sharpest-wit/</link><pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-salute-to-the-northeast-kingdoms-sharpest-wit/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The fall foliage is the best it’s been in years]]></title><description><![CDATA[This year, VTDigger is teaming up with Henry&rsquo;s Weather Channel to help answer the annual question of when and where peak foliage will make its appearance across the state.Each week, we&rsquo;ll bring you an updated look at how foliage is unfolding statewide, paired with a weekend forecast, so you can plan your drive, hike or porch-sitting accordingly. Henry brings meteorological experience and on-the-ground reporting with photos and videos from across the region.<br />
We&rsquo;re seeing a shows]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-fall-foliage-is-the-best-its-been-in-years/</link><pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-fall-foliage-is-the-best-its-been-in-years/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State police investigate shooting by Williston officer that wounded a man early Thursday]]></title><description><![CDATA[Blue lights on top of a police cruiser. Stock photo via PixabayA Williston police officer shot and injured a man early Thursday, according to officials.The man who was shot was reported to be in stable condition at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, the Williston Police Department said in a press release around 9:30 a.m. Thursday.The officer involved in the shooting was also taken to the medical center, where he was treated for injuries and released, the press release said.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-police-investigate-shooting-by-williston-officer-that-wounded-a-man-early-thursday/</link><pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-police-investigate-shooting-by-williston-officer-that-wounded-a-man-early-thursday/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont governor’s race will test voters’ appetite for raising new taxes — or cutting them]]></title><description><![CDATA[Republican Gov. Phil Scott, left, and Democratic nominee for governor Amanda Janoo. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe leading candidates for governor of Vermont this year agree that the state is unaffordable for too many people. But Amanda Janoo and Phil Scott have different ideas for how to solve that problem &mdash; and say each other&rsquo;s plans won&rsquo;t cut it.&nbsp;Janoo, the Democratic nominee and an economist from Burlington, says a key part of her agenda is raising new revenue fo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-governors-race-will-test-voters-appetite-for-raising-new-taxes-or-cutting-them/</link><pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-governors-race-will-test-voters-appetite-for-raising-new-taxes-or-cutting-them/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s ‘slopaganda’ problem]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hank Poitras, better known as &ldquo;Planet Hank,&rdquo; speaks during a social media livestream in May 2026. ScreenshotCurtis Hier uses &ldquo;Planet Hank&rdquo; as a verb.&nbsp;He used the controversial Brattleboro content creator&rsquo;s moniker to describe the inspiration behind Flip Vermont Red, the political action committee dedicated to electing more Republicans to the State House that he founded last month.&ldquo;Somebody just sort of said to me &hellip; &lsquo;Oh, I wish we could &ldqu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-slopaganda-problem/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 23:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-slopaganda-problem/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Don’t tax Vermont expats out of coming home]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I oppose proposals to impose a substantially higher property tax rate on second homes in Vermont. I was born and raised in Shaftsbury, graduated from Mount Anthony Union High School and Saint Michael&rsquo;s College, and was married in Manchester. Vermont is not simply a place where my family vacations; it is home.After college, I moved to Massachusetts to find a stable, well-paying job with benefits because my skills and training did not align with many of the opportunities then av]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-tax-vermont-expats-out-of-coming-home/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 23:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-tax-vermont-expats-out-of-coming-home/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Florida evangelist purchases former Green Mountain College campus from Whiskey mogul]]></title><description><![CDATA[Evangelical preacher Tommie Zito is planning to covert Green Mountain College in Poultney into Z University.Seen on Friday, July 31, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTommie Zito, a Florida Evangelist, officially took ownership of the more than 100-acre former Green Mountain College campus property last week.&nbsp;Zito aims to transform the campus in the heart of downtown Poultney into a Christian university, called Z University, which he plans to expand eventually to have campuses across th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/florida-evangelist-purchases-former-green-mountain-college-campus-from-whiskey-mogul/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/florida-evangelist-purchases-former-green-mountain-college-campus-from-whiskey-mogul/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Digital Services Secretary Denise Reilly-Hughes to leave role for private sector]]></title><description><![CDATA[Agency of Digital Services Secretary Denise Reilly-Hughes at the Statehouse in Montpelier in Feb. 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Denise Reilly-Hughes, who has led Vermont&rsquo;s Agency of Digital Services since 2023, will leave her role next week to take a job in the private sector, Gov. Phil Scott announced Wednesday.The statement from Scott&rsquo;s office praised the outgoing secretary&rsquo;s w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-digital-services-secretary-denise-reilly-hughes-to-leave-role-for-private-sector/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-digital-services-secretary-denise-reilly-hughes-to-leave-role-for-private-sector/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Parents of cyclist who was killed in crosswalk file wrongful death lawsuit against driver]]></title><description><![CDATA[Shiloh Skalka, 16, was killed in July in Burlington after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing a roadway on her e-bike in a crosswalk with warning lights flashing. Provided photoThe parents of a 16-year-old girl are suing a Burlington folk artist who already faces charges that he struck and killed her as she rode an e-bike in a crosswalk with warning lights flashing.&nbsp;Christian Skalka and Susan Skalka, the parents of Shiloh Skalka, filed the lawsuit against Douglas Knapp this week in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/parents-of-cyclist-who-was-killed-in-crosswalk-file-wrongful-death-lawsuit-against-driver/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/parents-of-cyclist-who-was-killed-in-crosswalk-file-wrongful-death-lawsuit-against-driver/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Forester, influencer and author Ethan Tapper on why ‘it’s our responsibility to carry hope for each other’]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Forester Ethan Tapper, author of the book &ldquo;The Forest Year: Finding Hope in a World Worth Saving.&rdquo; Photo by Corey HendricksonEthan Tapper is a forester, philosopher, bestselling author and social media star. The chainsaw-toting, ATV-driving V]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-forester-influencer-and-author-ethan-tapper-on-why-its-our-responsibility-to-carry-hope-for-each-other/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-forester-influencer-and-author-ethan-tapper-on-why-its-our-responsibility-to-carry-hope-for-each-other/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s housing crisis needs bold answers]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by David Bond, who taught at Bennington College from 2013 to 2026. He now runs the Center for Environmental Justice at Georgetown University.&nbsp;Vermont is not an easy place to be homeless. Winters are unforgiving, and this rural state has minimal infrastructure to support unhoused people. Shelters are few and far between, and most were built when the loss of housing was a temporary setback tied to house fires or fleeing domestic abuse.Personal tragedy is no longer the trig]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-housing-crisis-needs-bold-answers/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 19:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-housing-crisis-needs-bold-answers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[For Sam Lucci, Freedom &amp; Unity made the path back to college a &ldquo;no-brainer&rdquo;&nbsp;]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sam Lucci has known for the last ten years that he wanted to finish his education but constantly found himself weighing the costs against the benefits. Feeling like he couldn&rsquo;t commit until he made a plan, Sam held off, pursuing jobs he liked and loved, gaining experience in sales, and taking an opportunity for on-the-job training that let him explore the trades.&nbsp;A &ldquo;circuitous route&rdquo; in his career and education&nbsp;Sam took what his VSAC outreach counselor, Martha McCaug]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-sam-lucci-freedom-amp-unity-made-the-path-back-to-college-a-ldquono-brainerrdquonbsp/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-sam-lucci-freedom-amp-unity-made-the-path-back-to-college-a-ldquono-brainerrdquonbsp/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal boost advances West Brattleboro Terrace redevelopment]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., visits the former Melrose Terrace site in West Brattleboro to discuss $1.75 million in federal Community Project Funding for its redevelopment on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. Photo by Kristopher Radder/Brattleboro ReformerThis story by Chris Mays was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Oct. 6, 2026.BRATTLEBORO &mdash; Brattleboro Housing Partnerships celebrated $1.75 million in congressionally directed funding for the redevelopment of Melrose Terrace as West]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-boost-advances-west-brattleboro-terrace-redevelopment/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-boost-advances-west-brattleboro-terrace-redevelopment/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont summer food aid for families expires this weekend]]></title><description><![CDATA[An aisle in a grocery store with canned food items. Photo via Adobe StockMost families that receive Summer EBT food aid have until Oct. 10 to hit the grocery stores and farmers markets and use the benefits before they expire.The federally funded program provides support for qualifying Vermont families, including those who receive free and reduced-price school lunches, to buy groceries for their children during the summer. The electronic benefits are valid for about four months after families re]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-summer-food-aid-for-families-expires-this-weekend/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-summer-food-aid-for-families-expires-this-weekend/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lt. gov. candidates largely agree on politics, clash personally]]></title><description><![CDATA[Republican Lieutenant Governor John Rodgers, left, and Molly Gray, a Democratic nominee to be the lieutenant governor. Photos by Glenn RussellIncumbent Lt. Gov. John Rodgers and Democratic challenger Molly Gray mostly challenged each other on past experiences rather than policy in a debate Tuesday afternoon.&nbsp;&ldquo;My opponent and I agree with one thing,&rdquo; Rodgers said. &ldquo;And that is that we can&rsquo;t afford the status quo.&rdquo;Rodgers and Gray, the executive director at Verm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lt-gov-candidates-largely-agree-on-politics-clash-personally/</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lt-gov-candidates-largely-agree-on-politics-clash-personally/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rink on the brink: Barre makes last-minute ice rink repairs, but the arena’s future is uncertain]]></title><description><![CDATA[The B.O.R. Barre Outdoor Recreation arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. Photo by Erin Petenko/VTDiggerBARRE &mdash; As a boy visiting his grandfather in Barre, Brian Wilkin could see the arches of the city&rsquo;s new ice arena as he walked down the hill. His grandfather lived next to the arena, and Wilkin understood what the new building meant: He would be able to play hockey in his own hometown.And he did. So did his father. Eventually, his daughter did, too.Now Wilkin, the Spaulding High School]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rink-on-the-brink-barre-makes-last-minute-ice-rink-repairs-but-the-arenas-future-is-uncertain/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rink-on-the-brink-barre-makes-last-minute-ice-rink-repairs-but-the-arenas-future-is-uncertain/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM Medical Center unions reach tentative agreement in contract negotiations]]></title><description><![CDATA[Union doctors and staff workers at the University of Vermont Medical Center, along with their supporters, during a rally in Burlington in June 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBoth the support staff and technical professional unions at the University of Vermont Medical Center have reached tentative, two-year contract agreements with their employer, both the hospital and union representatives confirmed Tuesday.&nbsp;The agreement comes just days after both unions voted to give their bar]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-medical-center-unions-reach-tentative-agreement-in-contract-negotiations/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-medical-center-unions-reach-tentative-agreement-in-contract-negotiations/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Proposal 4’s language is flawed]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Judy Olinick&rsquo;s recent letter to VTDigger in response to Renee McGuinness&rsquo; commentary on&nbsp;Proposal 4, the so-called equality of rights amendment, contains misleading information.First, the Vermont Constitution, Chapter II, Section 72, dictates that legislators must put a proposed amendment before voters once both chambers approve it in two successive sessions; their vote is not necessarily an indication of their support of the proposal itself. This is a critical proce]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/proposal-4s-language-is-flawed/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/proposal-4s-language-is-flawed/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont colleges chart a path forward against demographic and financial headwinds]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Champlain College campus in Burlington on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerHigher education institutions in Vermont are devising ways to stay afloat &mdash; from tuition discounts designed to boost enrollment to cutting employee benefits &mdash; as they face shifting demographics and financial constraints, college administrators say.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Northeast region faces some of the sharpest impacts of the demographic cliff due to plummeting birthrates in the a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-colleges-chart-a-path-forward-against-demographic-and-financial-headwinds/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-colleges-chart-a-path-forward-against-demographic-and-financial-headwinds/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s return-to-office order is an insult]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Kate Lucier, who was a state employee for nearly 14 years. She lives in Underhill.We rarely see the perspective of public-sector employees spotlighted &mdash; or even considered &mdash; in media reports about the state workforce and the decisions impacting it, but the voices and experiences of Vermont&rsquo;s state employees should have received much more attention in the past year as lives were upended and employee morale decimated. As a former Vermont state employee, I a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-return-to-office-order-is-an-insult/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-return-to-office-order-is-an-insult/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brattleboro fire chief deploys for 13 months]]></title><description><![CDATA[First responders and town officials gathered at Centra Fire Station in Brattleboro to say goodbye to Fire Chief Jay Symonds before he leaves for approximately 13 months of military service with the New York Army National Guard on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. Photo by Kristopher Radder/Brattleboro ReformerThis story by Kristopher Radder was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer Oct. 4, 2026.BRATTLEBORO &mdash; The meeting room at Central Fire Station was filled with firefighters, first responders]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-fire-chief-deploys-for-13-months/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-fire-chief-deploys-for-13-months/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Attorney for man charged in a deadly police chase seeks to quiz potential jurors before seeking change of venue]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tate Rheaume appears 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 the man accused of driving into and killing a Rutland officer during a chase wants to question prospective jurors about what they may know and feel about the case before moving forward with a request to move the case to another county.David Sleigh, the lawyer for Tat]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/attorney-for-man-charged-in-a-deadly-police-chase-seeks-to-quiz-potential-jurors-before-seeking-change-of-venue/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/attorney-for-man-charged-in-a-deadly-police-chase-seeks-to-quiz-potential-jurors-before-seeking-change-of-venue/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New report finds low reconviction rates for teens in first years of Vermont’s ‘Raise the Age’ law]]></title><description><![CDATA[The McCaffrey Courthouse in Rutland on Thursday, September 10, 2026. The building houses Vermont Superior Court. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.As Vermont considers the future of its &ldquo;Raise the Age&rdquo; law, a new report has found relatively low rates of reconviction among the teenagers whose cases have been affected by the reform &mdash; though the data come with important caveats.The landmark law, which]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-report-finds-low-reconviction-rates-for-teens-in-first-years-of-vermonts-raise-the-age-law/</link><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-report-finds-low-reconviction-rates-for-teens-in-first-years-of-vermonts-raise-the-age-law/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Not every job needs to be done in the office]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Latimer Hoke, a paramedic and ski patroller in northern Vermont.I work as a paramedic. It would be pretty difficult to do my job remotely, what with carrying patients, starting intravenous lines and administering medications. Similar story for plow truck drivers, police and corrections officers, teachers, cooks, delivery drivers, mechanics and many other jobs that require a physical presence. But some jobs can and should be performed remotely.The recent pandemic illustrate]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/not-every-job-needs-to-be-done-in-the-office/</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2026 23:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/not-every-job-needs-to-be-done-in-the-office/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Despite some overall progress, Vermont test scores show a widening achievement gap]]></title><description><![CDATA[A classroom. Photo via Adobe StockDespite some improvements in standardized test scores, state data reveals a widening achievement gap in Vermont&rsquo;s schools.&nbsp;The state&rsquo;s initial evaluation of its annual standardized test scores for the 2025-26 school year, released last month, shows &ldquo;marginalized students,&rdquo; including those with disabilities, living in poverty or belonging to a racial minority, are falling behind their peers.The gap in subject matter proficiency betwe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/despite-some-overall-progress-vermont-test-scores-show-a-widening-achievement-gap/</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2026 22:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/despite-some-overall-progress-vermont-test-scores-show-a-widening-achievement-gap/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont can help keep Canada close]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Al Vigier, the chief executive officer of Caseway, an artificial intelligence company that co-creates products with large enterprises and shares the revenue with them.At the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, the border between Vermont and Quebec runs through the reading room. For more than a century, Canadians could walk along a short sidewalk to the front door in Derby Line. Since October 2025, that sidewalk has been closed to most users, except people with reduced mo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-can-help-keep-canada-close/</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2026 22:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-can-help-keep-canada-close/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marilyn Houston]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 05/22/1927Indianapolis, IndianaDied: 10/02/2026Manchester, VermontDetails of service:The family plans a memorial celebration in the spring.Marilyn Houston, 99, of Manchester, Vt. (formerly of Arlington, Vt.) died October 2, 2026. She was predeceased in 2014 by her husband, Neal J. Houston.Marilyn was born May 22, 1927 in Indianapolis, Ind. the daughter of Elden and Florence Mills.&nbsp; She spent her formative years in Forest Hills and Brooklyn, N.Y.; Westport, Mass.; and West Hartford, C]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marilyn-houston/</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2026 22:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marilyn-houston/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The first to finish: Carter Smith’s Curtis Fund story]]></title><description><![CDATA[Carter Smith worked as much as he could last summer and saved every extra dollar. He has a scholarship, but he still keeps a backup fund. When money has been tight your whole life, you do not stop worrying just because the numbers look better on paper. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always been very financially focused,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Maybe even to a fault.&rdquo;&nbsp;That did not come from nowhere. Carter is the oldest child. His parents were young when he was born, and money was tight throughout]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-first-to-finish-carter-smiths-curtis-fund-story/</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-first-to-finish-carter-smiths-curtis-fund-story/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[First to finish: Carter Smith’s Curtis Fund story]]></title><description><![CDATA[Carter Smith worked as much as he could last summer and saved every extra dollar. He has a scholarship, but he still keeps a backup fund. When money has been tight your whole life, you do not stop worrying just because the numbers look better on paper. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always been very financially focused,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Maybe even to a fault.&rdquo;&nbsp;That did not come from nowhere. Carter is the oldest child. His parents were young when he was born, and money was tight throughout]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/first-to-finish-carter-smiths-curtis-fund-story/</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/first-to-finish-carter-smiths-curtis-fund-story/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[First to finish]]></title><description><![CDATA[Carter Smith worked as much as he could last summer and saved every extra dollar. He has a scholarship, but he still keeps a backup fund. When money has been tight your whole life, you do not stop worrying just because the numbers look better on paper. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always been very financially focused,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Maybe even to a fault.&rdquo;&nbsp;That did not come from nowhere. Carter is the oldest child. His parents were young when he was born, and money was tight throughout]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/first-to-finish/</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/first-to-finish/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont needs fewer small towns and some taller buildings]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,As VTDigger&rsquo;s recent reporting clearly indicates, over its last several sessions, the Vermont Legislature has danced around the predominant and defining cause of Vermont&rsquo;s historic dilemma. Our lawmakers lack the courage to tackle this reality with the bold, decisive steps that a forthright statement of the problem requires. Absent the necessary clarity of definition, half-measures and inadequate solutions dominate their discussions, and the long-suffering people of Verm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-needs-fewer-small-towns-and-some-taller-buildings/</link><pubDate>Sun, 04 Oct 2026 16:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-needs-fewer-small-towns-and-some-taller-buildings/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wood banks prep for long winter months]]></title><description><![CDATA[Students help load wood onto a truck to be delivered to families in need in the area. Photo by Gordon Miller/News &amp; CitizenThis story by Liberty Darr and Patrick Bilow was first published in the News &amp; Citizen on Sept. 17, 2026.&nbsp;One in three Vermonters will heat their homes with wood this winter, but as the cost and difficulty of sourcing wood increases for some, a handful of local organizations are providing free cords to those in need.Recently volunteers donned safety gloves and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/wood-banks-prep-for-long-winter-months/</link><pubDate>Sun, 04 Oct 2026 15:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/wood-banks-prep-for-long-winter-months/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After a costly dry spell, a wetter outlook]]></title><description><![CDATA[People walk along the beach at St. Albans Bay in September 2025. The 2025 drought brought water levels on Lake Champlain to near record lows. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDroughts like the one that cost Vermont farmers nearly $16 million last year might be becoming less common, a new Dartmouth College study suggests, as increased rainfall makes dry spells less frequent and less intense across the Northeast.But farmers shouldn&rsquo;t pack up their irrigation equipment just yet.&ldquo;Wha]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-a-costly-dry-spell-a-wetter-outlook/</link><pubDate>Sun, 04 Oct 2026 14:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-a-costly-dry-spell-a-wetter-outlook/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Timothy Michael Kane]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 04/28/1956New York City, New YorkDied: 06/23/2026Details of service:A private service will be held at a later date.On Tuesday evening June 23, 2026, Timothy Michael Kane peacefully died.<br />
Born to Thomas and Judith Kane in New York City on April 28,1956, Tim spent his childhood in the surrounding New York suburbs before moving to East Hardwick, Vermont as a teen. He became a master craftsman in the traditional sense of the word.<br />
Wherever he lived, Tim established his &lsquo;shop&rsquo; begi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/timothy-michael-kane/</link><pubDate>Sun, 04 Oct 2026 14:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/timothy-michael-kane/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont officials and advocates tackle voting accessibility concerns ahead of November election]]></title><description><![CDATA[A voter carries ballots past a booth in Shelburne on Primary Day, Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVoter rights advocates are pushing on several fronts to ensure voting access for Vermonters ahead of the general election in November.The Secretary of State&rsquo;s office launched a voter accessibility task force in coalition with advocacy groups last year that focused on expanding resources for people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, survivors of domes]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-officials-and-advocates-tackle-voting-accessibility-concerns-ahead-of-november-election/</link><pubDate>Sun, 04 Oct 2026 13:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-officials-and-advocates-tackle-voting-accessibility-concerns-ahead-of-november-election/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[An Essex County officials’ parking fight puts taxpayers in a tight spot]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Essex County Courthouse in Guildhall, center, sits between the Meeting House (left) and the Essex County Sheriff&rsquo;s Department on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerEssex County&rsquo;s sheriff and assistant judges have taken a simmering parking fight to court, leaving taxpayers caught between the cost of stopping construction and the risk of paying to redo it.&ldquo;Would it cost more to delay the project and design it correctly,&rdquo; said Brice Simon, the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-essex-county-officials-parking-fight-puts-taxpayers-in-a-tight-spot/</link><pubDate>Sun, 04 Oct 2026 12:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-essex-county-officials-parking-fight-puts-taxpayers-in-a-tight-spot/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jeffrey Mullins sentenced for role in fatal Hartford shooting]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jessica Lemay (left on Webex screen) gives her victim impact statement during the sentencing of Jeffrey Mullins (center) for his involvement in a fatal shooting last August. Photo by Alex Ebrahimi/Valley NewsThis story by Alex Ebrahimi was first published in the Valley News on Oct. 1, 2026.&nbsp;WHITE RIVER JUNCTION &mdash; One of three individuals involved in a botched robbery turned fatal shooting in Hartford has been sentenced to six to 10 years, suspended to six months in prison with 10 yea]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jeffrey-mullins-sentenced-for-role-in-fatal-hartford-shooting/</link><pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2026 13:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jeffrey-mullins-sentenced-for-role-in-fatal-hartford-shooting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sally Burrell]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 02/01/1958Brockton, MassachusettsDied: 09/17/2026Bristol, VermontDetails of service:A celebration of life was held in August while Sally could enjoy it in person.&nbsp;A Green burial was held privately by her family following her death.&nbsp;Her final resting place is the the Monkton Friends&rsquo; Methodist Cemetery, off Cemetery Rd in Monkton.BRISTOL &mdash; Sally Burrell died Sept. 17, 2026, after a brief illness with ovarian cancer. She accepted her path with grace and openness enjoyi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sally-burrell/</link><pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2026 02:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sally-burrell/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stepping inside Vermont’s creative spaces during Open Studio Weekend]]></title><description><![CDATA[Frank Saliani handles freshly thrown plates in his Montpelier studio, Green House Pottery. Photo by Emma RosenthalThis story by Emma Rosenthal was first published Oct. 1, 2026.Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, for the Bridge.&nbsp;Twice a year, the doors to Vermont&rsquo;s creative spaces swing open, giving visitors a peek into pottery studios, galleries and artists&rsquo; workspaces across the state.&nbsp;Organized by the Vermont Crafts Council, Vermont]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stepping-inside-vermonts-creative-spaces-during-open-studio-weekend/</link><pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stepping-inside-vermonts-creative-spaces-during-open-studio-weekend/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Amanda Janoo bests Phil Scott in September campaign fundraising blitz]]></title><description><![CDATA[Democratic nominee for governor Amanda Janoo, left, and Republican Gov. Phil Scott. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s Democratic candidate for governor, Amanda Janoo, raised more money than Republican Gov. Phil Scott in September, according to newly filed campaign finance reports, putting her nearly level with the governor in cash on hand heading into the final month of the campaign.The fundraising numbers are another data point indicating this year&rsquo;s race for governor is th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/amanda-janoo-bests-phil-scott-in-september-campaign-fundraising-blitz/</link><pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/amanda-janoo-bests-phil-scott-in-september-campaign-fundraising-blitz/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hackers demand ransom from Slate Valley school district after compromising teachers’ personal data]]></title><description><![CDATA[Fair Haven Grade School. Photo Courtesy of Slate Valley Unified Union School District Communications Coordinator Lisa CacciatoreHackers are demanding hundreds of thousands of dollars in ransom from the Slate Valley Unified School District after hacking a district server last month and compromising teachers&rsquo; personal information, according to Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell.&nbsp;The incident continues to wreak havoc on the district after hackers breached the district&rsquo;s internet]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hackers-demand-ransom-from-slate-valley-school-district-after-compromising-teachers-personal-data/</link><pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hackers-demand-ransom-from-slate-valley-school-district-after-compromising-teachers-personal-data/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Anti-ICE activists plan week of community engagement, learning and protest]]></title><description><![CDATA[Musicians from across the state play at a protest against ICE and CBP in St. Albans in May 2026. File photo by Emma Green/VTDiggerIn the eyes of Julie Macuga, the time is ripe for &ldquo;mass civil disobedience.&rdquo;She&rsquo;s one of the main organizers for Shut Down ICE VT, which is hosting a week of community action against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Vermont. This is a small state, Macuga said, and activists need more &ldquo;people power&rdquo; to have a sustain]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/anti-ice-activists-plan-week-of-community-engagement-learning-and-protest/</link><pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 23:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/anti-ice-activists-plan-week-of-community-engagement-learning-and-protest/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Disabled workers deserve an equal shot at jobs]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Natalie Sinkew, who lives in St. Albans.As a disabled citizen, I would like to address the struggles we face finding a place in the workforce. We are not asking for a job just because we have a disability. We are asking for the same opportunity as everyone else to apply for a job and show what we can do.The world is changing quickly. Technology, automation and artificial intelligence are becoming a bigger part of everyday life and the workplace. These changes can make life]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/disabled-workers-deserve-an-equal-shot-at-jobs/</link><pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 22:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/disabled-workers-deserve-an-equal-shot-at-jobs/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[2 UVM Medical Center unions vote to authorize strike]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals President Nicole DiVita, right, and Jacob Berkowitz, president of UVMMC Support Staff United, pictured on Oct. 2. Photo by Olivia Gieger/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; Two UVM Medical Center unions said Friday they have voted to authorize a strike.&nbsp;The vote gives the union leadership the authority to call for a strike and begin the legal notification process before staff officially take to the picket line. Union representatives said that 82]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/2-uvm-medical-center-unions-vote-to-authorize-strike/</link><pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 16:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/2-uvm-medical-center-unions-vote-to-authorize-strike/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal court says U.S. agents can search phones at Vermont’s border with Canada without suspicion]]></title><description><![CDATA[The United States Border Inspection Station in Derby Line in March 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerU.S. border agents can search people&rsquo;s phones and other electronic devices without a warrant or any suspicion they&rsquo;ve committed a crime, the federal appeals court covering Vermont ruled last month.The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, which also covers New York and Connecticut, stemmed from a bank fraud and money laundering case against a man in New Y]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-court-says-us-agents-can-search-phones-at-vermonts-border-with-canada-without-suspicion/</link><pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-court-says-us-agents-can-search-phones-at-vermonts-border-with-canada-without-suspicion/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stowe Mountain Resort hopes to cut new trails on Spruce Peak]]></title><description><![CDATA[The project is generally described as the clearing of .36 acres through the existing canopy for two new trails on Spruce Peak. Photo from Airbus, CNES / Airbus, Maxar TechnologiesThis story by Patrick Bilow was first published in the Stowe Reporter on Oct. 1, 2026.Stowe Mountain Resort is on a mission to make some of its terrain more approachable for guests ahead of the upcoming season.As the leaves change and crews test-fire snow cannons, the resort in August submitted an application to Vermon]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stowe-mountain-resort-hopes-to-cut-new-trails-on-spruce-peak/</link><pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stowe-mountain-resort-hopes-to-cut-new-trails-on-spruce-peak/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brattleboro Memorial Hospital promotes its financial consultant to post of interim CEO]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Brattleboro Memorial Hospital campus on Belmont Avenue. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerBrattleboro Memorial Hospital has named the former chief financial officer of Windsor&rsquo;s Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center as its new interim CEO.David Sanville, who recently has helped the Brattleboro hospital deal with a multimillion-dollar deficit, stepped into his new role at Thursday&rsquo;s start of the 2027 fiscal year, the facility&rsquo;s board of directors announced.&ldquo;David]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-memorial-hospital-promotes-its-financial-consultant-to-post-of-interim-ceo/</link><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-memorial-hospital-promotes-its-financial-consultant-to-post-of-interim-ceo/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Peak foliage arrives in Vermont, and next week could bring year’s first flakes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Fall foliage in Warren, Vermont on September 29, 2026. Photo by Henry&rsquo;s Weather Channel<br />
This year, VTDigger is teaming up with Henry&rsquo;s Weather Channel to help answer the annual question of when and where peak foliage will make its appearance across the state.Each week, we&rsquo;ll bring you an updated look at how foliage is unfolding statewide, paired with a weekend forecast, so you can plan your drive, hike or porch-sitting accordingly. Henry brings meteorological experience and on]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/peak-foliage-arrives-in-vermont-and-next-week-could-bring-years-first-flakes/</link><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 22:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/peak-foliage-arrives-in-vermont-and-next-week-could-bring-years-first-flakes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jack Sawyer, accused of foiled school shooting plot 8 years ago, is back in court on unrelated charges]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Superior Court building and the Orleans County Court House in Newport in March 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Vermont man who spurred gun reform legislation eight years ago, after he was accused of plotting to shoot up a high school, was back in court &mdash; this time after allegedly breaking into the now-closed Sterling College.Jack Sawyer, 27, of Craftsbury, pleaded not guilty Tuesday during his arraignment in Orleans Superior criminal court in Newport to counts of g]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jack-sawyer-accused-of-foiled-school-shooting-plot-8-years-ago-is-back-in-court-on-unrelated-charges/</link><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 22:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jack-sawyer-accused-of-foiled-school-shooting-plot-8-years-ago-is-back-in-court-on-unrelated-charges/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[One vote I’m proud of]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Conor Casey, who represents Montpelier in the Vermont House and is a co-chair of the Vermont Legislature&rsquo;s Working Vermonters Caucus.&nbsp;You cast a lot of votes in the Vermont House. Some are easy. Some keep you up at night. And, if I&rsquo;m being truthful, there are plenty I probably won&rsquo;t remember 10 years from now.I&rsquo;ll remember my vote for the Workers&rsquo; Rights Amendment.This November, Vermont voters will have the final say on Proposal 3, which]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/one-vote-im-proud-of/</link><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/one-vote-im-proud-of/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can Vermont afford Proposal 3?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Elizabeth Brown, who is the Vermont state director of the Fiscal Alliance Foundation.Vermont workers already have the right to bargain. Proposal 3 would lock in a system that costs us jobs, investment and taxes.According to a new analysis published by our organization, the Fiscal Alliance Foundation, Vermont&rsquo;s population fell last year by a larger share than that of any other state. From 2015 to 2025, private-sector jobs grew 12.6% nationally. In Vermont, they fell 0]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/can-vermont-afford-proposal-3/</link><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/can-vermont-afford-proposal-3/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In a surprise move, Vermont’s Roman Catholic Diocese seeks to dismiss its 2-year-old bankruptcy case]]></title><description><![CDATA[The steeple of St. Charles Catholic Church in Bellows Falls. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s Roman Catholic Diocese is marking this week&rsquo;s second anniversary of its request for a Chapter 11 financial reorganization plan by asking a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge to dismiss its case, which so far has cost $2 million in legal fees &ldquo;with no end in sight,&rdquo; church lawyers said.The state&rsquo;s largest religious denomination had filed its initial call for help on]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-a-surprise-move-vermonts-roman-catholic-diocese-seeks-to-dismiss-its-2-year-old-bankruptcy-case/</link><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-a-surprise-move-vermonts-roman-catholic-diocese-seeks-to-dismiss-its-2-year-old-bankruptcy-case/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[1 in 5 Vermonters say they have struggled to keep up with rent and mortgage payments]]></title><description><![CDATA[Homes in Williston on Sept. 29. The median sale price of a primary home in Vermont has nearly doubled over the last decade. Photo by April McCullum/Vermont PublicCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.&nbsp;One in five Vermonters report that they have struggled to keep up with housing payments in the last year.That&rsquo;s according to the Vermont Public 2026 Poll. Twenty percent of people surveyed in September said they have been late or]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/1-in-5-vermonters-say-they-have-struggled-to-keep-up-with-rent-and-mortgage-payments/</link><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 11:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/1-in-5-vermonters-say-they-have-struggled-to-keep-up-with-rent-and-mortgage-payments/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Texas company presents ideas for future Vermont Yankee property use]]></title><description><![CDATA[A worker cuts apart a beam during the deconstruction of the former Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon in October 2023. The salvaged metal from the plant, which is not radioactive, is being recycled. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Olga Peters was first published in The Commons on Sept. 29, 2026.&nbsp;VERNON &mdash; PowerTransitions officials who held another community meeting on Sept. 23 faced community members who filled a meeting room, expressing skepticism and con]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/texas-company-presents-ideas-for-future-vermont-yankee-property-use/</link><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/texas-company-presents-ideas-for-future-vermont-yankee-property-use/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Court orders Dairy Farmers of America to keep paying its share of union employees’ health insurance after shuttering the St. Albans Creamery]]></title><description><![CDATA[Members of the Teamsters local 597 union picket outside the Dairy Farmers of America plant in St. Albans on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA U.S. District Court judge has mandated that Dairy Farmers of America keep contributing its portion of the union workers&rsquo; health insurance after idling the St. Albans Creamery plant in August.The employees at the plant, which is a subsidiary of the Dairy Farmers of America co-operative, have been out of work since the plan]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/court-orders-dairy-farmers-of-america-to-keep-paying-its-share-of-union-employees-health-insurance-after-shuttering-the-st-albans-creamery/</link><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/court-orders-dairy-farmers-of-america-to-keep-paying-its-share-of-union-employees-health-insurance-after-shuttering-the-st-albans-creamery/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Putney affordable housing project opens after clearing court battles]]></title><description><![CDATA[Developers held a ribbon cutting event for a new affordable housing project in Putney on September 30, 2026. Photo by Carly Berlin/Vermont PublicCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.&nbsp;When Stormy Gammon got the call that she and her family had been approved for an apartment at a new affordable housing complex in Putney, she cried.&nbsp;Gammon, her husband, and their son had been homeless, living in a shelter unit in Springfield, she]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/putney-affordable-housing-project-opens-after-clearing-court-battles/</link><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/putney-affordable-housing-project-opens-after-clearing-court-battles/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Medicaid braces for new rules coming for nearly 50,000 Vermonters]]></title><description><![CDATA[The People&rsquo;s Health and Wellness Clinic in Barre in July 2020. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe first of a series of changes to Medicaid is set to take effect Oct. 1, put in motion by the federal budget bill passed in July 2025. The next round of changes begins in January.Combined, the changes to the state-federal health insurance program are expected to affect nearly 50,000 Vermonters, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean that all will lose coverage, say healthcare advocates and Medicaid o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-medicaid-braces-for-new-rules-coming-for-nearly-50000-vermonters/</link><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 23:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-medicaid-braces-for-new-rules-coming-for-nearly-50000-vermonters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: ‘Gradually, then suddenly.’ Bestselling author Richard North Patterson on how American democracy was undermined.]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Author Richard North Patterson, left, and his new book &ldquo;Tripwires: 15 Twenty-First-Century Events That Undermined American Democracy &mdash; and How to Reclaim It.&rdquo; Courtesy photos&ldquo;Gradually, then suddenly, America reached the precipice]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-gradually-then-suddenly-bestselling-author-richard-north-patterson-on-how-american-democracy-was-undermined/</link><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 23:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-gradually-then-suddenly-bestselling-author-richard-north-patterson-on-how-american-democracy-was-undermined/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM awarded record $38M to create ‘AI twin’ of sick patients]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dr. Gary An discusses a record-breaking award for his research on AI &ldquo;twins&rdquo; at UVM&rsquo;s Robert Larner College of Medicine on Sept. 30, 2026. Photo by Charlotte Oliver/VTDigger.BURLINGTON &mdash; For doctors struggling to treat patients with severe burns or infections, researchers at the University of Vermont are developing a not-so-human solution.&nbsp;They&rsquo;re working to create an artificial intelligence &ldquo;twin&rdquo; of a patient, allowing doctors to test individuali]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-awarded-record-38m-to-create-ai-twin-of-sick-patients/</link><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 23:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-awarded-record-38m-to-create-ai-twin-of-sick-patients/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[More cops can’t help downtown]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Brian Clifford, an abolitionist mutual aid organizer working in and around Burlington.We can&rsquo;t police our way to making downtown Burlington feel safe. I do not mean we shouldn&rsquo;t. I&rsquo;m not saying we should choose a higher path rooted in care and healing. I mean we can&rsquo;t, as in, it is literally not possible at this time.The idea that increased police presence will deter scary behaviors downtown makes logical sense. It&rsquo;s been Burlington Police Dep]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-cops-cant-help-downtown/</link><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 19:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-cops-cant-help-downtown/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington only has itself to blame for its decline]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Michael Pill, a lawyer who lives in Burlington.We recently bought a house in Burlington to age in place with younger family who live in the city. I am a confirmed leftist, a staunch anticapitalist with a doctorate in Marxian economic theory, a supporter of gun control and a Jew who believes that every human being is charged with the social mission of repairing the world in which we live. The struggle to eliminate all forms of prejudice that divide us is both an individual]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-only-has-itself-to-blame-for-its-decline/</link><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-only-has-itself-to-blame-for-its-decline/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nettie Morse focuses on a future in pediatric occupational therapy]]></title><description><![CDATA[Aneta &ldquo;Nettie&rdquo; Morse is a senior at Oxbow High School in Bradford, Vermont. She&rsquo;s a three-season athlete and is one of the founding members of VSAC GEAR UP Leads, the first-ever student-led leadership club in VSAC&rsquo;s GEAR UP, a federally funded program that helps students access college and careers after high school.&nbsp;Recently, Nettie was named the national GEAR UP Student Leader of the Year at an award ceremony in Washington DC. This award recognizes a student who go]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nettie-morse-focuses-on-a-future-in-pediatric-occupational-therapy/</link><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:20:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nettie-morse-focuses-on-a-future-in-pediatric-occupational-therapy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Woodstock police chief resigns after demotion overturned]]></title><description><![CDATA[Former Woodstock Village Police Chief Joe Swanson, stands and stretches during his appeal hearing in Vermont Superior Court on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Woodstock, Vt. On the left is Woodstock attorney John H. Klesch, representing the village. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsThis story by Sofia Langlois was first published in the Valley News on Sept. 29, 2026.WOODSTOCK &mdash; A judge ruled Tuesday in favor of the Woodstock police chief who town officials have now failed twice to demote.But]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/woodstock-police-chief-resigns-after-demotion-overturned/</link><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/woodstock-police-chief-resigns-after-demotion-overturned/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A rising cohort of vets is giving Vermonters new ways to say goodbye to beloved pets]]></title><description><![CDATA[Finnegan and Duffy sit on a chair. Photo by Laura CadmusLaura Cadmus&rsquo; cat, Duffy, used to sit on the edge of her table and a CD rack with his front legs dangling off the side.&nbsp;Now, the same spots are decorated with photos of him in those odd positions, her way to hold onto his memory after he died of cancer earlier this year at age 8.&nbsp;&ldquo;(It) was absolutely so devastating to me,&rdquo; said the Barre native. &ldquo;I mean, it&rsquo;s probably just in the last couple months t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-rising-cohort-of-vets-is-giving-vermonters-new-ways-to-say-goodbye-to-beloved-pets/</link><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:34:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-rising-cohort-of-vets-is-giving-vermonters-new-ways-to-say-goodbye-to-beloved-pets/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A bear broke into my kitchen. Then I watched him die.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Rachel Lee Stoll, an antiquarian bookseller.There is much conversation right now about bears in Vermont, about their increasing numbers and how and when we hunt them down. I have a dog in this bear fight, because my son and I came home a few weeks ago to find that our house had been visited in our absence by a hungry bear.&nbsp;&nbsp;The bear &mdash; terrifically nimble &mdash; opened a window I had not firmly latched, fell into my son&rsquo;s room, clambered all about the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-bear-broke-into-my-kitchen-then-i-watched-him-die/</link><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-bear-broke-into-my-kitchen-then-i-watched-him-die/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont is losing the people who keep us alive]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Matt Swenson, the founder of Omnidex Solutions, an independent research and strategic analysis company. He lives in Vermont.Vermont&rsquo;s healthcare debate has spent years arguing about prices. I think the scarier question is simpler: Can you actually get care when you need it? For me, that&rsquo;s not some abstract policy question. It&rsquo;s personal.&nbsp;I moved to Vermont partly for its reputation for good medical care, after a rough career in environmental toxicolo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-losing-the-people-who-keep-us-alive/</link><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 22:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-losing-the-people-who-keep-us-alive/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘If you can’t do it, I’ll do it’: Judge seeks to settle disputes in case of fatal shooting of border agent]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss speaks in Essex in Oct. 2021. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; A federal judge said she plans to advance the slow-moving case against a former Washington state resident accused of killing a U.S. Border Patrol agent in northern Vermont in January 2025.Teresa Youngblut faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted in the fatal shooting of David Maland that took place after a traffic stop on Interstate 91 in Coventry on Jan.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/if-you-cant-do-it-ill-do-it-judge-seeks-to-settle-disputes-in-case-of-fatal-shooting-of-border-agent/</link><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 20:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/if-you-cant-do-it-ill-do-it-judge-seeks-to-settle-disputes-in-case-of-fatal-shooting-of-border-agent/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Second home tax appeals to majority of Vermont poll respondents]]></title><description><![CDATA[A drone photo captures fall foliage on Oct. 9, 2023, in Moretown. Photo by Kyle Ambusk / Vermont PublicCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.&nbsp;Katie Mandych thought she&rsquo;d be in a financial position to try to purchase her first home by now. But as rent for her Waterbury apartment has continued to escalate, the 31-year-old career coach has had little opportunity to save.That has informed Mandych&rsquo;s opinion that Vermont shoul]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/second-home-tax-appeals-to-majority-of-vermont-poll-respondents/</link><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/second-home-tax-appeals-to-majority-of-vermont-poll-respondents/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mental health urgent care center coming to Brattleboro]]></title><description><![CDATA[In 2023, Health Care &amp; Rehabilitation Services opened its Youth Stabilization Program building on Canal Street in Brattleboro. File photo by Brattleboro ReformerThis story by Chris Mays was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Sept. 24, 2026.&nbsp;Starting in January, 24/7 walk-in services at a new mental health urgent care center are expected to be offered at a location in Brattleboro.&nbsp;Health Care &amp; Rehabilitation Services will receive $3.6 million in grant funding from]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mental-health-urgent-care-center-coming-to-brattleboro/</link><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mental-health-urgent-care-center-coming-to-brattleboro/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New book traces Twin States’ cultural split to the soil itself]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brian Porto at his home in Windsor, Vt., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. Porto spent the past four years of his retirement writing a book about the politics of Vermont and New Hampshire. &ldquo;I was expecting differences between the two states, but there really are a lot of similarities,&rdquo; he said. Alex Driehaus/Valley NewsThis story by Molly Hughes was first published in the Valley News on Sept. 24, 2026.New Hampshire puts &ldquo;Live Free or Die&rdquo; on its license plates. Vermont&rsquo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-book-traces-twin-states-cultural-split-to-the-soil-itself/</link><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-book-traces-twin-states-cultural-split-to-the-soil-itself/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[One-year contracts won’t help Vermont’s schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,This time of year, I trade in the cup of coffee for a mug of warm apple cider. The leaves are starting to turn, mornings are colder, and schools are settling into familiar late September rhythms.It is a beautiful time to be a school leader in Vermont. It is also a strange one.Vermont is embarking on the widest transformation of its education system in decades. And now we face a new wrinkle: School boards have been instructed by the Agency of Education to hire superintendents on one-]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/one-year-contracts-wont-help-vermonts-schools/</link><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/one-year-contracts-wont-help-vermonts-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Shelter isn’t charity. It’s public safety.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Paul Dragon, the executive director of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity.Six years ago, as Covid-19 tore through Vermont, the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity was asked to do something we&rsquo;d never done before: open a shelter. What began as low-barrier, family and recovery shelters quickly became the state&rsquo;s largest pandemic shelter, welcoming people experiencing homelessness from communities across Vermont.Our staff worked around]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/shelter-isnt-charity-its-public-safety/</link><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/shelter-isnt-charity-its-public-safety/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New poll shows Gov. Phil Scott leading Amanda Janoo by 10 points]]></title><description><![CDATA[Republican Gov. Phil Scott, left, and Democratic nominee for governor Amanda Janoo. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerGov. Phil Scott holds a 10-point lead over progressive Democrat Amanda Janoo in a poll released Monday, a striking reversal from a separate survey last week that showed the race in a statistical tie.Vermont Public&rsquo;s 2026 Poll reported Scott is leading Janoo by 10 points, 42% to 32%. These results reflect a 16-point swing from Friday&rsquo;s Green Mountain State Poll by the U]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-poll-shows-gov-phil-scott-leading-amanda-janoo-by-10-points/</link><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-poll-shows-gov-phil-scott-leading-amanda-janoo-by-10-points/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont man dies in custody]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield in Oct. 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Vermont man died in custody at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield Sunday.Trevis Gembarowski, 44, from Newfane, was taken into custody on Saturday, Sep. 26 and died the following day, according to a press release from the Vermont Department of Corrections. He had a medical event on Sunday morning, and correctional and medical staff began emergency medical response proc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-man-dies-in-custody/</link><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 22:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-man-dies-in-custody/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont farmers feel impacts of staffing cuts at USDA]]></title><description><![CDATA[A cow in a field in Lowell in June 2019. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSeveral years ago, Ben Haigh, a small-scale dairy farmer in Shoreham, received $50,000 in federal funding from an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to put up fencing around his farm, infrastructure he felt was essential for his operation.&nbsp;But lately it&rsquo;s been a different story for Haigh: In more recent years, he applied again for the same kind of financial assistance and got turned down twice, withou]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-farmers-feel-impacts-of-staffing-cuts-at-usda/</link><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-farmers-feel-impacts-of-staffing-cuts-at-usda/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Grant funded initiative seeks sustainability for regional birthing services]]></title><description><![CDATA[Deidra Razzaque of Brattleboro, whose son was born at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital&rsquo;s Birthing Center, holds a sign while attending a hospital board meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. File photo from Brattleboro ReformerBRATTLEBORO &mdash; A new grant will help Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and other hospitals, community health organizations, social service providers and other regional partners plan for the future of maternity and newborn care in Southeast Vermont.&nbsp;BMH said it receiv]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/grant-funded-initiative-seeks-sustainability-for-regional-birthing-services/</link><pubDate>Sun, 27 Sep 2026 16:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/grant-funded-initiative-seeks-sustainability-for-regional-birthing-services/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Regulators wanted more transparency on Vermont’s medical education. Now they’re getting it.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Larner Medical School. Photo by Bob LoCicero/VTDiggerWhen Green Mountain Care Board chair Owen Foster first started to dig into Vermont&rsquo;s hospitals&rsquo; budgets, one question kept surfacing: Where could all the money be going?&nbsp;The solvency of the state&rsquo;s primary commercial insurer was teetering. Vermonters paid some of the highest rates for healthcare in the country. And still, hospitals&rsquo; budgets were tight. How could there not be enough money?Part of the answer, Foster]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/regulators-wanted-more-transparency-on-vermonts-medical-education-now-theyre-getting-it/</link><pubDate>Sun, 27 Sep 2026 15:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/regulators-wanted-more-transparency-on-vermonts-medical-education-now-theyre-getting-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s nuclear watchdog has gone quiet]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Ann Darling, a member of the Citizens Awareness Network, a New England grassroots environmental organization working to end the use of nuclear power and replace it with sustainable, reliable and affordable energy generation.I could have written this letter any time in the past 10 years. Why now and not then? I suppose I was hoping I wouldn&rsquo;t need to make my opinions so public, because they are quite critical. But something is happening at the Vermont Yankee nuclear p]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-nuclear-watchdog-has-gone-quiet/</link><pubDate>Sun, 27 Sep 2026 14:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-nuclear-watchdog-has-gone-quiet/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM and Middlebury College announce tuition discounts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Williams Hall on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTwo of Vermont&rsquo;s leading universities are offering new tuition discounts to attract more students.&nbsp;The University of Vermont will offer a more than 35% discount on tuition starting next fall for students from other New England states who study certain majors. And it will offer free tuition for in-state students whose households make less than $125,000.&nbsp]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-and-middlebury-college-announce-tuition-discounts/</link><pubDate>Sun, 27 Sep 2026 14:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-and-middlebury-college-announce-tuition-discounts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[3 decades after sparking a debate about censorship, ‘Daddy’s Roommate’ returns to Rutland]]></title><description><![CDATA[The children&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Daddy&rsquo;s Roommate,&rdquo; as pictured at the Rutland Free Library. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerFor newcomers, the inaugural selection of the Rutland Free Library&rsquo;s upcoming Freedom to Read Book Club might seem an unusual choice: an out-of-print 1990s children&rsquo;s title with only one sentence on each of its 32 pages.But ask any longtime local: &ldquo;Daddy&rsquo;s Roommate&rdquo; has plenty of backstory.When leaders at the public library]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/3-decades-after-sparking-a-debate-about-censorship-daddys-roommate-returns-to-rutland/</link><pubDate>Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/3-decades-after-sparking-a-debate-about-censorship-daddys-roommate-returns-to-rutland/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Mend it and keep it alive’: Inside Vermont’s growing repair culture]]></title><description><![CDATA[A sign outside the Old North End Repair Cafe. Photo by Simone Traynor/Community News ServiceSimone Traynor is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont&rsquo;s Reporting &amp; Documentary Storytelling program.Every third Saturday in Burlington&rsquo;s Old North End, volunteers come together to fix one another&rsquo;s broken belongings, eat bagels and do something good for the environment. Everyone has a role.At a recent session of the Old North End Repair Caf]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mend-it-and-keep-it-alive-inside-vermonts-growing-repair-culture/</link><pubDate>Sat, 26 Sep 2026 13:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mend-it-and-keep-it-alive-inside-vermonts-growing-repair-culture/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Roxbury looks to give its former school a new life]]></title><description><![CDATA[Roxbury Village School building in Roxbury. Photo credit The BridgeThis story by Tracy Brannstrom was first published in The Bridge on Sept. 22, 2026.ROXBURY &mdash; When the Roxbury Village School closed two years ago, the building didn&rsquo;t become obsolete. In fact, it remains the town&rsquo;s largest public gathering space, housing Town Meeting Day, elections, an afterschool program, community meals and other events.But it comes with a cost.&nbsp;The town took ownership of the building ea]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/roxbury-looks-to-give-its-former-school-a-new-life/</link><pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2026 23:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/roxbury-looks-to-give-its-former-school-a-new-life/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Latest poll shows Gov. Phil Scott and Amanda Janoo in tightest race in a decade]]></title><description><![CDATA[Democratic nominee for governor Amanda Janoo, left, and Republican Gov. Phil Scott. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Vermont election poll on the upcoming governor&rsquo;s race suggests it might be the closest in a decade.The most recent University of New Hampshire Green Mountain State Poll released this week reported that 49% of Vermonters support Amanda Janoo in the November election, while 43% support incumbent Gov. Phil Scott.The 6% margin led UNH pollsters to declare the Governor&rsquo;s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/latest-poll-shows-gov-phil-scott-and-amanda-janoo-in-tightest-race-in-a-decade/</link><pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2026 19:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/latest-poll-shows-gov-phil-scott-and-amanda-janoo-in-tightest-race-in-a-decade/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Where do elections fit in the AI apocalypse?]]></title><description><![CDATA[John Odum is the Montpelier city clerk and a certified ethical hacker.I know the implications of the supposedly coming &ldquo;AI apocalypse&rdquo; and how it relates to elections are on people&rsquo;s minds. I&rsquo;ve heard it. So let&rsquo;s talk about it.Most of us have probably heard about the Hugging Face incident. During an OpenAI cybersecurity evaluation, AI agents circumvented controls designed to contain them because they were basically struggling with their homework &mdash; a cybersec]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/where-do-elections-fit-in-the-ai-apocalypse/</link><pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2026 19:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/where-do-elections-fit-in-the-ai-apocalypse/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont AG takes anti-ICE protest cases to trial after Chittenden County prosecutor declines]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters block the exterior entrance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement&rsquo;s National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center in Williston on Friday, July 24, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIn Chittenden County, State&rsquo;s Attorney Sarah George has repeatedly declined to prosecute demonstrators arrested while protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arguing that pursuing the cases did not serve justice.This week, matters were taken out of George&rsquo;s hands.Rather]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-ag-takes-anti-ice-protest-cases-to-trial-after-chittenden-county-prosecutor-declines/</link><pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2026 19:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-ag-takes-anti-ice-protest-cases-to-trial-after-chittenden-county-prosecutor-declines/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont AG charges anti-ICE protesters after Chittenden County prosecutor declines]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters block the exterior entrance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement&rsquo;s National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center in Williston on Friday, July 24, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIn Chittenden County, State&rsquo;s Attorney Sarah George has repeatedly declined to prosecute demonstrators arrested while protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arguing that pursuing the cases did not serve justice.This week, matters were taken out of George&rsquo;s hands.Rather]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-ag-charges-anti-ice-protesters-after-chittenden-county-prosecutor-declines/</link><pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2026 19:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-ag-charges-anti-ice-protesters-after-chittenden-county-prosecutor-declines/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Supreme Court allows Gov. Scott to enforce in-person work for state employees]]></title><description><![CDATA[Justice Nancy Waples speaks as the Vermont Supreme Court meets in Montpelier on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Updated 3:23 p.m.The Vermont Supreme Court sided with Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s administration Friday, allowing the governor to order state employees to return to in-person work.Friday&rsquo;s unanimous decision reversed an April 1 order by the Vermont Labor Relations Board, wh]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-supreme-court-allows-gov-scott-to-enforce-in-person-work-for-state-employees/</link><pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2026 16:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-supreme-court-allows-gov-scott-to-enforce-in-person-work-for-state-employees/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In reversal, Vermont Supreme Court allows Gov. Scott to enforce in-person work for state employees]]></title><description><![CDATA[Justice Nancy Waples speaks as the Vermont Supreme Court meets in Montpelier on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.The Vermont Supreme Court sided with Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s administration Friday, allowing the governor to order state employees to return to in-person work.Friday&rsquo;s unanimous decision reversed an April 1 order by the Vermont Labor Relations Board, which required the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-reversal-vermont-supreme-court-allows-gov-scott-to-enforce-in-person-work-for-state-employees/</link><pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2026 16:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-reversal-vermont-supreme-court-allows-gov-scott-to-enforce-in-person-work-for-state-employees/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont pick-your-own orchards’ success depends on the weather]]></title><description><![CDATA[Signs guiding the way through Chapin Orchard. Photo captured on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2026. Photo by Emma White/VTDigger.ESSEX JUNCTION &mdash; The Murdock family spends money on their apple trees all year long.They have about eight days to earn it back.At Chapin Orchard in Essex Junction, as at pick-your-own-apple orchards across Vermont, the year typically comes down to four weekends from late September into early October. When the sun is out, the parking lots fill.When it isn&rsquo;t, the apples]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-pick-your-own-orchards-success-depends-on-the-weather/</link><pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2026 16:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-pick-your-own-orchards-success-depends-on-the-weather/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Betting the farm on 8 sunny days: Inside Vermont’s pick-your-own orchards]]></title><description><![CDATA[Signs guiding the way through Chapin Orchard. Photo captured on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2026. Photo by Emma White/VTDigger.ESSEX JUNCTION &mdash; The Murdock family spends money on their apple trees all year long.They have about eight days to earn it back.At Chapin Orchard in Essex Junction, as at pick-your-own-apple orchards across Vermont, the year typically comes down to four weekends from late September into early October. When the sun is out, the parking lots fill.When it isn&rsquo;t, the apples]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/betting-the-farm-on-8-sunny-days-inside-vermonts-pick-your-own-orchards/</link><pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2026 16:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/betting-the-farm-on-8-sunny-days-inside-vermonts-pick-your-own-orchards/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Betting the farm on 8 sunny days: Inside Vermont’s pick-you-own orchards]]></title><description><![CDATA[Signs guiding the way through Chapin Orchard. Photo captured on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2026. Photo by Emma White/VTDigger.ESSEX JUNCTION &mdash; The Murdock family spends money on their apple trees all year long.They have about eight days to earn it back.At Chapin Orchard in Essex Junction, as at pick-your-own-apple orchards across Vermont, the year typically comes down to four weekends from late September into early October. When the sun is out, the parking lots fill.When it isn&rsquo;t, the apples]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/betting-the-farm-on-8-sunny-days-inside-vermonts-pick-you-own-orchards/</link><pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2026 16:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/betting-the-farm-on-8-sunny-days-inside-vermonts-pick-you-own-orchards/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Its selectboard mired in controversy, Weston to hold special election]]></title><description><![CDATA[A sign directs voters to the polling place in the municipal building in Windsor on August 11, 2026. Photo by Noel Clark/VTDiggerTown politics in Weston have been contentious in recent months, with the selectboard and residents pitted against each other in recent meetings over ethics and open meeting law complaints.&nbsp;Now, Weston is holding a special election on Sept. 26 to fill empty selectboard seats after two members of the five-member board resigned this summer amid rancorous meetings. So]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-selectboard-mired-in-controversy-weston-to-hold-special-election/</link><pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-selectboard-mired-in-controversy-weston-to-hold-special-election/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Restoring the river’s memory: Bringing back the banks of the Batten Kill]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Sunderland River Project, led in part by Trout Unlimited&rsquo;s Jacob Fetterman, aims to restore a damaged floodplain, stabilize eroding banks, and bring back a more beneficial habitat for trout and other wildlife. Here, Fetterman stands at the edge of the eroded bank and indicates where and when the excavation work and plantings will begin. Photo by Danielle M. Crosier/Bennington BannerThis story by Danielle M. Crosier was first published in the Bennington Banner on Sept. 15, 2026.SUNDERL]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/restoring-the-rivers-memory-bringing-back-the-banks-of-the-batten-kill/</link><pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 23:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/restoring-the-rivers-memory-bringing-back-the-banks-of-the-batten-kill/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM receives $19M grant to build a national neuroscience observatory]]></title><description><![CDATA[The University of Vermont Medical Center complex. Photo courtesy of UVM Health NetworkBrain tissue coated in resin and sliced into pieces could help scientists understand Parkinson&rsquo;s disease. Or, software engineers could use that data to teach a fruit fly to trade Bitcoin.&nbsp;&ldquo;There is so much about the natural world that we don&rsquo;t fully understand, but to unlock those secrets research efforts must occur at a much greater scale,&rdquo; University of Vermont Larner College of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-receives-19m-grant-to-build-a-national-neuroscience-observatory/</link><pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 22:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-receives-19m-grant-to-build-a-national-neuroscience-observatory/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cold September nights have Vermont’s foliage heating up]]></title><description><![CDATA[This year, VTDigger is teaming up with Henry&rsquo;s Weather Channel to help answer the annual question of when and where peak foliage will make its appearance across the state.Each week, we&rsquo;ll bring you an updated look at how foliage is unfolding statewide, paired with a weekend forecast, so you can plan your drive, hike or porch-sitting accordingly. Henry brings meteorological experience and on-the-ground reporting with photos and videos from across the region.Consider this your weekly e]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cold-september-nights-have-vermonts-foliage-heating-up/</link><pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 22:20:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cold-september-nights-have-vermonts-foliage-heating-up/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[D.K. Johnston]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 11/12/1948Syracuse, NYDied: 05/28/2026Philadelphia, PADetails of service:David Keith (D.K.) Johnston was born near Syracuse to Katherine Bates Johnston and Robert Johnston on November 12, 1948.&nbsp; He never stopped enjoying celebrating his birthday, right up until his last one, as friends gathered in his room at Stapeley Hall in Philadelphia.&nbsp; He died on May 28, 2026, after spending almost five years at Stapeley, where he received compassionate care through his long illness, from b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dk-johnston/</link><pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 21:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dk-johnston/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Don’t let scare tactics sink Proposal 4]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Renee McGuinness&rsquo; recent attack on Proposal 4 implies that the purpose of the state constitutional amendment on the November ballot is to raise taxes, expand government bureaucracy, cancel rights and generate lawsuits.Actually, passage of Proposal 4 would add Article 23 to the Vermont Constitution, prohibiting the denial of rights based on race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or national origin. The third and final]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-let-scare-tactics-sink-proposal-4/</link><pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 19:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-let-scare-tactics-sink-proposal-4/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont does not need proposed constitutional amendments]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,In our statewide election this November, Vermont voters will see two amendments to the Vermont Constitution on the ballot: Proposal 3 and Proposal 4.The proposed constitutional amendments were crafted and passed by the majority in the Vermont Legislature with legal end goals in mind. Gov. Phil Scott has zero control over constitutional amendments and cannot veto them. Scott said, &ldquo;I encourage voters to do their homework before making their voices heard&rdquo; regarding the ame]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-does-not-need-proposed-constitutional-amendments/</link><pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 19:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-does-not-need-proposed-constitutional-amendments/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Yankee decommissioning is nearly complete]]></title><description><![CDATA[A worker cuts apart a beam during the deconstruction of the former Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon in October 2023. The salvaged metal from the plant, which is not radioactive, is being recycled. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Susan Smallheer was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Sept. 21, 2026.VERNON &mdash; The sound of jackhammering has largely stopped. And the view of the Connecticut River is frankly astonishing: Gone is the large, five-story pal]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-yankee-decommissioning-is-nearly-complete/</link><pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-yankee-decommissioning-is-nearly-complete/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lock up your guns. It could prevent a suicide.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Seton McIlroy, the executive director of GunSense Vermont.September is Suicide Prevention Month. Last year, 140 Vermonters died by suicide, and nearly two-thirds of these deaths involved a firearm. This is why GunSense Vermont promotes Vermont&rsquo;s secure storage laws. Not only does secure storage prevent children from accessing firearms in the home, but it also helps to prevent or delay a suicidal person from accessing a gun.In the most recent Vermont Youth Risk Behavi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lock-up-your-guns-it-could-prevent-a-suicide/</link><pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lock-up-your-guns-it-could-prevent-a-suicide/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[For laid off St Albans Creamery workers, health insurance benefits run out next week. The union representing them is asking the courts to intervene]]></title><description><![CDATA[The St. Albans Co-op Creamery in St. Albans in August 2019. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTeamsters Local 597, which represents employees at St. Albans Creamery, filed a motion with the Vermont District Court on Tuesday, hoping to force their employer to continue making health insurance contributions while the dairy processing plant remains closed.Without action from the court, the union&rsquo;s insurance is set to expire at the end of the month.&nbsp;The dairy plant, which is owned and o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-laid-off-st-albans-creamery-workers-health-insurance-benefits-run-out-next-week-the-union-representing-them-is-asking-the-courts-to-intervene/</link><pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-laid-off-st-albans-creamery-workers-health-insurance-benefits-run-out-next-week-the-union-representing-them-is-asking-the-courts-to-intervene/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont should watch for three scenarios as Trump targets the midterms]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by John Bossange, who lives in South Burlington.Every day we read or hear about the chaos and confusion surrounding this November&rsquo;s election, especially regarding the campaigns and races for national offices. Here in Vermont, our campaigns seem relatively peaceful and respectful. Our voting process for many village, town and state positions, and for our one U.S. House seat, has not been polluted by doubt and unfounded conspiracy theories alleging fraud, as has happened]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-should-watch-for-three-scenarios-as-trump-targets-the-midterms/</link><pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2026 23:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-should-watch-for-three-scenarios-as-trump-targets-the-midterms/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: ‘There was some justice.’ Hisham Awartani on enduring and speaking out for Palestinian lives.]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Hisham Awartani testifies during Jason Eaton&rsquo;s trial in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Monday, September 14, 2026. Eaton is accused of shooting a now-paralyzed Awartani and two other Palestinian students in November of 2023. Ph]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-there-was-some-justice-hisham-awartani-on-enduring-and-speaking-out-for-palestinian-lives/</link><pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2026 23:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-there-was-some-justice-hisham-awartani-on-enduring-and-speaking-out-for-palestinian-lives/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As pharmacies across Vermont close, North Star Health opens 3 new ones]]></title><description><![CDATA[North Star Health&rsquo;s chief medical officer, pediatrician Dr. Sarah Weidhaas, pharmacy manager, Samantha Tyrrell, and CEO, Josh Dufresne, (right to left) officially open the Springfield Health Center&rsquo;s pharmacy on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Photo by Olivia Gieger/VTDiggerSPRINGFIELD &mdash; In the era of independent pharmacy closures and ballooning drug costs, a new pharmacy that charges less for drugs seems counterintuitive, if not impossible.&nbsp;But that&rsquo;s exactly what North S]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-pharmacies-across-vermont-close-north-star-health-opens-3-new-ones/</link><pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2026 23:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-pharmacies-across-vermont-close-north-star-health-opens-3-new-ones/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[1,240 members raise $100,000 for VTDigger]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger reporter Greta Solsaa interviews people protesting Vice President JD Vance&rsquo;s visit to the Mad River Valley at the Sugarbush Ski Resort in Warren on March 1, 2025. Photo by Evan L&rsquo;Roy/VTDiggerDear Reader,Thanks to 1,240 VTDigger members, we reached our goal and raised $100,795 during our Fall Member Drive to support statewide news for Vermont.We are especially grateful to the 90 readers who chose to make their donations monthly. These new sustaining members provide steady, r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/1240-members-raise-100000-for-vtdigger/</link><pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/1240-members-raise-100000-for-vtdigger/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Celebrating National GEAR UP Week: five Vermont students who are lighting the way]]></title><description><![CDATA[Since 1999, GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) has helped students from modest-income and first-generation families discover their path to postsecondary education and training. This week, VSAC celebrates National GEAR UP Week to share more about the program and its resources, and spotlight a handful of students who working with VSAC&rsquo;s GEAR UP to grow, lead, and prepare for what&rsquo;s next.VSAC&rsquo;s GEAR UP serves 2,000 middle and high school st]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/celebrating-national-gear-up-week-five-vermont-students-who-are-lighting-the-way/</link><pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2026 15:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/celebrating-national-gear-up-week-five-vermont-students-who-are-lighting-the-way/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rural Vermont Rising demands to be heard — now and in the future]]></title><description><![CDATA[Several hundred demonstrators gather to protest Act 181 at the Statehouse in Montpelier in March 2026.The law seeks to modernize Act 250, the land use law. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.TUNBRIDGE &mdash;&nbsp;Over the hubbub of music and corn dog vendors, Amanda Janoo addressed a standing crowd at the World&rsquo;s Fair. She had no microphone, and her voice was fading after weeks on the campaign trail. But t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rural-vermont-rising-demands-to-be-heard-now-and-in-the-future/</link><pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rural-vermont-rising-demands-to-be-heard-now-and-in-the-future/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont man faces federal charge of threatening to kill the president]]></title><description><![CDATA[President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. Photo by Alex Brandon/APBURLINGTON &ndash; A Vermont man has been charged with threatening to kill President Donald Trump.Keegan Lagasse, 21, of Richford, appeared late Tuesday in federal court in Burlington for a first hearing in his case. He was not required to enter a plea at the hearing. Instead, an arraignment will be set for a later date.&nbsp;Lagasse, a court filing stated,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-man-faces-federal-charge-of-threatening-to-kill-the-president/</link><pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-man-faces-federal-charge-of-threatening-to-kill-the-president/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Your map is not my deed]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Libby Moyer, who lives in Vershire and works in communications.I live in one of the two smallest towns in Orange County, Vermont: Vershire. About 670 of us live here, and just three buildings constitute our downtown. We are one of 30 towns whose planning maps are drawn by Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC). That is how 15 to 17 acres of private farmland here were classified and color-coded in a restrictive Future Land Use category.&nbsp;The map is not my d]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/your-map-is-not-my-deed/</link><pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/your-map-is-not-my-deed/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Advocates for public buses say Vermont needs new systems for raising funds]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Green Mountain Transit bus at Burlington&rsquo;s Downtown Transit Center on Sept. 22, 2026. Carly Berlin / Vermont Public<br />
Carly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.As Vermont bus routes are eliminated or become less frequent, a new campaign is calling on state leaders to find a reliable funding source to keep buses rolling.&nbsp;&ldquo;When a route is cut, it isn&rsquo;t just a line on a map that disappears,&rdquo; said Linda Bowden, a tra]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/advocates-for-public-buses-say-vermont-needs-new-systems-for-raising-funds/</link><pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 22:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/advocates-for-public-buses-say-vermont-needs-new-systems-for-raising-funds/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Westmore residents persist in fight against proposed telecommunications tower]]></title><description><![CDATA[Balloons show where the top of proposed Westmore telecommunications tower would be. Photo courtesy of Donna Dzugas-Smith.A group of Westmore residents is continuing in their multi-year fight over a 140-foot telecommunications tower proposed to be installed just northwest of Lake Willoughby, a national natural landmark.The residents have said they do not believe the Public Utility Commission gave proper consideration to comments from the town&rsquo;s planning commission, select board, town plan]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/westmore-residents-persist-in-fight-against-proposed-telecommunications-tower/</link><pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 21:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/westmore-residents-persist-in-fight-against-proposed-telecommunications-tower/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Migration doesn’t follow the climate script Vermonters might expect]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,In a recent commentary for VTDigger regarding tax loopholes for the wealthy, author Dan Jones said, &ldquo;As I watch the South become insufferably hot and the West burn up, Vermont&rsquo;s moderate climate looks more and more attractive. I&rsquo;m pretty sure that, even with increased taxes, our well-to-do property owners won&rsquo;t be going anywhere as the larger climate collapses.&rdquo;Climate change is not a new factor in 2026. The U.S. South and Southwest have been heating up]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/migration-doesnt-follow-the-climate-script-vermonters-might-expect/</link><pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/migration-doesnt-follow-the-climate-script-vermonters-might-expect/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A celebration of “maple-fired” punk highlights challenging times for Vermont’s live music]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dead Street Dreamers performing at The Underground, courtesy of The UndergroundFor Dan O&rsquo;Day, &ldquo;there&rsquo;s no better feeling&rdquo; than performing live music for a crowd and feeling the energy go out and come back to you.&nbsp;&ldquo;I think about these moments of just having people sing along to your songs, know your music, cheering you on,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I think I took a lot of it for granted &mdash; that stuff that normal people don&rsquo;t get to ever experience is th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-celebration-of-maple-fired-punk-highlights-challenging-times-for-vermonts-live-music/</link><pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-celebration-of-maple-fired-punk-highlights-challenging-times-for-vermonts-live-music/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dorothy (Dot) Naylor]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 01/24/1939Newport, Rhode IslandDied: 09/07/2026Berlin, VermontDetails of service:There will be a Celebration of Life on June 5, 2027 at Memorial Hall on Mirror Lake in Calais.In lieu of flowers the family is asking you consider a donation to one of the following organizations:Rural School Community Alliance orNorth Calais Memorial Hall Association 207 G.A.R. Road, Calais VermontDorothy (Openshaw) Naylor of Berlin, previously of Calais, passed away peacefully at Woodridge Nursing and Rehab]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dorothy-dot-naylor/</link><pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dorothy-dot-naylor/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal grants invigorate efforts to address veteran homelessness in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Veterans&rsquo; Place in Northfield. Photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDiggerThe U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently awarded more than $18 million to community organizations across Vermont and New Hampshire, helping those organizations to continue to house and support veterans without homes.&nbsp;&ldquo;Having the funding solidified again and the grants to these organizations really helps ensure veterans are being seen and heard, and getting the opportunities to get their feet back under]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-grants-invigorate-efforts-to-address-veteran-homelessness-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-grants-invigorate-efforts-to-address-veteran-homelessness-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘The family is an entire town’ in Hinesburg]]></title><description><![CDATA[Stevie Spencer, member of the Town Forest Committee, kneels down to search for salamanders. Photo by Kylie DelMaestro/Community News ServiceKylie DelMaestro and Maddy Upston are reporters with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont&rsquo;s Reporting &amp; Documentary Storytelling program.HINESBURG &ndash; Hinesburg Town Forest was an unusual pick by the Vermont Woodlands Association for Tree Farmer of the Year.Winners are usually families, said Kathy Beland, program admin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-family-is-an-entire-town-in-hinesburg/</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-family-is-an-entire-town-in-hinesburg/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Drug injection sites are a good thing for Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,As a person who has seen people slowly die from dirty needles, I&rsquo;m confused by the slow reaction from society. Drug addiction and overdoses cost millions of dollars. Lifesaving surgeries don&rsquo;t always work out. &ldquo;Philly dope&rdquo; infections turn people black from the inside out, leading to amputations that our taxpayers fund.&nbsp;The Danes have already proven the success of injection site systems. Vermont&rsquo;s program is funded by opioid settlement money &mdash]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/drug-injection-sites-are-a-good-thing-for-vermont/</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/drug-injection-sites-are-a-good-thing-for-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fund recovery, not active addiction]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,As a former three-term progressive Burlington city councilor who spent the last 12 years of my career working in the recovery field &mdash; as the executive director of both the Turning Point Center and Recovery Partners of Vermont &mdash; I feel compelled to write about the state of our city.&nbsp;I&rsquo;m opposed to opening a safe injection site in Burlington. Our city is in trouble, and our viability as a destination for vacations and regional leisure activities like dining and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fund-recovery-not-active-addiction/</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 22:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fund-recovery-not-active-addiction/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM and USDA researchers hope to improve local agriculture]]></title><description><![CDATA[The research warehouse at the Food Systems Research Station in Charlotte, Sept. 17, 2026. Photo by Tierney Flavin/VTDigger.Matthew McIntosh&rsquo;s family says he came out of the womb loving cows.&nbsp;Now, McIntosh, who works for the Agricultural Research Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is trying to help Vermont farmers improve the quality and quantity of their cows through the University of Vermont&rsquo;s new Food Systems Research Station.At the station, researchers are seekin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-and-usda-researchers-hope-to-improve-local-agriculture/</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-and-usda-researchers-hope-to-improve-local-agriculture/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘We have more deer than our forests can support’: Norwich walk highlights browse damage]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dan Healey, center, a Vermont county forester based in the White River Junction office, at an event organized by the Upper Valley Land Trust at Brookmead Conservation Area in Norwich, Vt., on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. Photo by Alex Driehaus/Valley NewsThis story by Alex Driehaus was first published in the Valley News on Sept. 14, 2026.&nbsp;NORWICH &mdash; About 30 people walked through the woods at Brookmead Conservation Area recently clad in hiking gear and armed with printouts of a deer browse]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/we-have-more-deer-than-our-forests-can-support-norwich-walk-highlights-browse-damage/</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/we-have-more-deer-than-our-forests-can-support-norwich-walk-highlights-browse-damage/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[An update on VTDigger’s Fall Member Drive]]></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,Over the past several days, VTDigger readers have shown up in a big way to support independent Vermont news. We&rsquo;re incredibly grateful to everyone who made a contribution.Thanks to that support, we&rsquo;re now within reach of our $100,000 goal.If you meant to make a gift during t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-update-on-vtdiggers-fall-member-drive/</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 20:20:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-update-on-vtdiggers-fall-member-drive/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[David Martin]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 10/05/1944New York, NYDied: 09/12/2026Lyndonville, VTDetails of service:A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at:<br />
The York Street Meeting House<br />
153 York St, Lyndonville, VT 05851In lieu of flowers, checks and donations can be sent to The Cobleigh Public Library, P.O. Box 147, Lyndonville, VT 05851; or Indivisible St. Johnsbury.David Robert Martin, born David Robert Zisowitz on October 5, 1944, died of congestive heart failure in Lyndonville, Vermont on]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/david-martin/</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 20:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/david-martin/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Justice has been rendered’: Jury finds Burlington man guilty in shooting of 3 Palestinian students]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton listens to closing arguments during his trial in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. Eaton faces charges of attempted second-degree murder in the shooting of three Palestinian students. Pool photo by Paul Heintz/Boston GlobeUpdated 5:17 p.m.BURLINGTON &mdash; A jury found Jason Eaton guilty on three counts of attempted second-degree murder in the shooting of three Palestinian students as they walked near his apartment nearly three years ago.&n]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/justice-has-been-rendered-jury-finds-burlington-man-guilty-in-shooting-of-3-palestinian-students/</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 19:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/justice-has-been-rendered-jury-finds-burlington-man-guilty-in-shooting-of-3-palestinian-students/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jury finds Burlington man guilty in shooting of 3 Palestinian students]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton listens to closing arguments during his trial in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. Eaton faces charges of attempted second-degree murder in the shooting of three Palestinian students. Pool photo by Paul Heintz/Boston GlobeBURLINGTON &mdash; A jury found Jason Eaton guilty on three counts of attempted second-degree murder in the shooting of three Palestinian students as they walked near his apartment nearly three years ago.Jurors returned the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jury-finds-burlington-man-guilty-in-shooting-of-3-palestinian-students/</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 19:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jury-finds-burlington-man-guilty-in-shooting-of-3-palestinian-students/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Andrew Dexter Morse]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 07/19/1969Burlington, VermontDied: 09/08/2026Morrisville, VermontDetails of service:All family and friends are invited to attend a memorial gathering to honor and celebrate Andrew&rsquo;s life.&nbsp;Location: Elmore State Park, Route 12, Elmore VTTime: Friday Sept 25, 2026, 3pm-5pmAttendees are encouraged to bring fishing stories and good memories.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lamoille Area Cancer Network lacnvt.org, which provided practical support Andrew really appreciate]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/andrew-dexter-morse/</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 19:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/andrew-dexter-morse/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Towns move forward on regulating short-term rentals]]></title><description><![CDATA[A property with an AirBnB listing on Intervale Avenue in Burlington seen in Sept. 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Mark Rondeau was first published in the Bennington Banner on Sept. 16, 2026.Shaftsbury is in the process of developing a short-term rental bylaw, while adjacent North Bennington recently finalized the administrative process for enforcing its short-term rental ordinance.According to Vermont law, short-term rental &ldquo;means a furnished home house, condominiu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/towns-move-forward-on-regulating-short-term-rentals/</link><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 17:20:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/towns-move-forward-on-regulating-short-term-rentals/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The state panel handling labor disputes in Vermont is short on members at a critical moment]]></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 in October 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Labor Relations Board, whose members are appointed by Gov. Phil Scott to resolve disputes between workers and their managers, has been down a third of its members for months &mdash; and hasn&rsquo;t been at full strength in nearly two years.Scott&rsquo;s office says the gover]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-state-panel-handling-labor-disputes-in-vermont-is-short-on-members-at-a-critical-moment/</link><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 15:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-state-panel-handling-labor-disputes-in-vermont-is-short-on-members-at-a-critical-moment/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How many crashes will it take to build a roundabout?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I am discouraged by the discussions about possible roundabouts in Chittenden County. The intersection of Route 2 and Clay Point Road in Colchester, just off Exit 17 on the way to Grand Isle, has seen multiple fatal crashes in recent years. A study by the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission suggested a roundabout as a solution. The cost was estimated at more than $5 million, and the Vermont Agency of Transportation thinks it would take 10 to 20 years to complete.&nbsp;&nbs]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-many-crashes-will-it-take-to-build-a-roundabout/</link><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 15:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-many-crashes-will-it-take-to-build-a-roundabout/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As financial hardship drives owners to give up pets, Vermont can’t rehome them fast enough]]></title><description><![CDATA[Angela Barrows hugs 4-month-old Tina after adopting her at a Wag It Forward pet adoption event in South Burlington on Sunday, September 13, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Until last year, J.A. and her husband had been able to support themselves, their kids and their two dogs in their Bennington County home without financial strain. She had a &ldquo;really great job&rdquo; in the ski industry, and he recently]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-financial-hardship-drives-owners-to-give-up-pets-vermont-cant-rehome-them-fast-enough/</link><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 14:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-financial-hardship-drives-owners-to-give-up-pets-vermont-cant-rehome-them-fast-enough/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[This Vermont documentarian has filmed three decades of hard things. So why is she now focusing on hope?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Members of Vermont&rsquo;s Writers for Recovery support group hug in a moment from Bess O&rsquo;Brien&rsquo;s new documentary &ldquo;Every Day: Big and Small.&rdquo; Photo courtesy Kingdom County ProductionsVermont filmmaker Bess O&rsquo;Brien had finished her last documentary &mdash; the 2024 on-the-ground look at food and housing insecurity, &ldquo;Just Getting By&rdquo; &mdash; when she hungered for a change.&ldquo;A lot of my films through the years have tackled big issues,&rdquo; recalled]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/this-vermont-documentarian-has-filmed-three-decades-of-hard-things-so-why-is-she-now-focusing-on-hope/</link><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 13:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/this-vermont-documentarian-has-filmed-three-decades-of-hard-things-so-why-is-she-now-focusing-on-hope/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Upper Valley’s widening tick-borne disease problem]]></title><description><![CDATA[Paul Guyre looks at photos of his wife Veronica on display at his home in Lyme, N.H., on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. Photo by Alex Driehaus/Valley NewsThis story by Molly Hughes was first published in the Valley News on Sept. 18, 2026.Paul Guyre got home from his lab one evening about 15 years ago and found his wife, Veronica, covered in hives from head to toe. She was too weak to get to her inhaler.&ldquo;She lived to tell about it,&rdquo; Guyre said. &ldquo;But it was really horrible.&rdquo;The c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-upper-valleys-widening-tick-borne-disease-problem/</link><pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 14:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-upper-valleys-widening-tick-borne-disease-problem/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jurors to begin deliberations after closing arguments Monday in attempted murder trial]]></title><description><![CDATA[Judge John Pacht speaks from the bench during the trial of Jason Eaton, who is charged with attempted second-degree murder, in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Friday, September 18, 2026. Pool photo by Paul Heintz/Boston GlobeBURLINGTON &mdash; Jurors have heard the evidence in the trial of a Burlington man accused of shooting three Palestinian students but won&rsquo;t begin deciding his fate until next week.&nbsp;The judge sent jurors in the Jason Eaton trial home early Frid]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jurors-to-begin-deliberations-after-closing-arguments-monday-in-attempted-murder-trial/</link><pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jurors-to-begin-deliberations-after-closing-arguments-monday-in-attempted-murder-trial/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[School districts assigned to new merger discussion groups]]></title><description><![CDATA[Harwood Union High School in Duxbury in August 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSchool districts across the state have been assigned to new groups to consider mergers after 13 districts requested changes ahead of groups&rsquo; first meetings, set to happen in the coming weeks.&nbsp;Those requests, school board leaders say, are representative of districts exercising local control early in a process they say is still muddied by unknowns.&nbsp;The new assignments announced Friday group th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/school-districts-assigned-to-new-merger-discussion-groups/</link><pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 23:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/school-districts-assigned-to-new-merger-discussion-groups/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Proposal 4 would enshrine unequal rights, not equal ones]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Renee McGuinness, the spokesperson for No on Proposal 4 PAC and the policy analyst for the Vermont Family Alliance.Think your taxes are high now? If a majority of Vermonters vote to adopt Proposal 4 on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, get ready for them to go even higher.&nbsp;Proposal 4 is being sold as an equal rights amendment. It is the opposite.The impact of Proposal 4 would be to provide the legal framework to sustain Vermont&rsquo;s existing discriminatory laws a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/proposal-4-would-enshrine-unequal-rights-not-equal-ones/</link><pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 23:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/proposal-4-would-enshrine-unequal-rights-not-equal-ones/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pre-dawn calf washes and tail fluffing: Scenes from opening day at Tunbridge World’s Fair ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Adelyn Pike, 8, of Bradford, with her oxen team at the Tunbridge World&rsquo;s Fair. Photo by Jeb Wallace-Brodeur for VTDiggerAt the Tunbridge World&rsquo;s Fair, the future of Vermont farming depends on the kids &mdash; and their massive animals &mdash; who are keeping the traditions alive.&ldquo;Not a lot of people get to interact with animals, especially big animals like this,&rdquo; said Sylvia Johnson, 17, hanging out near her grand champion heifer, Gift. &ldquo;So it&rsquo;s kind of cool]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pre-dawn-calf-washes-and-tail-fluffing-scenes-from-opening-day-at-tunbridge-worlds-fair/</link><pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pre-dawn-calf-washes-and-tail-fluffing-scenes-from-opening-day-at-tunbridge-worlds-fair/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Where there’s a will, there’s a way: Pop-up clinic to offer free estate planning services]]></title><description><![CDATA[A free pop-up clinic for estate planning will be held at Community National Bank in Barre on Saturday. Photo by Emma White/VTDiggerAs Vermonters age, the lawyers who can help put their final wishes in writing are getting older &mdash; and scarcer &mdash; too.With Vermont&rsquo;s large aging population and shortage of lawyers, it can be tough to find legal counsel to help a person specify who inherits the assets and objects they leave behind. The issue is compounded by the rate of aging legal pr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/where-theres-a-will-theres-a-way-pop-up-clinic-to-offer-free-estate-planning-services/</link><pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/where-theres-a-will-theres-a-way-pop-up-clinic-to-offer-free-estate-planning-services/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal government rejects winning bid for Montpelier’s former post office]]></title><description><![CDATA[The building that houses the former Montpelier post office is up for auction, again. Seen on Thursday, June 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe federal government has rejected the winning bid for Montpelier&rsquo;s former downtown post office building, throwing the future of the building into uncertainty.&nbsp;The 87 State Street Local Development Corporation, a nonprofit coalition of local organizations and developers, had made the winning bid of $540,000 in the auction that ended in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-government-rejects-winning-bid-for-montpeliers-former-post-office/</link><pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-government-rejects-winning-bid-for-montpeliers-former-post-office/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont funded lawyers for tenants facing eviction. The program is out of money. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Legal Aid&rsquo;s offices in Burlington on Sept. 17, 2026. Photo by Carly Berlin/Vermont Public and VTDigger<br />
Carly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.Last year, Steve Koren slept on a friend&rsquo;s sofa for nearly six months while searching for an apartment he could afford on his Social Security disability payments and gig work. When the 54-year-old with lupus landed a studio apartment at a subsidized building in downtown Brattlebo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-funded-lawyers-for-tenants-facing-eviction-the-program-is-out-of-money/</link><pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-funded-lawyers-for-tenants-facing-eviction-the-program-is-out-of-money/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jason Eaton tries to fire his attorneys midway through his attempted murder trial]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton attends his trial on charges of attempted second-degree murder in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Thursday, September 17, 2026. Pool photo by Paul Heintz/Boston GlobeBURLINGTON &mdash; A Burlington man accused of shooting and wounding three Palestinian college students told a judge midway through his trial that he wanted to fire his attorneys, contending that his lawyers failed to properly question witnesses and present evidence.Jason Eaton&rsquo;s request Thursd]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jason-eaton-tries-to-fire-his-attorneys-midway-through-his-attempted-murder-trial/</link><pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 01:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jason-eaton-tries-to-fire-his-attorneys-midway-through-his-attempted-murder-trial/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lincoln residents seek public hearing as state board weighs proposed airstrip]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Lt. Gov. John Rodgers speaks to the crowd at a Sept. 14 forum at Burnham Hall focused on the proposed airstrip Lincoln residents Kyle and Katie Clark have been seeking approval to site at their property since 2022. Photo by Marin Howell/Addison IndependentThis story by Marin Howell was first published in the Addison Independent on Sept. 17, 2026.LINCOLN &mdash; The fate of a proposed personal aircraft strip in Lincoln no longer rests in the hands of that municipality, but some residents]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lincoln-residents-seek-public-hearing-as-state-board-weighs-proposed-airstrip/</link><pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lincoln-residents-seek-public-hearing-as-state-board-weighs-proposed-airstrip/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Scott administration: Expect tighter state budget to make room for tax cuts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Commissioner of Finance and Management Adam Greshin speaks as a House and Senate budget conference committee discusses the budget bill at the Statehouse in Montpelier in 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerGov. Phil Scott is planning to propose a state budget that features little new spending if he gets reelected in November, one of his top deputies told a panel of Vermont House and Senate leaders Wednesday.That&rsquo;s in part because the governor also plans to propose new &mdash; but as]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/scott-administration-expect-tighter-state-budget-to-make-room-for-tax-cuts/</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 23:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/scott-administration-expect-tighter-state-budget-to-make-room-for-tax-cuts/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The challenge for Vermont hospitals: keep costs low, care accessible and their doors open]]></title><description><![CDATA[Springfield Hospital in Springfield in June 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe state&rsquo;s most powerful healthcare regulator thinks Vermont&rsquo;s 14 hospitals can keep costs low, provide care and find financial sustainability. Not all the hospitals agree.In budget orders handed down Monday, the Green Mountain Care Board built on its efforts last year to shrink hospital budgets.This year, the independent state regulator focused on not only reducing hospital revenue, but how much]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-challenge-for-vermont-hospitals-keep-costs-low-care-accessible-and-their-doors-open-2/</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-challenge-for-vermont-hospitals-keep-costs-low-care-accessible-and-their-doors-open-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The challenge for Vermont hospitals: Keep costs low, care accessible and their doors open.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Springfield Hospital in Springfield in June 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe state&rsquo;s most powerful healthcare regulator thinks Vermont&rsquo;s 14 hospitals can keep costs low, provide care and find financial sustainability. Not all the hospitals agree.In budget orders handed down Monday, the Green Mountain Care Board built on its efforts last year to shrink hospital budgets.This year, the independent state regulator focused on not only reducing hospital revenue, but how much]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-challenge-for-vermont-hospitals-keep-costs-low-care-accessible-and-their-doors-open/</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-challenge-for-vermont-hospitals-keep-costs-low-care-accessible-and-their-doors-open/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Feds’ lawsuit demanding Vermont voter data tossed by federal judge]]></title><description><![CDATA[Secretary of State Sarah Copeland-Hanzas speaks during a press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier in June 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Vermont does not have to provide sensitive voter registration data to the Trump administration, a federal judge ruled Thursday, tossing a lawsuit filed over the issue by the U.S. Department of Justice against Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Vermont&rsquo;s secretary of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/feds-lawsuit-demanding-vermont-voter-data-tossed-by-federal-judge/</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 23:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/feds-lawsuit-demanding-vermont-voter-data-tossed-by-federal-judge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Southern Vermont healthcare provider to pay more than $390,000 over allegations it mishandled Medicaid funds]]></title><description><![CDATA[Health Care &amp; Rehabilitation Services Headquarters in Springfield. Courtesy photo.A nonprofit that provides mental health, substance use and developmental disability-related services in Windham and Windsor counties will pay the state more than $390,000 to settle claims that the organization kept Medicaid funds that it should have returned to the state, the attorney general&rsquo;s office said.&nbsp;Health Care &amp; Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont, which is based in Springfi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/southern-vermont-healthcare-provider-to-pay-more-than-390000-over-allegations-it-mishandled-medicaid-funds/</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 22:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/southern-vermont-healthcare-provider-to-pay-more-than-390000-over-allegations-it-mishandled-medicaid-funds/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[I’m a former second-home owner. We should tax second homes higher. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Alden Wicker, a homeowner, journalist and author who lives in Windham.In 2014, I bought an income-restricted co-op in Brooklyn for $250,000. The market price for that apartment would have been around $650,000, but it was under New York City&rsquo;s Housing Development Fund Corporation, a low-income housing cooperative with rules to prevent these units from becoming investments instead of homes. If your income is below the neighborhood&rsquo;s median and it will be your pri]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/im-a-former-second-home-owner-we-should-tax-second-homes-higher/</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 21:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/im-a-former-second-home-owner-we-should-tax-second-homes-higher/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stop taxing Vermonters out of their own homes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,A real solution to the property tax problem is to abolish property taxes on homestead property. Tax sales of homestead property should also be banned. The lost revenue could be made up in other ways that are less impactful on most residents. State income tax could make up a large share of the revenue, with a bigger increase for high earners. Nonhomestead property would need to be classed under some new categories.Property with structures on it should be divided into suitable for hab]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stop-taxing-vermonters-out-of-their-own-homes/</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 20:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stop-taxing-vermonters-out-of-their-own-homes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[All gifts tripled in final stretch of VTDigger Fall Member Drive]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger reporter Ethan Weinstein at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Monday, June 16, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDear Reader,VTDigger&rsquo;s critical Fall Member Drive ends on Saturday at midnight. Will you make a gift that will go three times as far before the deadline?<br />
Triple your impact<br />
Your donation gives our reporters the time to ask another question, track down another document, travel across the state and stay focused on a complicated story. It keeps our election coverage stro]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/all-gifts-tripled-in-final-stretch-of-vtdigger-fall-member-drive/</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/all-gifts-tripled-in-final-stretch-of-vtdigger-fall-member-drive/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[All gifts matched in final stretch of VTDigger Fall Member Drive]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger reporter Ethan Weinstein at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Monday, June 16, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDear Reader,There are only a few days left in our Fall Member Drive. Right now, every gift is being matched dollar for dollar. Will you make a gift that will go twice as far before Saturday at midnight?<br />
Double your impact<br />
Your donation gives our reporters the time to ask another question, track down another document, travel across the state and stay focused on a complicated]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/all-gifts-matched-in-final-stretch-of-vtdigger-fall-member-drive/</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/all-gifts-matched-in-final-stretch-of-vtdigger-fall-member-drive/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Go stop them now,’ Burlington man says a voice told him before shooting three Palestinian students, recording reveals in trial]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton appears during his trial in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Monday, September 14, 2026. Eaton is accused of shooting three Palestinian students in November of 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &ndash; Jurors heard from Jason Eaton saying that he was acting under the direction of&nbsp; voices he was hearing through his FM radio from CIA and government intelligence agencies before authorities allege he opened fire and injured three Palestinian student]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/go-stop-them-now-burlington-man-says-a-voice-told-him-before-shooting-three-palestinian-students-recording-reveals-in-trial/</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 01:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/go-stop-them-now-burlington-man-says-a-voice-told-him-before-shooting-three-palestinian-students-recording-reveals-in-trial/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Go stop them now,’ Burlington man says a voice told him before shooting 3 Palestinian students, recording reveals in trial]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton appears during his trial in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Monday, September 14, 2026. Eaton is accused of shooting three Palestinian students in November of 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &ndash; Jurors heard from Jason Eaton saying that he was acting under the direction of&nbsp; voices he was hearing through his FM radio from CIA and government intelligence agencies before authorities allege he opened fire and injured three Palestinian student]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/go-stop-them-now-burlington-man-says-a-voice-told-him-before-shooting-3-palestinian-students-recording-reveals-in-trial/</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 01:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/go-stop-them-now-burlington-man-says-a-voice-told-him-before-shooting-3-palestinian-students-recording-reveals-in-trial/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cold shoulder: Brattleboro won’t be welcoming ICE]]></title><description><![CDATA[A couple hundred people march from Plaza Park to the Wells Fountain in Brattleboro during a locally organized No Kings march on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Photo by Kristopher Radder/Brattleboro ReformerThis story by Chris Mays was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Sept. 15, 2026.BRATTLEBORO &mdash; Local police aren&rsquo;t planning to work with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers if they come to town.&nbsp;At a special selectboard meeting Monday, Brattleboro Police]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cold-shoulder-brattleboro-wont-be-welcoming-ice/</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 01:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cold-shoulder-brattleboro-wont-be-welcoming-ice/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Barre schools eye cuts to sports and other activities after budget fails on third attempt]]></title><description><![CDATA[Signs advocating for and against the Barre school district&rsquo;s budget stand outside the Barre Town Middle and Elementary School on Sept. 15, 2026. Photo by Charlotte Oliver/VTDiggerBARRE &mdash; Board members in the Barre Unified Union School District will look at making cuts to winter sports, school transportation and extracurricular activities after voters rejected the district&rsquo;s annual budget for the third time Tuesday.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s definitely a heartbreaking result becau]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/barre-schools-eye-cuts-to-sports-and-other-activities-after-budget-fails-on-third-attempt/</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/barre-schools-eye-cuts-to-sports-and-other-activities-after-budget-fails-on-third-attempt/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Filmmaker Bess O’Brien on connection, resilience and joy after tragedy]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Filmmaker Bess O&rsquo;Brien. Courtesy photoBess O&rsquo;Brien is best known for making award-winning documentary films that take deep dives into difficult issues like addiction, hunger and homelessness.&nbsp;With her latest film, she is taking a differe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-filmmaker-bess-obrien-on-connection-resilience-and-joy-after-tragedy/</link><pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-filmmaker-bess-obrien-on-connection-resilience-and-joy-after-tragedy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Training doctors is worth every dollar]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,In defense of my profession, I wish to clarify what lies at the core of medicine: using a distinct skill set to care for people. Have you ever seen a skilled obstetrician deliver twins? Or an orthopedic or emergency medicine provider set a broken humerus? A primary care doctor identifying and treating depression, truly a life-saving clinical skill?The practice of medicine begins with hands-on education and training, just like nursing, dental and social work professions. This is simi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/training-doctors-is-worth-every-dollar/</link><pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/training-doctors-is-worth-every-dollar/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Homeless in Vermont? The path to housing is harder than it should be]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Maryellen Griffin, a staff attorney at Vermont Legal Aid.Homelessness is complicated, but for each person the solution is the same: a home. Vermont needs a clear, coordinated path connecting people experiencing homelessness with the affordable housing the public has already funded.Vermont recently reduced the number of motel rooms available for emergency housing during most of the year from 1,100 to 700. For the roughly 4,000 Vermonters experiencing homelessness, including]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/homeless-in-vermont-the-path-to-housing-is-harder-than-it-should-be/</link><pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/homeless-in-vermont-the-path-to-housing-is-harder-than-it-should-be/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fall foliage varies from year to year, for leaf-peepers and trees]]></title><description><![CDATA[Leaves show their fall colors in Jericho in September 2020. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerJosh Halman flew over Vermont&rsquo;s woods late last summer and saw something that surprised him.Swaths of trees had already gone brown, scorched by an extreme drought that affected more than 64,000 acres.&nbsp;This year, from the same vantage, things are looking up.&ldquo;We haven&rsquo;t seen anything even close to the level of damage we were seeing in the foliage last year,&rdquo; said Halman, wh]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fall-foliage-varies-from-year-to-year-for-leaf-peepers-and-trees/</link><pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 22:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fall-foliage-varies-from-year-to-year-for-leaf-peepers-and-trees/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State restricts new superintendent hires to one year]]></title><description><![CDATA[Zoie Saunders, interim secretary of education, listens during Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s weekly press conference held at the Central Vermont Technical Center in Barre in June 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Sophia Keshmiri was first published in the Addison Independent on Sept. 11, 2026.VERGENNES &mdash; As the Addison Northwest School District gets the search for a new superintendent underway, the secretary of education confirmed to its board on Friday that going forward s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-restricts-new-superintendent-hires-to-one-year/</link><pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 22:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-restricts-new-superintendent-hires-to-one-year/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New York Times investigative reporter Eric Lipton to speak in South Burlington]]></title><description><![CDATA[Headshot courtesy of Eric Lipton; illustration by Taylor Haynes/VTDiggerAs the midterm elections approach, VTDigger and Seven Days will co-host a public talk with Eric Lipton, a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner and investigative reporter for The New York Times.<br />
When: Friday, Oct. 9. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; the program begins at 6 p.m.Where: Delta Hotels, South BurlingtonTickets: Tickets are $15 and must be purchased online in advance. The event is expected to fill quickly.Accessibility and park]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-york-times-investigative-reporter-eric-lipton-to-speak-in-south-burlington/</link><pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-york-times-investigative-reporter-eric-lipton-to-speak-in-south-burlington/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Step by step, Stacy Emerson is achieving her dream of becoming a registered nurse]]></title><description><![CDATA[Stacy Emerson at graduation with her instructor and mentor, Nancy Noble.Stacy Emerson describes herself as &ldquo;a bit of a mother hen.&rdquo; She&rsquo;s on the older end of her classmates in her nursing cohort at Vermont State University (Vermont State), and she&rsquo;s always looking out for her friends and coworkers. The friendships she&rsquo;s formed among her nursing peers are so strong that, with their encouragement, she&rsquo;s continuing on to complete her associate degree and plans t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/step-by-step-stacy-emerson-is-achieving-her-dream-of-becoming-a-registered-nurse/</link><pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/step-by-step-stacy-emerson-is-achieving-her-dream-of-becoming-a-registered-nurse/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fatal crash case relocated amid concerns over an impartial jury]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kyle Hunt, second from left in the front row, sits with his attorney Timothy Fair during Hunt&rsquo;s arraignment at the Orange County Courthouse in Chelsea, Vt., in March 2026. Hunt pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of vehicle operation-gross negligence/fatal and to a misdemeanor charge of giving false information to a law enforcement officer. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsThis story by Alex Ebrahimi was first published in the Valley News on Sept. 14, 2026.CHELSEA &mdash; On the eveni]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fatal-crash-case-relocated-amid-concerns-over-an-impartial-jury/</link><pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fatal-crash-case-relocated-amid-concerns-over-an-impartial-jury/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Potential sale brings the former Sterling campus closer to new beginnings]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Sterling College campus in Craftsbury. Photo courtesy of Sterling CollegeWhen Sterling College graduated its last student in May, its trustees faced a hard question. With the school closing for good, what happens to the campus?&nbsp;This week, they got closer to an answer.The former school and Headwaters Community Trust, an organization that provides affordable housing and land in the Northeast Kingdom, signed a sale purchase agreement. The two sides have not finalized the expected transiti]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/potential-sale-brings-the-former-sterling-campus-closer-to-new-beginnings/</link><pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/potential-sale-brings-the-former-sterling-campus-closer-to-new-beginnings/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hundreds of layoffs announced at the two largest healthcare networks Vermonters rely on]]></title><description><![CDATA[TeleED hub: Alison Kapadia, MD, and Daryl Holthoff, RN, providing emergency care to patients via the TeleED hub. Photo courtesy of Dartmouth HealthHundreds of layoffs are underway at the two major healthcare networks Vermonters rely on.Facing similar financial challenges, both Dartmouth Health and the University of Vermont Health network announced the cuts Tuesday ahead of the Oct. 1 start to hospitals&rsquo; fiscal year.&nbsp;UVM Health is in the process of laying off 199 staffers, according t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hundreds-of-layoffs-announced-at-the-two-largest-healthcare-networks-vermonters-rely-on/</link><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hundreds-of-layoffs-announced-at-the-two-largest-healthcare-networks-vermonters-rely-on/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hundreds of layoffs announced at the 2 largest healthcare networks Vermonters rely on]]></title><description><![CDATA[TeleED hub: Alison Kapadia, MD, and Daryl Holthoff, RN, providing emergency care to patients via the TeleED hub. Photo courtesy of Dartmouth HealthHundreds of layoffs are underway at the two major healthcare networks Vermonters rely on.Facing similar financial challenges, both Dartmouth Health and the University of Vermont Health network announced the cuts Tuesday ahead of the Oct. 1 start to hospitals&rsquo; fiscal year.&nbsp;UVM Health is in the process of laying off 199 staffers, according t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hundreds-of-layoffs-announced-at-the-2-largest-healthcare-networks-vermonters-rely-on/</link><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hundreds-of-layoffs-announced-at-the-2-largest-healthcare-networks-vermonters-rely-on/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[My friend is being crushed for one sentence spoken to a president]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Benjamin Hoffer, an environmental engineering master&rsquo;s student at &Eacute;cole Polytechnique de Paris.On Sept. 8 I traveled to a tribunal in Paris to testify in a criminal case brought on behalf of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, against a 22-year-old student. I never got the chance. I was sequestered with the other nine witnesses, waiting to be called one at a time &mdash; and the next thing we knew, the courtroom was emptied. We were physically forced out of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/my-friend-is-being-crushed-for-one-sentence-spoken-to-a-president/</link><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/my-friend-is-being-crushed-for-one-sentence-spoken-to-a-president/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stowe man sentenced to life in NEK double murder]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Federal Building in Burlington in Sept. 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Stowe man who avoided the death penalty was handed two consecutive life sentences in the 2023 fatal shootings of two men in the Northeast Kingdom.&ldquo;This crime shocked Vermont in its callousness and left the families of two young men with a grief that will never end,&rdquo; Vermont State Police Criminal Division Commander Major Ashley Barnes wrote in a press release from the U.S. Attorney&rsquo;s office]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stowe-man-sentenced-to-life-in-nek-double-murder/</link><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stowe-man-sentenced-to-life-in-nek-double-murder/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Prosecutors present gun, cellphone evidence they say links Burlington man to shooting of three Palestinian students]]></title><description><![CDATA[Harry Jeppe, a firearms examiner with the Vermont Forensic Laboratory, testifies in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Pool photo by Paul Heintz/Boston GlobeBURLINGTON &mdash; The state rested its case against the Burlington man accused of shooting and wounding three Palestinian students, presenting law enforcement and forensic witnesses whose testimony prosecutors say tied him to the crimes.&nbsp;The move by the state comes on the second day of the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/prosecutors-present-gun-cellphone-evidence-they-say-links-burlington-man-to-shooting-of-three-palestinian-students/</link><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 22:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/prosecutors-present-gun-cellphone-evidence-they-say-links-burlington-man-to-shooting-of-three-palestinian-students/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s largest hospital needs to further cut its revenue and spending next year]]></title><description><![CDATA[The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington on Monday, November 23, 2020. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUVM Medical Center will need to take on even more austerity measures this coming fiscal year, the Green Mountain Care Board ruled late Monday.The board ordered the hospital to cut what it charges commercial insurers by 4.4%, a $32.4 million decrease from last year. Commercial insurance will bring in $1.054 billion in revenue for the medical center &mdash;&nbsp;the majority of the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-largest-hospital-needs-to-further-cut-its-revenue-and-spending-next-year/</link><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 19:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-largest-hospital-needs-to-further-cut-its-revenue-and-spending-next-year/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The housing fix hiding in Vermont’s spare bedrooms]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Vermont has the highest share of households unable to afford the median-priced new home, according to the National Association of Home Builders, with approximately 92% of its households falling short of the income requirement.&nbsp;So how can Vermont create the housing Vermonters need and can afford and do it promptly? The cost of new construction is prohibitive, and it takes too long because of the time required to design, approve and finance it.Currently, 70% of Vermont households]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-housing-fix-hiding-in-vermonts-spare-bedrooms/</link><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 19:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-housing-fix-hiding-in-vermonts-spare-bedrooms/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger launches 2026 Vermont general election guide]]></title><description><![CDATA[Illustration by Taylor Haynes/VTDiggerVTDigger has launched its 2026 Election Guide ahead of this year&rsquo;s general election.There&rsquo;s no presidential race on the ballot, but all of Vermont&rsquo;s state and county-level offices, our lone U.S. House seat and two other ballot items are up for Vermonters to vote on. Your vote will determine the balance of power in Montpelier and who occupies Vermont&rsquo;s highest offices.&nbsp;<br />
Go to the Election Guide<br />
The race for governor between polit]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-launches-2026-vermont-general-election-guide/</link><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-launches-2026-vermont-general-election-guide/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to vote in Vermont’s 2026 general election]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont&rsquo;s general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.There are two ways to vote:<br />
Early voting by mail or in person, from when ballots are available to Nov. 2.In person at your polling place on Nov. 3. Bring the ballot mailed to you if you have one.<br />
All U.S. citizens who are residents of Vermont and will be 18 or older for the general election on Nov. 3, 2026, are eligible to register to vote in the election.Voter registrationTo vote in the general election, you must be registered to vote in Verm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-to-vote-in-vermonts-2026-general-election/</link><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-to-vote-in-vermonts-2026-general-election/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Directed by voices or acting on his own? Mental state of man accused of shooting Palestinian students is focus of trial]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton watches as Hisham Awartani arrives to testify in Eaton&rsquo;s trial inChttenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Monday, September 14, 2026. Eaton is accused of shooting three Palestinian students, including a now-paralyzed Awartani, in November of 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; An attorney said his client was hearing voices directing him through the radio and was legally insane when he is alleged to have shot and wounded three Palestinian students]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/directed-by-voices-or-acting-on-his-own-mental-state-of-man-accused-of-shooting-palestinian-students-is-focus-of-trial/</link><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/directed-by-voices-or-acting-on-his-own-mental-state-of-man-accused-of-shooting-palestinian-students-is-focus-of-trial/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New tech policy takes shape at Lamoille South Supervisory Union]]></title><description><![CDATA[Buses pick up students at the end of the day at the Westford School in Westford on Thursday, April 17, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Liberty Darr was first published in the News &amp; Citizen on Sept. 10, 2026.When Stowe parent Molly Triffin Gaines attended &ldquo;meet the teacher night&rdquo; for her daughter&rsquo;s third grade class just ahead of the new school year, she was surprised and thrilled to find that cursive writing was back on the curriculum.Parents acros]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-tech-policy-takes-shape-at-lamoille-south-supervisory-union/</link><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-tech-policy-takes-shape-at-lamoille-south-supervisory-union/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State regulators tell Brattleboro hospital to revise its proposed budget for further review]]></title><description><![CDATA[Supporters of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital&rsquo;s birthing center march in the town&rsquo;s Fourth of July parade. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerState regulators will delay a decision on a proposed budget for the financially ailing Brattleboro Memorial Hospital after the southeastern Vermont healthcare hub filed its plan late and with last-minute changes &mdash; including a surprise reprieve for its set-to-close birthing center.At an online hearing Monday, Vermont&rsquo;s Green Mounta]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-regulators-tell-brattleboro-hospital-to-revise-its-proposed-budget-for-further-review/</link><pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 23:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-regulators-tell-brattleboro-hospital-to-revise-its-proposed-budget-for-further-review/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[FEMA approves funding for at least 90 buyouts in Vermont, providing relief for flood survivors]]></title><description><![CDATA[Traffic flows along a temporary bridge across the Great Brook after the original was washed away in this summer&rsquo;s flooding on Mill Street in Plainfield on Monday, September 23, 2024. The floodwaters also swept away several apartments in the building on the right. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFlood recovery aid is on its way to dozens of Vermont families who have been waiting for years.&nbsp;The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved the vast majority of buyout applications th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fema-approves-funding-for-at-least-90-buyouts-in-vermont-providing-relief-for-flood-survivors/</link><pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 23:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fema-approves-funding-for-at-least-90-buyouts-in-vermont-providing-relief-for-flood-survivors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Curt Crowell Peterson]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 02/05/1943Plainfield, New JerseyDied: 09/01/2026Windsor, VermontDetails of service:Curt Crowell Peterson of Hartland, Vermont, formerly of Weston, Massachusetts, passed away from prostate cancer on September 1, 2026.Born in 1943, he was the son of Carl Peterson and Gladys Crowell. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Cross Peterson; his children, Jennifer, Mark, Gretchen, Heather, and Erik Peterson; his grandchildren, Ruth Peterson, Owein Labarr, Mae Peterson, and Parker Rowley; his siste]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/curt-crowell-peterson/</link><pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/curt-crowell-peterson/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s new homelessness policy abandons people in crisis]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I read Carly Berlin&rsquo;s recent story in VTDigger about Vermont&rsquo;s new homelessness assistance policy with sadness. Apparently both our Republican governor and the Democratic Legislature are complicit in this. My familiarity with the subject derives mainly from the dozen years I spent in the Vermont attorney general&rsquo;s office representing the Department for Children and Families in administrative hearings, often concerning denials of assistance to people in housing emer]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-new-homelessness-policy-abandons-people-in-crisis/</link><pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-new-homelessness-policy-abandons-people-in-crisis/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Lt. Gov. John Rodgers says he’ll pay reduced fine to settle weed grow business violation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lt. Gov. John Rodgers presides over the Senate at the Statehouse in Montpelier in Feb. 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont Lt. Gov. John Rodgers plans to pay a reduced fine to state regulators in order to settle a case in which he grew at least 100 cannabis plants for his business at a site in Glover where he did not have permission to do so, he said.Rodgers acknowledged in an interview that he &ldquo;made a mistake&rdquo; by failing to follow the Cannabis Control Board&rsquo;s ru]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lt-gov-john-rodgers-says-hell-pay-reduced-fine-to-settle-weed-grow-business-violation/</link><pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lt-gov-john-rodgers-says-hell-pay-reduced-fine-to-settle-weed-grow-business-violation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[It’s time to close Vermont’s tax loopholes for the wealthy]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Dan Jones, who has worked for many years on sustainability and resilience in Montpelier and was the founder and director of the Sustainable Montpelier Coalition.Recently, I received an interesting lesson on how privileged Vermonters will use our state&rsquo;s protective tax laws to shield themselves when I got into a conversation with a woman who is a member of what I will call the &ldquo;well-to-do&rdquo; class.&ldquo;This whole idea of taxing second homes more to pay for]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-time-to-close-vermonts-tax-loopholes-for-the-wealthy/</link><pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-time-to-close-vermonts-tax-loopholes-for-the-wealthy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rural Vermont is running out of places to give birth]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Selin Tukel, a medical student at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine who is an advocate for equitable healthcare with an interest in obstetrics and women&rsquo;s health.Access to maternity care in the U.S. has shrunk in recent years. Shockingly, more than half of U.S. counties do not have a hospital that provides labor and delivery services, according to the 2026 March of Dimes report. In Vermont, it took an average of about 22 minutes to reach the neares]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rural-vermont-is-running-out-of-places-to-give-birth/</link><pubDate>Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rural-vermont-is-running-out-of-places-to-give-birth/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawmakers examine Department of Corrections policy keeping more people in prison past their minimum sentences]]></title><description><![CDATA[Defender General Matthew Valerio testifies before the Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee at the statehouse in Montpelier in September 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont lawmakers responsible for overseeing the Department of Corrections are taking a closer look at a department policy that has expanded the criteria the department uses to keep people incarcerated beyond their minimum sentence.&nbsp;The policy, known as risk containment, has prompted concern from advocates]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-examine-department-of-corrections-policy-keeping-more-people-in-prison-past-their-minimum-sentences/</link><pubDate>Sun, 13 Sep 2026 15:35:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawmakers-examine-department-of-corrections-policy-keeping-more-people-in-prison-past-their-minimum-sentences/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pittsford Village Farm opens with new childcare operation and affordable apartments]]></title><description><![CDATA[The farmhouse restoration project at the Pittfsord Village Farm features two rental apartments, a childcare center and a retail operation. Seen in Pittsford on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWhat began as a vision among Pittsford residents in 2018 will become reality Sept. 15, when a childcare center in the newly restored Pittsford Village Farm is set to open.Already, two families have moved into new affordable apartments, and a new drink shop called Small Town Nut]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pittsford-village-farm-opens-with-new-childcare-operation-and-affordable-apartments/</link><pubDate>Sun, 13 Sep 2026 14:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pittsford-village-farm-opens-with-new-childcare-operation-and-affordable-apartments/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Revealed in the river]]></title><description><![CDATA[Annette Spaulding prepares to dive in the Connecticut River on Aug. 15, 2025. Spaulding was a member of the team of historians that discovered a Colonial-era blockhouse built for the Crown Point Road that had been submerged in the river for many decades. Photo by Lonnie Lisai/The CommonsThis story by Robert F. Smith was first published in The Commons on Sept. 8, 2026.SPRINGFIELD &mdash; A trio of local history experts, working with historical records, personal exploration and eventually with ar]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/revealed-in-the-river/</link><pubDate>Sun, 13 Sep 2026 14:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/revealed-in-the-river/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Real Vermonters don’t milk goats. They laugh at newly revived books with that title.]]></title><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Real Vermonters Don&rsquo;t Milk Goats,&rdquo; the state&rsquo;s all-time bestselling humor book, is set to return to stores this fall in a 43rd anniversary edition. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerVermont political science professor Frank Bryan and writer friend Bill Mares were bumping along a muddy back road four decades ago when they spotted a pristine log cabin with a two-vehicle carport.&ldquo;Flatlander,&rdquo; Bryan later recalled saying of a perceived out-of-state owner.&ld]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/real-vermonters-dont-milk-goats-they-laugh-at-newly-revived-books-with-that-title/</link><pubDate>Sun, 13 Sep 2026 13:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/real-vermonters-dont-milk-goats-they-laugh-at-newly-revived-books-with-that-title/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Upper Valley Haven readies its new year-round shelter for its first guests]]></title><description><![CDATA[An artist&rsquo;s rendering of the Upper Valley Haven&rsquo;s low-barrier shelter to be built at the intersection of Routes 5 and 4 in White River Junction, Vt. Courtesy Studio Nexus Architects + PlannersThis story by Alex Ebrahimi was first published in the Valley News on Sept. 10, 2026.WHITE RIVER JUNCTION &mdash; The Upper Valley Haven dedicated its new year-round shelter and resource center Wednesday, with an opening date for the 20-bed facility expected to be announced in the coming weeks.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/upper-valley-haven-readies-its-new-year-round-shelter-for-its-first-guests/</link><pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 13:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/upper-valley-haven-readies-its-new-year-round-shelter-for-its-first-guests/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Somber and hopeful, 47 immigrants become U.S. citizens on 9/11 anniversary]]></title><description><![CDATA[New Americans take their citizenship oaths during a naturalization ceremony at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, September 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Barbara Colombo became an American on Friday. She registered to vote before she left the building.Colombo, 52, was one of 47 immigrants sworn in as U.S. citizens Friday at a naturalization ceremony in the Statehouse.&ldquo;It was very touching,&rdquo; said the psychologist and professor, originally from Italy]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/somber-and-hopeful-47-immigrants-become-us-citizens-on-911-anniversary/</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/somber-and-hopeful-47-immigrants-become-us-citizens-on-911-anniversary/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fall Member Drive: From reporting to real-world impact]]></title><description><![CDATA[Attendees at VTDigger&rsquo;s Rutland event with Southern Vermont Reporter Greta Solsaa on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger.Dear Reader,Every day, VTDigger reporters bring consequential information into public view. Then something important happens: Vermonters use it.They bring it into Statehouse debates. They make decisions with it. Sometimes, institutions change course because new information has come to light.That impact starts with readers like you who help fund th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fall-member-drive-from-reporting-to-real-world-impact/</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fall-member-drive-from-reporting-to-real-world-impact/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[More doctors are offering memberships for healthcare]]></title><description><![CDATA[Creative Commons photo by jasleen_kaur via Flickr.This story by Briana Brady was first published in The Other Paper on Sept. 3, 2026.Over the more than two decades that nurse practitioner Holly Whitcomb has been providing primary care, things have changed &mdash; and it&rsquo;s not just the switch to electronic records.&ldquo;We used to just sit with patients and learn who they are and what they needed and what their goals were, and it was really personal,&rdquo; Whitcomb said.After 24 years pr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-doctors-are-offering-memberships-for-healthcare/</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-doctors-are-offering-memberships-for-healthcare/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Teachers in Blue Mountain Union School District declare impasse in contract talks]]></title><description><![CDATA[Groton, Vermont, viewed from the southeast. Photo by Ascended Dreamer/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0<br />
Nearly yearlong teacher contract negotiations in the Blue Mountain Union School District are at a stalemate after the teachers union rejected a proposal that the school board called its final offer.&nbsp;The Blue Mountain Education Association formally declared an impasse in talks Tuesday night, declining to sign a one-year contract for salary increases that the school board proposed. During colle]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/teachers-in-blue-mountain-union-school-district-declare-impasse-in-contract-talks/</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/teachers-in-blue-mountain-union-school-district-declare-impasse-in-contract-talks/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Almanac, an annual compendium of Vermont life, is shutting down]]></title><description><![CDATA[A stack of Volume V of the Vermont Almanac, sitting in Next Chapter Bookstore in Barre in November 2024. Courtesy of Next Chapter BookstoreFor six years, Vermont Almanac has served as a &ldquo;glorious mix of eclectic content&rdquo; on Vermont life, from creative essays and how-tos on rural skills to history and nature write-ups.&nbsp;&ldquo;It was like a very cozy, by-the-woodstove book to read,&rdquo; said longtime reader Naomi Heindel.&nbsp;But the almanac said this week that six years would]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-almanac-an-annual-compendium-of-vermont-life-is-shutting-down/</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 22:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-almanac-an-annual-compendium-of-vermont-life-is-shutting-down/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[You can’t take this away from me]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Henriette Mantel, a Vermont-born writer, actress and producer, best known for playing Alice Nelson in the &ldquo;Brady Bunch&rdquo; movies and for co-writing and directing the Sundance documentary &ldquo;An Unreasonable Man.&rdquo;I&rsquo;m sure not many of you remember the chorus of a song the Gershwin brothers wrote in 1937 &mdash; &ldquo;No, they can&rsquo;t take that away from me&rdquo; &mdash; but lately I&rsquo;ve been singing it a lot. Not about a love gone wrong but]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/you-cant-take-this-away-from-me/</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 20:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/you-cant-take-this-away-from-me/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Keep calm and carry on: Burlington airport to host emergency response simulation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Passenger jets on the tarmac at the Burlington International Airport in South Burlington in Sept. 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAmbulances, fire trucks and airport personnel will come together Saturday to test the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport&rsquo;s emergency response systems.&ldquo;Being prepared for an emergency is a responsibility we take very seriously at Leahy BTV,&rdquo; Director of Aviation Nic Longo said in an airport press release. &ldquo;While we hope we]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/keep-calm-and-carry-on-burlington-airport-to-host-emergency-response-simulation/</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 20:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/keep-calm-and-carry-on-burlington-airport-to-host-emergency-response-simulation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brattleboro Memorial Hospital commits to keeping birthing services]]></title><description><![CDATA[Supporters of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital&rsquo;s birthing center march in the town&rsquo;s recent Fourth of July parade. File photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerThis story by Chris Mays was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Sept. 10, 2026.BRATTLEBORO &mdash; Birthing services are no longer on the chopping block at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, where financial challenges have prompted the consideration.&nbsp;In an announcement on Thursday, the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Bo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-memorial-hospital-commits-to-keeping-birthing-services/</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 01:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-memorial-hospital-commits-to-keeping-birthing-services/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont awards first batch of $195 million in federal rural health funds]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hand of an elderly woman with her caregiver. Adobe stock photoThe first $11.7 million of $195 million in federal rural health funds earmarked for Vermont have been awarded, with the lion&rsquo;s share going to tuition for students in healthcare fields.Today&rsquo;s announcement directs $9 million to the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation toward tuition benefits for students in nursing, dentistry and other healthcare fields who commit to working in the state for at least five years.&nbsp;The]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-awards-first-batch-of-195-million-in-federal-rural-health-funds/</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 01:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-awards-first-batch-of-195-million-in-federal-rural-health-funds/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jury selected for Jason Eaton trial, with opening arguments due Monday]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton listens as Chttenden State&rsquo;s Attorney Sara George, right, speaks during a hearing in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Friday, August 28, 2026. Eaton is charged with shooting three Palestinian students in 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; Lawyers quizzed potential jurors for nearly a full day before selecting the panel that will weigh the case of the Burlington man charged with shooting and wounding three Palestinian students nearly thre]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jury-selected-for-jason-eaton-trial-with-opening-arguments-due-monday/</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jury-selected-for-jason-eaton-trial-with-opening-arguments-due-monday/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The one story from 9/11 that I can’t forget. And I don’t want to.]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Port Authority police officer lays a flower at the Sept. 11 Memorial in New York, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. Photo by Seth Wenig/AP PhotoWhen Bob Dow reached out by email asking me if I wanted to write again about his loss on Sept. 11, I said yes.&nbsp;I said yes because Bob&rsquo;s loss of the love of his life, Ruth Ketler, is resonant even today. I said yes because learning how he had continued in the world over the past 25 years since I wrote a story about his search for Ruth, would also hel]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-one-story-from-911-that-i-cant-forget-and-i-dont-want-to/</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-one-story-from-911-that-i-cant-forget-and-i-dont-want-to/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Carbon credits are a lifeline for Vermont’s working forests]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jessica Bakowski, the northeast regional forester for Chestnut Forest Carbon Works.&nbsp;As a professional forester living and working in northern Vermont, I&rsquo;ve spent more than a decade helping landowners navigate the opportunities and challenges of long-term forest stewardship. Across New England, one question comes up repeatedly: How do we keep forests healthy and ensure they stay in the family for generations?In Vermont, forests are more than a scenic backdrop. Th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/carbon-credits-are-a-lifeline-for-vermonts-working-forests/</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/carbon-credits-are-a-lifeline-for-vermonts-working-forests/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Help sustain VTDigger’s election coverage]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Reader,This summer, Vermonters turned to VTDigger in growing numbers to prepare for the primary election.Tens of thousands of readers came to our election guide to learn about the candidates, understand the races and find the practical information they needed to cast their ballots.&nbsp;Now we&rsquo;re getting ready to do it all again for the midterm election in November. A gift today during our Fall Member Drive will keep this coverage strong. We can&rsquo;t do this work without you.<br />
Give]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/help-sustain-vtdiggers-election-coverage/</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 21:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/help-sustain-vtdiggers-election-coverage/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Don’t wait for Election Day]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,The current administration, which I believe will do unthinkable things to stay in perpetual power, has long been undermining and delegitimizing free and fair elections. Now their efforts to obtain voter information and curtail mail-in voting are becoming more obvious.It is critical that everyone votes and that every vote is fairly counted. Please urge every organization and individual you know to encourage voting on Nov. 3 and to provide rides to the polls. This must be done in ever]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-wait-for-election-day/</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-wait-for-election-day/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[5 things we’re watching in Vermont’s general election]]></title><description><![CDATA[People enjoy the view from the top of the golden dome during a tour at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerElection Day is on the horizon. There&rsquo;s no presidential race on the ballot, but all of Vermont&rsquo;s state and county-level offices, our lone U.S. House seat and two other ballot items are up for Vermonters to vote on.VTDigger is watching the most important contests and votes this election cycle, and we&rsquo;re here to tell you wh]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/5-things-were-watching-in-vermonts-general-election/</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/5-things-were-watching-in-vermonts-general-election/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thousands of acres conserved in Woodbury, where family plans to sustainably log for generations]]></title><description><![CDATA[Views of Deer Lake property in Elmore, Vermont. Photo by Caleb Kenna/Vermont Land TrustAndrew Meyer remembers, as a kid, visiting logging jobs in the area of the Worcester Range with his grandfather or uncle. They were using horses at the time, and then later upgraded to more modern equipment. He remembers the logs going to the mill or log yard in Hardwick.&nbsp;He said the woods were a major part of his life; he grew up in Hardwick on a dairy farm and would spend time camping and hiking around]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thousands-of-acres-conserved-in-woodbury-where-family-plans-to-sustainably-log-for-generations/</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thousands-of-acres-conserved-in-woodbury-where-family-plans-to-sustainably-log-for-generations/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Affordable housing project falls apart over infrastructure gaps in Highgate]]></title><description><![CDATA[A rendering of the Highgate Village Housing project. Image courtesy of Cathedral Square/gbA ArchitectureCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.Plans to build 30 new subsidized senior apartments in the Franklin County town of Highgate have come to a halt.&nbsp;Affordable housing developer Cathedral Square and town officials called off the project after the town determined it could not provide a public water source for the apartments. The l]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/affordable-housing-project-falls-apart-over-infrastructure-gaps-in-highgate/</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/affordable-housing-project-falls-apart-over-infrastructure-gaps-in-highgate/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Scott vetoed state regulations on data centers. One of his deputies just urged Congress to pass them.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Julie Moore, secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, speaks about flooding in the state during a press conference in Berlin on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. Photo by Natalie Williams/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s secretary of natural resources testified before a U.S. Congressional committee last week in support of a bill that would direct states to limit the costs consumers shoulder for the water used by data centers.Julie Moore told lawmakers she supports &ldquo;requiring owners and operators to help]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-vetoed-state-regulations-on-data-centers-one-of-his-deputies-just-urged-congress-to-pass-them/</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-vetoed-state-regulations-on-data-centers-one-of-his-deputies-just-urged-congress-to-pass-them/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Help for Vermont Guard families is getting a home of its own]]></title><description><![CDATA[Major General Hank Harder, adjutant general of the Vermont National Guard, speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Vermont Army National Guard Family Readiness Center at Camp Johnson in Colchester on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerCOLCHESTER &mdash; A deployment can leave a military spouse managing the bills, child care and every problem at home alone. A new center at Camp Johnson is intended to ease some of that strain.&ldquo;We understand that the Ver]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/help-for-vermont-guard-families-is-getting-a-home-of-its-own/</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/help-for-vermont-guard-families-is-getting-a-home-of-its-own/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Frederick Lack Sawabini]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 10/31/1951BurlingtonDied: 09/05/2026Details of service:A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 18, 2026, at the Charlotte Congregational Church, 403 Church Hill Road, Charlotte, Vermont. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Fred&rsquo;s memory to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to support cancer research, online at dana-farber.org/gift or by mail to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.Frederick Lack Sawabini passed away peacefully on]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/frederick-lack-sawabini/</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/frederick-lack-sawabini/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal judge blocks Vermont AG’s probe of ‘Planet Hank’ AI video]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. District Court Judge William Sessions speaks at the Vermont Statehouse in September 2018. File photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDiggerA political satire video was &ldquo;ridiculous&rdquo; enough to be protected speech, a federal judge ruled, blocking Vermont&rsquo;s first attempt to enforce its new AI-media law.&ldquo;The Court considers this video to have a ridiculous nature and finds that Vermont&rsquo;s interest in protecting and preserving the integrity of the electoral process and related fr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-judge-blocks-vermont-ags-probe-of-planet-hank-ai-video/</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-judge-blocks-vermont-ags-probe-of-planet-hank-ai-video/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: ‘We are the patriots fighting for democracy.’ AG Charity Clark on suing Trump and winning $92.7M from Meta]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.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/VTDiggerVermont Attorney General Charity Clark has had a busy summer. Since late J]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-we-are-the-patriots-fighting-for-democracy-ag-charity-clark-on-suing-trump-and-winning-927m-from-meta/</link><pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 23:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-we-are-the-patriots-fighting-for-democracy-ag-charity-clark-on-suing-trump-and-winning-927m-from-meta/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A bear in the yard isn’t a crisis, it’s Tuesday]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Carol Winfield, a zoologist, naturalist and wildlife educator and rehabilitator who lives in Vermont.I am writing to beg the Vermont Fish &amp; Wildlife Department not to extend bear season into the time when these animals are metabolically slowing down and denning up for the winter.&nbsp;No true sportsman should ever consider allowing such an abhorrent practice as to kill a bear in its den, and extending the season into mid-December makes that more likely, not less. Other]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-bear-in-the-yard-isnt-a-crisis-its-tuesday/</link><pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 23:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-bear-in-the-yard-isnt-a-crisis-its-tuesday/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sweet talk won’t stop Burlington’s drug dealers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,My wife and I purchased a home in Burlington to be near family who live here. I thank Charlie Smith for his insightful, balanced observations in a recent commentary published by VTDigger. As a sober alcoholic and former drug abuser, I can attest to the fact that some Burlington public officials are only facilitating the living nightmare that too many areas of the city have become.&nbsp;As a practicing lawyer, I know firsthand that drug dealing is organized crime run by career crimin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sweet-talk-wont-stop-burlingtons-drug-dealers/</link><pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 22:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sweet-talk-wont-stop-burlingtons-drug-dealers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Elizabeth Weir Toor]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 07/20/1927Edmonton, AlbertaDied: 08/24/2026Middlebury, VermontDetails of service:Elizabeth Weir Toor died at age 99 on August 24, 2026 in Middlebury.Beth was a brilliant scientist, mother, wife, dog lover (particularly Irish and Gordon Setters), passionate supporter of women&rsquo;s choice and voting rights and an activist for clean air. She was an enthusiastic follower of women&rsquo;s tennis, enjoyed a martini at the end of the workday, and loved her cigarettes, chocolates and mystery n]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/elizabeth-weir-toor/</link><pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 18:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/elizabeth-weir-toor/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[An environmental studies degree will unlock Soren’s goal of becoming a game warden]]></title><description><![CDATA[Soren Stelma-Leonard aspires to a career as a game warden. For him, it&rsquo;s about spending as much time as possible outside in the woods, an experience he&rsquo;s always found peaceful and grounding.&nbsp;Law enforcement has long been an interest, but after he did a ride-along job shadow with both a sheriff and a game warden, he realized there were aspects of the game warden job he was much more invested in.&nbsp;&ldquo;Preventing, stopping, and investigating poaching is really interesting t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-environmental-studies-degree-will-unlock-sorens-goal-of-becoming-a-game-warden/</link><pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 16:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-environmental-studies-degree-will-unlock-sorens-goal-of-becoming-a-game-warden/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former EPA official Melissa Hoffer to lead Vermont Law and Graduate School]]></title><description><![CDATA[Melissa Hoffer is the new president of Vermont Law and Graduate School in South Royalton. She will begin her tenure on Dec. 1. (Courtesy Vermont Law and Graduate School)This story by Liz Sauchelli was first published in the Valley News on Sept. 7, 2026.After more than a year of interim leadership, Vermont Law and Graduate School has hired a new president.Melissa Hoffer, who currently serves as Massachusetts&rsquo; climate chief, will begin her tenure Dec. 1, according to a news release from the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-epa-official-melissa-hoffer-to-lead-vermont-law-and-graduate-school/</link><pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-epa-official-melissa-hoffer-to-lead-vermont-law-and-graduate-school/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Residents voice concerns over cannabis proposal in Royalton]]></title><description><![CDATA[Shannon Morrill, of South Royalton, departs her cannabis dispensary, Something Wicked, in Bethel, Vt., to go to a meeting on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. At her request the Royalton Selectboard approved putting the decision on whether to allow retail cannabis sales before voters in November, without requiring a petition signed by 5% of registered voters. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Sofia Langlois was first published in the Valley News on Sept. 4, 2026.ROYALTON &mdash;&#8203;]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/residents-voice-concerns-over-cannabis-proposal-in-royalton/</link><pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/residents-voice-concerns-over-cannabis-proposal-in-royalton/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont regulators finalize 5.5% rate increase for Green Mountain Power customers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Green Mountain Power in Colchester in December 2019. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Regulators will allow Green Mountain Power to raise electricity rates by 5.5% for its more than 275,000 Vermont customers &mdash; a smaller hike than the 7.5% increase the company initially sought.&nbsp;The billing change, ordered late last month by Vermont&rsquo;s Public Utility Commission, will take effect Oct. 1.The first p]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-regulators-finalize-55-rate-increase-for-green-mountain-power-customers/</link><pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-regulators-finalize-55-rate-increase-for-green-mountain-power-customers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State regulators say Vermont Lt. Gov. John Rodgers grew weed at unlicensed site]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lt. Gov. John Rodgers follows along as the Senate discusses a bill at the Statehouse in Montpelier in March 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont Lt. Gov. John Rodgers is facing a $5,000 fine from state regulators after an inspector found him growing at least 100 cannabis plants at a site in Glover where he did not have permission to do so.The Cannabis Control Board issued Rodgers a formal notice last month that he had violated state rules dictating how and where marijuana can be gr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-regulators-say-vermont-lt-gov-john-rodgers-grew-weed-at-unlicensed-site/</link><pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2026 23:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-regulators-say-vermont-lt-gov-john-rodgers-grew-weed-at-unlicensed-site/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Air National Guard members return home after extended deployment]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont National Guard Sgt. Taylor Steele of Port Jervis, New York hugs his three-year-old son Jace at the end of a deployment ceremony at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho on Friday, May 29, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont Air National Guard members returned home Sunday after a roughly eight-month deployment.&nbsp;Guard members from Vermont&rsquo;s 158th Fighter Wing were deployed this winter on back to back missions to the Caribbean and the Middle East, though details of th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-air-national-guard-members-return-home-after-extended-deployment/</link><pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-air-national-guard-members-return-home-after-extended-deployment/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger turns 17: Help power what comes next]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger reporter Charlotte Oliver questions U.S. Senator Peter Welch, D-Vermont. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDear Reader,17 years ago this month, VTDigger began with a big idea: Vermont deserved a fiercely independent news organization dedicated to serving the public.Today, more than 500,000 readers turn to VTDigger each month. And this September, as we celebrate our 17th birthday, we&rsquo;re asking you to help power what comes next.Our goal is to raise $100,000 by September 15 to support]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-turns-17-help-power-what-comes-next/</link><pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-turns-17-help-power-what-comes-next/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[An upgrade shouldn’t cost you your lifeline]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I want to raise a serious problem that isn&rsquo;t getting the attention it deserves: phone companies abandoning landlines and their failure to warn you that your landline will be lost when you change your service level.We have no cellphone coverage where we are. When my husband opted to upgrade to a higher-speed internet account, I only discovered that our landline was cut afterward, when the phone didn&rsquo;t work. It was not because of a power outage: It was a failure in the int]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-upgrade-shouldnt-cost-you-your-lifeline/</link><pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2026 21:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-upgrade-shouldnt-cost-you-your-lifeline/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dear Vermont, I’m staying]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jasper Brown, a writer who lives in Montpelier.As someone who was driven out of Vermont due to its lack of affordability and was brought back via a life crisis, parts of what Jim Suriano recently wrote in VTDigger resonated: the struggle of getting paychecks from people who live outside Vermont; scrambling every month to figure out how to make ends meet; watching life crumble while people are pointing fingers at the federal government.What I often hear is that we need to &]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dear-vermont-im-staying/</link><pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2026 20:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dear-vermont-im-staying/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[We chose this housing crisis]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I agree with Tray DuClos&rsquo; recent letter to VTDigger about Vermont&rsquo;s housing shortage. It is definitely a huge obstacle to our growth, no matter how you measure it, right up there with our fantastically high costs and our fantastically low wages. Yet we need to look beneath the surface issues such as zoning and ask ourselves a far more uncomfortable question: How and why did we create a society where people cannot afford to live where they work?This is not a natural pheno]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/we-chose-this-housing-crisis/</link><pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 16:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/we-chose-this-housing-crisis/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Letting the river roam: Surveying the scars left by Irene 15 years later]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jacob Fetterman (left), coordinator of Trout Unlimited Battenkill Home Rivers Initiative, and Jim Henderson (right), environmental program manager with the Bennington County Regional Commission, at the site of the Green River landslide in Sandgate. Photo by Danielle M. Crosier/Bennington BannerThis story by Danielle M. Crosier was first published in the Bennington Banner on Aug. 28, 2026.SANDGATE &mdash; On a late summer morning along the Green River, the scars of Tropical Storm Irene are still]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/letting-the-river-roam-surveying-the-scars-left-by-irene-15-years-later/</link><pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/letting-the-river-roam-surveying-the-scars-left-by-irene-15-years-later/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[St. Johnsbury community works to combat surge in ‘bad behavior’ downtown]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Welcome Center in St. Johnsbury on August 9, 2022. File photo by K. Fiegenbaum/VTDiggerThe St. Johnsbury community has been working overtime to quell a months-long surge in &ldquo;bad behavior&rdquo; by a limited number of people in its downtown area. The situation&rsquo;s epicenter is a park adjacent to the town&rsquo;s Welcome Center, a three-story former train station that also houses the town offices.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re struggling,&rdquo; said Town Clerk Stacy Jewell during the town&rsqu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/st-johnsbury-community-works-to-combat-surge-in-bad-behavior-downtown/</link><pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 14:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/st-johnsbury-community-works-to-combat-surge-in-bad-behavior-downtown/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermonters will vote on constitutional amendment enshrining labor protections in November]]></title><description><![CDATA[Members of the Teamsters local 597 union picket outside the Dairy Farmers of America plant in St. Albans on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Vermont voters will accept or toss an amendment to the state constitution in November that would affirm workers&rsquo; right to organize and collectively bargain, and prevent lawmakers from easily reversing labor protections in the future.&nbsp]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-will-vote-on-constitutional-amendment-enshrining-labor-protections-in-november/</link><pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 13:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-will-vote-on-constitutional-amendment-enshrining-labor-protections-in-november/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Yes, spending can support affordability]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,The recent commentary in VTDigger claiming that Vermont cannot &ldquo;spend its way into affordability&rdquo; ignores the fact that spending in one area frequently results in even larger savings in another. In healthcare, for example, spending tax dollars can significantly reduce spending on premiums and deductibles, making healthcare more affordable overall.One healthcare claim in the commentary is flat-out wrong. Former Gov. Peter Shumlin did not decide in 2014 that &ldquo;single-]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/yes-spending-can-support-affordability/</link><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2026 17:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/yes-spending-can-support-affordability/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[$7.9M grant to fund PFAS research at Bennington College, other institutions]]></title><description><![CDATA[The former ChemFab plant in Bennington seen in Feb. 2022. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Jim Therrien first appeared in the Bennington Banner on Sept. 3, 2026.&nbsp;BENNINGTON &mdash; The National Science Foundation has awarded $7.9 million to Bennington College and three other Vermont colleges to establish the PFAS Environmental Research Network, &ldquo;a four-year initiative bringing together Vermont researchers, educators, students and state partners to better understand and ad]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/79m-grant-to-fund-pfas-research-at-bennington-college-other-institutions/</link><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/79m-grant-to-fund-pfas-research-at-bennington-college-other-institutions/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Then Again: Armed with a spirit of discovery and a gun, the first lady road-trips through Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Eleanor Roosevelt takes target practice with the revolver issued to her by the Secret Service. Photo credit Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential LibraryThe gun was the compromise Eleanor Roosevelt grudgingly accepted. The first lady would carry one on her upcoming tour of New England and Quebec in July 1933.&nbsp;Secret Service officials weren&rsquo;t pleased with this scant security. They had insisted that agents accompany her on the trip, but Roosevelt was having none of it. In that case, they]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-armed-with-a-spirit-of-discovery-and-a-gun-the-first-lady-road-trips-through-vermont/</link><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2026 15:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-armed-with-a-spirit-of-discovery-and-a-gun-the-first-lady-road-trips-through-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[38 new affordable apartments open in downtown Burlington]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Post Apartments in downtown Burlington on Sept. 4, 2026. Photo by Carly Berlin/Vermont PublicCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.&nbsp;The site of a former veterans&rsquo; hall and homeless shelter in downtown Burlington has transformed into a five-story affordable housing complex.&nbsp;The Post Apartments, developed by the nonprofits Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth, has 38 units that will remain subsidized in perpetuity.U.S.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/38-new-affordable-apartments-open-in-downtown-burlington/</link><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2026 14:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/38-new-affordable-apartments-open-in-downtown-burlington/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘An unprecedented day’: How Vermonters learned of 9/11 — and who remembers 25 years later]]></title><description><![CDATA[Smoke billows over the Manhattan skyline on Sept. 11, 2001. Photo by Daniel Hulshizer/APDriving to work on the bluebird morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I turned on the car radio to hear that hijacked planes had struck the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York, set the Pentagon afire outside Washington, D.C., and slammed into a seemingly random field in rural Pennsylvania.My first response: What kind of shock jock is trying to re-create the 1938 Martian-invasion broadcast drama &ldquo;The]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-unprecedented-day-how-vermonters-learned-of-911-and-who-remembers-25-years-later/</link><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2026 13:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-unprecedented-day-how-vermonters-learned-of-911-and-who-remembers-25-years-later/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hartford considers a stricter car camping ban]]></title><description><![CDATA[Anthony Heath walks past the Upper Valley Haven&rsquo;t Leahy Shelter and Resource Center on his way to charge his phone in White River Junction, Vt., on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The low-barrier shelter is on schedule to be completed in September, said Haven Executive Director Will Towne. &ldquo;Hopefully I get a room in it if I&rsquo;m still homeless,&rdquo; said Heath who is living in a tent. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Sofia Langlois was first published in the Valley]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hartford-considers-a-stricter-car-camping-ban/</link><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 13:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hartford-considers-a-stricter-car-camping-ban/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Airbnb hosts aren’t the enemy in Vermont’s housing debate]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I recently read the opinion piece written by Lew Holtzman and found it to be misinformed sophistry. The headline reads &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t punish Vermonters,&rdquo; but in the article&rsquo;s first sentence, he describes himself as a part-timer.&nbsp;I, too, was a teacher downcountry when I made the clear, and some said risky, decision to actually become a Vermonter full-time. But here I am 50 years later running one of the most successful Airbnbs in the world while providing four in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/airbnb-hosts-arent-the-enemy-in-vermonts-housing-debate/</link><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/airbnb-hosts-arent-the-enemy-in-vermonts-housing-debate/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM Health opens new outpatient clinic with leader in suicide care at the helm]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dr. Debra Lopez Gottesman, who founded the Four Pines Fund with her husband, stresses the importance of suicide care at the opening of the Asha Clinic, which the foundation supports, on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. Photo by Olivia Gieger/VTDiggerThroughout his career in emergency medicine, Dr. Steve Leffler knew the steps to treat the array of emergencies a patient could arrive with: chest pain, a broken arm, a fishhook.But suicidal thoughts had no such playbook.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be honest with you:]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-opens-new-outpatient-clinic-with-leader-in-suicide-care-at-the-helm/</link><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-opens-new-outpatient-clinic-with-leader-in-suicide-care-at-the-helm/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tensions mount over teachers’ contract in Blue Mountain Union School District]]></title><description><![CDATA[A view of Wells River. Photo courtesy of Ascended Dreamer/Wikimedia CommonsNegotiations over teachers&rsquo; salaries in the Blue Mountain Union School District have reached a rare inflection point while teachers start the school year without a contract.According to school board members, the lengthy negotiations are the result of Vermont&rsquo;s sweeping new education reform law, which puts districts under intense pressure to cut costs and ratchets up penalties on taxpayers if they don&rsquo;t.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tensions-mount-over-teachers-contract-in-blue-mountain-union-school-district/</link><pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 22:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tensions-mount-over-teachers-contract-in-blue-mountain-union-school-district/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plans for 100-bed shelter in Chittenden County run into pushback]]></title><description><![CDATA[The proposed low-barrier shelter site on Williston Road in South Burlington on Sept. 4, 2026. Photo by Carly Berlin/Vermont PublicCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.&nbsp;An effort to open a new 100-bed emergency shelter in Chittenden County ahead of winter&rsquo;s arrival is proving to be an uphill battle.Two nonprofits, the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and Champlain Housing Trust, have been searching for a buildin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/plans-for-100-bed-shelter-in-chittenden-county-run-into-pushback/</link><pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 22:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/plans-for-100-bed-shelter-in-chittenden-county-run-into-pushback/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A bump at the pump: Labor Day is on track to have the highest gas prices ever]]></title><description><![CDATA[A motorist pumps gas in Montpelier in April 2026.File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerGas prices have hit an average of $4.29 per gallon in Vermont, putting the state on track to have a record-breaking Labor Day weekend for gas prices, according to data from the American Automobile Association.&nbsp;&ldquo;We need to lower that price as best we can and save as much as we can,&rdquo; said Suzanne Grace, a spokesperson for AAA Northern New England.&nbsp;After a slight lull in higher gas prices in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-bump-at-the-pump-labor-day-is-on-track-to-have-the-highest-gas-prices-ever/</link><pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 21:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-bump-at-the-pump-labor-day-is-on-track-to-have-the-highest-gas-prices-ever/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nonprofit to acquire Vermont newspaper company]]></title><description><![CDATA[A copy of the Stowe Reporter newspaper is pictured May 24, 2021. File photo by Natalie Williams/VTDiggerThis story by Tommy Gardner was first published in Vermont Community Newspaper Group papers on Sept. 3, 2026.&nbsp;A Colorado-based nonprofit organization founded five years ago with the mission to acquire newspapers and avoid creating &ldquo;news deserts&rdquo; will purchase the five weekly publications under the Vermont Community Newspaper Group banner.The National Trust for Local News anno]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nonprofit-to-acquire-vermont-newspaper-company/</link><pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nonprofit-to-acquire-vermont-newspaper-company/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The teenager left behind in Irene’s chaos]]></title><description><![CDATA[A computer-generated rendering of what Marble Arvidson might look like at age 23. Police released this photo-illustration on the 10th anniversary of his disappearance.This story by Virginia Ray was first published in The Commons on Sept. 1, 2026.BRATTLEBORO &mdash; Marble Ace Arvidson was 17, a senior-to-be at Brattleboro Union High School, when he left a note on his bedroom door at his foster home at 503 Marlboro Road &mdash; the red house beside the Chelsea Royal Diner &mdash; on the afternoo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-teenager-left-behind-in-irenes-chaos/</link><pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-teenager-left-behind-in-irenes-chaos/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tar spot fungus likely won’t mute fall colors]]></title><description><![CDATA[A maple leaf with tar spot fungus. Photo by Noel Clark/VTDiggerThis story by Scooter MacMillan was first published in The Charlotte News on Sept. 3, 2026.You may have noticed browning trees with crinkled, dried-up leaves on Thompson&rsquo;s Point Road in Charlotte.You may also have noticed these trees were sugar maples, and you might have worried that the premature browning of what is traditionally one of our brightest performers in the annual polychromapalooza could indicate we&rsquo;re in for]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tar-spot-fungus-likely-wont-mute-fall-colors/</link><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 23:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tar-spot-fungus-likely-wont-mute-fall-colors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[For some patients seeking drugs like Ozempic, the best path is to just get sicker]]></title><description><![CDATA[Boxes for the medications Wegovy and Zepbound. File photo by JoNel Aleccia/APFor many, drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic seem a miracle. But for those without the extra $300 to $1,200 it can cost to buy the drugs out-of-pocket, getting insurance coverage for the diabetes drugs, which are known to alleviate a slew of other weight-related health conditions, can prove a nightmare.The story is all too familiar to Dr. Michelle Dorwart, the president of the Vermont Academy of Family Physicians and a fami]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-some-patients-seeking-drugs-like-ozempic-the-best-path-is-to-just-get-sicker/</link><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 23:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-some-patients-seeking-drugs-like-ozempic-the-best-path-is-to-just-get-sicker/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Save New England’s wildest forests before it’s too late]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Zack Porter, the executive director of Standing Trees, which works to protect and restore forests on New England&rsquo;s public lands.This summer, did you stand on top of the Presidential Range, Mount Moosilauke or Franconia Ridge? Did you follow the Long Trail through the Green Mountain National Forest or the Appalachian Trail through the White Mountain National Forest?Did you take a scenic drive along Vermont&rsquo;s Route 100, through one of New Hampshire&rsquo;s or Mai]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/save-new-englands-wildest-forests-before-its-too-late/</link><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 22:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/save-new-englands-wildest-forests-before-its-too-late/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s forgotten Abenaki war captain]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyle Neece&rsquo;s recent story in VTDigger about &ldquo;three Vermonters whose histories are lesser known&rdquo; was very interesting. However, the writer could have chosen a Native American who was even less well known than &ldquo;Indian Joe&rdquo; and far more important.&nbsp;When the American Revolution began, an Abenaki leader in Vermont and New Hampshire raised a company of Abenaki soldiers who fought alongside the Yankee militia commanded by Gen. Jacob Bayle]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-forgotten-abenaki-war-captain/</link><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 21:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-forgotten-abenaki-war-captain/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[From shut out to starting over]]></title><description><![CDATA[Violetta Ayrapetova works on the locked unit at a residential facility in Chittenden County. She is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse. She plans to pursue wound care certification because many patients in psychiatric and substance use settings have untreated physical wounds. She does not want to be the provider who ignores them.Her path began well before nursing school.Her family came to Vermont as refugees in the early 1990s. They were Armenian minorities forced out of Azerbaij]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/from-shut-out-to-starting-over/</link><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 19:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/from-shut-out-to-starting-over/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Vermont Republican Party wants him elected Chittenden County’s top prosecutor. He doesn’t want the job.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Chittenden County State&rsquo;s Attorney Sarah George, left, is seeking reelection. Jace Laquerre, right, will appear on the November ballot as a Republican. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger and courtesyThe Vermont Republican Party is putting up a candidate, for the first time, to challenge Chittenden County State&rsquo;s Attorney Sarah George in November&rsquo;s election. But the party&rsquo;s choice does not actually want the job.Instead, Jace Laquerre, a software engineer from Milton, is ent]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-vermont-republican-party-wants-him-elected-chittenden-countys-top-prosecutor-he-doesnt-want-the-job/</link><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 19:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-vermont-republican-party-wants-him-elected-chittenden-countys-top-prosecutor-he-doesnt-want-the-job/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Everyone’s friend’: Family describes slain Derby woman as her killer gets 30 years in prison]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jakiy Keith appears during his sentencing hearing in Orleans Superior criminal court in Newport on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Keith pleaded guilty in the 2024 shooting death of Kayla Wright. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA former Connecticut man has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison on a murder charge for fatally shooting a Derby woman inside a Northeast Kingdom home where he helped run an illegal drug operation.Judge Rory Thibault handed down the sentence to 26-year-old Jakiy Tr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/everyones-friend-family-describes-slain-derby-woman-as-her-killer-gets-30-years-in-prison/</link><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/everyones-friend-family-describes-slain-derby-woman-as-her-killer-gets-30-years-in-prison/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Holland Food Shelf announces closure after months of financial uncertainty]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tomatoes are displayed at the Holland Food Shelf as a visitor looks at vegetables. Photo courtesy of Don Stevens/Abenaki Helping AbenakiTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.The Holland Food Shelf announced Wednesday that the organization would close, following months of financial uncertainty.According to Don Stevens, executive director of Abenaki Helping Abenaki, the food shelf&rsquo;s nonprofit operator, the service has become financially unfeasible]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/holland-food-shelf-announces-closure-after-months-of-financial-uncertainty/</link><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/holland-food-shelf-announces-closure-after-months-of-financial-uncertainty/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Harwood district leaders eye Cabot Creamery’s Waitsfield complex as a possible future school site]]></title><description><![CDATA[Students arrive at Brookside Primary School this morning for the first day of the school year. School district leaders are considering a consolidation scenario that would close the Waterbury school in the future. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti/Waterbury Roundabout Credit: Lisa Scagliotti/Waterbury RoundaboutThis story by Lisa Scagliotti was first published in the Waterbury Roundabout on Aug. 26, 2026.DUXBURY &mdash; The recent listing of Cabot Creamery&rsquo;s company headquarters in Waitsfield for s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/harwood-district-leaders-eye-cabot-creamerys-waitsfield-complex-as-a-possible-future-school-site/</link><pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 23:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/harwood-district-leaders-eye-cabot-creamerys-waitsfield-complex-as-a-possible-future-school-site/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington needs to get serious about stamping out drug markets]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Charlie Smith, a self-employed consultant specializing in transitional leadership. He has lived in Burlington for 39 years.In the wake of Burlington&rsquo;s recent knife and gun incidents, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak reassured us that safety is her administration&rsquo;s top priority. She said the incidents &ldquo;point to larger work our community must do to interrupt conditions that lead people to act violently.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;These words admit that Burlington is stuck]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-needs-to-get-serious-about-stamping-out-drug-markets/</link><pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-needs-to-get-serious-about-stamping-out-drug-markets/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Oil or babies, Vermont?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,It is obvious to most that children are essential to our state&rsquo;s future well-being. Children will become the future workforce, paying taxes and contributing in myriad ways to build and guide our communities. They will also be the next generation of parents.&nbsp;In contrast, imported oil drains a ridiculous amount of money out of the Vermont economy because we have no petroleum resources here. Money spent on oil leaves the state. So why does our governor go to the mat to prote]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/oil-or-babies-vermont/</link><pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 20:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/oil-or-babies-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Historian Jill Lepore on the threat of authoritarianism and how to counter it]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Author and historian Jill Lepore. Photo by Richard Renaldi Credit: Photo by Richard RenaldiIs technology killing democracy and destroying communities?Yes, argues acclaimed historian Jill Lepore in her new book, &ldquo;The Rise and Fall of the Artificial]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-historian-jill-lepore-on-the-threat-of-authoritarianism-and-how-to-counter-it/</link><pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 20:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-historian-jill-lepore-on-the-threat-of-authoritarianism-and-how-to-counter-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Court questions Vermont Catholic Diocese plan to sell Rice Memorial High to supporters]]></title><description><![CDATA[The grade 9-12 Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDigger Credit: Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerA U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge is questioning a Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese request to sell its flagship Rice Memorial High School to supporters for $4.3 million &mdash; or 14% of a church-commissioned appraisal of $30.5 million &mdash; as part of the diocese&rsquo;s Chapter 11 financial reorganization case.&ldquo;While I do appreciate the continua]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/court-questions-vermont-catholic-diocese-plan-to-sell-rice-memorial-high-to-supporters/</link><pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/court-questions-vermont-catholic-diocese-plan-to-sell-rice-memorial-high-to-supporters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sayge is on her way to becoming a pediatric occupational therapist]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sayge Bohannon is confident that this will be a great school year. Having done well in college-level classes last year, now she&rsquo;s feeling far less nervous about taking four classes online at the Community College of Vermont (CCV) through Vermont&rsquo;s Early College program, while enrolled in Richford High School.Sayge is also president of her school&rsquo;s National Honor Society chapter and stays active in soccer and track. Between the coursework and her other activities, Sayge feels r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sayge-is-on-her-way-to-becoming-a-pediatric-occupational-therapist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sayge-is-on-her-way-to-becoming-a-pediatric-occupational-therapist/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont ends night and weekend intake for state-funded motel rooms]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Travelodge Motel in South Burlington, which hosts state-funded motel rooms, seen in April 2025. Private motels and hotels in the state voucher program have been the single largest provider of shelter in Vermont in recent years. File photo by Glenn Russell / VTDiggerCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.&nbsp;A major overhaul of Vermont&rsquo;s motel voucher program for people experiencing homelessness is now underway.Vermonters who h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-ends-night-and-weekend-intake-for-state-funded-motel-rooms/</link><pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-ends-night-and-weekend-intake-for-state-funded-motel-rooms/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘We’re not going to have a business’: Vermont companies say Trump’s renewed trade war with Canada has them scrambling, again]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mateo Kehler, co-founder of Jasper Hill Farm, criticizes President Donald Trump&rsquo;s latest round of tariffs on Canadian goods at a panel at Jay Peak Resort hosted by U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., on Tuesday. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDiggerJAY &mdash; Mike Desmarais, who sells snow grooming equipment at a dealer in Newport, is planning to deliver three new vehicles to Canadian customers this month. The machines currently cost about $500,000 Canadian dollars each, he said &mdash; but soon, t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/were-not-going-to-have-a-business-vermont-companies-say-trumps-renewed-trade-war-with-canada-has-them-scrambling-again/</link><pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/were-not-going-to-have-a-business-vermont-companies-say-trumps-renewed-trade-war-with-canada-has-them-scrambling-again/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont prisons agree to improve services for ICE detainees after discrimination complaint]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans Town in Feb. 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFacing the prospect of a discrimination lawsuit, the Vermont Department of Corrections has agreed to provide federal immigration detainees in its prisons with better access to language interpretation, legal counsel and court hearings.&nbsp;The Vermont Human Rights Commission announced Tuesday it had reached a settlement with the department, following a discrimination complaint the comm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-prisons-agree-to-improve-services-for-ice-detainees-after-discrimination-complaint/</link><pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-prisons-agree-to-improve-services-for-ice-detainees-after-discrimination-complaint/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ruling sets up potential battle of experts in trial of man accused of shooting Palestinian students in Burlington]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton appears in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington on Friday, August 28, 2026. Eaton is accused of shooting three Palestinian students in 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Vermont judge has rejected a bid by the defense team for a Burlington man accused of shooting and wounding three Palestinian college students to block a prosecution expert from taking the stand at his trial later this month.Jason Eaton&rsquo;s state of mind at the time of the shootings nearly three y]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ruling-sets-up-potential-battle-of-experts-in-trial-of-man-accused-of-shooting-palestinian-students-in-burlington/</link><pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ruling-sets-up-potential-battle-of-experts-in-trial-of-man-accused-of-shooting-palestinian-students-in-burlington/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Only Jews get to define antisemitism against us]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,VTDigger let a 14-year-old lecture Jews on what constitutes &ldquo;real&rdquo; antisemitism, giving her a platform that is especially inappropriate at a time of anti-Jewish hate crimes, which have surged since Oct. 7, 2023. Just as people without lived experience should not define racism for Black Vermonters or homophobia for gay Vermonters, neither should they define antisemitism for us. Only Jewish Vermonters can identify that prejudice.Criticizing Israel is not inherently antisem]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/only-jews-get-to-define-antisemitism-against-us/</link><pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 22:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/only-jews-get-to-define-antisemitism-against-us/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Affordable housing shouldn’t cost this much to build]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,In May 2025, VTDigger reported the groundbreaking of another Cornerstone Housing Partners &ldquo;affordable&rdquo; apartment community, Maplewood Commons Apartments in Rutland. This project cost $14.6 million for 30 apartments, $487,000 per unit. Their last rodeo in West Rutland cost $542,000 for 24 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. These are not affordable prices for new apartments, but median single-family prices.They got funding for this project from multiple sources, in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/affordable-housing-shouldnt-cost-this-much-to-build/</link><pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 20:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/affordable-housing-shouldnt-cost-this-much-to-build/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Susan N. Sperry]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 11/22/1942Rutland, VermontDied: 08/19/2026Burlington, VermontDetails of service:There will be no service at this time. To honor Susan&rsquo;s memory, donations can be made to the Golisano Children&rsquo;s Hospital and the Addiction Treatment Center at the UVM Medical Center.Susan Northrop Sperry passed away on August 19, 2026 at the young age of 83. She was born in Rutland, VT on November 22, 1942 to Mary Mears and John Northrop. She grew up in Proctor with her many sisters and brothers a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/susan-n-sperry/</link><pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 20:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/susan-n-sperry/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont veterans, Guard families seek support for Defend the Guard Act]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont National Guard soldiers salute during a deployment ceremony at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho in May 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Chris Mays was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Aug. 30, 2026.A letter from 27 Vermont veterans and Guard family members urges Gov. Phil Scott and legislators to support the Defend the Guard Act and expresses &ldquo;deep concern about the deployment of Vermont National Guard members into foreign combat without]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-veterans-guard-families-seek-support-for-defend-the-guard-act/</link><pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 01:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-veterans-guard-families-seek-support-for-defend-the-guard-act/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Stronger now than it was’: Quechee Gorge Bridge reopens with new suicide barriers]]></title><description><![CDATA[From left, Nancy Cullen, of Houston, Texas, Gloria Curtis, of Edmond, Okla., Jeff Curtis, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Joyce Brimer, of Edmond, Okla., take a selfie on the recently renovated Quechee Gorge Bridge in Quechee, Vt., on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. The group has been visiting Meredith, N.H., and they chose to visit the gorge because they said they wanted to step a foot in Vermont. Photo by Alex Driehaus/Valley NewsThis story by Sofia Langlois was first published in the Valley News on Aug.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stronger-now-than-it-was-quechee-gorge-bridge-reopens-with-new-suicide-barriers/</link><pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stronger-now-than-it-was-quechee-gorge-bridge-reopens-with-new-suicide-barriers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM Medical Center quietly changed its policy for patient observation. Some staff are worried about patient safety.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington on November 2020. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIn June, UVM Medical Center quietly rolled out a new policy dictating how its staff watch over patients who are at risk of hurting themselves while they&rsquo;re in the hospital.&nbsp;Sitters, or clinical patient safety attendants &mdash;&nbsp;CPSAs &mdash; stay with patients who need supervision. Patients who might fall, wander or pull out IVs are often assigned sitters, as are those wh]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-medical-center-quietly-changed-its-policy-for-patient-observation-some-staff-are-worried-about-patient-safety/</link><pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2026 23:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-medical-center-quietly-changed-its-policy-for-patient-observation-some-staff-are-worried-about-patient-safety/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why are we spending $3 million on doctors who leave?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I truly appreciated Olivia Gieger&rsquo;s recent article in VTDigger on the question of who pays for training Vermont&rsquo;s doctors. It is a much-needed glimpse into a critical and sorely undercovered subject.The memo &mdash; a Green Mountain Care Board filing on what it costs the University of Vermont Medical Center to train doctors &mdash; answers how much. It never asks how much per doctor, and these figures give it. Vermont spends $161 million per year training 320 residents a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-are-we-spending-3-million-on-doctors-who-leave/</link><pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2026 23:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-are-we-spending-3-million-on-doctors-who-leave/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[More Vermonters are getting back their unclaimed property. Here’s how to find out if you have money waiting.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont State Treasurer Michael Pieciak speaks during a press conference marking Earth Day at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIn his three years as state treasurer, one of Mike Pieciak&rsquo;s proudest moments started with a list of names and allegations of a scam.&nbsp;He&rsquo;d planned to attend the Putney Town Meeting two years ago, and part of his usual routine for visiting anywhere in Vermont was bringing along a printed copy of th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-vermonters-are-getting-back-their-unclaimed-property-heres-how-to-find-out-if-you-have-money-waiting/</link><pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2026 22:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-vermonters-are-getting-back-their-unclaimed-property-heres-how-to-find-out-if-you-have-money-waiting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Transforming healthcare means transforming the conversation]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Mark Crow, president of Tenth Crow Creative, a strategy and communications agency serving healthcare organizations. He lives in Shelburne and writes about healthcare transformation and systems change.Vermont has an unprecedented opportunity to reshape its healthcare system. Through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program and other recent and proposed state reforms, we have the chance to build a system that is more sustainable and better able to meet the needs of fu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/transforming-healthcare-means-transforming-the-conversation/</link><pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2026 22:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/transforming-healthcare-means-transforming-the-conversation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plan would double St. Johnsbury homeless shelter beds, free up space for families]]></title><description><![CDATA[The former Moose Lodge in St. Johnsbury, photographed in June 2026. April McCullum/Vermont PublicCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.More emergency shelter capacity is in the works in St. Johnsbury.The Northeast Kingdom nonprofit developer Rural Edge is under contract for a former Moose Lodge, which it plans to convert into a 40-bed, low-barrier shelter. The anti-poverty organization Northeast Kingdom Community Action is set to operate]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/plan-would-double-st-johnsbury-homeless-shelter-beds-free-up-space-for-families/</link><pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/plan-would-double-st-johnsbury-homeless-shelter-beds-free-up-space-for-families/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Schools in Barre start the year without a district budget]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Barre City Elementary and Middle School seen in August 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAs kids across the city of Barre and Barre town returned to class this week, their school district spanning the two municipalities still doesn&rsquo;t have a voter approved budget.&nbsp;Voters in the district shot down two proposed budgets this spring &mdash; first in March, then again in May &mdash; leaving the Barre Unified Union School District as the only district in the state without a budg]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/schools-in-barre-start-the-year-without-a-district-budget/</link><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 16:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/schools-in-barre-start-the-year-without-a-district-budget/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sen. Welch meets with Vermont farmers to discuss rural economic crisis]]></title><description><![CDATA[Fresh tomatoes growing at Honey Fields farm in Norwich Vt.Photo by Molly Hughes/Valley NewsThis story by Molly Hughes was first published in the Valley News on Aug.27, 2026.NORWICH &mdash; Vermont farmers can&rsquo;t afford to own the land they farm, and the federal money meant to help them has become a paperwork contest that pays out late, if at all.Those were the two problems that came up most when six farmers sat down Thursday at Honey Field Farm in Norwich with U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt.,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sen-welch-meets-with-vermont-farmers-to-discuss-rural-economic-crisis/</link><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 15:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sen-welch-meets-with-vermont-farmers-to-discuss-rural-economic-crisis/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[White River Valley Supervisory Union addresses chronic absenteeism through community connections]]></title><description><![CDATA[Students of WRVMS stand in front of their fence built at Metcalf Cemetery in Royalton. Photo by Caitlin Justice/White River Valley HeraldThis story by Caitlin Justice was first published in The White River Valley Herald on Aug. 27, 2026.After battling high absentee rates after the Covid-19 pandemic, schools in the White River Valley Supervisory Union are finding ways to keep kids in schools and build community connections. According to Michaela Martin, the SU&rsquo;s multi-tiered system of supp]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/white-river-valley-supervisory-union-addresses-chronic-absenteeism-through-community-connections/</link><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 14:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/white-river-valley-supervisory-union-addresses-chronic-absenteeism-through-community-connections/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Short-term rentals are vital to Vermont’s economy]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jenny Dewar, who has lived in Pownal for 20 years and is a board member of the Vermont Short-Term Rental Alliance.I am writing in response to recent letters by Donna Brown and Lew Holzman, who have both contributed to the vilification of short-term rentals in defense of their second homes in Vermont.&nbsp;There is a lot to unpack in their letters. Both are part-timers. This is a tradition in Vermont for people from New York and elsewhere who enjoy their country weekend or]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/short-term-rentals-are-vital-to-vermonts-economy/</link><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 14:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/short-term-rentals-are-vital-to-vermonts-economy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s population of primary care doctors is declining]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont continues to lose its primary care doctors &mdash;&nbsp;but the rate of loss is slowing, a new survey from the state&rsquo;s department of health shows.In 2024, Vermont had 529 people working as primary care providers; last time the Department of Health conducted its survey in 2022, 569 physicians practiced primary care in Vermont. Even that figure represented a decline from the 634 practicing primary care when the survey began in 2004.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think this is shocking, really]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-population-of-primary-care-doctors-is-declining/</link><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 13:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-population-of-primary-care-doctors-is-declining/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Urban trees are often planted just to die. Montpelier wants to change that.]]></title><description><![CDATA[About 80 percent of the trees planted in downtown Montpelier are not faring well, facing urban challenges that don&rsquo;t support their longterm health and growth. The city is taking steps to try to improve the longevity of its trees. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMontpelier residents have a particular attachment to some of the trees that line their streets. Each year, the fall colors of the century-old Barre Street ginkgo tree elicit social media posts and calls to come admire the folia]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/urban-trees-are-often-planted-just-to-die-montpelier-wants-to-change-that/</link><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/urban-trees-are-often-planted-just-to-die-montpelier-wants-to-change-that/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ben &amp; Jerry&rsquo;s legacy hits bumpy patch with latest turn in corporate saga]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ben &amp; Jerry&rsquo;s Church Street store in Burlington in April 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Ben &amp; Jerry&rsquo;s co-founder Ben Cohen says he sees a departure from the company&rsquo;s core values in several recently announced governance changes at Vermont&rsquo;s beloved ice cream maker.&nbsp;Ben &amp; Jerry&rsquo;s said on Wednesday that the company had selected three new directors for th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ben-amp-jerryrsquos-legacy-hits-bumpy-patch-with-latest-turn-in-corporate-saga/</link><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ben-amp-jerryrsquos-legacy-hits-bumpy-patch-with-latest-turn-in-corporate-saga/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sen. Peter Welch calls for making it easier for Vermont schools to buy more food directly from local farms]]></title><description><![CDATA[Elementary school students head back to class after lunch and recess at the Coventry Village School in September 2019. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSHELBURNE &mdash; Vermont leads the U.S. in providing local food in schools.In fact, 89% of Vermont schools purchase some local food, according to Vermont FEED, a collaborative farm to school project. U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., introduced the Farm to School Act in the Senate last year, which would support schools accessing local food and b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sen-peter-welch-calls-for-making-it-easier-for-vermont-schools-to-buy-more-food-directly-from-local-farms/</link><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 21:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sen-peter-welch-calls-for-making-it-easier-for-vermont-schools-to-buy-more-food-directly-from-local-farms/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Killington seeks financial help after cash crunch, TIF compliance issues]]></title><description><![CDATA[Killington&rsquo;s welcome sign in June 2022. File photo by Natalie Williams/VTDiggerThis story by Katy Savage was first published by the Mountain Times on Aug. 26, 2026.&nbsp;Monday, Aug. 24 was Celia Clancy&rsquo;s first time sitting with the Killington Selectboard since she defeated Roger Rivera for the seat on Aug. 11. She was largely quiet during the meeting.Killington officials are trying to stabilize the town&rsquo;s finances after a cash crunch left it without enough money to cover all]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/killington-seeks-financial-help-after-cash-crunch-tif-compliance-issues/</link><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 21:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/killington-seeks-financial-help-after-cash-crunch-tif-compliance-issues/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Out of sight isn’t a policy]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Beach Conger, a physician who works at the Johnson Health Center in Burlington, a clinic that provides medical care to homeless people and those with substance use disorders.&ldquo;Human kind cannot bear very much reality.&rdquo; So wrote T.S. Eliot in &ldquo;Burnt Norton,&rdquo; the first of his &ldquo;Four Quartets.&rdquo;I have been reminded of this line by several opinion pieces and letters to the editor in recent weeks about the public visibility of opioid use. The co]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/out-of-sight-isnt-a-policy/</link><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 20:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/out-of-sight-isnt-a-policy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Class action lawsuit filed in federal court over local PFOA contamination]]></title><description><![CDATA[The former ChemFab plant in Bennington seen in Feb. 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Mark Rondeau was first published in the Valley News on Aug. 26, 2026.A team of attorneys has filed a class-action suit in federal court on behalf of Shaftsbury and Bennington residents suffering from well contamination from PFOA.The suit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, District of Vermont, against Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation, 3M Company, E.I. Dupont De Nemours]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/class-action-lawsuit-filed-in-federal-court-over-local-pfoa-contamination/</link><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/class-action-lawsuit-filed-in-federal-court-over-local-pfoa-contamination/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Are the kids all right? Mental health issues drop — but disparities remain.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Middlebury Union High School marching band prepares to march in the Memorial Day parade in Vergennes in May 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAfter years of nationwide concerns about teen mental health, the latest data from Vermont&rsquo;s largest survey of its kind suggests that the situation for the state&rsquo;s youth might finally be improving.&nbsp;The Vermont Department of Health released a report on Aug. 18 showing that fewer teens say they feel depressed or anxious, and a sm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/are-the-kids-all-right-mental-health-issues-drop-but-disparities-remain-2/</link><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/are-the-kids-all-right-mental-health-issues-drop-but-disparities-remain-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Are the kids all right? Mental health issues drop — but disparities remain]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Middlebury Union High School marching band prepares to march in the Memorial Day parade in Vergennes in May 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAfter years of nationwide concerns about teen mental health, the latest data from Vermont&rsquo;s largest survey of its kind suggests that the situation for the state&rsquo;s youth might finally be improving.&nbsp;The Vermont Department of Health released a report on Aug. 18 showing that fewer teens say they feel depressed or anxious, and a sm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/are-the-kids-all-right-mental-health-issues-drop-but-disparities-remain/</link><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/are-the-kids-all-right-mental-health-issues-drop-but-disparities-remain/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mary Henry left a NH school district amid a $5 million deficit. Woodstock says she’s exactly who they need.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Woodstock Union High School in August 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Molly Hughes was first published in the Valley News on Aug. 24, 2026.Nine months after leaving a New Hampshire school district in the middle of a $5 million budget crisis, Mary Henry has a new job, a new state and a new administration standing firmly behind her.Henry says she inherited the Claremont financial crisis, not caused it &mdash; and that she became the scapegoat for a problem she was brought]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mary-henry-left-a-nh-school-district-amid-a-5-million-deficit-woodstock-says-shes-exactly-who-they-need/</link><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mary-henry-left-a-nh-school-district-amid-a-5-million-deficit-woodstock-says-shes-exactly-who-they-need/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington artist dug Nap struck and killed e-bike rider in crosswalk, new court filing alleges]]></title><description><![CDATA[Doug Knapp appears in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Knapp is charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle with death resulting in the death of cyclist Shiloh Skalka. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &ndash; A Burlington folk artist pleaded not guilty Thursday to a charge alleging he struck and killed a 16-year-old cyclist in a crosswalk with warning lights flashing.Douglas Knapp, 79, faces a misdemeanor offense of negligent]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-artist-dug-nap-struck-and-killed-e-bike-rider-in-crosswalk-new-court-filing-alleges-3/</link><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-artist-dug-nap-struck-and-killed-e-bike-rider-in-crosswalk-new-court-filing-alleges-3/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington artist, dug Nap, struck and killed e-bike rider in crosswalk, new court filing alleges]]></title><description><![CDATA[Doug Knapp appears in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Knapp is charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle with death resulting in the death of cyclist Shiloh Skalka. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &ndash; A Burlington folk artist pleaded not guilty Thursday to a charge alleging he struck and killed a 16-year-old cyclist in a crosswalk with warning lights flashing.Douglas Knapp, 79, faces a misdemeanor offense of negligent]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-artist-dug-nap-struck-and-killed-e-bike-rider-in-crosswalk-new-court-filing-alleges-2/</link><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-artist-dug-nap-struck-and-killed-e-bike-rider-in-crosswalk-new-court-filing-alleges-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington artist, dug Nap, struck and killed e-bike rider in crosswalk, new court filing alleges.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Doug Knapp appears in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Knapp is charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle with death resulting in the death of cyclist Shiloh Skalka. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &ndash; A Burlington folk artist pleaded not guilty Thursday to a charge alleging he struck and killed a 16-year-old cyclist in a crosswalk with warning lights flashing.Douglas Knapp, 79, faces a misdemeanor offense of negligent]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-artist-dug-nap-struck-and-killed-e-bike-rider-in-crosswalk-new-court-filing-alleges/</link><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-artist-dug-nap-struck-and-killed-e-bike-rider-in-crosswalk-new-court-filing-alleges/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington’s public safety problems require more than new gun laws]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Matt Swenson, the founder of Omnidex Solutions, an independent research and strategic analysis company. He lives in Vermont.Burlington&rsquo;s latest outbreak of violence should prompt a broader discussion about the city&rsquo;s public safety system, not simply another debate over gun laws.Over a single weekend, Burlington police investigated a fatal stabbing, a second stabbing, gunfire following an argument and the alleged accidental discharge of a firearm downtown. In a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlingtons-public-safety-problems-require-more-than-new-gun-laws/</link><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlingtons-public-safety-problems-require-more-than-new-gun-laws/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A popular Vermont housing rehab program puts down roots]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott listens to Noah Ponzio, a developer of a rehabbed fourplex in Bradford, at a press conference on Aug. 26, 2026. Photo by Carly Berlin, Vermont Public/VTDiggerCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.&nbsp;BRADFORD &ndash; Vermont&rsquo;s main program for rehabbing apartments and funding small-scale housing developments is sticking around.The first iteration of the Vermont Housing Improvement Program launched during the Covid]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-popular-vermont-housing-rehab-program-puts-down-roots/</link><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-popular-vermont-housing-rehab-program-puts-down-roots/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Alternative media pioneer Nat Winthrop on a half-century of covering Vermont]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Nat Winthrop. Photo Credit: Martha WinthropJournalist Nat Winthrop has been covering Vermont for a half-century, reporting stories that have surprised, infuriated and enlightened readers.&nbsp;From 1978 to 1990, Winthrop was publisher of the pioneering a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-alternative-media-pioneer-nat-winthrop-on-a-half-century-of-covering-vermont/</link><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-alternative-media-pioneer-nat-winthrop-on-a-half-century-of-covering-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Manchester Selectboard discusses future of Flock cameras]]></title><description><![CDATA[A license plate reader camera on Main Street in Manchester Center seen in June 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Ryan Pacheco was first published in the Manchester Journal on Aug. 25, 2026.MANCHESTER &mdash; The future of Manchester&rsquo;s controversial use of Flock cameras was discussed but ultimately not resolved at a public selectboard meeting at the Manchester Town Hall on Aug. 18.Manchester currently has five Flock cameras. According to the surveillance watchdog proj]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/manchester-selectboard-discusses-future-of-flock-cameras/</link><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/manchester-selectboard-discusses-future-of-flock-cameras/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[What ‘coal rolling’ at protests tells us about this moment]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Since Donald Trump was elected for the second time, I have been protesting a great deal, largely in Chittenden County. We get many honks and waves and thumbs-up, as well as the occasional thumbs-down &mdash; and, rarely, people flipping the bird.&nbsp;I can imagine flipping the bird to protesters with whom I disagree, and I can deal with receiving that gesture, though I don&rsquo;t think I would do it myself. What bothers&nbsp;me far more is the loud revving of trucks, speeding thro]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-coal-rolling-at-protests-tells-us-about-this-moment/</link><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-coal-rolling-at-protests-tells-us-about-this-moment/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Antisemitism isn’t a shield for Israel’s human rights record]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;In my recent letter to VTDigger, I expressed my concerns over the United States&rsquo; continued support of Israel despite the country&rsquo;s genocidal actions against Palestinian and Lebanese people. Mark Treinkman&rsquo;s letter in response, signed by members of the Vermont Friends of Israel, claims that my strong opinions must stem from a lack of Holocaust education and antisemitism in Vermont.&nbsp;This is not true. What is true is that the tragedies of the Holocaust shou]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/antisemitism-isnt-a-shield-for-israels-human-rights-record/</link><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/antisemitism-isnt-a-shield-for-israels-human-rights-record/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Progressive Party chair resigns after less than a year on the job]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bill Hunsinger, who has resigned from his position as chair of the Vermont Progressive Party. Photo courtesy of Bill HunsingerThe chair of Vermont&rsquo;s Progressive Party, Bill Hunsinger, has resigned from his post.&nbsp;Hunsinger stepped down Tuesday after less than a year in the job as the leader of the state&rsquo;s third largest political party, according to Heather Thomas, the party&rsquo;s executive director. The chair is the party&rsquo;s public-facing leader, while the executive direc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-progressive-party-chair-resigns-after-less-than-a-year-on-the-job/</link><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 17:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-progressive-party-chair-resigns-after-less-than-a-year-on-the-job/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Watershed moment’: Vermont secures $92.7M and new restrictions for teens in Meta settlement]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Instagram logo is seen on a cell phone in Boston, Massachusetts, Oct. 14, 2022.File photo by Michael Dwyer/APTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Vermont has secured $92.7 million and new limits on use for customers under 18 in a settlement with social media giant Meta, state Attorney General Charity Clark said in a press conference Wednesday morning. The sum is the largest single-company settlement in state history, Clark said, and marks a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/watershed-moment-vermont-secures-927m-and-new-restrictions-for-teens-in-meta-settlement/</link><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 17:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/watershed-moment-vermont-secures-927m-and-new-restrictions-for-teens-in-meta-settlement/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Watershed moment’: Vermont secures $92.7M and new restrictions for kids in Meta settlement]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Instagram logo is seen on a cell phone in Boston, Massachusetts, Oct. 14, 2022.File photo by Michael Dwyer/APTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Vermont has secured $92.7 million and new limits on use for customers under 18 in a settlement with social media giant Meta, state Attorney General Charity Clark said in a press conference Wednesday morning. The sum is the largest single-company settlement in state history, Clark said, and marks a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/watershed-moment-vermont-secures-927m-and-new-restrictions-for-kids-in-meta-settlement/</link><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 17:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/watershed-moment-vermont-secures-927m-and-new-restrictions-for-kids-in-meta-settlement/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vital Communities enters talks to save town listservs from shutdown]]></title><description><![CDATA[David Beane Jr., left, and Kate Harrison hike along the Appalachian Trail in Hanover, N.H., in Nov. 2023. Harrison donated a kidney to Beane in 2021 after seeing a listserv post from his mother seeking a donor for her son. Photo by Alex Driehaus / Valley News and Report For AmericaThis story by Liz Sauchelli was first published in the Valley News on Aug. 25, 2026.Talks have started between Vital Communities and a group of Upper Valley residents about preserving town-specific listservs before th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vital-communities-enters-talks-to-save-town-listservs-from-shutdown/</link><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vital-communities-enters-talks-to-save-town-listservs-from-shutdown/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM president says school’s budget deficit is closed despite declining enrollment]]></title><description><![CDATA[University of Vermont President Marlene Tromp delivers her State of the University address in Burlington on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; The University of Vermont has closed its $12 million projected budget deficit, President Marlene Tromp reported just days before first-year students are set to arrive on campus.&nbsp;Tromp delivered the first &ldquo;State of the University&rdquo; address to trustees and hundreds of staff Tuesday with one resoundin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-president-says-schools-budget-deficit-is-closed-despite-declining-enrollment/</link><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 23:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-president-says-schools-budget-deficit-is-closed-despite-declining-enrollment/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As Trump tries to curtail mail-in voting, Vermont officials clean up errors on state voter rolls]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott and Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas announce that 900 people who were wrongly registered to vote have been cut from Vermont&rsquo;s voter rolls on Tuesday. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont officials have removed just shy of 900 people from the state&rsquo;s voter rolls who they said were wrongly registered to vote due to human error at the state Department of Motor Vehicles.None of those 900 people actually cast a ballot and the state wrongly r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-trump-tries-to-curtail-mail-in-voting-vermont-officials-clean-up-errors-on-state-voter-rolls/</link><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 23:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-trump-tries-to-curtail-mail-in-voting-vermont-officials-clean-up-errors-on-state-voter-rolls/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Abuse claimants fight Vermont Catholic Church plan to sell Rice Memorial High to supporters]]></title><description><![CDATA[The grade 9-12 Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerCreditors in the Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese&rsquo;s Chapter 11 financial reorganization case are fighting a church plan to sell Rice Memorial High School to supporters to protect the grade 9-12 South Burlington campus from potential liquidation.In a U.S. Bankruptcy Court filing Monday, lawyers for a creditors&rsquo; committee that represents more than 100 clergy abuse claimants questioned the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/abuse-claimants-fight-vermont-catholic-church-plan-to-sell-rice-memorial-high-to-supporters/</link><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 22:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/abuse-claimants-fight-vermont-catholic-church-plan-to-sell-rice-memorial-high-to-supporters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington looks to the state for help combating homelessness and drug use downtown]]></title><description><![CDATA[Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak listens as the City Council discusses a resolution requesting more help from the state to battle homelessness, substance use disorder and the mental health crisis on Monday, August 24, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON&mdash; Burlington city councilors are requesting the governor take new steps to help the Queen City address homelessness and drug use downtown.&nbsp;The request from city officials comes in the form of a resolution, which Burlin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-looks-to-the-state-for-help-combating-homelessness-and-drug-use-downtown/</link><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 22:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-looks-to-the-state-for-help-combating-homelessness-and-drug-use-downtown/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rudulfo “Rudy” Gomez]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 04/04/1932Montpelier, VermontDied: 02/06/2026St. Johnsbury, VermontDetails of service:There are no calling hours.&nbsp; Dad&rsquo;s interment will be at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery, September 11, 2026 at 1 pm.Please consider memorial contributions to:Vermont Veterans Place220 Vine Street,Northfield, VT 05663Rudulfo &ldquo;Rudy&rdquo; Gomez, 93, of Hardwick, VT, our dad, Poppy, Grandpa, Great Poppy, uncle and brother, passed on February 6, 2026.Born to immigrant parents, Santiag]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rudulfo-rudy-gomez/</link><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 21:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rudulfo-rudy-gomez/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont could save Brattleboro’s birthing center — if it does the math]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Lucas Farrell, a farmer and writer in Townshend. He is the treasurer of the board of Grace Cottage Family Health and Hospital. These views are his own.Defenders of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital&rsquo;s birthing center need to say this out loud, because our case is worthless without it: The hospital&rsquo;s finances were catastrophically mismanaged, and the community deserves to be angry.The record is in BMH&rsquo;s own filings: nine years of losses &mdash; $33.6 million si]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-could-save-brattleboros-birthing-center-if-it-does-the-math/</link><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 20:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-could-save-brattleboros-birthing-center-if-it-does-the-math/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Vermont teenager is holding the U.S. to its own law]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Zoya Bianchi, a 14-year-old student from Waterbury, recently wrote in VTDigger that U.S. law bars aid to Israel or any other country that commits human rights violations. Continuing U.S. aid to Israel is now well into the billions.&nbsp;Bianchi&rsquo;s letter underscores two recent United Nations reports: the finding by the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory in September 2025 that Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-teenager-is-holding-the-us-to-its-own-law/</link><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 18:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-teenager-is-holding-the-us-to-its-own-law/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Vermont’s housing shortage can’t be explained by population size alone]]></title><description><![CDATA[A mismatch between Vermont&rsquo;s home sizes and household sizes is one factor in Vermont&rsquo;s current housing crunch.Laura Nakasaka / Vermont Public<br />
Carly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.For two decades, Dave Felcan had a full house. He and his wife bought their three-bedroom Burlington home with red shutters on a quiet neighborhood street in the early 2000s. The house felt like just the right place to raise their two young kids.But]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-vermonts-housing-shortage-cant-be-explained-by-population-size-alone/</link><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-vermonts-housing-shortage-cant-be-explained-by-population-size-alone/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Vermonter is running for treasurer as a Progressive. The party says he’s not their candidate.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Zachary Hampl, the Vermont Progressive Party&rsquo;s nominee for state treasurer, speaks during a candidate forum in June. ScreenshotTypically, the political party labels on a ballot can give voters a sense of where each candidate stands on the biggest issues. But in at least one case in this fall&rsquo;s election in Vermont, it won&rsquo;t be that simple.Zachary Hampl, an author and financial account manager from Rutland Town, won the Vermont Progressive Party primary for state treasurer earli]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermonter-is-running-for-treasurer-as-a-progressive-the-party-says-hes-not-their-candidate/</link><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:35:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermonter-is-running-for-treasurer-as-a-progressive-the-party-says-hes-not-their-candidate/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[15 years after Irene, plucky business owners recall the monster storm and its aftermath]]></title><description><![CDATA[After the floodwaters receded, the extent of the damage to the Wilmington business community became apparent. File photo by Mike Eldred/Deerfield Valley NewsThis story by John Hurdle was first published in The Deerfield Valley News on Aug. 20, 2026.WILMINGTON &mdash; Lisa Sullivan recalled the morning of Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, when raging floodwaters from Tropical Storm Irene threatened to destroy the building that houses Bartleby&rsquo;s Books.Water pressure on the building was so great from t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/15-years-after-irene-plucky-business-owners-recall-the-monster-storm-and-its-aftermath/</link><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/15-years-after-irene-plucky-business-owners-recall-the-monster-storm-and-its-aftermath/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[PHOTOS: A day at the rodeo in Vermont’s wild west]]></title><description><![CDATA[A rider leaps off his horse during the steer wrestling competition at the Pond Hill Ranch Pro Rodeo in Castleton on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerCowpokes and crowds gathered at the Pond Hill Ranch Pro Rodeo in Castleton for an afternoon of barrel racing, bareback riding, steer wrestling, and more. VTDigger photographer Glenn Russell attended the rodeo on Saturday, August 22, and captured the energy, exhaustion, and excitement, in and out of the ring.Spectators take]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-a-day-at-the-rodeo-in-vermonts-wild-west/</link><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 23:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-a-day-at-the-rodeo-in-vermonts-wild-west/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Prosecution pushes efforts to ‘restore’ competency for suspect in arson at Sen. Bernie Sanders’ office]]></title><description><![CDATA[Trucks are parked outside the building where U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has his offices on Church Street in Burlington in April 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &ndash; More than two years after authorities allege that a former California man set a fire outside the Burlington office of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a federal judge ordered Monday that he remain in custody while issues regarding his competency to stand trial play out.&nbsp;Judge William K. Sessions III last year fou]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/prosecution-pushes-efforts-to-restore-competency-for-suspect-in-arson-at-sen-bernie-sanders-office/</link><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 23:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/prosecution-pushes-efforts-to-restore-competency-for-suspect-in-arson-at-sen-bernie-sanders-office/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont cannot spend its way into affordability]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Elizabeth Brown, who is a state director at the Fiscal Alliance Foundation.Despite six years of skyrocketing state spending, with increases at twice the rate of inflation, for many the answer to Vermont&rsquo;s affordability crisis continues to be more revenue, higher taxes and an expansion of government programs. With the third-highest total tax burden in the nation, why should taxpayers believe spending even more will make Vermont more affordable?New revenue proposals ha]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-cannot-spend-its-way-into-affordability/</link><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-cannot-spend-its-way-into-affordability/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dear Vermont, I’m leaving]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jim Suriano, who lives in Montpelier.I&rsquo;m leaving. And I&rsquo;m writing to share my experience living here in the hope of effecting some changes for you all.I moved here in the fall of 2019. For years, I&rsquo;d been determined to live in Vermont. I loved the Green Mountains and all the encounters I had with people in the state. I through-hiked a section of the Long Trail between Rutland and Waterbury and hitchhiked into Burlington back in 2016. The experience left l]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dear-vermont-im-leaving/</link><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dear-vermont-im-leaving/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Veterans Affairs to open clinic in South Burlington]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Brattleboro Community Based Outpatient Clinic on GSP Drive is one of seven in the Vermont Veterans Affairs system. File photo by Mike Faher/VTDiggerThis story by Briana Brady was first published in The Other Paper on Aug. 20, 2026.The Department of Veterans Affairs signed a 20-year lease for a new outpatient clinic at Technology Park in South Burlington.The VA White River Junction Healthcare System expects the new clinic, which will replace the services it currently offers at its clinic in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/veterans-affairs-to-open-clinic-in-south-burlington/</link><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/veterans-affairs-to-open-clinic-in-south-burlington/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The catch in Noah Kahan’s charity concert for Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I have been a Noah Kahan fan since 2021. I heard a Vermont Public feature about him on the radio in the car with my grandma and have been hooked ever since. I got my mom into him. I cried on my bedroom floor listening to the original &ldquo;Stick Season&rdquo; album and again, even harder, when I heard &ldquo;The Great Divide.&rdquo; All of this is to say that I really love Kahan.&nbsp;As someone who grew up in Vermont and now goes to Providence College in Rhode Island, I love havin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-catch-in-noah-kahans-charity-concert-for-vermont/</link><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 15:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-catch-in-noah-kahans-charity-concert-for-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Meet three Vermonters whose histories are lesser known]]></title><description><![CDATA[An illustration of a mass revival during the Second Great Awakening. The image is a depiction of what Charles Bowles&rsquo; congregation might have looked like. Image courtesy of American History CentralKyle Neece is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont&rsquo;s Reporting &amp; Documentary Storytelling program.This summer marked the 250th anniversary of the United States, and many Vermont towns and cities celebrated residents who played important roles in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/meet-three-vermonters-whose-histories-are-lesser-known/</link><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 15:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/meet-three-vermonters-whose-histories-are-lesser-known/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Secretary of State urges voters to update state records before ballots get mailed out]]></title><description><![CDATA[A ballot drop box outside the Randolph Town Clerk&rsquo;s office in October 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Secretary of State&rsquo;s office is urging voters to make sure they have a current address on file with the state before ballots get mailed out for this fall&rsquo;s general election.After Sept. 1 &mdash; which is in less than two weeks &mdash; whatever voter addresses the secretary&rsquo;s office has listed will be used to mail ballots. The state will start sending]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-secretary-of-state-urges-voters-to-update-state-records-before-ballots-get-mailed-out/</link><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 14:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-secretary-of-state-urges-voters-to-update-state-records-before-ballots-get-mailed-out/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[What’s next for Vermont? Meet the reporters covering politics, elections and health care]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger&rsquo;s Shaun Robinson and Ethan Weinstein at an event with historian Jill Lepore at the Manchester Community Library on Thursday, September 5, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerState government can be difficult to follow. Major policy decisions take shape through legislative debates, agency actions, elections and negotiations that often happen far from public view.On Thursday, September 10, VTDigger is bringing the journalists who follow those decisions to Manchester for a candid c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/whats-next-for-vermont-meet-the-reporters-covering-politics-elections-and-health-care/</link><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/whats-next-for-vermont-meet-the-reporters-covering-politics-elections-and-health-care/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont wants to train the next generation of physicians. How much should insured Vermonters be paying for it? ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington in Nov. 2020. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTeaching and training the next generation of physicians is expensive work. And commercial insurers are footing more than half that bill in Vermont through their payments for care, according to an independent analysis.&nbsp;Nearly $82 million of commercial insurance dollars went toward the $161 million cost for UVM Medical Center to run its medical education programs last year, analysts said]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-wants-to-train-the-next-generation-of-physicians-how-much-should-insured-vermonters-be-paying-for-it/</link><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 13:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-wants-to-train-the-next-generation-of-physicians-how-much-should-insured-vermonters-be-paying-for-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s statewide ban on cellphones in schools starts this year]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sam Blair demonstrates the use of a magnetically-sealed cell phone pouch at Harwood Union High School in Duxbury in August 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerKids across Vermont will be banned from using smartphones during the school day this year as a new state law takes effect.&nbsp;Although schools are newly required to have policies on banning phones from the classroom, many schools around the state have tried out the ban for the last year or two. And staff in those districts say stu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-statewide-ban-on-cellphones-in-schools-starts-this-year/</link><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 12:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-statewide-ban-on-cellphones-in-schools-starts-this-year/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Middlebury submits state’s first CHIP application]]></title><description><![CDATA[A rendering of townhomes at a groundbreaking event for Stonecrop Meadows, a mixed-income housing project in Middlebury, in Feb. 2025. File photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont PublicThis story by John Flowers was first published in the Addison Independent on Aug. 20, 2026.MIDDLEBURY &mdash; Middlebury last week became the first community to dip its toe into Vermont&rsquo;s new Community &amp; Housing Infrastructure Program. Through CHIP the town would be able to borrow money to build muni]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/middlebury-submits-states-first-chip-application/</link><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 13:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/middlebury-submits-states-first-chip-application/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fed-up White River Junction bar owner posted explicit security footage, then apologized]]></title><description><![CDATA[Patrons visit Putnam&rsquo;s vine/yard in White River Junction, Vt., on Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Valley News / Report For America &ndash; Alex Driehaus) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Credit: Valley News / Report For AmericaThis story by Marion Umpleby was first published in the Valley News on Aug. 21, 2026.WHITE RIVER JUNCTION &mdash; In the early hours of Aug. 5, Kelsey Rush awoke to an alert from a secur]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fed-up-white-river-junction-bar-owner-posted-explicit-security-footage-then-apologized/</link><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 23:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fed-up-white-river-junction-bar-owner-posted-explicit-security-footage-then-apologized/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As heating oil prices remain volatile, Vermonters prepare cautiously for winter]]></title><description><![CDATA[The reflective side of an Energy Co-op of Vermont fuel delivery truck is seen in Colchester on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.For Danny McGibney, a Barre Town resident who heats his home with oil, the price cap plan he uses to lock in his fuel costs is substantially more expensive this year than last. Nonetheless, renewing it this summer in preparation for the chilly months ahead was clea]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-heating-oil-prices-remain-volatile-vermonters-prepare-cautiously-for-winter/</link><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 21:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-heating-oil-prices-remain-volatile-vermonters-prepare-cautiously-for-winter/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Law enforcement governance council holds first meeting]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Windham County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office building on Old Ferry Road in Brattleboro. File photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerThis story by Olga Peters was first published in The Commons on Aug. 18, 2026.&nbsp;The newly formed Windham County Law Enforcement Governance Council convened for its inaugural meeting Aug. 7, ready to tackle how the Windham County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office should provide collective policing for rural towns that lack their own police departments.Selectboards from the ini]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/law-enforcement-governance-council-holds-first-meeting/</link><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 21:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/law-enforcement-governance-council-holds-first-meeting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Defund Israel’s decimation of southern Lebanon]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Oscar Vulte, a rising sophomore at Brattleboro Union High School and a fellow with Action Corps.Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., introduced a resolution on June 24 requesting a report on Israel&rsquo;s human rights practices in Lebanon since Feb. 28, 2026, under Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows Congress to request a human rights report on any country receiving U.S. military aid. This is a fantastic piece of legislation, and Welch was right to introduce it]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/defund-israels-decimation-of-southern-lebanon/</link><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 21:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/defund-israels-decimation-of-southern-lebanon/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘USPS isn’t delivering for Vermont’: Congressional delegation complains to postmaster general about mail issues]]></title><description><![CDATA[Drive-by mailboxes bearing the logo of the United States Postal Service on Elmwood Avenue in Burlington. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s congressional delegation has received more than 2,000 complaints from constituents about mail service so far this year, the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner on Friday.&nbsp;&ldquo;As you know, the Postal Service&rsquo;s Delivering for America ten-year plan was launched in 2021, supposedly to modernize and supp]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/usps-isnt-delivering-for-vermont-congressional-delegation-complains-to-postmaster-general-about-mail-issues/</link><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/usps-isnt-delivering-for-vermont-congressional-delegation-complains-to-postmaster-general-about-mail-issues/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neema starts at Saint Michael’s College to pursue a career in social work]]></title><description><![CDATA[Neema Isidore will be the first person in her family to attend college. She&rsquo;s the middle of five siblings, a 2026 graduate of Winooski High School, and she starts at Saint Michael&rsquo;s College this week.Neema has known she wanted to go to college since she started high school. The path was challenging; Neema was born in Burundi. She came to Vermont when she was in the 7th grade, speaking Swahili and Kirundi. As she got used to a new community and a new school, she was also learning a n]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/neema-starts-at-saint-michaels-college-to-pursue-a-career-in-social-work/</link><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/neema-starts-at-saint-michaels-college-to-pursue-a-career-in-social-work/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After a nearly six year saga, Burlington’s new high school opens its doors]]></title><description><![CDATA[The atrium the new Burlington High School building is seen on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBatula Kassim sat in front of a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows in her school&rsquo;s new library, the sunlight a welcome contrast to the refurbished Macy&rsquo;s department store where she spent her freshman year.&nbsp;Kassim, an incoming sophomore at Burlington High School, is one of a cohort of students who spent part or all of their high school years attending classes at]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-a-nearly-six-year-saga-burlingtons-new-high-school-opens-its-doors/</link><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 13:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-a-nearly-six-year-saga-burlingtons-new-high-school-opens-its-doors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[St. Albans dairy plant is temporarily spared from dismantling as a union fight plays out]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Dairy Farmers of America milk truck drives past members of the Teamsters local 597 union picketing outside the plant in St. Albans in September 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; A federal judge on Thursday cleared the way for St. Albans Creamery to proceed with plans to largely shut down its milk processing plant, lifting a temporary restraining order that had blocked the closure.U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III issued the five-day restraining order Monda]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/st-albans-dairy-plant-is-temporarily-spared-from-dismantling-as-a-union-fight-plays-out/</link><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/st-albans-dairy-plant-is-temporarily-spared-from-dismantling-as-a-union-fight-plays-out/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Milton man accuses the town of violating his free speech rights]]></title><description><![CDATA[Henry Bonges with Pearl, one of his Boston terriers, at home in Milton in July 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA longtime volunteer for the town of Milton filed a federal lawsuit against the town this week alleging officials there violated his right to free speech and retaliated against him when they didn&rsquo;t reappoint him to his long-held roles on local committees.&nbsp;The lawsuit turns a spat over volunteer appointments into a dispute over political speech. It calls into questi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/milton-man-accuses-the-town-of-violating-his-free-speech-rights/</link><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/milton-man-accuses-the-town-of-violating-his-free-speech-rights/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal prosecutors take over charges in Rutland murder case, won’t seek death penalty]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Rutland City Poilice Department in Dec. 2021. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFederal prosecutors filed a new indictment charging two Massachusetts men with a capital crime in the fatal shooting of a Rutland man in 2024 in a case of mistaken identity.&nbsp;The prosecutors also submitted a notice that they do not intend to seek the death penalty as a possible punishment.The new indictment was filed Wednesday in federal court in Vermont.&nbsp;The indictment naming Dylin Wainscott, 30, of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-prosecutors-take-over-charges-in-rutland-murder-case-wont-seek-death-penalty/</link><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-prosecutors-take-over-charges-in-rutland-murder-case-wont-seek-death-penalty/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Don’t punish Vermonters who split their time here]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I read the recent opinion piece by Donna Brown about second-home owners, and I totally agree with her. We bought our house in 2004, and as I was a teacher, we spent the summer and my vacation in Vermont. During the pandemic, we were here for a year and a half. We spend as much time here as we can, sometimes up to six months at a time. Does that mean that our other house is also a second home?&nbsp;We pay our taxes but are on a fixed income, so increases are a concern. What about sho]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-punish-vermonters-who-split-their-time-here/</link><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 23:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-punish-vermonters-who-split-their-time-here/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thirty years on, feds look at rolling back funds for internet access at Vermont schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[Aubrey Fadden of Enosburg Falls works with third-graders at the Richford Elementary School in Jan. 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Federal Communications Commission is reevaluating a program that has long made broadband internet connections affordable to schools and libraries, leaving Vermont&rsquo;s state leaders scrambling to identify cuts to other services if the program is changed.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The FCC&rsquo;s proposed rule weighs possible restrictions to the Schools and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thirty-years-on-feds-look-at-rolling-back-funds-for-internet-access-at-vermont-schools/</link><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thirty-years-on-feds-look-at-rolling-back-funds-for-internet-access-at-vermont-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s housing shortage is the real obstacle to growth]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I mostly agree with a recent letter to VTDigger about second-home owners, but for one statement. The author says Vermont should encourage industry, but I can tell you that industry cannot survive without workers, and workers cannot survive without a place to live, and there are no places to live.&nbsp;I have lived and worked here for all my 55 years. I currently own and manage five rental properties and work as a robotics specialist at a local factory. My perspective cuts across a f]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-housing-shortage-is-the-real-obstacle-to-growth/</link><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 20:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-housing-shortage-is-the-real-obstacle-to-growth/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sanders rallies at St. Albans dairy processing plant, calling its closure ‘devastating’]]></title><description><![CDATA[The St. Albans Creamery &amp; Supply store on Federal Street in St. Albans on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Photo by Bear Savage/VTDiggerST. ALBANS &mdash; In light of the recent idling of a dairy processing plant in St. Albans, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., visited the site Wednesday to rally support for unionized workers, who have described the shutdown as an illegal act of retaliation.Against the backdrop of the facility and speaking to the media, Sanders described Dairy Farmers of America&]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sanders-rallies-at-st-albans-dairy-processing-plant-calling-its-closure-devastating/</link><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 01:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/sanders-rallies-at-st-albans-dairy-processing-plant-calling-its-closure-devastating/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott’s administration touts refunds from 2025 tax break package]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Tax Commissioner Bill Shouldice speaks during Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s weekly press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier in May 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s administration says a 2025 law it backed that created new tax breaks for military retirees and a range of other tax exemptions resulted in about $10 million in refunds for people around the state so far this year.The Republican governor said at a press conference Wednesday]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-phil-scotts-administration-touts-refunds-from-2025-tax-break-package/</link><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-phil-scotts-administration-touts-refunds-from-2025-tax-break-package/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turning a blind eye to lawbreaking hurts the people we’re trying to help]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I&rsquo;m the president and CEO of the Lake Champlain Chamber. It was founded 115 years ago and, to the best of my knowledge, has always been headquartered in Burlington. I have worked downtown for almost 30 years.&nbsp;The Chamber&rsquo;s office lease expired last fall, and with it, I had to make a decision. Should we stay downtown? As the person responsible for my staff&rsquo;s work well-being, I take their safety seriously. This spring, I signed a new five-year lease in downtown]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/turning-a-blind-eye-to-lawbreaking-hurts-the-people-were-trying-to-help/</link><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 22:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/turning-a-blind-eye-to-lawbreaking-hurts-the-people-were-trying-to-help/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Grace Potter on how she achieved musical stardom by trespassing ]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Vermont-born Grace Potter will release her latest album, &ldquo;Tresspasser,&rdquo; in August of 2026. Photo by James MountfordVermont-born rock star Grace Potter releases her seventh studio album on Aug. 21. &ldquo;Trespasser&rdquo; is the latest offeri]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-grace-potter-on-how-she-achieved-musical-stardom-by-trespassing/</link><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 22:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-grace-potter-on-how-she-achieved-musical-stardom-by-trespassing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont education officials face sophisticated phishing scheme this summer]]></title><description><![CDATA[Signs on a bank of computers tell visitors that the machines are not working due to a cyber attack. File photo by Tony Gutierrez/AP PhotoA number of Vermont school districts were hit with an insidious phishing scheme this summer, following a pattern of cybercriminals attacking crucial institutions in rural communities.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is a really common hacking methodology, unfortunately,&rdquo; said Denise Reilly-Hughes, secretary of the Agency of Digital Services. &ldquo;Even the most skille]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-education-officials-face-sophisticated-phishing-scheme-this-summer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 22:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-education-officials-face-sophisticated-phishing-scheme-this-summer/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s opiate policy is killing us]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Matt Wormser, the chair of the Shelburne Selectboard.I traveled to Fayetteville, Arkansas, earlier this year for work. Having not been to the state in decades, I didn&rsquo;t know what to expect, but anticipated an environment similar to many Southern cities I&rsquo;d been to in recent years: long on MAGA and sprawl and short on local color. Instead, I found a colorful small city that reminded me of Burlington. It&rsquo;s home to the vibrant University of Arkansas campus.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-opiate-policy-is-killing-us/</link><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 21:20:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-opiate-policy-is-killing-us/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Alleging illegal retaliation, union wins temporary halt to closure of St. Albans dairy plant]]></title><description><![CDATA[Members of the Teamsters local 597 union picket outside the Dairy Farmers of America plant in St. Albans in September 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWorkers at the Dairy Farmers of America processing plant in St. Albans can hold onto their jobs this week after a federal judge issued a restraining order to temporarily halt a planned closure.In a complaint filed Friday, the Teamsters Local No. 597 requested the order, claiming that multiple supervisors told some employees that the deci]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/alleging-illegal-retaliation-union-wins-temporary-halt-to-closure-of-st-albans-dairy-plant/</link><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 01:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/alleging-illegal-retaliation-union-wins-temporary-halt-to-closure-of-st-albans-dairy-plant/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Scott administration installs bird noise devices at downtown Montpelier building]]></title><description><![CDATA[State officials installed bird noise devices at the Pavilion Building in Montpelier this summer. David Littlefield/Vermont PublicCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.&nbsp;The issue of unsheltered homelessness has landed on the doorstep of Gov. Phil Scott.The Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services has tallied numerous incidents of individuals sleeping on the porches of the Pavilion Building in downtown Montpelier, the whit]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/scott-administration-installs-bird-noise-devices-at-downtown-montpelier-building/</link><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/scott-administration-installs-bird-noise-devices-at-downtown-montpelier-building/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Green Mountain Care Board set modest rate increases for 2027 Vermont health insurance marketplace plans]]></title><description><![CDATA[Insurance plans available on the state marketplace through Vermont Health Connect are displayed on a monitor on Monday, August 17, 2026. Photo by Noel Clark/VTDiggerIndividuals and small businesses that buy health insurance on the state marketplace will see their premiums rise between 1% to 6% next year.The Green Mountain Care Board, Vermont&rsquo;s independent health care regulator, set rate increases late Monday night for coverage sold on Vermont Health Connect, the state&rsquo;s Affordable C]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/green-mountain-care-board-set-modest-rate-increases-for-2027-vermont-health-insurance-marketplace-plans/</link><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 23:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/green-mountain-care-board-set-modest-rate-increases-for-2027-vermont-health-insurance-marketplace-plans/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Walter Edward “Ted” Tedford]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 08/13/1927Manchester, ConnecticutDied: 07/14/2026Underhill Center, VermontDetails of service:A Celebration of Life Memorial Service is planned for Ted on Saturday, August 29, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the St. Thomas Church Parish Hall on Green Street in Underhill Center. All welcome.A Celebration of Life Memorial Service is planned for Ted on Saturday, August 29, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the St. Thomas Church Parish Hall on Green Street in Underhill Center.Please come to reme]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/walter-edward-ted-tedford/</link><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 23:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/walter-edward-ted-tedford/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Suspect surrenders and faces second-degree murder charge in downtown Burlington stabbing]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Burlington Police Department on North Avenue in Burlington on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA suspect has turned himself in and faces a charge of second-degree murder in a fatal stabbing over the weekend in downtown Burlington.Hassan O. Haji, 24, of Winooski, surrendered at the Burlington police headquarters Tuesday morning. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon to the murder charge in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington, according to Burlington po]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/suspect-surrenders-and-faces-second-degree-murder-charge-in-downtown-burlington-stabbing/</link><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 23:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/suspect-surrenders-and-faces-second-degree-murder-charge-in-downtown-burlington-stabbing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Psychiatric hospital beds save lives]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,The closure of beds for patients suffering from severe mental illness is the worst news possible for those in the midst of a psychotic episode. In 1960, I spent five months at Forest Hospital in Des Plaines, Illinois, living through a horror that, in the end, turned out to be a gift to all my relationships: with my husband, three tiny daughters, parents, brothers and a host of extended family going through their own agony.&nbsp;If there had not been a hospital for me, I don&rsquo;t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/psychiatric-hospital-beds-save-lives/</link><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 21:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/psychiatric-hospital-beds-save-lives/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Parker’s career took several turns before he settled into a job that works for him and his family]]></title><description><![CDATA[Parker has a strong sense of purpose, and he&rsquo;s remained flexible throughout his working life&mdash;a skill that has enabled him to pivot when necessary and explore opportunities when they&rsquo;ve come knocking.&nbsp;After he graduated from Harwood Union Middle and High School, he attended Castleton State College (now Vermont State Castleton) to pursue a business degree. He realized that wasn&rsquo;t his path and left after two semesters. He spent the next few years working at Green Mount]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/parkers-career-took-several-turns-before-he-settled-into-a-job-that-works-for-him-and-his-family/</link><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 19:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/parkers-career-took-several-turns-before-he-settled-into-a-job-that-works-for-him-and-his-family/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Time limits on teacher licensing tests measure the wrong thing]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Ben Mitchell, a reading interventionist at Riverside Middle School in Springfield and the publisher of Divergents Magazine.In January I found myself at my computer, watching a digital clock aggressively count down the seconds. As a reading teacher in a Vermont public middle school, I love my job; this work challenges me to be my very best. Nevertheless, because I am on a provisional license, my entire career hinges on a number. Vermont requires a score of 164 on the Middle]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/time-limits-on-teacher-licensing-tests-measure-the-wrong-thing/</link><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 19:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/time-limits-on-teacher-licensing-tests-measure-the-wrong-thing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Michael Burditt Cadwell]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 08/28/1952Pittsford, VermontDied: 08/09/2026Columbus, OhioDetails of service:Michael Burditt Cadwell, son of John and Mary Cadwell, died peacefully on August 9, 2026 after along illness. Michael enjoyed an idyllic childhood on the family farm in Pittsford and attended Otter Valley Union High School &rsquo;70, Williams College &rsquo;74, and the Yale School of Architecture &rsquo;81. He then worked for the firms of Turner Brooks, Cesar Pelli, and Wiemann and Lamphere.There followed scholar]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michael-burditt-cadwell/</link><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 18:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michael-burditt-cadwell/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New funds for Alburgh rail bridge could boost future Amtrak link to Montreal]]></title><description><![CDATA[Construction work continues on the railroad trestle bridge across Lake Champlain between Swanton and Alburgh on Monday, August 17, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerLong-stalled plans to restart the Amtrak connection between Vermont and Montreal are getting a boost from the federal government.The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday announced a $4 million grant to plan out repairing, or possibly replacing, an ailing bridge that carries the cross-border rail route over Lake Champlain.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-funds-for-alburgh-rail-bridge-could-boost-future-amtrak-link-to-montreal/</link><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-funds-for-alburgh-rail-bridge-could-boost-future-amtrak-link-to-montreal/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[1 dead in spate of violent incidents in Burlington]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Burlington police cruiser is seen outside City Hall in May 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAn unidentified man was stabbed to death in Burlington early Saturday morning, nearly a year to the day after a fatal beating a few blocks away set off a still-unresolved fight over public safety downtown even as city figures show violent crime declining.Burlington police discovered a man suffering from stab wounds at around 4 a.m. Saturday morning behind 175-199 Main St., WCAX reported. The m]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/1-dead-in-spate-of-violent-incidents-in-burlington/</link><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 23:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/1-dead-in-spate-of-violent-incidents-in-burlington/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Who gets to see themselves on a Vermont ballot?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Pelin Kohn, a student advising coordinator at the Community College of Vermont and second-term Montpelier city councilor.&nbsp;On July 29, I was at a community screening of &ldquo;Man With a Plan,&rdquo; John O&rsquo;Brien&rsquo;s film about Fred Tuttle. It&rsquo;s a low-budget mockumentary about a retired Vermont farmer who runs for Congress. In a strange case of life imitating art, Tuttle actually won the 1998 Republican primary for U.S. Senate, though he declined to cam]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/who-gets-to-see-themselves-on-a-vermont-ballot/</link><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 22:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/who-gets-to-see-themselves-on-a-vermont-ballot/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Accessible housing means dignity, not just ramps and doorways]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I am writing to share what accessible housing truly means for someone living with a disability. I hope my perspective helps readers and legislators understand the importance of creating housing options that allow people like me to live safely, independently and with dignity and respect from everyone around me.The home I live in now does not meet many of my accessibility needs. It is a multilevel building, which makes navigating the space difficult and sometimes unsafe. I also do not]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/accessible-housing-means-dignity-not-just-ramps-and-doorways/</link><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 22:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/accessible-housing-means-dignity-not-just-ramps-and-doorways/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dartmouth Health says it needs to close telehealth services for emergency and intensive care]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dr. Roslinde Collins-Gibbard consults on critically ill patients from Dartmouth Health&rsquo;s Telehealth hub.Photo courtesy of Dartmouth HealthDartmouth Health expects to end its Tele-ICU and Tele-ED services, a move that would affect five Vermont hospitals and more across the region.&nbsp;They &ldquo;are two services whose costs, at our current scale, without external support, are simply unsustainable,&rdquo; Audra Burns, a spokesperson for the New Hampshire-based health network, told VTDigge]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-health-says-it-needs-to-close-telehealth-services-for-emergency-and-intensive-care/</link><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 17:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-health-says-it-needs-to-close-telehealth-services-for-emergency-and-intensive-care/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Payouts soar as use of force by Burlington police on Black residents hits record high]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Burlington Police Department on North Avenue in Burlington on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWhen a call for police to help discipline a child over stealing escalated into a hospital visit, Burlington mother Cathy Austrian filed a complaint with the city&rsquo;s police oversight body hoping to spur change.&nbsp;The body, the Police Commission, found the incident &mdash; in which officers restrained Austrian&rsquo;s son, who is Black and has emotional and intellect]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/payouts-soar-as-use-of-force-by-burlington-police-on-black-residents-hits-record-high/</link><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/payouts-soar-as-use-of-force-by-burlington-police-on-black-residents-hits-record-high/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal change to Endangered Species Act could affect Vermont’s vulnerable wildlife]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jesup&rsquo;s milk-vetch. Photo by Levi Smith/Wikimedia CommonsVia Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internshipPresident Donald Trump&rsquo;s administration finalized a rule change last month that alters the definition of &ldquo;harm&rdquo; in the Endangered Species Act, loosening protections for endangered species and making them more vulnerable to habitat loss and extinction.&nbsp;Passed in 1973, the act previously defined &ldquo;harm&rdquo; broadly to include any act]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-change-to-endangered-species-act-could-affect-vermonts-vulnerable-wildlife/</link><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 15:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-change-to-endangered-species-act-could-affect-vermonts-vulnerable-wildlife/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘There it was’: Mike Baker jumps into lakes and digs through poison ivy for lost wedding rings and other precious things]]></title><description><![CDATA[On a sunny July Fourth weekend at Lake Dunmore, with his family running around &ldquo;pretending to be sharks,&rdquo; David Miles noticed an odd sensation &mdash; his wedding ring was no longer on his finger.&nbsp;Miles, a Montpelier resident, was about to celebrate his 46th wedding anniversary, and he rarely, if ever, removed his ring. He didn&rsquo;t think it had been very long since it had slipped off his finger. Yet the prospect of finding it in the lake, which was full of swimmers, was dau]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/there-it-was-mike-baker-jumps-into-lakes-and-digs-through-poison-ivy-for-lost-wedding-rings-and-other-precious-things/</link><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 14:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/there-it-was-mike-baker-jumps-into-lakes-and-digs-through-poison-ivy-for-lost-wedding-rings-and-other-precious-things/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont proposes changes to primitive camping in the state for the first time in 33 years]]></title><description><![CDATA[A pair of hikers head up the Monroe Trail in Camel&rsquo;s Hump State Park in Duxbury on Thursday, August 6, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAfter three decades, Vermont is looking to change its primitive camping rules to help take more preventive measures against wildfires and land pollution, according to the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.Vermonters who participate in primitive camping typically stay in a remote area without any modern amenities, such as running water, elect]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-proposes-changes-to-primitive-camping-in-the-state-for-the-first-time-in-33-years/</link><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 14:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-proposes-changes-to-primitive-camping-in-the-state-for-the-first-time-in-33-years/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[For emergency department staff, violence at work is a dangerous and demoralizing reality]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sam Demers, a nurse in the Emergency Department at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerOn the afternoon of Aug. 29, 2025, 24-year-old Destiny Hubbell was in a Morrisville emergency room for a mental health emergency examination, when she grew angry and agitated. She started spitting at healthcare workers, on their faces and in their eyes, court documents show.&nbsp;&ldquo;Now you&rsquo;re infected!&rdquo; she repea]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-emergency-department-staff-violence-at-work-is-a-dangerous-and-demoralizing-reality/</link><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 13:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-emergency-department-staff-violence-at-work-is-a-dangerous-and-demoralizing-reality/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nonprofits are more than charities in the Northeast Kingdom]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Abby Long, the executive director of the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative.I love the Northeast Kingdom.Not just because we&rsquo;re surrounded by stunning working landscapes, world-class outdoor recreation, vibrant arts and some of the best local food and drink. I love it because it&rsquo;s home. It&rsquo;s the community my family chose, and like so many, I want it to thrive.The very qualities that make the Northeast Kingdom, the NEK, such a remarkable place are due in part]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nonprofits-are-more-than-charities-in-the-northeast-kingdom/</link><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 12:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nonprofits-are-more-than-charities-in-the-northeast-kingdom/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can a chatbot be a responsible therapist? Dartmouth professor aims to find out]]></title><description><![CDATA[Nicholas Jacobson, left, associate professor of biomedical data science, psychiatry and computer science, Dr. Michael Heinz, assistant professor of psychiatry, at Dartmouth&rsquo;s Center for Technology and Behavioral Health in Lebanon, N.H., on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. Heinz and Jacobson have worked together to develop Therabot, an AI mental health chatbot. Photo by Alex Driehaus/Valley NewsThis story by Molly Hughes was first published in the Valley News on Aug. 13, 2026.In the summer of 1956]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/can-a-chatbot-be-a-responsible-therapist-dartmouth-professor-aims-to-find-out/</link><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 12:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/can-a-chatbot-be-a-responsible-therapist-dartmouth-professor-aims-to-find-out/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[ICE recently arrested at least 9 people in Vermont as the agency appears to ramp up immigration enforcement across the state]]></title><description><![CDATA[A federal agent wears a badge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement while standing outside an immigration courtroom in New York in June 2025. File photo by Yuki Iwamura/APU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested at least nine people across Vermont last weekend in three separate operations &mdash; including arrests of workers heading to or from job sites &mdash; a pattern that advocates say points to more federal agents than usual operating in the state.&ldquo;The Trump Administration]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-recently-arrested-at-least-9-people-in-vermont-as-the-agency-appears-to-ramp-up-immigration-enforcement-across-the-state/</link><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-recently-arrested-at-least-9-people-in-vermont-as-the-agency-appears-to-ramp-up-immigration-enforcement-across-the-state/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Post office photography exhibit removed for ‘political content’]]></title><description><![CDATA[River Arts executive director Jonah Rabinowitz takes in an exhibit that was relocated from the Morrisville Post Office gallery, where some of the photographs were deemed to contain &ldquo;political content.&rdquo; Photo by Gordon Miller/News&amp;CitizenThis story by Patrick Bilow was first published in the News &amp; Citizen on Aug. 13, 2026.Morrisville arts organization River Arts removed an exhibit from the town post office&rsquo;s walls after complaints that the artwork was too political.Riv]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/post-office-photography-exhibit-removed-for-political-content/</link><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/post-office-photography-exhibit-removed-for-political-content/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Supreme Court shuts door on appeal to use police misconduct findings in murder defense]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Supreme Court in Montpelier on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Supreme Court has dealt a legal setback to the defense team of the driver charged with murder in a police chase that killed a Rutland City officer more than three years ago.The state&rsquo;s highest court in a ruling this week denied a bid by attorneys for 23-year-old Tate Rheaume to challenge a Rutland judge&rsquo;s decision blocking the introduction at trial of a damning internal affa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-supreme-court-shuts-door-on-appeal-to-use-police-misconduct-findings-in-murder-defense/</link><pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 22:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-supreme-court-shuts-door-on-appeal-to-use-police-misconduct-findings-in-murder-defense/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State regulators voice questions and support as Brattleboro hospital aims to revive its ailing finances]]></title><description><![CDATA[A crowd of about 100 people rally July 14 in support of the birthing center at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerState regulators expressed both concern and support as acting administrators at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital outlined plans at a Friday online hearing to curb deficit spending caused by past administrative and accounting problems.&ldquo;I do think the Brattleboro community is suffering the consequences of mismanagement at this hospital,&rdquo; Sara]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-regulators-voice-questions-and-support-as-brattleboro-hospital-aims-to-revive-its-ailing-finances/</link><pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 20:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-regulators-voice-questions-and-support-as-brattleboro-hospital-aims-to-revive-its-ailing-finances/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Terri Agnelli]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 09/15/1950The Bronx, New YorkDied: 08/10/2026Burlington, VermontDetails of service:Friends are invited to gather for a celebration on her birthday in September to share stories and remember the good times.Terry M. Agnelli, 75, of Vermont, passed away on August 10, 2026.Born in September of 1950 in the Bronx and raised in Connecticut, Terry earned her master&rsquo;s degree from the University of Vermont and devoted her entire life to nursing. She cared for patients across Vermont and beyon]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/terri-agnelli/</link><pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 20:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/terri-agnelli/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The future of logging and conservation is one and the same]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jonathan Leibowitz, the president and CEO of Montpelier-based Northeast Wilderness Trust, and Robert T. Perschel, author of &ldquo;Numinosity: A New England Forester&rsquo;s Search for the Ineffable&rdquo; and former executive director of the New England Forestry Foundation.The closure of Finch Paper&rsquo;s pulp mill in Glens Falls, New York, is a blow that will echo across the Northeast for years. For loggers, truckers, foresters and woodlot landowners, this is not some]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-future-of-logging-and-conservation-is-one-and-the-same/</link><pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:20:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-future-of-logging-and-conservation-is-one-and-the-same/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Local police aid in Border Patrol’s deportation efforts raises questions on statewide compliance to policies on immigration enforcement]]></title><description><![CDATA[A U.S. Border Patrol vehicle patrolling the area near Richford, Vermont in August 2025. CBP file photo by Jerry Glaser/Wikimedia CommonsMoments after a Chittenden County sheriff&rsquo;s deputy pulled over a Chevrolet Spark on a back road in Berkshire last month, the officer picked up his personal cellphone and texted a group of Border Patrol agents.&nbsp;&ldquo;Need one of you,&rdquo; the text said.Within the hour, a farmworker was in federal custody. He was later deported.The act has led obser]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/local-police-aid-in-border-patrols-deportation-efforts-raises-questions-on-statewide-compliance-to-policies-on-immigration-enforcement/</link><pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 01:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/local-police-aid-in-border-patrols-deportation-efforts-raises-questions-on-statewide-compliance-to-policies-on-immigration-enforcement/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A quilt project in Brattleboro aims to sew connection across prison walls]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brattleboro locals participated in a community stitch event, adding stitches and messages for the incarcerated people at Springfield prison. Courtesy photo by Katie Kohnfelder/Community News Service.This story by Emily Rodin was first published in the Community News Service on Aug. 6, 2026.Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, and Report for AmericaA quilt stitched by incarcerated Vermonters and Brattleboro community members will go on display in September a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-quilt-project-in-brattleboro-aims-to-sew-connection-across-prison-walls/</link><pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-quilt-project-in-brattleboro-aims-to-sew-connection-across-prison-walls/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Long-vacant ‘pit’ in downtown Newport nears new chapter with purchase plan]]></title><description><![CDATA[An undeveloped vacant lot in downtown Newport in March 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerOn a recent summer afternoon in downtown Newport, portions of Main Street were bustling: Vendors were setting up for the Wednesdays on the Waterfront concert series, neighbors chatted at a cafe, and visitors were enjoying the town&rsquo;s flower displays and sweeping views of Lake Memphremagog.However, one part of downtown &mdash; &ldquo;the pit&rdquo; &mdash; sat quiet and empty, as it has for over]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/long-vacant-pit-in-downtown-newport-nears-new-chapter-with-purchase-plan/</link><pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/long-vacant-pit-in-downtown-newport-nears-new-chapter-with-purchase-plan/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cut the fat out of Act 250]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,We needed Act 250 in 1970 because most small towns did not have sufficient regulations or the capacity to effectively administer the sudden flood of applications for large development projects.&nbsp;But, as with all bureaucracies, the administrators of Act 250 became seduced by their power and came to believe they knew best what was best for Vermont.&nbsp;The process of Act 250 requires an applicant to work through a district coordinator. Not a bad idea in theory, but once you becom]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cut-the-fat-out-of-act-250/</link><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 23:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cut-the-fat-out-of-act-250/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Without Holocaust education, Vermont students can’t understand Israel]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;Vermont Friends of Israel is deeply concerned about the state of education in Vermont schools that allowed 14-year-old Zoya Bianchi to become so certain of her moral clarity regarding the world&rsquo;s most complex conflict and so convinced of the evils of America&rsquo;s closest ally. This is a failure by the adults and institutions that have shaped her understanding.However, it comes as no surprise. Vermont is one of only eight states nationwide and the only one in New Engla]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/without-holocaust-education-vermont-students-cant-understand-israel/</link><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 21:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/without-holocaust-education-vermont-students-cant-understand-israel/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Killington passes budget after second vote but tumult still reigns]]></title><description><![CDATA[Killington&rsquo;s welcome sign pictured in 2022. File photo by Natalie Williams/VTDiggerLocal issues drove high voter turnout in Killington for the August primary Tuesday as residents weighed in on a special revote on the town budget.&nbsp;Over 40% of the town&rsquo;s voters cast ballots on the $7.6 million budget, with 59% of those who voted supporting the measure. Voters previously shot down a budget that was $600,000 more on Town Meeting Day in March.The budget vote comes against a backdrop]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/killington-passes-budget-after-second-vote-but-tumult-still-reigns/</link><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/killington-passes-budget-after-second-vote-but-tumult-still-reigns/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Amanda Janoo, a progressive political outsider, won Vermont’s Democratic primary for governor]]></title><description><![CDATA[Candidate for governor Amanda Janoo speaks during a Democratic Party unity rally in Burlington on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAmanda Janoo seemed to have none of the typical advantages on her side going into Tuesday&rsquo;s Democratic primary for governor of Vermont.She had both raised and spent less campaign money than her opponent, Aly Richards. She had fewer endorsements from current and former lawmakers. And compared with Richards &mdash; the former head of a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-amanda-janoo-a-progressive-political-outsider-won-vermonts-democratic-primary-for-governor/</link><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 01:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-amanda-janoo-a-progressive-political-outsider-won-vermonts-democratic-primary-for-governor/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Incumbents largely hold on in Vermont’s legislative and statewide primaries]]></title><description><![CDATA[Theo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Deputy State Auditor Tim Ashe held off newcomer Nick Graeter. Ashe is pictured here in August 2020. File photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDiggerAs Vermont voters went to the polls for Tuesday&rsquo;s primary election, they sought change, citing concerns such as tax policy, education reform and wealth inequality.But while Democrats selected a progressive political newcomer and self-described &ldquo;long shot&rdquo; candid]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/incumbents-largely-hold-on-in-vermonts-legislative-and-statewide-primaries/</link><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/incumbents-largely-hold-on-in-vermonts-legislative-and-statewide-primaries/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Part-time Vermonters aren’t the enemy]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Housing is a complicated issue. My husband and I have been coming to Vermont to ski and recreate for well over 50 years. He was a part-time ski instructor, so we could afford to ski. He paid Vermont income tax on his salary.&nbsp;In anticipation of retirement and after putting our sons through school, we were finally able to afford to buy a home in Vermont 16 years ago. Along with our growing family, we have loved being part-time Vermonters.&nbsp;<br />
READ MORE<br />
Since when did paying pro]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/part-time-vermonters-arent-the-enemy/</link><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/part-time-vermonters-arent-the-enemy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Washington Central district vote opens new route to school closures]]></title><description><![CDATA[A school bus arrives to pick up kids on the first day of school in August 2021. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerResidents of the Washington Central Unified Union School District have voted in favor of a new procedure that would allow the entire district to decide on the fate of individual school closures rather than leaving it up to individual towns.&nbsp;The vote amended the district&rsquo;s articles of agreement to allow the district to close a school after a majority vote in favor by bot]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/washington-central-district-vote-opens-new-route-to-school-closures/</link><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 23:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/washington-central-district-vote-opens-new-route-to-school-closures/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: ‘What can I do?’ Ami Fields-Meyer on what global dissidents can teach Americans]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Ami Fields-Meyer is co-author with journalist Julia Angwin of &ldquo;On Courage: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear.&rdquo; Provided photoAs President Donald Trump intensifies his campaign of retribution against his political opponents and unleashes]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-what-can-i-do-ami-fields-meyer-on-what-global-dissidents-can-teach-americans/</link><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 22:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-what-can-i-do-ami-fields-meyer-on-what-global-dissidents-can-teach-americans/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George prevails in hotly contested primary race ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Chittenden County States Attorney Sarah Fair George speaks during a press conference in Burlington on Monday, June 13, 2022. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerChittenden County State&rsquo;s Attorney Sarah George has held off a challenger in the Democratic primary race for the top prosecutor post in the state&rsquo;s most populated county.Voters also decided Tuesday other races in countywide law enforcement posts in Vermont.&nbsp;George garnered 15,931 votes in primary balloting, finishing ahead o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/chittenden-county-states-attorney-sarah-george-prevails-in-hotly-contested-primary-race/</link><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/chittenden-county-states-attorney-sarah-george-prevails-in-hotly-contested-primary-race/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont doesn’t have a housing shortage. It has an affordability problem.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Matt Swenson, the founder of Omnidex Solutions, an independent research and strategic analysis company. He lives in Vermont.For years, Vermont politics has run on one diagnosis: not enough housing. The prescription never changes: Build more, build denser, permit faster.Supply matters. But it no longer explains what we&rsquo;re seeing. In Vermont&rsquo;s largest rental market, vacancy hit 3.3% this summer, up from under 1% during the pandemic years. More than 1,300 rental u]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-doesnt-have-a-housing-shortage-it-has-an-affordability-problem/</link><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 19:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-doesnt-have-a-housing-shortage-it-has-an-affordability-problem/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Amanda Janoo wins Vermont’s Democratic governor primary]]></title><description><![CDATA[Amanda Janoo waits for results in her race to be the democratic nominee for governor in Burlington on Primary Day, Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAmanda Janoo narrowly won Vermont&rsquo;s Democratic primary for governor Tuesday, according to the Associated Press, after a campaign that called for sweeping progressive policy changes and limiting how much the state relies on federal funding.Janoo, an economist, has never run for office before and was virtually unknown bef]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/amanda-janoo-wins-vermonts-democratic-governor-primary/</link><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/amanda-janoo-wins-vermonts-democratic-governor-primary/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘A long shot’: Amanda Janoo wins Vermont’s Democratic primary for governor]]></title><description><![CDATA[Amanda Janoo celbrates her victory in her race to be the democratic nominee for governor in Burlington on Primary Day, Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated 11:57 p.m.BURLINGTON &mdash; Amanda Janoo narrowly won Vermont&rsquo;s Democratic primary for governor Tuesday, according to the Associated Press, after a campaign that called for sweeping progressive policy changes and limiting how much the state relies on federal funding.Janoo, an economist, has never run for of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-long-shot-amanda-janoo-wins-vermonts-democratic-primary-for-governor/</link><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-long-shot-amanda-janoo-wins-vermonts-democratic-primary-for-governor/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Molly Gray wins Democratic primary for lieutenant governor of Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Molly Gray, candidate for the democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, greets a voter in Colchester on Primary Day, Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Molly Gray prevailed in a closely-watched Democratic primary for Vermont Lieutenant Governor Tuesday evening. She will face incumbent Lt. Gov. John Rodgers in November&rsquo;s general election.The Associated Press called the race just aft]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/molly-gray-wins-democratic-primary-for-lieutenant-governor-of-vermont/</link><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 02:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/molly-gray-wins-democratic-primary-for-lieutenant-governor-of-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The results from Vermont’s 2026 primary election]]></title><description><![CDATA[Weston Bird, 8, accompanies Kristen Bird as she fills out a ballot in Essex Junction on Primary Day, Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story was updated at 11:06 p.m. Updates will continue into the night of Aug. 11, 2026.Across Vermont, thousands turned out for primary day, casting ballots in contested races for U.S. House, governor, lieutenant governor and many more county and local positions.&nbsp;The VTDigger newsroom covered the primary election with reporters, e]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-results-from-vermonts-2026-primary-election/</link><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:34:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-results-from-vermonts-2026-primary-election/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The latest results from Vermont’s 2026 primary election]]></title><description><![CDATA[Voters walk in and out of a polling place in Essex Junction on Primary Day, Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story will be updated throughout the night of Aug. 11, 2026.Across Vermont, thousands turned out for primary day, casting ballots in contested races for U.S. House, governor, lieutenant governor and many more county and local positions.&nbsp;The VTDigger newsroom is covering the primary election with reporters, editors and photographers across the state. Here]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-latest-results-from-vermonts-2026-primary-election/</link><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:34:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-latest-results-from-vermonts-2026-primary-election/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermonters deserve honesty about the failure of the data center bill]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,The recent commentary by Ben Edgerly Walsh, the climate and energy program director at the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, did not explain where the data center bill, H.727, went wrong. There is no question that the House did indeed do great work on H.727, ensuring strong protections for the environment, communities and ratepayers via joint jurisdiction between Act 250 and the Public Utility Commission.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Senate further tightened up the language and improved the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-deserve-honesty-about-the-failure-of-the-data-center-bill/</link><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-deserve-honesty-about-the-failure-of-the-data-center-bill/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When disaster strikes Vermont, where is Washington?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Every night, the news brings us stories of families losing their homes to floods, tornadoes, wildfires and other disasters. The scale of this natural devastation reflects a growing national crisis. Yet where are the reports of our government responding to the enormous needs of people who are clearly suffering?Are the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross and relief organizations expected to shoulder the growing burden of helping hundreds of families whose homes have bee]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-disaster-strikes-vermont-where-is-washington/</link><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-disaster-strikes-vermont-where-is-washington/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[At the polls, Vermont primary voters seek change]]></title><description><![CDATA[A voter carries ballots past a booth in Shelburne on Primary Day, Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAcross the state, voters are hitting the polls on Tuesday to decide who will challenge Vermont Republicans come November in competitive Democratic governor and lieutenant governor races as well as several crowded local races.&nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m just hoping for change, and that no matter what party orientation, that our legislature and the governor can work together to re]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-the-polls-vermont-primary-voters-seek-change/</link><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-the-polls-vermont-primary-voters-seek-change/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[For female school athletes: No white shorts, no worries]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Champlain Valley Union girls soccer team wears white uniforms in a match against Essex in 2025. File photo by Shelburne News.This story by Briana Brady and Liberty Darr was first published in the Shelburne News on Aug. 6, 2026.For anyone with a period, the anxiety is familiar: the worry that standing up from a seat or bending over to pick something up might reveal a red stain, that a tampon or pad might leak and everyone else will notice.For girls playing for their middle school or high sch]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-female-school-athletes-no-white-shorts-no-worries/</link><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/for-female-school-athletes-no-white-shorts-no-worries/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A traffic stop, a deportation and a test of Vermont’s Fair and Impartial Policing Policy]]></title><description><![CDATA[A protest by Migrant Justice at the Chittenden County Sheriff&rsquo;s Department in South Burlington in December 2019. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Chittenden County sheriff&rsquo;s deputy is under investigation for violating Vermont&rsquo;s Fair and Impartial Policing Policy by calling U.S. Border Patrol to a Franklin County traffic stop that ended in an area farmworker being deported.The internal investigation could test the limits Vermont places on cooperation between local police a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-traffic-stop-a-deportation-and-a-test-of-vermonts-fair-and-impartial-policing-policy/</link><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 01:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-traffic-stop-a-deportation-and-a-test-of-vermonts-fair-and-impartial-policing-policy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New England, Canadian leaders tout cross-border ties in face of Trump’s latest tariff threat]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott speaks during a press conference at the end of a summit of New England governors and premiers from eastern Canada in Shelburne on Monday, August 10, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerSHELBURNE &mdash; Some of Canada&rsquo;s top regional leaders on Monday touted the value of a close relationship with the U.S. and the need for both countries&rsquo; federal governments to reach a comprehensive trade deal in the face of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s latest tariff threat.Their co]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-england-canadian-leaders-tout-cross-border-ties-in-face-of-trumps-latest-tariff-threat/</link><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-england-canadian-leaders-tout-cross-border-ties-in-face-of-trumps-latest-tariff-threat/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kinney Drugs pulls back AI tool after customer complaints]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kinney Drugs inEssex Junction on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWhen Kathy Callaghan called her local pharmacy for a prescription refill last Wednesday, she expected to hear the usual AI voice that had attempted to assist her for the last three months.&nbsp;Instead, a pharmacist picked up.&nbsp;&ldquo;We were thrilled,&rdquo; she said, describing her and her partner Dave Bellini&rsquo;s reaction to the voice.&nbsp;The call came as the pharmacy, Kinney Drugs, recently pul]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kinney-drugs-pulls-back-ai-tool-after-customer-complaints/</link><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kinney-drugs-pulls-back-ai-tool-after-customer-complaints/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Family farms like ours need a farm bill that respects states]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Long Wind Farm began in 1984 with a team of oxen and a simple goal: produce exceptional food while caring for the land. More than 40 years later, we&rsquo;re still growing crops in Vermont soil and providing New England with fresh food year-round. Our success has come from earning the trust of our customers. Rather than overriding state protections, federal policy should support standards that promote responsible farming.That&rsquo;s why we&rsquo;re concerned about efforts to includ]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/family-farms-like-ours-need-a-farm-bill-that-respects-states/</link><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 23:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/family-farms-like-ours-need-a-farm-bill-that-respects-states/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Londonderry community convenes in the wake of local ICE raid]]></title><description><![CDATA[Morrow and Bliss speaking to attendees. Photo by Ryan Pacheco/Bennington Banner<br />
This story by Ryan Pacheco was first published in the Bennington Banner on Aug. 8, 2026.LONDONDERRY &mdash; Concerned citizens and community members packed a meeting room at Neighborhood Connections in Londonderry on Saturday, Aug. 8 to discuss recent immigration enforcement operations that resulted in five Ecuadorian individuals being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement a day prior. The community conver]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/londonderry-community-convenes-in-the-wake-of-local-ice-raid/</link><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 22:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/londonderry-community-convenes-in-the-wake-of-local-ice-raid/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[DOJ sues Vermont, other states to stop in-state tuition for undocumented students]]></title><description><![CDATA[Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice, Wednesday, August 5, 2026 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)This 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 U.S. Department of Justice filed lawsuits against Vermont, Connecticut and New York on Monday for allowing undocumented students]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/doj-sues-vermont-other-states-to-stop-in-state-tuition-for-undocumented-students/</link><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 22:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/doj-sues-vermont-other-states-to-stop-in-state-tuition-for-undocumented-students/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital cuts staff and beds despite pushback]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital in Berlin in Sept.2023. File photo by Natalie Williams/VTDiggerVermont Psychiatric Care Hospital has cut three staff members and four of its patient beds, a decision that has inspired pushback from staff and some lawmakers.The state-run hospital in Berlin is one of Vermont&rsquo;s main facilities for acute inpatient mental health care.The Vermont Department of Mental Health, which runs the facility and confirmed the job cuts, said that a declining patient c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-psychiatric-care-hospital-cuts-staff-and-beds-despite-pushback/</link><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-psychiatric-care-hospital-cuts-staff-and-beds-despite-pushback/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Congress must vote before the Guard goes to war]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I am writing about the Vermont Defend the Guard Act, which focuses on our Vermont National Guard. Comments included questions about the appropriate strategy for saving our democracy and the notion that this bill would put a big target on the backs of our Guard members.&nbsp;I agree that we need to be strategic. Part of that strategy is the campaign for this act. A letter to Gov. Phil Scott and Vermont state legislators is circulating from Vermont National Guard veterans, their famil]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/congress-must-vote-before-the-guard-goes-to-war/</link><pubDate>Sun, 09 Aug 2026 17:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/congress-must-vote-before-the-guard-goes-to-war/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why a new federal definition of hemp has a Vermont industry holding its breath]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sunset Lake Farms CBD products for sale at Lake Effect Vermont dispensary in South Hero on Friday, August 7, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.A recent change in the federal definition of hemp is sending shockwaves through an entire Vermont industry, state regulators say.&nbsp;Last fall, federal lawmakers passed a budget law that included a definition of hemp and its associated products with a new maximum allow]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-a-new-federal-definition-of-hemp-has-a-vermont-industry-holding-its-breath/</link><pubDate>Sun, 09 Aug 2026 16:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-a-new-federal-definition-of-hemp-has-a-vermont-industry-holding-its-breath/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Weathersfield Selectboard in limbo after resignations]]></title><description><![CDATA[Eric Hennessy, of Perkinsville, right, and Assistant Town Clerk Marion Ballam, left, react as the tabulating machine sucks in Hennessy&rsquo;s ballot during voting for the Vermont Primary in Weathersfield, Vt., on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Sophia Langlois first appeared in the Valley News on Aug. 6.&nbsp;WEATHERSFIELD &mdash; The Selectboard approved two member resignations at an Aug. 4 special meeting, where the remaining board of three launch]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/weathersfield-selectboard-in-limbo-after-resignations/</link><pubDate>Sun, 09 Aug 2026 15:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/weathersfield-selectboard-in-limbo-after-resignations/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[&lsquo;I want to own a grocery store &amp; caf&eacute; with my friends&rsquo;: Food co-op initiative launches in downtown Newport]]></title><description><![CDATA[Erica Wilson, founding president of the Kingdom Co-op, and Thomas Goodwin, general manager of Green Mountain Natural Foods and a member of the Kingdom Co-op board, in the store in Newport on July 1, 2026. Photo by K. Fiegenbaum/VTDiggerNewport-area residents have launched an effort to transform their Main Street grocery store and cafe into a member-owned food cooperative in hopes of ensuring its sustainability.&ldquo;What we want to do is bring a business to the community that is going to suppo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lsquoi-want-to-own-a-grocery-store-amp-cafeacute-with-my-friendsrsquo-food-co-op-initiative-launches-in-downtown-newport/</link><pubDate>Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lsquoi-want-to-own-a-grocery-store-amp-cafeacute-with-my-friendsrsquo-food-co-op-initiative-launches-in-downtown-newport/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[What’s a farmers market in Vermont without the farmers?]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Old North End Farmers Market in Burlington on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont boasts more farmers markets per resident than any state in the nation, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, yet almost all of them say they are in search of one common thing &mdash; the farmers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For generations, growers have leaned on farmers markets as a critical sales channel. Now, most of the state&rsquo;s markets &mdash; 34 of 58 &mdash; sa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/whats-a-farmers-market-in-vermont-without-the-farmers/</link><pubDate>Sun, 09 Aug 2026 13:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/whats-a-farmers-market-in-vermont-without-the-farmers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Into the belly of the whale: Summer readers embark on a unique voyage]]></title><description><![CDATA[Nile the inflatable life-sized Humpback Whale is temporarily at the McCullough Library in North Bennington. Photo by Danielle M. Crosier/Bennington BannerThis story by Danielle M. Crosier was first published in the Bennington Banner on Aug. 6, 2026.NORTH BENNINGTON &mdash; On Wednesday, local kids didn&rsquo;t just learn about whales, they went inside one.The Park McCullough Carriage Barn was temporarily transformed into the belly of the sea when the Whalemobile rolled into town, inflating a li]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/into-the-belly-of-the-whale-summer-readers-embark-on-a-unique-voyage/</link><pubDate>Sat, 08 Aug 2026 13:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/into-the-belly-of-the-whale-summer-readers-embark-on-a-unique-voyage/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nancy N. Thayer]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 05/13/1025Evanston, IllinoisDied: 07/22/2026South Burlington, VermontDetails of service:A memorial service will be held at The Residence at Quarry Hill, 435 Quarry Hill Rd., South Burlington on Friday, Aug. 28 at 3 p.m. A celebration of Life will be held at the First Congregational Church, Essex Junction, on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 4 p.m.Nancy Noyes Thayer, 101, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2026.Born on May 13, 1925, in Evanston, Illinois, to George Frederick Noyes and Dorothy Hall Noy]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nancy-n-thayer/</link><pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nancy-n-thayer/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Data: Only 3% of Vermont registered voters have cast their ballots ahead of the primary election]]></title><description><![CDATA[A voter enters the polling place at the Barre Municipal Auditorium in Barre City in 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWith the primary election taking place Tuesday, Aug. 11, only 3% of registered voters had cast their ballot as of Thursday.&nbsp;The statistic is a new initiative, Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas said, to remind voters of the upcoming election and encourage them to get out and vote.&nbsp;&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s a good idea to give people a little bit o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/data-only-3-of-vermont-registered-voters-have-cast-their-ballots-ahead-of-the-primary-election/</link><pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 23:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/data-only-3-of-vermont-registered-voters-have-cast-their-ballots-ahead-of-the-primary-election/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Compensate Vermonters for the cost of coexisting with beavers]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Luke Briccetti, a Ph.D. candidate in the Rubenstein School of Natural Resources at the University of Vermont, and a fellow at the Gund Institute for Environment.&nbsp;There has been no shortage of commentaries about beaver management in VTDigger over the past decade.&nbsp;Many Vermonters may have heard about the broad benefits that beavers provide across our landscape. At one time, beavers numbered between 60 million and 400 million in the U.S. As we systematically removed]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/compensate-vermonters-for-the-cost-of-coexisting-with-beavers/</link><pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 23:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/compensate-vermonters-for-the-cost-of-coexisting-with-beavers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM Health says big change is afoot — but is it enough to balance the budget?]]></title><description><![CDATA[The University of Vermont Medical Center complex. Photo courtesy of UVM Health NetworkIt&rsquo;s been a long year for the University of Vermont Health network.Last year, regulators took a particularly critical view of the network finances, which prompted a leadership change at the highest level of the organization, followed by significant slimming of its executive level positions. As it carried out those regulatory budget orders, charged less for certain pharmaceutical drugs and inked a 2026 co]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-says-big-change-is-afoot-but-is-it-enough-to-balance-the-budget/</link><pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 22:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-says-big-change-is-afoot-but-is-it-enough-to-balance-the-budget/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New affordable multi-family housing opens in Rutland]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kathy Becker, senior vice president of real estate at Evernoth, Mary Cohen, executive director of Cornerstone Housing Partners, and Rutland City Mayor Tom Donahue cut ribbon at newly opened Maplewood Commons. Aug 6, 2026. Photo by Greta SolsaaRutland City &mdash; The Marble City gained a 30 unit housing complex near the downtown, including six units for people transitioning out of homelessness. The multi-family housing will remain affordable in perpetuity, said Kathy Beyer, senior vice presiden]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-affordable-multi-family-housing-opens-in-rutland/</link><pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 22:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-affordable-multi-family-housing-opens-in-rutland/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Windsor County Sheriff candidate placed on administrative leave from Bellows Falls PD]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Bellows Balls Police Department vehicle seen in 2020. YouTube photoThis story by Susan Smallheer was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Aug 6, 2026.BELLOWS FALLS &mdash; The village of Bellows Falls has placed one of its police officers running for Windsor County Sheriff in Tuesday&rsquo;s Democratic primary on administrative leave in the wake of a letter from both the Windham County State&rsquo;s Attorney and the Vermont attorney general&rsquo;s office, raising questions about hi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/windsor-county-sheriff-candidate-placed-on-administrative-leave-from-bellows-falls-pd/</link><pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 22:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/windsor-county-sheriff-candidate-placed-on-administrative-leave-from-bellows-falls-pd/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[ICE agents arrest several in Londonderry operation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Federal law enforcement agents in South Burlington on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested several individuals Friday morning during an enforcement operation in Londonderry, the agency&rsquo;s Boston Field Office, which covers New England, confirmed to VTDigger.&nbsp;The people arrested were targeted at a traffic stop while traveling to a construction job site in the small Windham county town at around 9 a.m., accor]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-agents-arrest-several-in-londonderry-operation/</link><pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 21:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ice-agents-arrest-several-in-londonderry-operation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vernon wants input on the future of the Vermont Yankee site]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vernon Selectboard member Jim Pinkerton questions representatives from PowerTransitions as they discuss plans for the redevelopment of the former Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant during a meeting in Vernon on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Susan Smallheer was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Aug 5, 2026.VERNON &mdash; The chairman of the Vernon Selectboard told townspeople Tuesday evening that he believes that PowerTransitions, the Texas comp]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vernon-wants-input-on-the-future-of-the-vermont-yankee-site/</link><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 23:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vernon-wants-input-on-the-future-of-the-vermont-yankee-site/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Blaming addicts for Burlington’s problems misses the point]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Hannah Riley Fernandez, the director of programming at the Center for Just Journalism.&nbsp;A recent feature in the Atlantic argues that treating addiction as a health crisis instead of a crime has turned cities like Seattle and Burlington into wreckage, and that the fix is more policing and forced treatment. It&rsquo;s a well-written story. It&rsquo;s also completely wrong, and the timing is bad: Burlington&rsquo;s city council is debating a resolution on downtown public]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/blaming-addicts-for-burlingtons-problems-misses-the-point/</link><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 23:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/blaming-addicts-for-burlingtons-problems-misses-the-point/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A walk through downtown Burlington shows a city in crisis]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,My husband and I were in downtown Burlington recently to enjoy lunch with friends at the new Italian cafe, Alimentari, on St. Paul Street.We parked our car on the corner of St. Paul and Main streets. Within the three blocks, we saw an encampment of at least seven people sitting in front of Trattoria Delia actively using drugs. Across the street, three other individuals were getting supplies out to use drugs, and on our way back to our car after lunch, we saw one of those individuals]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-walk-through-downtown-burlington-shows-a-city-in-crisis/</link><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 23:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-walk-through-downtown-burlington-shows-a-city-in-crisis/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Annual recovery summit aims to explain the unexplainable]]></title><description><![CDATA[Melinda White is one of the organizers of the fifth annual &ldquo;Coming Together, There is Hope&rdquo; substance use addiction summit in Essex Junction on Friday, July 31, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerESSEX JUNCTION &mdash; Trying to explain substance use disorder to someone who hasn&rsquo;t gone through it is like trying to explain the color red to someone who&rsquo;s colorblind.&nbsp;That&rsquo;s what David Riegel explained to a full room of about 50 people, who filled rows of chairs]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/annual-recovery-summit-aims-to-explain-the-unexplainable/</link><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 21:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/annual-recovery-summit-aims-to-explain-the-unexplainable/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Chittenden Southeast Senate primary, incumbents and challengers alike pivot platforms to affordability]]></title><description><![CDATA[Clockwise from top left: Sen. Thomas Chittenden, Joanna Grossman, Elizabeth Hunt, Sen. Ginny Lyons and Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale are candidates seeking a seat in Chittenden Southeast Senate district and competing in the Aug. 11 Democratic primary. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger and courtesy of the Hunt and Grossman campaigns.When the three Democrats representing the Chittenden Southeast Senate district first ran as a united incumbent bloc three primaries ago, they cited a need for experience am]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-chittenden-southeast-senate-primary-incumbents-and-challengers-alike-pivot-platforms-to-affordability/</link><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 20:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-chittenden-southeast-senate-primary-incumbents-and-challengers-alike-pivot-platforms-to-affordability/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Local development corporation wins bid for former Montpelier post office]]></title><description><![CDATA[The building that houses the former Montpelier post office is up for auction. Seen on Thursday, June 11, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA local development corporation spearheaded by the Foundation for a Resilient Montpelier has won the auction for 87 State Street, the former Montpelier Post Office building and longtime downtown staple, the foundation&rsquo;s Executive Director Jon Copans said Thursday.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is a transformational piece of property and opportunity for our commu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/local-development-corporation-wins-bid-for-former-montpelier-post-office/</link><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/local-development-corporation-wins-bid-for-former-montpelier-post-office/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New details about proposed locked youth facility signals more disagreement over landmark ‘Raise the Age’ law]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott in Montpelier in June 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; The Vermont Department for Children and Families says it does not plan to include 18-year-olds in its design for a locked juvenile facility, raising concern from lawmakers about how Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s administration is rolling out Vermont&rsquo;s landmark juvenile justice reform initiative.&nbsp;Officials with the Vermont Department for Children and Families said Wednesday that its new locked]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-details-about-proposed-locked-youth-facility-signals-more-disagreement-over-landmark-raise-the-age-law/</link><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-details-about-proposed-locked-youth-facility-signals-more-disagreement-over-landmark-raise-the-age-law/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New details about proposed locked youth facility signal more disagreement over landmark ‘Raise the Age’ law]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott in Montpelier in June 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; The Vermont Department for Children and Families says it does not plan to include 18-year-olds in its design for a locked juvenile facility, raising concern from lawmakers about how Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s administration is rolling out Vermont&rsquo;s landmark juvenile justice reform initiative.&nbsp;Officials with the Vermont Department for Children and Families said Wednesday that its new locked]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-details-about-proposed-locked-youth-facility-signal-more-disagreement-over-landmark-raise-the-age-law/</link><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-details-about-proposed-locked-youth-facility-signal-more-disagreement-over-landmark-raise-the-age-law/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s housing crisis isn’t one problem: it’s three]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Bryan Sell, who teaches in Vermont State University&rsquo;s Resort and Hospitality Management program.&nbsp;Vermont&rsquo;s housing debate is mostly treated as a problem of not enough units, with capitalist bogeymen feasting on the stock &mdash; outsiders hoarding homes, or investors gouging rents. These arguments resurrect Vermont&rsquo;s old flatlander/woodchuck divide, sometimes said out loud in public forums. But look closer, and the conflict splits again: workers dema]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-housing-crisis-isnt-one-problem-its-three/</link><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 23:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-housing-crisis-isnt-one-problem-its-three/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s GOP primary for U.S. House pits 2 different personalities against each other]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gerald Malloy, left, and Mark Coester, Republican primary challengers for Vermont&rsquo;s U.S. House of Representatives seat. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger and VTDigger EditorIn the Republican primary this year for Vermont&rsquo;s sole seat in the U.S. House, two candidates who have run for Congress before are on the ballot again.&nbsp;But other than the fact they&rsquo;ve both sought federal office &mdash; and lost by large margins each time &mdash; Gerald Malloy and Mark Coester see differ]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-gop-primary-for-us-house-pits-2-different-personalities-against-each-other/</link><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 23:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-gop-primary-for-us-house-pits-2-different-personalities-against-each-other/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: ‘You have a choice on how you respond.’ Kelly Brush on thriving after a life-altering accident]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Kelly Brush riding an adaptive mountain bike during the 2025 Kelly Brush Foundation bike camp. Courtesy photoFew people have turned adversity into opportunity as dramatically as Kelly Brush.Brush was on the Middlebury College ski team when she was paraly]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-you-have-a-choice-on-how-you-respond-kelly-brush-on-thriving-after-a-life-altering-accident/</link><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 22:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-you-have-a-choice-on-how-you-respond-kelly-brush-on-thriving-after-a-life-altering-accident/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A shrinking market for low-grade wood threatens Vermont’s forests]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Rob Riley, president of the Northern Forest Center; Danielle Fitzko, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation; Dana Doran, executive director of Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast; Kate Forrer, executive director of the Vermont Woodlands Association; Jamey Fidel, vice president for Vermont at the National Audubon Society/Audubon Vermont; Steve Hardy, president of the Vermont Forest Products Association; Tracy Zschau, president]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-shrinking-market-for-low-grade-wood-threatens-vermonts-forests/</link><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-shrinking-market-for-low-grade-wood-threatens-vermonts-forests/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brattleboro hospital projects more deficit spending as it reveals ‘significant deficiencies’]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Brattleboro Memorial Hospital campus on Belmont Avenue. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerBRATTLEBORO &mdash; Brattleboro Memorial Hospital is projecting a seventh consecutive year of deficit spending in its fiscal 2027 budget, even with the proposed closure of its financially ailing birthing center.&ldquo;We are not financially stable at this time, but we are stabilizing,&rdquo; a team of new hospital leaders wrote this week in a required state filing they said was a month late due to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-hospital-projects-more-deficit-spending-as-it-reveals-significant-deficiencies/</link><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-hospital-projects-more-deficit-spending-as-it-reveals-significant-deficiencies/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘I’m the awakener’: Evangelist Tommie Zito plans to transform Poultney’s Green Mountain College campus into a Christian university]]></title><description><![CDATA[Evangelical preacher Tommie Zito is planning to covert Green Mountain College in Poultney into Z University.Seen on Friday, July 31, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerPOULTNEY &mdash; Tommie Zito was visiting Vermont to preach for congregations in Rutland and Burlington earlier this year when he learned of a call for the &ldquo;third great awakening&rdquo; from the owner of the defunct Green Mountain College.The whiskey merchant and former media personality Raj Bhakta, who bought the campus]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/im-the-awakener-evangelist-tommie-zito-plans-to-transform-poultneys-green-mountain-college-campus-into-a-christian-university/</link><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/im-the-awakener-evangelist-tommie-zito-plans-to-transform-poultneys-green-mountain-college-campus-into-a-christian-university/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Phil Scott administration pushes through wetlands changes, despite lawmakers’ objections]]></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 PublicCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.&nbsp;Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s administration is moving forward with rule changes that will make it easier to build housing near wetlands, despite repeated objections from lawm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/phil-scott-administration-pushes-through-wetlands-changes-despite-lawmakers-objections/</link><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 23:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/phil-scott-administration-pushes-through-wetlands-changes-despite-lawmakers-objections/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s healthcare crisis needs more than bake sales]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Manny Mansbach, a member of the Vermont Workers Center, which has been working for economic justice and human dignity, including healthcare as a human right.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Since Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) announced they plan to close southeastern Vermont&rsquo;s only birthing center in the next six to nine months, Windham County residents and officials have begun mobilizing to find a way to keep safe birth alive in our community. It is imperative that the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-healthcare-crisis-needs-more-than-bake-sales/</link><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 23:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-healthcare-crisis-needs-more-than-bake-sales/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Democratic Socialists of America wants to abolish the U.S. Senate. Bernie Sanders says ‘No.’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., leaves a meeting for Senate Democrats at the Capitol in Washington, in Nov. 2025. Photo by J. Scott Applewhite/APThis story by Igor Bobic was first published in NOTUS on Aug. 2, 2026.Democratic Socialists of America, a group that&rsquo;s gaining momentum across the country, is pushing to scrap the U.S. Senate and replace it with a unicameral legislature. Senate Democrats aren&rsquo;t on board.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s in the Constitution, and it is a critical component of th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/democratic-socialists-of-america-wants-to-abolish-the-us-senate-bernie-sanders-says-no/</link><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 23:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/democratic-socialists-of-america-wants-to-abolish-the-us-senate-bernie-sanders-says-no/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Drawing attention: Vermont gets its first tourism branding]]></title><description><![CDATA[A new Vermont tourism logo and branding was unveiled July 30, 2026. ProvidedMost Americans already like Vermont. The challenge is getting them to actually visit.State tourism officials hope a new logo and slogan, which they unveiled last week, will entice more people to book a trip by highlighting Vermont&rsquo;s landscape and its many local artists. The logo is a &ldquo;Vermont&rdquo; wordmark with hand-drawn letters shaped after Camel&rsquo;s Hump and other geographic features, and the motto]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/drawing-attention-vermont-gets-its-first-tourism-branding/</link><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 21:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/drawing-attention-vermont-gets-its-first-tourism-branding/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s Catholic diocese has plenty of shame to go around]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I&rsquo;m writing to thank VTDigger reporter Kevin O&rsquo;Connor for shining a light on corruption in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington in its effort to prevent justice for survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Vermont. There is plenty of shame to go around.Let&rsquo;s start with Vermont&rsquo;s former bishop, Christopher Coyne, and his once second-in-command, John McDermott. According to a whistleblower, a woman who applied for the position of chief financial officer of the d]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-catholic-diocese-has-plenty-of-shame-to-go-around/</link><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 20:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-catholic-diocese-has-plenty-of-shame-to-go-around/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge allows clergy abuse claimants to sue for parish assets in Vermont Catholic bankruptcy case]]></title><description><![CDATA[A statue watches over Rutland&rsquo;s shuttered Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerA U.S. Bankruptcy Court will allow clergy abuse claimants to sue for an estimated half-billion dollars in parish assets to fund settlements under the Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese&rsquo;s current financial reorganization case.In a written order, Burlington-based Judge Heather Cooper said creditors can pursue not only the highest-level bank and building holdings of the state&rs]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-allows-clergy-abuse-claimants-to-sue-for-parish-assets-in-vermont-catholic-bankruptcy-case/</link><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-allows-clergy-abuse-claimants-to-sue-for-parish-assets-in-vermont-catholic-bankruptcy-case/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pro-Aly Richards super PAC launches big ad buy late in Democratic governor primary]]></title><description><![CDATA[Aly Richards, democratic candidate for governor, speaks during a housing forum in South Burlington on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Photo by Glenn RussellA political action committee backing Aly Richards in this year&rsquo;s Democratic primary for Vermont governor has injected more than $200,000 into the race just weeks before election day.The PAC, called Time for a Change, is not affiliated with Richards&rsquo; campaign. But the organization spent large sums in recent days on digital advertisement]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pro-aly-richards-super-pac-launches-big-ad-buy-late-in-democratic-governor-primary/</link><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pro-aly-richards-super-pac-launches-big-ad-buy-late-in-democratic-governor-primary/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington is facing a public safety emergency]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,As a father of two young daughters, aged 4 and 5, I never imagined that a simple walk to get ice cream would become a lesson in open-air drug use and public disorder in the heart of our city.Recently, while walking to Ben &amp; Jerry&rsquo;s on Church Street in Burlington, we passed a park where multiple individuals were openly using drugs. Moments later, we were followed by another person who appeared to be under the influence, yelling at people trying to eat dinner on Church Stree]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-is-facing-a-public-safety-emergency/</link><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 23:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-is-facing-a-public-safety-emergency/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Scott’s veto reasoning doesn’t hold up]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Ben Edgerly Walsh, the climate and energy program director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group.Let&rsquo;s start with what isn&rsquo;t in dispute. The data center bill Gov. Phil Scott vetoed, H.727, was among the strongest such laws written in any state. AI data centers are driving up electricity bills across the country, and having major impacts on air, water and climate pollution in the process. And here in Vermont, that now-dead bill that would have addressed]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/scotts-veto-reasoning-doesnt-hold-up/</link><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 23:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/scotts-veto-reasoning-doesnt-hold-up/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Green FC men are undefeated national champions — again]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Green FC men&rsquo;s team defeated Flint City Bucks on Aug. 1, 2026, to win the USL2 championship. Courtesy Vermont Green FCTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Mike Popovitch, a dyed-in-the-wool Vermont Green FC fan, spent a rainy Saturday evening in Flint, Michigan, leading over 150 traveling fans in song through a megaphone.The Green won 2-1 against the Flint City Bucks that night in the national final of the United Soccer League&]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-green-fc-men-are-undefeated-national-champions-again/</link><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 22:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-green-fc-men-are-undefeated-national-champions-again/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lorraine Mae Barnes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 07/02/1949Died: 07/26/2026Details of service:A Celebration of Life will be held on August 8, 2026 at 1-4 p.m. at the American Legion in Island Pond, Vt.Lorraine Mae Barnes, born July 2, 1949, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2026, at the age of 77.She will be deeply missed by her family and all who knew and loved her. Her memory will live on through the many lives she touched and the love she shared with those closest to her.She was predeceased by her beloved husband, George.Lorraine le]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lorraine-mae-barnes/</link><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lorraine-mae-barnes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After years of neighbor opposition, a private airstrip for Beta’s CEO nears approval ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A 900-foot airstrip at the home of BETA founder Kyle Clark in Lincoln seen on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerLINCOLN &mdash; Four years ago, local residents believed Beta Technologies&rsquo; CEO Kyle Clark would not be able to fly his planes over their homes after the town denied his application for a private airstrip.&nbsp;But Clark&rsquo;s efforts have since shifted to federal and state channels. Recently, the project has quietly inched closer to final approval.&nbsp]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-years-of-neighbor-opposition-a-private-airstrip-for-betas-ceo-nears-approval/</link><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-years-of-neighbor-opposition-a-private-airstrip-for-betas-ceo-nears-approval/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Democrats turn to second home taxes as a matter of principle – and cash]]></title><description><![CDATA[Homes and fall foliage in Rochester in October 2023. Photo by Kyle Ambusk / Vermont PublicCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.All five candidates competing in Vermont&rsquo;s Democratic primaries for governor and lieutenant governor have signaled their support for raising taxes on second homes.&ldquo;We must, must, must get control over the houses that we are losing to the secondary market,&rdquo; said Aly Richards, one of two Democrat]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-democrats-turn-to-second-home-taxes-as-a-matter-of-principle-and-cash/</link><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-democrats-turn-to-second-home-taxes-as-a-matter-of-principle-and-cash/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Vermonters won’t call Fish and Wildlife about bears]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,A recent article in VTDigger provided good information about human encounters with bears. Mostly, though, it focused on comments by staff at the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department complaining that people do not call them when they encounter bears.In the article, it seems no one understands why people do not call the department when a bear gets into their garbage. Ironically, a letter published in VTDigger in May has already explained why, with supporting data. Walter Medwid provid]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-vermonters-wont-call-fish-and-wildlife-about-bears/</link><pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-vermonters-wont-call-fish-and-wildlife-about-bears/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[World War II soldier’s remains returned home to Bennington]]></title><description><![CDATA[The recently identified remains of World War II soldier Bernard Sweet returned home to Bennington on Thursday, Aug. 30. Photo by Danny Zaffarano/Bennington BannerThis story by Jim Therrien was first published in the Bennington Banner on July 31, 2026.BENNINGTON &mdash; The long journey of Bennington native Bernard Sweet, who died in the Philippines during World War II, came full circle on Thursday evening when his remains were escorted back to his hometown.Army Pfc. Sweet was 21 when he died in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/world-war-ii-soldiers-remains-returned-home-to-bennington/</link><pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/world-war-ii-soldiers-remains-returned-home-to-bennington/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Local property dispute lands tea farmer in hot water]]></title><description><![CDATA[Amber Collett Terway, the owner of Tilia Tea, harvests calendula at her microfarm in Barre on July 31, 2026. Photo by Erin Petenko/VTDiggerBARRE &mdash; On a cool, damp morning in Barre, Amber Collett Terway harvested her resin calendula flowers with nothing but a plastic bin and her bare hands.&nbsp;The sticky yellow flowers, valued for their medicinal properties, were destined for one of Terway&rsquo;s &ldquo;Quiet Mind&rdquo; tea blends sold through her small-batch tea company, Tilia Tea.&nb]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/local-property-dispute-lands-tea-farmer-in-hot-water/</link><pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 14:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/local-property-dispute-lands-tea-farmer-in-hot-water/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Vermont farmer has a growing voice in Trump’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ campaign]]></title><description><![CDATA[John Klar, a Brookfield farmer and conservative voice in Vermont politics, has garnered a growing role in the Make America Healthy Again movement. Klar is pictured at his home in June 2020. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerJohn Klar has long had a prominent and at times provocative voice in conservative politics in Vermont. But since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became the U.S. health and human services secretary, the Brookfield cattle and sheep farmer has been finding a new, seemingly larger platf]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-farmer-has-a-growing-voice-in-trumps-make-america-healthy-again-campaign/</link><pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 14:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-vermont-farmer-has-a-growing-voice-in-trumps-make-america-healthy-again-campaign/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont keeps a list of where large crowds gather. The feds get a copy.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thousands of people participate in a Fourth of July parade in Warren on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerState and federal authorities looking for potential threats have long monitored parades, sporting events and county fairs in Vermont &mdash; and some town officials are only now finding out.&nbsp;Last week, town clerks throughout Vermont received an email asking if they would voluntarily hand over a list of potential public and private events of at least 2,500 attendees]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-keeps-a-list-of-where-large-crowds-gather-the-feds-get-a-copy/</link><pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-keeps-a-list-of-where-large-crowds-gather-the-feds-get-a-copy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After years of debate, Stowe caps short-term rentals]]></title><description><![CDATA[Downtown Stowe. Photo via Adobe StockThis story by Patrick Bilow was first published in the Stowe Reporter on July 30.&nbsp;Stowe has officially enacted regulations on certain short-term rental properties in town.The action, taken by the town selectboard last week, activates amendments to the town&rsquo;s short-term rental ordinance and ends years of debate over how to regulate those properties to potentially create more long-term housing opportunities for residents of Stowe &mdash; or whether]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-years-of-debate-stowe-caps-short-term-rentals/</link><pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 13:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-years-of-debate-stowe-caps-short-term-rentals/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘My thoughts were distorted’: Woman gets at least 10 years in Rutland fatal shooting]]></title><description><![CDATA[Judge Cortland Corsones presides in Rutland County Superior criminal court in Rutland in Jan. 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerRUTLAND &ndash; A judge has approved a plea deal and sentenced a Rutland County woman to at least 10 years in prison for fatally shooting a man inside an apartment four years ago stemming from a drug-related dispute.Judge Cortland Corsones handed down the sentence to 39-year-old Courtney Samplatsky during a hearing Friday in Rutland Superior criminal court.&nbs]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/my-thoughts-were-distorted-woman-gets-at-least-10-years-in-rutland-fatal-shooting/</link><pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/my-thoughts-were-distorted-woman-gets-at-least-10-years-in-rutland-fatal-shooting/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Regulators reject Route 100 quarry in Morristown]]></title><description><![CDATA[A 12-acre hill along Route 100 in Morristown. Photo by Gordon Miller/Stowe ReporterThis story by Patrick Bilow first appeared in the News &amp; Citizen on July 30, 2026.&nbsp;After a two-year deliberation, the state Act 250 commission has rejected a Morristown business&rsquo;s proposal to build a quarry operation on land across Route 100 from the Morrisville-Stowe Airport.Garret Hirchak, CEO and founder of Manufactured Solutions Inc., has for years been trying to build an industrial park on the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/regulators-reject-route-100-quarry-in-morristown/</link><pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/regulators-reject-route-100-quarry-in-morristown/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Green FC men will compete for national championship Saturday]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Green FC men&rsquo;s team defeated Laredo Heat 7-1 on July 27, 2026, to earn a spot in the USL2 championship. Courtesy Vermont Green FCTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Vermont Green FC&rsquo;s men&rsquo;s team will return to the national championship Saturday after high-scoring wins last weekend over Asheville City SC and Laredo Heat in Texas.&nbsp;The Burlington-based team, on the brink of a second consecutive championship and u]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-green-fc-men-will-compete-for-national-championship-saturday/</link><pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 22:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-green-fc-men-will-compete-for-national-championship-saturday/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont is not for sale]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by John Bossange, president, and Jerry Ward, a board member, of Better (not bigger) Vermont.The pro-development advocates finally got it right. Vermont is in trouble but not for the reasons offered in a recent VTDigger opinion piece written by representatives of the Vermont Futures Project, the Vermont Professionals of Color Network, the Vermont Business Roundtable, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Let&rsquo;s Build Homes and the Lake Champlain Chamber.Vermont is in trouble b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-not-for-sale/</link><pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-not-for-sale/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The only licensed prosecutor leaves Addison County office]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Addison County Superior criminal court in Middlebury. File photo by Alan Keays/VTDiggerThe only state prosecutor with a law license in Addison County is leaving the job next week.&nbsp;Without a deputy state&rsquo;s attorney, embattled State&rsquo;s Attorney Eva Vekos &mdash; who has been temporarily barred from practicing law &mdash; would be the only state prosecutor in the county.&nbsp;In the absence of a deputy attorney in Vekos&rsquo;s office, the Vermont Attorney General&rsquo;s Offic]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-only-licensed-prosecutor-leaves-addison-county-office/</link><pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 17:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-only-licensed-prosecutor-leaves-addison-county-office/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kenneth Nalibow]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 01/12/1942Hanover, New HampshireDied: 07/29/2026New Port Richey, FloridaDetails of service:A memorial service is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Vermont Public, in support of its work with Vermont Public Radio.Kenneth Nalibow, retired Associate Professor of Russian at the University of Vermont, died at the age of 84.<br />
Ken was the son of Helen (Diamant) Nalibow and Joseph Nalibow of Woodstock, Vermont. From an early age, he was obsessed with hi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kenneth-nalibow/</link><pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 16:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kenneth-nalibow/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dispute over evidence preservation heats up in border agent’s killing]]></title><description><![CDATA[Police cruiser lights. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA legal battle is brewing over cellphones and other devices used by law enforcement around the time of a shootout in which a federal agent was killed in northern Vermont.Teresa Youngblut, 22, of Seattle, faces several charges, including murder, in the death of Border Patrol Agent David Maland during a traffic stop in January 2025 that turned into gunfire on Interstate 91 in Coventry.With the trial still to be set, the prosecution this w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dispute-over-evidence-preservation-heats-up-in-border-agents-killing/</link><pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dispute-over-evidence-preservation-heats-up-in-border-agents-killing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Round 2 of rabies vaccine bait drop begins Saturday]]></title><description><![CDATA[A rabies vaccine bait pack. The capsules are used to vaccinate wild animals such as raccoons against rabies. Photo courtesy Vermont Department of HealthThis story was first published in the Waterbury Roundabout on July 28, 2026.Another round of rabies vaccines for wildlife will be distributed around Vermont starting on Aug. 1, according to the Vermont Department of Health.This August rabies vaccine bait drop is the typical time this exercise is done. This year, an earlier round of vaccine was d]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/round-2-of-rabies-vaccine-bait-drop-begins-saturday/</link><pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/round-2-of-rabies-vaccine-bait-drop-begins-saturday/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont nonprofit sees $500,000 gift to create youth homelessness services endowment]]></title><description><![CDATA[Favor Ellis, executive director of Elevate Youth Services in Berlin, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Elevate Youth Services in Barre has received a $500,000 endowment gift to support youth homelessness services, the organization announced earlier this month. Leadership said the donation, which comes from the Burlington-based Courtney and Victoria Buffum Family Foundation, will provide the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-nonprofit-sees-500000-gift-to-create-youth-homelessness-services-endowment/</link><pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 21:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-nonprofit-sees-500000-gift-to-create-youth-homelessness-services-endowment/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The U.S. can’t ignore its own human rights law on Israel]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;Accountability is a foundational pillar of government that ensures political leaders are fulfilling their duties honorably and legally. As a 14-year-old student from Waterbury observing the world&rsquo;s political actions today, what frightens me most is the federal government&rsquo;s lack of accountability. This is especially highlighted in the conflicts in the Middle East.&nbsp;The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, requires that any security assistance or arms prov]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-us-cant-ignore-its-own-human-rights-law-on-israel/</link><pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 20:35:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-us-cant-ignore-its-own-human-rights-law-on-israel/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Democrats are destroying New England’s local governance tradition]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Todd Heyman, a co-owner of Fat Sheep Farm &amp; Cabins, who lives in Hartland.The Vermont Democratic Party is off course. In the shadows of highly technocratic laws, New England&rsquo;s cherished wisdom tradition of direct democratic rule is being destroyed, even though Vermont remains a predominantly rural state with no signs that it has outgrown its chosen form of local government.&nbsp;Under Act 181, the Democratic leadership dramatically increased the power of regional]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-democrats-are-destroying-new-englands-local-governance-tradition/</link><pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 19:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-democrats-are-destroying-new-englands-local-governance-tradition/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[To the mayor’s surprise, Gov. Scott directs state police to patrol Burlington]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont State Police cruisers seen in Burlington in Jan. 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerState police troopers will again patrol downtown Burlington after a directive from Gov. Phil Scott that caught the city&rsquo;s mayor off guard.&nbsp;The governor directed state police to patrol the Queen City after having conversations with community and business leaders who &ldquo;voiced concerns about public safety,&rdquo; according to Amanda Wheeler, Scott&rsquo;s spokesperson.&nbsp;Burlington]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/to-the-mayors-surprise-gov-scott-directs-state-police-to-patrol-burlington/</link><pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 18:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/to-the-mayors-surprise-gov-scott-directs-state-police-to-patrol-burlington/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[ACLU files federal claims against ICE over March 11 South Burlington raid]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jisella Johana Patin Patin is led out in handcuffs by federal law enforcement agents in South Burlington in March 12026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTwo South Burlington residents have filed federal claims against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alleging agents used excessive force and unlawfully detained them during a botched March 11 immigration raid.The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont filed the claims Wednesday on behalf of Jos&eacute; Estrada Jerez, a U.S. citize]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/aclu-files-federal-claims-against-ice-over-march-11-south-burlington-raid/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 23:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/aclu-files-federal-claims-against-ice-over-march-11-south-burlington-raid/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont must pass the Defend the Guard Act]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,&nbsp;As a student at Vergennes Union High School, I drive by the Vermont National Guard Armory every day on my way to school. When practicing emergency evacuation drills, students line up and walk across the street into the armory. As in many other communities, the Vermont Guard is integrated into our lives.&nbsp;This is why legislation known as the Defend the Guard Act, introduced as H.355 in the latest legislative biennium, is a bill that Vermont communities and legislators shoul]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-must-pass-the-defend-the-guard-act/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 23:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-must-pass-the-defend-the-guard-act/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[School boards exist to serve the public, not silence it]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Timothy Maciel, a member of Vermont Rural Schools Community Alliance.Rebecca Foster&rsquo;s recent commentary in VTDigger on the topic of school boards should concern every Vermonter, not just those who oppose artificial turf.What happened at the Champlain Valley School District board meeting represents something far more troubling than a disagreement over athletic fields. It reflects an alarming breakdown in transparency and accountability. When hundreds of residents inve]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/school-boards-exist-to-serve-the-public-not-silence-it/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 23:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/school-boards-exist-to-serve-the-public-not-silence-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Author Chris Bohjalian on writing, activism and challenging the language of genocide]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Chris Bohjalian arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of &ldquo;The Flight Attendant,&rdquo; Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at Pacific Design Center. Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/APA teen golf prodigy launches a powerful drive that kills a golf caddy at a to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-author-chris-bohjalian-on-writing-activism-and-challenging-the-language-of-genocide/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-author-chris-bohjalian-on-writing-activism-and-challenging-the-language-of-genocide/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brattleboro drops idea of tax hike meant to aid its hospital’s endangered birthing center]]></title><description><![CDATA[Supporters of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital&rsquo;s birthing center march in the town&rsquo;s recent Fourth of July parade. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerBRATTLEBORO &mdash; A week after proposing a municipal tax hike to help Brattleboro Memorial Hospital&rsquo;s fiscally ailing birthing center stay open, the town selectboard dropped the plan Tuesday night upon the suggestion of leaders at the southeastern Vermont healthcare hub.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m worried about this tax,&rdquo; Dr. Tony B]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-drops-idea-of-tax-hike-meant-to-aid-its-hospitals-endangered-birthing-center/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-drops-idea-of-tax-hike-meant-to-aid-its-hospitals-endangered-birthing-center/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A pharmacy chain in Vermont implemented AI for efficiency. It’s led to delays, incorrect information and privacy concerns.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kinney Drugs in Essex Junction on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIn voicemails, spam folders and text messages across Vermont, an artificial intelligence tool is filing through years of pharmaceutical records, incoherently listing drugs and requesting the wrong refills on sensitive medication.&nbsp;And customers often have no idea they agreed to it.&ldquo;He calls you all the time, and he doesn&rsquo;t say what the drug is,&rdquo; said Kathy Callaghan, a Vermont customer]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-pharmacy-chain-in-vermont-implemented-ai-for-efficiency-its-led-to-delays-incorrect-information-and-privacy-concerns/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-pharmacy-chain-in-vermont-implemented-ai-for-efficiency-its-led-to-delays-incorrect-information-and-privacy-concerns/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington man denies charges of smashing police van window and injuring trooper during ICE raid protest]]></title><description><![CDATA[Colin Wesley Palmer is arraigned in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington on July 28, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; A Burlington man has denied misdemeanor charges accusing him of breaking the window of a police van and hurting a trooper during a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid and related protest in South Burlington.Colin Wesley Palmer, 24, entered not guilty pleas during a hearing Tuesday in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-man-denies-charges-of-smashing-police-van-window-and-injuring-trooper-during-ice-raid-protest/</link><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-man-denies-charges-of-smashing-police-van-window-and-injuring-trooper-during-ice-raid-protest/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s day of reckoning is here]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Miriam Voran, who practices psychoanalytic psychotherapy in Montpelier and West Lebanon, New Hampshire. She is on the clinical faculty at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.Two years in a row, devastating floods slammed Vermont. Last year brought unprecedented drought. The 2025 drought alone cost Vermont farmers more than $15.9 million. The 2023 and 2024 floods cost tens of millions more.Nature is screaming: You&rsquo;ve blown past environmental limits!&nbsp;&nbsp;But]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-day-of-reckoning-is-here/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 23:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-day-of-reckoning-is-here/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s economy is in good shape, state economists say, but AI boom is a threat]]></title><description><![CDATA[Economists Jeff Carr, right, and Tom Kavet at the Statehouse in Montpelier in January 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont&rsquo;s economy is in &ldquo;impressive&rdquo; shape, the state&rsquo;s top fiscal analysts reported Tuesday, especially after what they described as a year of chaotic decisions by the Trump administration that are threatening economic stability.Massive business spending to develop artificial intelligence technology is one of the few things k]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-economy-is-in-good-shape-state-economists-say-but-ai-boom-is-a-threat/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 23:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-economy-is-in-good-shape-state-economists-say-but-ai-boom-is-a-threat/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont schools are on the slide]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,For years, the reassuring answer to worry about Vermont&rsquo;s schools has been a comparison: Vermont scores above the national average. That was true for decades. This year it survives on one of four federal checks &mdash; and the national average itself has been falling. Vermont has been falling faster.I pulled together a public dataset putting nearly every Vermont district&rsquo;s test results on the federal National Assessment of Educational Progress scale, using Stanford&rsquo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-schools-are-on-the-slide/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 23:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-schools-are-on-the-slide/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge finds Vermont’s federal grants can’t be rescinded if political priorities shift]]></title><description><![CDATA[A cyclist pedals along the bikepath at Waterfront Park in Burlington in June 2021. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerNew sidewalks or bike paths for seven municipalities in northern Vermont are on hold after an Environmental Protection Agency grant was halted abruptly last year when the agency determined the projects no longer aligned with the government&rsquo;s goals.The $877,000 grant for the Northwest Regional Planning Commission, which covers around 20 municipalities in Franklin and Grand]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-finds-vermonts-federal-grants-cant-be-rescinded-if-political-priorities-shift/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 21:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-finds-vermonts-federal-grants-cant-be-rescinded-if-political-priorities-shift/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger launches 2026 Vermont primary election guide]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger has launched its 2026 Election Guide ahead of a primary election that features the first competitive Democratic gubernatorial primary in recent years. The two leading candidates have both raised significant sums of money, but polling shows many Vermonters remain undecided or don&rsquo;t know the Democrats seeking the state&rsquo;s top office. Who will be top of the ticket heading into November?The primary for governor is only one of the intriguing races to watch this year. A competitiv]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-launches-2026-vermont-primary-election-guide/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-launches-2026-vermont-primary-election-guide/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to vote in Vermont’s 2026 primary election]]></title><description><![CDATA[A ballot box for a local water bond is adorned with signs in Barre City on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s primary election is Aug. 11.<br />
There are two ways to vote:<br />
Early voting by mail or in person, from June 29 to Aug. 10In person at your polling place on Aug. 11<br />
All U.S. citizens who are residents of Vermont and will be 18 or older for the general election on Nov. 3, 2026, are eligible to register to vote in the primary election.Voter registrationTo v]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-to-vote-in-vermonts-2026-primary-election/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-to-vote-in-vermonts-2026-primary-election/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Who is responsible for what in Vermont’s government? Here’s a guide for Vermonters preparing to vote.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Voters fill out their ballots in Rutland on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. FIle photo by Caleb Kenna/VTDiggerThere are six elected officers in Vermont who serve the entire state, along with 180 state legislators who represent smaller districts. These positions are filled through a general election every two years in November. Counties hold elections as well for most of their top elected offices every four years. Those county elections are happening in 2026. The state&rsquo;s three major parties choose]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/who-is-responsible-for-what-in-vermonts-government-heres-a-guide-for-vermonters-preparing-to-vote/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/who-is-responsible-for-what-in-vermonts-government-heres-a-guide-for-vermonters-preparing-to-vote/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[End of immigration program forces difficult choices for Vermont residents]]></title><description><![CDATA[People hold Haitian flags and signs during a rally in support of immigrants living in the United States with temporary protected status, or TPS, Thursday, July 9, 2026, in San Diego. Photo by Gregory Bull/APA decades-old federal immigration program that allowed more than 200 residents in Vermont to live and work in the state ends today, meaning many on the program will have to decide whether to stay in the country illegally or return to countries marred by violence.&nbsp;&ldquo;It is hard to im]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/end-of-immigration-program-forces-difficult-choices-for-vermont-residents-2/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/end-of-immigration-program-forces-difficult-choices-for-vermont-residents-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[End of immigration program forces difficult choices for Vermont residents]]></title><description><![CDATA[People hold Haitian flags and signs during a rally in support of immigrants living in the United States with temporary protected status, or TPS, Thursday, July 9, 2026, in San Diego. Photo by Gregory Bull/APA decades-old federal immigration program that allowed more than 200 residents in Vermont to live and work in the state ends today, meaning many on the program will have to decide whether to stay in the country illegally or return to countries marred by violence.&nbsp;&ldquo;It is hard to im]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/end-of-immigration-program-forces-difficult-choices-for-vermont-residents/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/end-of-immigration-program-forces-difficult-choices-for-vermont-residents/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s tax burden is driving families away]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,My wife and I recently moved our part-time residence from Moretown to Bennington. And we noticed that the relatively new anti-tax fervor has grown here in Bennington, too.I don&rsquo;t see the Legislature rolling back funding for any departments or programs. That means property taxes will remain wickedly high. More and more, the state will become a home for the poor and seniors, who are unable to move, and for the rich, who can afford a luxurious second home. The working middle clas]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-tax-burden-is-driving-families-away-2/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-tax-burden-is-driving-families-away-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s tax burden is driving families away]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,My wife and I recently moved our part-time residence from Moretown to Bennington. And we noticed that the relatively new anti-tax fervor has grown here in Bennington, too.I don&rsquo;t see the Legislature rolling back funding for any departments or programs. That means property taxes will remain wickedly high. More and more, the state will become a home for the poor and seniors, who are unable to move, and for the rich, who can afford a luxurious second home. The working middle clas]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-tax-burden-is-driving-families-away/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-tax-burden-is-driving-families-away/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Blake Hill Preserves prepares to move after employee furloughs]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Blake Hill Preserves employee, who declined to be identified, locks the door to the jam manufacturer&rsquo;s retail store after moving furniture out of the building at Artisan&rsquo;s Park in Windsor, Vt., on Monday, July 20, 2026. The store was closed in March. Photo by: James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Sofia Langlois was first published in the Valley News on July 26, 2026.WINDSOR &mdash; Blake Hill Preserves is preparing to move to an undisclosed location following a furlough of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/blake-hill-preserves-prepares-to-move-after-employee-furloughs-2/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/blake-hill-preserves-prepares-to-move-after-employee-furloughs-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Blake Hill Preserves prepares to move after employee furloughs]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Blake Hill Preserves employee, who declined to be identified, locks the door to the jam manufacturer&rsquo;s retail store after moving furniture out of the building at Artisan&rsquo;s Park in Windsor, Vt., on Monday, July 20, 2026. The store was closed in March. Photo by: James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Sofia Langlois was first published in the Valley News on July 26, 2026.WINDSOR &mdash; Blake Hill Preserves is preparing to move to an undisclosed location following a furlough of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/blake-hill-preserves-prepares-to-move-after-employee-furloughs/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/blake-hill-preserves-prepares-to-move-after-employee-furloughs/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[It’s our moral duty to vote in Vermont’s Aug. 11 primary]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Liza Cochran, a teacher, writer and community organizer who lives in Lincoln. She co-authors Brave Little Voices on Substack.&nbsp;While out canvassing recently, I spoke to a lifelong Vermonter who said he hadn&rsquo;t given much thought to the upcoming primary election on Aug. 11. It&rsquo;s not that he doesn&rsquo;t care, he explained, but he was too busy staying abreast of Washington politics.&nbsp;I get it. I have this impulse, too: to train my attention on the biggest]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-our-moral-duty-to-vote-in-vermonts-aug-11-primary-2/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-our-moral-duty-to-vote-in-vermonts-aug-11-primary-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[It’s our moral duty to vote in Vermont’s Aug. 11 primary]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Liza Cochran, a teacher, writer and community organizer who lives in Lincoln. She co-authors Brave Little Voices on Substack.&nbsp;While out canvassing recently, I spoke to a lifelong Vermonter who said he hadn&rsquo;t given much thought to the upcoming primary election on Aug. 11. It&rsquo;s not that he doesn&rsquo;t care, he explained, but he was too busy staying abreast of Washington politics.&nbsp;I get it. I have this impulse, too: to train my attention on the biggest]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-our-moral-duty-to-vote-in-vermonts-aug-11-primary/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-our-moral-duty-to-vote-in-vermonts-aug-11-primary/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Audit reveals Brattleboro hospital’s multiyear budget deficit has risen to at least $30 million]]></title><description><![CDATA[A crowd of about 100 people rally July 14 in support of the birthing center at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerBRATTLEBORO &mdash; As town leaders weigh a proposed municipal tax hike to help the fiscally ailing Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, administrators at the southeastern Vermont healthcare hub estimate their multiyear budget deficit has risen to at least $30 million.The hospital has yet to submit a spending plan to the state for the coming fiscal year,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/audit-reveals-brattleboro-hospitals-multiyear-budget-deficit-has-risen-to-at-least-30-million-2/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/audit-reveals-brattleboro-hospitals-multiyear-budget-deficit-has-risen-to-at-least-30-million-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Audit reveals Brattleboro hospital’s multiyear budget deficit has risen to at least $30 million]]></title><description><![CDATA[A crowd of about 100 people rally July 14 in support of the birthing center at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerBRATTLEBORO &mdash; As town leaders weigh a proposed municipal tax hike to help the fiscally ailing Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, administrators at the southeastern Vermont healthcare hub estimate their multiyear budget deficit has risen to at least $30 million.The hospital has yet to submit a spending plan to the state for the coming fiscal year,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/audit-reveals-brattleboro-hospitals-multiyear-budget-deficit-has-risen-to-at-least-30-million/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/audit-reveals-brattleboro-hospitals-multiyear-budget-deficit-has-risen-to-at-least-30-million/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Department of Corrections policy is quietly reshaping how long people are incarcerated in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Former Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad speaks at a press conference in Burlington in August 2024. Murad is currently the commissioner of Vermont&rsquo;s Department of Corrections. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWhen the man signed a plea deal from a Vermont prison in May 2025, he thought he knew what he was agreeing to.&nbsp;He was already incarcerated when he pleaded guilty to fentanyl trafficking, burglary and carrying a weapon during the commission of a felony, agreeing to serve a min]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-department-of-corrections-policy-is-quietly-reshaping-how-long-people-are-incarcerated-in-vermont-2/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 13:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-department-of-corrections-policy-is-quietly-reshaping-how-long-people-are-incarcerated-in-vermont-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Department of Corrections policy is quietly reshaping how long people are incarcerated in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad speaks at a press conference in Burlington in August 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWhen the man signed a plea deal from a Vermont prison in May 2025, he thought he knew what he was agreeing to.&nbsp;He was already incarcerated when he pleaded guilty to fentanyl trafficking, burglary and carrying a weapon during the commission of a felony, agreeing to serve a minimum of three years and a maximum of 10 years incarcerated. While his full name appears i]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-department-of-corrections-policy-is-quietly-reshaping-how-long-people-are-incarcerated-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 13:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-department-of-corrections-policy-is-quietly-reshaping-how-long-people-are-incarcerated-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[An insurance card is not an appointment]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Matt Swenson, who is the founder of Omnidex Solutions, a risk diagnostics company. He lives in Vermont.Vermont&rsquo;s healthcare debate has spent a decade stuck on the wrong question. The political class argues about who should pay the bill. Patients are asking something simpler: Can I actually see a doctor?Insurance is not care. Coverage is not capacity. A promise from the government does not create a primary care appointment, a hospital bed, a nurse or an operating room]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-insurance-card-is-not-an-appointment-2/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 15:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-insurance-card-is-not-an-appointment-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[An insurance card is not an appointment]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Matt Swenson, who is the founder of Omnidex Solutions, a risk diagnostics company. He lives in Vermont.Vermont&rsquo;s healthcare debate has spent a decade stuck on the wrong question. The political class argues about who should pay the bill. Patients are asking something simpler: Can I actually see a doctor?Insurance is not care. Coverage is not capacity. A promise from the government does not create a primary care appointment, a hospital bed, a nurse or an operating room]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-insurance-card-is-not-an-appointment/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 15:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/an-insurance-card-is-not-an-appointment/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Norwich sets $250 fee for short-term rentals]]></title><description><![CDATA[Priscilla Vincent raises her hand with a question, at left, during a public comment period before the Selectboard at Tracy Hall on a proposed zoning bylaw to regulate short-term rentals in Norwich, Vt., on Wednesday, July 23, 2026. Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Steven True is at right. The Selectboard voted to approve the bylaw for a two-year period which will require owners of such accommodations to register the property, submit to an inspection, and pay a $250 fee. Photo by: Jame]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/norwich-sets-250-fee-for-short-term-rentals-2/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 15:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/norwich-sets-250-fee-for-short-term-rentals-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Norwich sets $250 fee for short-term rentals]]></title><description><![CDATA[Priscilla Vincent raises her hand with a question, at left, during a public comment period before the Selectboard at Tracy Hall on a proposed zoning bylaw to regulate short-term rentals in Norwich, Vt., on Wednesday, July 23, 2026. Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Steven True is at right. The Selectboard voted to approve the bylaw for a two-year period which will require owners of such accommodations to register the property, submit to an inspection, and pay a $250 fee. Photo by: Jame]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/norwich-sets-250-fee-for-short-term-rentals/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 15:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/norwich-sets-250-fee-for-short-term-rentals/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Then Again: When a mysterious killer stalked the men of Bristol]]></title><description><![CDATA[A group of men pause to pose and enjoy a drink in a photo taken circa 1900-1910. In 1903, Vermont ended the longstanding statewide prohibition of the sale or consumption of alcohol for anything except &ldquo;medicinal, chemical or mechanical purposes.&rdquo; Replacing it was a &ldquo;local option&rdquo; law, whereby individual communities voted whether to ban alcohol within their boundaries. Photo courtesy of Lake Champlain Maritime Museum/Vermont Historical SocietyThe first signs of trouble we]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-when-a-mysterious-killer-stalked-the-men-of-bristol-2/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 14:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-when-a-mysterious-killer-stalked-the-men-of-bristol-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Then Again: When a mysterious killer stalked the men of Bristol]]></title><description><![CDATA[A group of men pause to pose and enjoy a drink in a photo taken circa 1900-1910. In 1903, Vermont ended the longstanding statewide prohibition of the sale or consumption of alcohol for anything except &ldquo;medicinal, chemical or mechanical purposes.&rdquo; Replacing it was a &ldquo;local option&rdquo; law, whereby individual communities voted whether to ban alcohol within their boundaries. Photo courtesy of Lake Champlain Maritime Museum/Vermont Historical SocietyThe first signs of trouble we]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-when-a-mysterious-killer-stalked-the-men-of-bristol/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 14:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-when-a-mysterious-killer-stalked-the-men-of-bristol/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Fertile period’ in Rutland City 25 years ago served as backdrop for photographer’s surreal scenes of suburban life]]></title><description><![CDATA[GREGORY CREWDSON, Untitled, 2002, Digital pigment print, image size 40 x 25 in. &copy; Gregory CrewdsonOver the course of several weeks in the summer of 2001, photographer Gregory Crewdson captured unsettling and surreal scenes of American suburban life in a ranch-style home in Rutland.&nbsp;The series made in Rutland included pictures of a stunned Tilda Swinton looking toward the sky out of frame, with her hand gently resting on a car hood. One photo shows a weary Phillip Seymour-Hoffman droop]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fertile-period-in-rutland-city-25-years-ago-served-as-backdrop-for-photographers-surreal-scenes-of-suburban-life-2/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 13:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fertile-period-in-rutland-city-25-years-ago-served-as-backdrop-for-photographers-surreal-scenes-of-suburban-life-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Fertile period’ in Rutland City 25 years ago served as backdrop for photographer’s surreal scenes of suburban life]]></title><description><![CDATA[GREGORY CREWDSON, Untitled, 2002, Digital pigment print, image size 40 x 25 in. &copy; Gregory CrewdsonOver the course of several weeks in the summer of 2001, photographer Gregory Crewdson captured unsettling and surreal scenes of American suburban life in a ranch-style home in Rutland.&nbsp;The series made in Rutland included pictures of a stunned Tilda Swinton looking toward the sky out of frame, with her hand gently resting on a car hood. One photo shows a weary Phillip Seymour-Hoffman droop]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fertile-period-in-rutland-city-25-years-ago-served-as-backdrop-for-photographers-surreal-scenes-of-suburban-life/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 13:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/fertile-period-in-rutland-city-25-years-ago-served-as-backdrop-for-photographers-surreal-scenes-of-suburban-life/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘The worst possible catch-22’: Fish and Wildlife struggles to combat bear rumors]]></title><description><![CDATA[A bear enjoying a dumpster feast earlier this year in Eden, Vermont. Photo by S. Chambers, courtesy of Vermont Fish and Wildlife.As bear-human incidents continue at record rates, the state Fish and Wildlife Department is encountering public misperception that is leading Vermonters to avoid reporting minor bear activity because they fear the bear will be killed.This often leads to &ldquo;the worst possible catch-22 for the bears,&rdquo; said Joshua Morse, public information officer for the depar]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-worst-possible-catch-22-fish-and-wildlife-struggles-to-combat-bear-rumors-2/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 12:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-worst-possible-catch-22-fish-and-wildlife-struggles-to-combat-bear-rumors-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘The worst possible catch-22’: Fish and Wildlife struggles to combat bear rumors]]></title><description><![CDATA[A bear enjoying a dumpster feast earlier this year in Eden, Vermont. Photo by S. Chambers, courtesy of Vermont Fish and Wildlife.As bear-human incidents continue at record rates, the state Fish and Wildlife Department is encountering public misperception that is leading Vermonters to avoid reporting minor bear activity because they fear the bear will be killed.This often leads to &ldquo;the worst possible catch-22 for the bears,&rdquo; said Joshua Morse, public information officer for the depar]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-worst-possible-catch-22-fish-and-wildlife-struggles-to-combat-bear-rumors/</link><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 12:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-worst-possible-catch-22-fish-and-wildlife-struggles-to-combat-bear-rumors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont expands housing investment program]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak chats before a groundbreaking ceremony at the Cambrian Way housing complex in Burlington in August 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Chris Mays was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on July 21, 2026.BERLIN &mdash; An additional $25 million is now available in low-interest financing to help spur new housing, job creation and affordability across Vermont.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our state continues to be in desperate need of more housing,&r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-expands-housing-investment-program-2/</link><pubDate>Sat, 25 Jul 2026 13:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-expands-housing-investment-program-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont expands housing investment program]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak chats before a groundbreaking ceremony at the Cambrian Way housing complex in Burlington in August 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Chris Mays was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on July 21, 2026.BERLIN &mdash; An additional $25 million is now available in low-interest financing to help spur new housing, job creation and affordability across Vermont.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our state continues to be in desperate need of more housing,&r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-expands-housing-investment-program/</link><pubDate>Sat, 25 Jul 2026 13:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-expands-housing-investment-program/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dartmouth students push back against medical school admissions probe]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Geisel School of Medicine admissions office at Dartmouth College occupies part of the former Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, N.H., on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Photo by James M. Patterson / Valley NewsThis story by Sofia Langlois was first published in the Valley News on July 24, 2026.Amid a federal investigation into the Geisel School of Medicine for racial discrimination in its admissions practices, some Dartmouth community members are speaking out against a narrative that peo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-students-push-back-against-medical-school-admissions-probe-2/</link><pubDate>Sat, 25 Jul 2026 00:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-students-push-back-against-medical-school-admissions-probe-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dartmouth students push back against medical school admissions probe]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Geisel School of Medicine admissions office at Dartmouth College occupies part of the former Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, N.H., on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Photo by James M. Patterson / Valley NewsThis story by Sofia Langlois was first published in the Valley News on July 24, 2026.Amid a federal investigation into the Geisel School of Medicine for racial discrimination in its admissions practices, some Dartmouth community members are speaking out against a narrative that peo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-students-push-back-against-medical-school-admissions-probe/</link><pubDate>Sat, 25 Jul 2026 00:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-students-push-back-against-medical-school-admissions-probe/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont doesn’t need political parties to get things done]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Since Vermont has a political landscape that is probably less partisan than most states and, without a doubt, far less partisan than Washington, maybe it can set an example for how to move away from partisan politics. We urgently need cooperative, nonconfrontational efforts to mitigate the host of critical problems we face.It seems that political parties often foster irrational noncooperation. What if Vermont eliminated political parties and candidates ran on their individual merits]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-doesnt-need-political-parties-to-get-things-done-2/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-doesnt-need-political-parties-to-get-things-done-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont doesn’t need political parties to get things done]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Since Vermont has a political landscape that is probably less partisan than most states and, without a doubt, far less partisan than Washington, maybe it can set an example for how to move away from partisan politics. We urgently need cooperative, nonconfrontational efforts to mitigate the host of critical problems we face.It seems that political parties often foster irrational noncooperation. What if Vermont eliminated political parties and candidates ran on their individual merits]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-doesnt-need-political-parties-to-get-things-done/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-doesnt-need-political-parties-to-get-things-done/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Protesters again block access to ICE surveillance hub in Williston, prompting arrests]]></title><description><![CDATA[A person is carried to a vehicle by four Vermont State Troopers after being arrested for blocking the entrance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement&rsquo;s National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center in Williston on Friday, July 24, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerUpdated at 5:47 p.m.WILLISTON &mdash; State and local police arrested 13 protesters at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement surveillance office in Williston on Friday morning. The group intended to block ICE employees]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/protesters-again-block-access-to-ice-surveillance-hub-in-williston-prompting-arrests-2/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/protesters-again-block-access-to-ice-surveillance-hub-in-williston-prompting-arrests-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Protesters again block access to ICE surveillance hub in Williston, prompting arrests]]></title><description><![CDATA[A person is carried to a vehicle by four Vermont State Troopers after being arrested for blocking the entrance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement&rsquo;s National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center in Williston on Friday, July 24, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWILLISTON &mdash; Police arrested a group of protesters at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement surveillance office in Williston on Friday morning. The group intended to block ICE employees from accessing the facility]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/protesters-again-block-access-to-ice-surveillance-hub-in-williston-prompting-arrests/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/protesters-again-block-access-to-ice-surveillance-hub-in-williston-prompting-arrests/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Owen Foster stepping down as chair of state’s most powerful healthcare regulator ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Owen Foster, chair of the Green Mountain Care board, speaks during roundtable on health care costs hosted by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, in Burlington on Friday, May 31, 2024.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe chair of the regulatory board that decides hospital budgets and health insurance premium increases in Vermont is stepping down at the end of September, Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday.&nbsp;Scott appointed Owen Foster as the Green Mountain Care Board&rsquo;s chair in 2022 and re]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/owen-foster-stepping-down-as-chair-of-states-most-powerful-healthcare-regulator-2/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/owen-foster-stepping-down-as-chair-of-states-most-powerful-healthcare-regulator-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Owen Foster stepping down as chair of state’s most powerful healthcare regulator ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Owen Foster, chair of the Green Mountain Care board, speaks during roundtable on health care costs hosted by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, in Burlington on Friday, May 31, 2024.Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe chair of the regulatory board that decides hospital budgets and health insurance premium increases in Vermont is stepping down at the end of September, Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday.&nbsp;Scott appointed Owen Foster as the Green Mountain Care Board&rsquo;s chair in 2022 and re]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/owen-foster-stepping-down-as-chair-of-states-most-powerful-healthcare-regulator/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/owen-foster-stepping-down-as-chair-of-states-most-powerful-healthcare-regulator/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Help VTDigger reach 500 supporters before midnight Sunday]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger reporter Shaun Robinson. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDear Reader,VTDigger&rsquo;s July Member Drive ends Sunday, July 26 at midnight, and we&rsquo;re asking our readers to help us finish strong and reach our goal of 500 supporters.Every donation made before the drive ends will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000, thanks to two generous supporters from Burlington and Addison County.<br />
Double your impact<br />
Reader support powers the reporting Vermonters rely on every day.Just this w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/help-vtdigger-reach-500-supporters-before-midnight-sunday-2/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:35:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/help-vtdigger-reach-500-supporters-before-midnight-sunday-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Help VTDigger reach 500 supporters before midnight Sunday]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger reporter Shaun Robinson. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDear Reader,VTDigger&rsquo;s July Member Drive ends Sunday, July 26 at midnight, and we&rsquo;re asking our readers to help us finish strong and reach our goal of 500 supporters.Every donation made before the drive ends will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000, thanks to two generous supporters from Burlington and Addison County.<br />
Double your impact<br />
Reader support powers the reporting Vermonters rely on every day.Just this w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/help-vtdigger-reach-500-supporters-before-midnight-sunday/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:35:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/help-vtdigger-reach-500-supporters-before-midnight-sunday/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Help VTDigger reach 500 supporters before midnight Saturday]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger reporter Shaun Robinson. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDear Reader,VTDigger&rsquo;s July Member Drive ends Saturday at midnight, and we&rsquo;re asking our readers to help us finish strong and reach our goal of 500 supporters.Every donation made before the drive ends will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000, thanks to two generous supporters from Burlington and Addison County.<br />
Double your impact<br />
Reader support powers the reporting Vermonters rely on every day.Just this week, ou]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/help-vtdigger-reach-500-supporters-before-midnight-saturday/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:35:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/help-vtdigger-reach-500-supporters-before-midnight-saturday/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger is hiring fall reporting interns]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger intern Emma Green listens as Pastor Steven Tendo, right, speaks before a check-in meeting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security facility in St. Albans on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerLicense plate surveillance. Immigration enforcement. A dairy economy under strain. Rising temperatures and energy costs. All of it was reported this year by journalists who came to VTDigger as interns &mdash; and the newsroom is now h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-is-hiring-fall-reporting-interns-2/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 14:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-is-hiring-fall-reporting-interns-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger is hiring fall reporting interns]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger intern Emma Green listens as Pastor Steven Tendo, right, speaks before a check-in meeting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security facility in St. Albans on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerLicense plate surveillance. Immigration enforcement. A dairy economy under strain. Rising temperatures and energy costs. All of it was reported this year by journalists who came to VTDigger as interns &mdash; and the newsroom is now h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-is-hiring-fall-reporting-interns/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 14:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-is-hiring-fall-reporting-interns/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wanted: Large space for 100-bed emergency shelter in Chittenden County]]></title><description><![CDATA[A cold-weather shelter in Burlington is seen on Jan. 23, 2026. The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and Champlain Housing Trust are seeking to open a 100-bed emergency shelter that would operate year-round. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.Two local nonprofits are seeking a space to open what would be Vermont&rsquo;s largest year-round shelter for people experiencing homelessness.Th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/wanted-large-space-for-100-bed-emergency-shelter-in-chittenden-county-2/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/wanted-large-space-for-100-bed-emergency-shelter-in-chittenden-county-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wanted: Large space for 100-bed emergency shelter in Chittenden County]]></title><description><![CDATA[A cold-weather shelter in Burlington is seen on Jan. 23, 2026. The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and Champlain Housing Trust are seeking to open a 100-bed emergency shelter that would operate year-round. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.Two local nonprofits are seeking a space to open what would be Vermont&rsquo;s largest year-round shelter for people experiencing homelessness.Th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/wanted-large-space-for-100-bed-emergency-shelter-in-chittenden-county/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:15:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/wanted-large-space-for-100-bed-emergency-shelter-in-chittenden-county/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont to give local news priority for state advertising dollars]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott signs an executive order to prioritize spending state ad dollars on local news on July 23, 2026. Photo by Charlotte Oliver/VTDiggerMONTPELIER&mdash; Gov. Phil Scott signed an executive order Thursday that directs the state to prioritize local news platforms when deciding where to run its ads.&nbsp;&ldquo;Vermonters breathe and trust their community news,&rdquo; Scott said after signing the order, a statement rare for him to make to a room of reporters.&nbsp;The intent of the pol]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-to-give-local-news-priority-for-state-advertising-dollars-2/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 01:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-to-give-local-news-priority-for-state-advertising-dollars-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont to give local news priority for state advertising dollars]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott signs an executive order to prioritize spending state ad dollars on local news on July 23, 2026. Photo by Charlotte Oliver/VTDiggerMONTPELIER&mdash; Gov. Phil Scott signed an executive order Thursday that directs the state to prioritize local news platforms when deciding where to run its ads.&nbsp;&ldquo;Vermonters breathe and trust their community news,&rdquo; Scott said after signing the order, a statement rare for him to make to a room of reporters.&nbsp;The intent of the pol]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-to-give-local-news-priority-for-state-advertising-dollars/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 01:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-to-give-local-news-priority-for-state-advertising-dollars/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gerald “Jed” Kenneth Hornung II]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 07/31/1929Oklahoma City, OklahomaDied: 07/20/2026Burlington, VermontDetails of service:The family will hold a private burial. There will be a Memorial Service, at a later date. Arrangements are through Day Funeral Home, Randolph, Vermont and Vermont Forest Cemetery in Roxbury.Gerald Kenneth (Jed) Hornung II, age 96, passed away on July 20, 2026, surrounded by his loving family after a brief illness.&nbsp;Gerald was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 31, 1929, the son of Gerald Kennet]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gerald-jed-kenneth-hornung-ii-2/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gerald-jed-kenneth-hornung-ii-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gerald “Jed” Kenneth Hornung II]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 07/31/1929Oklahoma City, OklahomaDied: 07/20/2026Burlington, VermontDetails of service:The family will hold a private burial. There will be a Memorial Service, at a later date. Arrangements are through Day Funeral Home, Randolph, Vermont and Vermont Forest Cemetery in Roxbury.Gerald Kenneth (Jed) Hornung II, age 96, passed away on July 20, 2026, surrounded by his loving family after a brief illness.&nbsp;Gerald was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 31, 1929, the son of Gerald Kennet]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gerald-jed-kenneth-hornung-ii/</link><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gerald-jed-kenneth-hornung-ii/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ex-Rutland City officer faces allegations of violating anti-bias policy, falsifying report]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Rutland City Police Department in Dec. 2021.File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA now-former Rutland City police officer is facing allegations from law enforcement authorities that he violated the state-mandated Fair and Impartial Policing Policy and in a separate incident falsified a police report.In one instance, a state panel overseeing law enforcement in Vermont is set to hold a hearing regarding allegations that Nicholas Fontana improperly asked people in a vehicle for identification a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ex-rutland-city-officer-faces-allegations-of-violating-anti-bias-policy-falsifying-report-2/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 23:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ex-rutland-city-officer-faces-allegations-of-violating-anti-bias-policy-falsifying-report-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ex-Rutland City officer faces allegations of violating anti-bias policy, falsifying report]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Rutland City Police Department in Dec. 2021.File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA now-former Rutland City police officer is facing allegations from law enforcement authorities that he violated the state-mandated Fair and Impartial Policing Policy and in a separate incident falsified a police report.In one instance, a state panel overseeing law enforcement in Vermont is set to hold a hearing regarding allegations that Nicholas Fontana improperly asked people in a vehicle for identification a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ex-rutland-city-officer-faces-allegations-of-violating-anti-bias-policy-falsifying-report/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 23:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ex-rutland-city-officer-faces-allegations-of-violating-anti-bias-policy-falsifying-report/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Don’t blame incomers for Vermont’s housing woes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,We know Vermont has a housing problem; affordability and availability are both major issues here. I moved here during Covid-19 not to get away from a city but because my family lived here. I wanted to be a part of my grandchildren&rsquo;s lives, so here I am.&nbsp;I want to rebut something a previous letter to VTDigger raised, saying newcomers to Vermont paid &ldquo;obscene prices&rdquo; for housing and ruined it for everyone else in the state. May I ask who set the prices for the h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-blame-incomers-for-vermonts-housing-woes-2/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 23:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-blame-incomers-for-vermonts-housing-woes-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Don’t blame incomers for Vermont’s housing woes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,We know Vermont has a housing problem; affordability and availability are both major issues here. I moved here during Covid-19 not to get away from a city but because my family lived here. I wanted to be a part of my grandchildren&rsquo;s lives, so here I am.&nbsp;I want to rebut something a previous letter to VTDigger raised, saying newcomers to Vermont paid &ldquo;obscene prices&rdquo; for housing and ruined it for everyone else in the state. May I ask who set the prices for the h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-blame-incomers-for-vermonts-housing-woes/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 23:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-blame-incomers-for-vermonts-housing-woes/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Statehouse know-how or outsider’s perspective? The 2 Democrats who want to be Vermont’s next governor]]></title><description><![CDATA[Aly Richards, left, and Amanda Janoo, democratic candidates for governor, speak during a housing forum in South Burlington on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe two Democrats vying to take on Vermont&rsquo;s Republican Gov. Phil Scott this year have never run for office before. But they&rsquo;ve also raked in far more money at this stage in the race than either of the Democrats who challenged Scott in 2024 and 2022.Ask Amanda Janoo and Aly Richards why that might be th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/statehouse-know-how-or-outsiders-perspective-the-2-democrats-who-want-to-be-vermonts-next-governor-2/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/statehouse-know-how-or-outsiders-perspective-the-2-democrats-who-want-to-be-vermonts-next-governor-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Statehouse know-how or outsider’s perspective? The 2 Democrats who want to be Vermont’s next governor]]></title><description><![CDATA[Aly Richards, left, and Amanda Janoo, democratic candidates for governor, speak during a housing forum in South Burlington on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe two Democrats vying to take on Vermont&rsquo;s Republican Gov. Phil Scott this year have never run for office before. But they&rsquo;ve also raked in far more money at this stage in the race than either of the Democrats who challenged Scott in 2024 and 2022.Ask Amanda Janoo and Aly Richards why that might be th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/statehouse-know-how-or-outsiders-perspective-the-2-democrats-who-want-to-be-vermonts-next-governor/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/statehouse-know-how-or-outsiders-perspective-the-2-democrats-who-want-to-be-vermonts-next-governor/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger expands statewide news partnership with four southern Vermont newspapers]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Bennington Battle Monument. Photo via Adobe StockVTDigger CEO Brendan Kinney announced Thursday that the online statewide news organization has recently partnered with four newspapers covering southern Vermont.&nbsp;The latest partnerships with the Bennington Banner, Manchester Journal, Brattleboro Reformer and Mountain Times (Killington) build on VTDigger&rsquo;s existing partnership with The Commons in Brattleboro, bringing the total number of community news sharing partners to 21.&ldquo;]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-expands-statewide-news-partnership-with-four-southern-vermont-newspapers-2/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-expands-statewide-news-partnership-with-four-southern-vermont-newspapers-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTDigger expands statewide news partnership with four southern Vermont newspapers]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Bennington Battle Monument. Photo via Adobe StockVTDigger CEO Brendan Kinney announced Thursday that the online statewide news organization has recently partnered with four newspapers covering southern Vermont.&nbsp;The latest partnerships with the Bennington Banner, Manchester Journal, Brattleboro Reformer and Mountain Times (Killington) build on VTDigger&rsquo;s existing partnership with The Commons in Brattleboro, bringing the total number of community news sharing partners to 21.&ldquo;]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-expands-statewide-news-partnership-with-four-southern-vermont-newspapers/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtdigger-expands-statewide-news-partnership-with-four-southern-vermont-newspapers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont schools should invest in student journalism]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Katerine Lacourciere, a rising senior at Essex High School, where she is a staff writer for the Hive.Journalism is essential to inform communities, hold those in power accountable and give voice to perspectives that might otherwise go unheard. So why isn&rsquo;t there more of a push to train the next generation of journalists?A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to work in a newsroom alongside 13 other dedicated high school journalists through the New England High School]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-schools-should-invest-in-student-journalism-2/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-schools-should-invest-in-student-journalism-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont schools should invest in student journalism]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Katerine Lacourciere, a rising senior at Essex High School, where she is a staff writer for the Hive.Journalism is essential to inform communities, hold those in power accountable and give voice to perspectives that might otherwise go unheard. So why isn&rsquo;t there more of a push to train the next generation of journalists?A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to work in a newsroom alongside 13 other dedicated high school journalists through the New England High School]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-schools-should-invest-in-student-journalism/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-schools-should-invest-in-student-journalism/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont-born Broadway musical ‘Hadestown’ returns home — as a movie]]></title><description><![CDATA[The cast of &ldquo;Hadestown&rdquo; performs at the 73rd annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 9, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)Vermont singer-songwriter Ana&iuml;s Mitchell&rsquo;s musical &ldquo;Hadestown&rdquo; began two decades ago as what she calls a &ldquo;do-it-yourself community theater project&rdquo; before begetting a concept album, a touring concert, theater workshops and a Tony Award-winning Broadway show.Now the modern take on ancient]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-born-broadway-musical-hadestown-returns-home-as-a-movie-2/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-born-broadway-musical-hadestown-returns-home-as-a-movie-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont-born Broadway musical ‘Hadestown’ returns home — as a movie]]></title><description><![CDATA[The cast of &ldquo;Hadestown&rdquo; performs at the 73rd annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 9, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)Vermont singer-songwriter Ana&iuml;s Mitchell&rsquo;s musical &ldquo;Hadestown&rdquo; began two decades ago as what she calls a &ldquo;do-it-yourself community theater project&rdquo; before begetting a concept album, a touring concert, theater workshops and a Tony Award-winning Broadway show.Now the modern take on ancient]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-born-broadway-musical-hadestown-returns-home-as-a-movie/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-born-broadway-musical-hadestown-returns-home-as-a-movie/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Killing trees to save the forest: The deadly experiment to rescue the American elm]]></title><description><![CDATA[A research specialist with the University of Vermont records information about young elm trees that have been inoculated with Dutch elm disease on May 19, 2026. Jessica Rinaldi / The Boston Globe via Getty Images via GristThis story was produced by Grist and co-published with VTDigger.After more than a decade of nurturing, it had come time to infect this 28-acre grove of American elms with a disease that would almost certainly kill them. Dressed in hunter-green muck boots, gray pants and a brow]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/killing-trees-to-save-the-forest-the-deadly-experiment-to-rescue-the-american-elm-2/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/killing-trees-to-save-the-forest-the-deadly-experiment-to-rescue-the-american-elm-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Killing trees to save the forest: The deadly experiment to rescue the American elm]]></title><description><![CDATA[A research specialist with the University of Vermont records information about young elm trees that have been inoculated with Dutch elm disease on May 19, 2026. Jessica Rinaldi / The Boston Globe via Getty Images via GristThis story was produced by Grist and co-published with VTDigger.After more than a decade of nurturing, it had come time to infect this 28-acre grove of American elms with a disease that would almost certainly kill them. Dressed in hunter-green muck boots, gray pants and a brow]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/killing-trees-to-save-the-forest-the-deadly-experiment-to-rescue-the-american-elm/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/killing-trees-to-save-the-forest-the-deadly-experiment-to-rescue-the-american-elm/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Is it safe to eat lettuce? Upper Valley experts answer key questions on cyclosporiasis outbreak]]></title><description><![CDATA[Danielle Pappo chooses bags of spinach from Killdeer Farm and lettuce from Crossroad Farm while shopping at the Co-Op Food Store in White River Junction, Vt., on Friday, July 17, 2026. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s more fun to shop up here honestly because they have so much local stuff,&rdquo; said Pappo, of Palmer, Mass., who is staying in the Upper Valley while working as a baker at King Arthur Flour. Dawn Archambeault, director of marketing and consumer relations for the Co-op Food Stores said the groce]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/is-it-safe-to-eat-lettuce-upper-valley-experts-answer-key-questions-on-cyclosporiasis-outbreak-2/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/is-it-safe-to-eat-lettuce-upper-valley-experts-answer-key-questions-on-cyclosporiasis-outbreak-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Is it safe to eat lettuce? Upper Valley experts answer key questions on cyclosporiasis outbreak]]></title><description><![CDATA[Danielle Pappo chooses bags of spinach from Killdeer Farm and lettuce from Crossroad Farm while shopping at the Co-Op Food Store in White River Junction, Vt., on Friday, July 17, 2026. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s more fun to shop up here honestly because they have so much local stuff,&rdquo; said Pappo, of Palmer, Mass., who is staying in the Upper Valley while working as a baker at King Arthur Flour. Dawn Archambeault, director of marketing and consumer relations for the Co-op Food Stores said the groce]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/is-it-safe-to-eat-lettuce-upper-valley-experts-answer-key-questions-on-cyclosporiasis-outbreak/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/is-it-safe-to-eat-lettuce-upper-valley-experts-answer-key-questions-on-cyclosporiasis-outbreak/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Enough with the excuses. Help Vermont’s loggers.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by William Sargent, a lifelong Vermont woodsman and the author of the memoir &ldquo;50 Years a Dirt Forester: Always Outside and Never Behind a Desk.&rdquo;Since the announcement of the closure of the Finch Paper mill in Glens Falls, New York, on July 17, I&rsquo;ve received multiple emails, texts and phone calls asking for my take on the situation.Without a doubt, it is one of the most impactful events in my 50-plus-year career as a forester in Vermont. The economic impact o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/enough-with-the-excuses-help-vermonts-loggers-2/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/enough-with-the-excuses-help-vermonts-loggers-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Enough with the excuses. Help Vermont’s loggers.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by William Sargent, a lifelong Vermont woodsman and the author of the memoir &ldquo;50 Years a Dirt Forester: Always Outside and Never Behind a Desk.&rdquo;Since the announcement of the closure of the Finch Paper mill in Glens Falls, New York, on July 17, I&rsquo;ve received multiple emails, texts and phone calls asking for my take on the situation.Without a doubt, it is one of the most impactful events in my 50-plus-year career as a forester in Vermont. The economic impact o]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/enough-with-the-excuses-help-vermonts-loggers/</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/enough-with-the-excuses-help-vermonts-loggers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The new Route 7 project is a waste of money]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Vermont&rsquo;s federal legislators have secured $19.7 million in federal funding for reconstruction of Route 7 between Brandon and Pittsford. The goal is to add truck climbing lanes and wider shoulders for cyclists. The work will take two years and will inevitably lead to huge traffic backups during that period. In my opinion, this short stretch of road is already quite safe, and most people drive sensibly on it.<br />
READ MORE<br />
Furthermore, even after the wider shoulders are built, it w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-new-route-7-project-is-a-waste-of-money/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 23:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-new-route-7-project-is-a-waste-of-money/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: ‘I’m sorry that this isn’t what we promised.’ Immigration attorney Jill Martin Diaz on fear and hope in Vermont’s immigrant community]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Jill Martin Diaz, executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project in Burlington in Aug. 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerPresident Donald Trump&rsquo;s immigration crackdown is intensifying. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-im-sorry-that-this-isnt-what-we-promised-immigration-attorney-jill-martin-diaz-on-fear-and-hope-in-vermonts-immigrant-community/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 23:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-im-sorry-that-this-isnt-what-we-promised-immigration-attorney-jill-martin-diaz-on-fear-and-hope-in-vermonts-immigrant-community/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘A step forward’: Deep in the new federal housing law, changes to disaster recovery funding are brewing]]></title><description><![CDATA[A sign on a flood-damaged home on Lower Main Street in Johnson pleading for a buyout from the state. Photo by Gordon MillerThree years after the July 2023 floods, communities across Vermont are still working on long-term recovery, with much of the effort focused on housing. Changes tucked into a new federal housing law could make aid for those efforts more predictable in the future.&nbsp;The new policy, part of an enormous federal housing bill that became law July 11, could smooth some of the p]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-step-forward-deep-in-the-new-federal-housing-law-changes-to-disaster-recovery-funding-are-brewing/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 22:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-step-forward-deep-in-the-new-federal-housing-law-changes-to-disaster-recovery-funding-are-brewing/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brattleboro weighs a municipal tax hike to aid the local hospital’s endangered birthing center]]></title><description><![CDATA[A crowd of about 100 people rally July 14 in support of the birthing center at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerBRATTLEBORO &mdash; As medical groups call for higher state reimbursements to help Brattleboro Memorial Hospital&rsquo;s birthing center stay open, local leaders are debating whether to ask residents to assist by raising municipal taxes for an unspecified donation.&ldquo;The choice belongs to the taxpayer, and it&rsquo;s one that deserves an open, t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-weighs-a-municipal-tax-hike-to-aid-the-local-hospitals-endangered-birthing-center/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 19:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-weighs-a-municipal-tax-hike-to-aid-the-local-hospitals-endangered-birthing-center/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Until Saturday: Your VTDigger gift goes twice as far]]></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,Today, your gift can go twice as far.Thanks to two generous donors from Burlington and Addison County, every contribution up to $500 made during our July Member Drive will be matched. Better yet, every new monthly sustaining gift will be matched for the first 12 months.If you&rsquo;ve b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/until-saturday-your-vtdigger-gift-goes-twice-as-far/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/until-saturday-your-vtdigger-gift-goes-twice-as-far/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How VTDigger prepares for the stories that make a difference]]></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,Today, your gift can go twice as far.Thanks to two generous donors from Burlington and Addison County, every contribution up to $500 made during our July Member Drive will be matched. Better yet, every new monthly sustaining gift will be matched for the first 12 months.If you&rsquo;ve b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-vtdigger-prepares-for-the-stories-that-make-a-difference/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-vtdigger-prepares-for-the-stories-that-make-a-difference/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont is not educating students with disabilities up to federal standards]]></title><description><![CDATA[Education Secretary Linda McMahon arrives for a House Committee on Education and Workforce hearing, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Photo by Jacquelyn Martin/Associated PressVermont is not complying with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, according to a U.S. Department of Education assessment, and is at risk of losing millions in federal funding if it doesn&rsquo;t correct course.The Education Department in its assessment said Vermont &ldquo;needs i]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-not-educating-students-with-disabilities-up-to-federal-standards/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-not-educating-students-with-disabilities-up-to-federal-standards/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont officials concerned as White House announces 50% tariffs on some Canadian products]]></title><description><![CDATA[People rally in support of the Canadian Freedom Convoy at the I-89 overpass between Burlington and South Burlington in Feb. 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.The White House announced 50% tariffs on a slew of Canadian products Monday evening. The new fees will apply to a range of goods, from motor vehicles to dairy products and alcohol, and will take effect Aug. 19.The tariffs are the latest twist in more]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-officials-concerned-as-white-house-announces-50-tariffs-on-some-canadian-products/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-officials-concerned-as-white-house-announces-50-tariffs-on-some-canadian-products/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge denies bid by suspect’s lawyers in border patrol agent killing to change records screening process]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Federal Building in Burlington on Friday, September 5, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe defense team for a suspect charged in the fatal shooting of a border patrol agent in Vermont more than a year ago has lost its bid to change how certain records are screened before determining whether they can be released to the government.Lawyers for Teresa Youngblut in a new court filing Monday in federal court in Burlington called on Judge Christina Reiss to change the system set up last fall]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-denies-bid-by-suspects-lawyers-in-border-patrol-agent-killing-to-change-records-screening-process/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 23:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-denies-bid-by-suspects-lawyers-in-border-patrol-agent-killing-to-change-records-screening-process/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont is not in trouble. Vermonters are.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Bob Stannard, a former member of the Vermont House of Representatives who lives in Manchester.In a recent commentary in VTDigger, the authors advocate that perhaps the only solution to Vermont&rsquo;s problems is more growth, more development. They point out the obvious: Our population is decreasing, we have fewer kids in school, and we are now suffering from regulations that deter further growth. What they fail to address is the root cause of the problems that they believ]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-not-in-trouble-vermonters-are/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 22:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-not-in-trouble-vermonters-are/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Double the limit: Vermont bets bigger cannabis buys will beat the black market]]></title><description><![CDATA[A sign for a cannabis dispensary on Church Street in Burlington on Thursday, July 9,2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFor years, Shannon Morrill, co-owner of Something Wicked Cannabis Dispensary in Bethel, has reluctantly turned customers away.&nbsp;Their requests to buy cannabis for themselves and loved ones would tend to push them past the state&rsquo;s daily purchase limit. Now, under a new state law that took effect this month, Morrill no longer has to disappoint customers at her and her]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/double-the-limit-vermont-bets-bigger-cannabis-buys-will-beat-the-black-market/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/double-the-limit-vermont-bets-bigger-cannabis-buys-will-beat-the-black-market/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Immigration policy must balance dignity with the rule of law]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I respectfully disagree with Pope Leo&rsquo;s recent criticism of the U.S. immigration policy. While I agree that compassion and care for migrants are important, I believe every nation has a fundamental responsibility to enforce its laws, maintain secure borders, preserve national security and protect its citizens.In considering this issue, I find the insights of St. Thomas Aquinas particularly relevant. He noted that some nations only deemed citizenship after two or three generatio]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/immigration-policy-must-balance-dignity-with-the-rule-of-law/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/immigration-policy-must-balance-dignity-with-the-rule-of-law/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Federal appeals court overturns Vermont judge’s ruling that released Mohsen Mahdawi]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mohsen Mahdawi speaks after being released in Burlington in April 2025. File photo by Caleb Kenna/VTDiggerA U.S. appeals court on Tuesday ruled that a federal judge in Vermont should not have ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist, from immigration custody last year.&nbsp;Mahdawi, a green card holder who lives in the Upper Valley, was arrested in Colchester in April 2025 while attending a U.S. citizenship interview. He was held in a Ver]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-appeals-court-overturns-vermont-judges-ruling-that-released-mohsen-mahdawi/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/federal-appeals-court-overturns-vermont-judges-ruling-that-released-mohsen-mahdawi/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why I came to VTDigger]]></title><description><![CDATA[VTDigger reporters Shaun Robinson and Ethan Weinstein work in the cafeteria at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, January 16, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDear Reader,When I accepted the opportunity to become VTDigger&rsquo;s CEO, I did it because I believe Vermont deserves ambitious, independent journalism.And I am asking you to help make that possible.This week, we&rsquo;re inviting 500 readers to support VTDigger. If you&rsquo;ve been thinking about making a contribution, please]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-i-came-to-vtdigger/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-i-came-to-vtdigger/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A New York paper mill is closing part of its operation. Vermont loggers are sounding the alarm.]]></title><description><![CDATA[A logging operation in Tunbridge in Feb. 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerLoggers and foresters around Vermont say they&rsquo;re anticipating the industry will suffer after a New York paper company announced Friday that it will close part of its operation.&nbsp;Finch Paper&rsquo;s decision to close its pulp mill in Glens Falls, New York, will continue to stress Vermont&rsquo;s already burdened logging industry, warned Vermont logger Sam Lincoln.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to have an]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-new-york-paper-mill-is-closing-part-of-its-operation-vermont-loggers-are-sounding-the-alarm/</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-new-york-paper-mill-is-closing-part-of-its-operation-vermont-loggers-are-sounding-the-alarm/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After penalty kicks in Seattle, Vermont Green FC women end first season as runners-up]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Green FC women&rsquo;s team competed in the USL W championship on July 18, 2026, in Seattle. Photo courtesy Kevin Ng/Vermont Green FCTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.When Waterbury-born Louisa Thomsen equalized for Vermont Green FC in the United Soccer League women&rsquo;s national championship Saturday, pandemonium ensued.&nbsp;The substitutes&rsquo; bench erupted, dashing to embrace the Vermonter as the clock wound down in normal ti]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-penalty-kicks-in-seattle-vermont-green-fc-women-end-first-season-as-runners-up/</link><pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-penalty-kicks-in-seattle-vermont-green-fc-women-end-first-season-as-runners-up/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why do animal rights groups hate Vermont?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Recent&nbsp;letters and commentaries in VTDigger&nbsp;show disdain&nbsp;and&nbsp;contempt for hunters, trappers and anglers, as well as the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.&nbsp;They use what I believe is innuendo and&nbsp;misinformation&nbsp;to make&nbsp;a case that the department doesn&rsquo;t&nbsp;serve their wishes and that those of us who hunt, fish&nbsp;and trap are&nbsp;responsible for the&nbsp;divisions in our communities.&nbsp;In a survey conducted by Responsive Manage]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-do-animal-rights-groups-hate-vermont/</link><pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-do-animal-rights-groups-hate-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s Catholic Church aims to protect Rice Memorial High by selling the parochial school to supporters]]></title><description><![CDATA[The grade 9-12 Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington. Provided photoVermont&rsquo;s Roman Catholic Diocese, aiming to reorganize its depleting finances in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, wants to sell its parochial Rice Memorial High School to supporters to protect the 400-student, grade 9-12 South Burlington campus from potential liquidation.The state&rsquo;s largest religious denomination has asked a judge for permission to sign a contract with a new nonprofit entity, RMHS Inc., which has offe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-catholic-church-aims-to-protect-rice-memorial-high-by-selling-the-parochial-school-to-supporters/</link><pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-catholic-church-aims-to-protect-rice-memorial-high-by-selling-the-parochial-school-to-supporters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Vermont’s Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, leading candidates’ past work takes center stage]]></title><description><![CDATA[Molly Gray, left, and Ryan McLaren, democratic candidates for lt. governor, participating in a housing forum in South Burlington on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Photos by Glenn RussellThe two leading Democratic candidates for Vermont&rsquo;s second-highest office don&rsquo;t disagree much over policy. But they say there are key differences in the experience they&rsquo;d bring to the job &mdash; and one of them disputes who should get credit for some past successes.Molly Gray, who&rsquo;s from Newb]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-vermonts-democratic-primary-for-lieutenant-governor-leading-candidates-past-work-takes-center-stage/</link><pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-vermonts-democratic-primary-for-lieutenant-governor-leading-candidates-past-work-takes-center-stage/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘If we don’t write it down, it disappears’: Independent historian gathers Vermont veterans’ stories before they are lost to history]]></title><description><![CDATA[Soldiers salute as buglers play &ldquo;Taps&rdquo; at the end of a Veterans Day commemoration in Barre on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Danielle M. Crosier was first published in the Bennington Banner on July 15, 2026.DORSET &mdash; Charles &ldquo;Max&rdquo; Fish doesn&rsquo;t think of history as something that lives only in textbooks or timelines. For him, it lives in the voices and the stories of everyday people &mdash; the way that someone pauses b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/if-we-dont-write-it-down-it-disappears-independent-historian-gathers-vermont-veterans-stories-before-they-are-lost-to-history/</link><pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 14:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/if-we-dont-write-it-down-it-disappears-independent-historian-gathers-vermont-veterans-stories-before-they-are-lost-to-history/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s new education law pays districts to merge. It doesn’t make them save.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Sriram Srinivasan, a retired business executive whose analysis of Chittenden County school district consolidation has been submitted as written testimony to the Vermont Senate Committee on Education.Vermont&rsquo;s education transformation bill, H.955, is now law. Gov. Phil Scott signed it on June 18, telling districts to &ldquo;hit the ground running.&rdquo; They certainly need to: Under what is now Act 170, districts have until Sept. 15, 2026, to assign a board member to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-new-education-law-pays-districts-to-merge-it-doesnt-make-them-save/</link><pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 14:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-new-education-law-pays-districts-to-merge-it-doesnt-make-them-save/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[At Vermont’s Estey Organ Museum, many donations total $10. Then came one so big, it paid off the mortgage.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Visitors can play the instruments at Brattleboro&rsquo;s Estey Organ Museum, located at the former home of the world&rsquo;s largest manufacturer of pump and pipe models. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerBRATTLEBORO &mdash; Volunteers at this town&rsquo;s Estey Organ Museum are used to a symphony of sounds at the former home of the world&rsquo;s largest manufacturer of pump and pipe instruments.&ldquo;In its heyday, the Estey Organ Company factory was the beating, bleating heart of Brattle]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-vermonts-estey-organ-museum-many-donations-total-10-then-came-one-so-big-it-paid-off-the-mortgage/</link><pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 13:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-vermonts-estey-organ-museum-many-donations-total-10-then-came-one-so-big-it-paid-off-the-mortgage/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[African high school students explore Vermont through a leadership program and cultural exchange]]></title><description><![CDATA[A group of Youth Ambassadors from several African countries tours the University of Vermont campus in Burlington on Monday, July 13, 2026. Photo by Glenn RussellWhen 17-year-old Darius Niyonkuru from Rwanda first heard he was accepted into an international exchange program and was coming to the U.S. for three weeks, he almost didn&rsquo;t believe it.&nbsp;It wasn&rsquo;t until he received his visa that he realized his dream of coming to America was finally coming true.&nbsp;&ldquo;I wanted to s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/african-high-school-students-explore-vermont-through-a-leadership-program-and-cultural-exchange/</link><pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 13:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/african-high-school-students-explore-vermont-through-a-leadership-program-and-cultural-exchange/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[President Trump’s priorities could put a hefty portion of federal grants in Vermont on the chopping block under proposed rule]]></title><description><![CDATA[Photo collage by Greta Solsaa. File photos by Glenn Russell and public domain image of money.A sweeping Office of Management and Budget proposal could jeopardize federal funding for a large swath of research and programs in Vermont &mdash; from medical research at the University of Vermont, to rural hospital funding, to research on flooding. &ldquo;Unlawful DEI practices&rdquo; would face a blanket ban under the rule.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Even the UVM&rsquo;s ability to construct buildings that don]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/president-trumps-priorities-could-put-a-hefty-portion-of-federal-grants-in-vermont-on-the-chopping-block-under-proposed-rule/</link><pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 12:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/president-trumps-priorities-could-put-a-hefty-portion-of-federal-grants-in-vermont-on-the-chopping-block-under-proposed-rule/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Asbestos complicates Royalton mill demolition]]></title><description><![CDATA[The former Windsor County Feed and Supply grain mill, built in 1909, on Pleasant Street in South Royalton, Vt., seen on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, now owned by Eric Jacobs, is being dismantled. In 1994 the organic grain supplier filed for bankruptcy following allegations of embezzlement against an employee. The building was sold to Bethel-based Tri-Org, but never operated as a mill again. Photo by James Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Alex Hanson was first published in the Valley News on July 16,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/asbestos-complicates-royalton-mill-demolition/</link><pubDate>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/asbestos-complicates-royalton-mill-demolition/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kristine Sheathelm Gerson]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 01/26/1957Colorado Springs, ColordoDied: 06/23/2025Charlotte, VermontDetails of service:Family and friends are warmly invited to join us in celebrating the remarkable life of&nbsp;Kristine Sheathelm Gerson&nbsp;on&nbsp;Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 11:30 a.m.&nbsp;at&nbsp;Meach Cove Gathering Space, 291 Bostwick Farm Road, Shelburne, Vermont.Celebrating the Life of Kristine Sheathelm Gerson1957&ndash;2025Family and friends are warmly invited to join us in celebrating the remarkable life of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kristine-sheathelm-gerson/</link><pubDate>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 01:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kristine-sheathelm-gerson/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Changes to the state’s vehicle inspection system create a compromise for Vermonters]]></title><description><![CDATA[A vehicle inspection sign in the window of Brown&rsquo;s Sales &amp; Service in Windsor on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Photo by Noel Clark/VTDiggerVehicle inspections in the state are changing, making it easier and more cost-effective for Vermonters to receive their inspection stickers every year.&nbsp;Under a new state law, inspectors will fail vehicles only for an immediate safety risk, with owners being notified of any nonsafety issues. The law took effect July 1, but the Vermont Department of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/changes-to-the-states-vehicle-inspection-system-create-a-compromise-for-vermonters/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 23:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/changes-to-the-states-vehicle-inspection-system-create-a-compromise-for-vermonters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[What does it cost to break into the Vermont Senate? In Chittenden County, campaign funds reach new heights.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Democratic candidates in the Chittenden Central Senate district, pictured clockwise from top left, are Nikhil Goyal, Elaine Haney, And Sens. Tanya Vyhovsky, P/D-Chittenden Central, and Martine Gulick, D-Chittenden Central.Theo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Early in their respective paths to primary day, state Senate hopefuls Elaine Haney and Nikhil Goyal met with veteran journalist and former Senate candidate Stewart Ledbetter. In a closely wat]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-does-it-cost-to-break-into-the-vermont-senate-in-chittenden-county-campaign-funds-reach-new-heights/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/what-does-it-cost-to-break-into-the-vermont-senate-in-chittenden-county-campaign-funds-reach-new-heights/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Former Copley staffers create Green Mountain Birthing Center]]></title><description><![CDATA[Green Mountain Birthing Center is a new nonprofit organization in Waterbury. Photo via Hardwick GazetteThis story by Raymonda Parchment was first published in the Hardwick Gazette on July 14, 2026.In the wake of the closure of Copley Hospital&rsquo;s Birthing Center this past November, many of the nurse-midwives from the hospital have continued their efforts to provide perinatal care to area parents, with the establishment of the nonprofit organization Green Mountain Birthing Center.Advanced pr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-copley-staffers-create-green-mountain-birthing-center/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/former-copley-staffers-create-green-mountain-birthing-center/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont chose belonging. Let’s keep it that way. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Dana Kaplan, the executive director of Outright Vermont.For transgender youth and their families, the U.S. Supreme Court&rsquo;s recent decision allowing state bans on transgender athletes to stand is painful and deeply disappointing. But it is important to understand what the court did &mdash; and did not &mdash; do.&nbsp;The ruling upheld laws in Idaho and West Virginia, finding they do not violate the equal protection clause or Title IX. It did not create a nationwide b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-chose-belonging-lets-keep-it-that-way/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 21:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-chose-belonging-lets-keep-it-that-way/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The cumulative weight of standing there]]></title><description><![CDATA[In the middle of a bathroom break, South Burlington Deputy Police Chief Sean Briscoe remembered his body camera was on.He had slipped off to High Hat Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a martial arts studio that seeks to provide &ldquo;community, confidence, acceptance, and self-discipline,&rdquo; its website says.Briscoe&rsquo;s video was streaming live to his boss, Chief Bill Breault, at what was now a City Hall command post. Down the street, in South Burlington, a fragile standoff between law enforcement]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-cumulative-weight-of-standing-there/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-cumulative-weight-of-standing-there/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[He’s the high bailiff of Orange County, Vermont. Now, he’s in Iran — and saluting its ‘holy war’ with the US]]></title><description><![CDATA[Chris Helali, the high bailiff of Orange County, said in a post on the social media platform X that he visited Iran to attend the state funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.In Vermont, high bailiff is not a post that comes with many responsibilities.Most people who hold the county office are never called upon to carry out its duties, which include taking over for the local sheriff in the event the sheriff goes to jail or is otherwise unable to do the job. It&rsquo;s an office that flies under the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hes-the-high-bailiff-of-orange-county-vermont-now-hes-in-iran-and-saluting-its-holy-war-with-the-us/</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hes-the-high-bailiff-of-orange-county-vermont-now-hes-in-iran-and-saluting-its-holy-war-with-the-us/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Central Vermont Medical Center names new president]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin in June 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerCentral Vermont Medical Center has named Marc Kosak, a hospital executive from Connecticut, to serve as its new president and chief operating officer, the hospital announced Wednesday.&nbsp;Kosak plans to start at the Berlin-based medical center on July 20. He most recently served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Connecticut, and as senior vic]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/central-vermont-medical-center-names-new-president/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 23:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/central-vermont-medical-center-names-new-president/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Shuttered Vermont colleges: reincarnated and repurposed.  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[An aerial view of the Everett Mansion at Southern Vermont College in Bennington. Photo by SVC/Wikimedia CommonsWhere do Vermont colleges go when they die? They are resurrected as a Christian school, a luxury resort or an arts hub, if recent developments are any clue.&nbsp;&nbsp;Facing deaths by a thousand cuts due to declining enrollment, debt and loss of accreditation, seven colleges &mdash; Green Mountain College, Southern Vermont College, College of St. Joseph&rsquo;s, Marlboro College, New]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/shuttered-vermont-colleges-reincarnated-and-repurposed-/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 22:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/shuttered-vermont-colleges-reincarnated-and-repurposed-/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont faces an emergency blood shortage from summer donation lull]]></title><description><![CDATA[Donors give blood in Rutland, Vt., Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)Alex Blair received so many blood transfusions during her leukemia treatment that she lost count after 100.&nbsp;The Cambridge, Vt., native received multiple types of blood products daily just to survive before her stem cell transplant in 2019.&ldquo;By the time that you need the blood, you usually feel pretty crappy,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;You kind of feel super tired all the time. And then right after you get th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-faces-an-emergency-blood-shortage-from-summer-donation-lull/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 22:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-faces-an-emergency-blood-shortage-from-summer-donation-lull/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When the day job disappears]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Colin McKaig, a retired Vermont schoolteacher, poet and freelance writer.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is a town in Vermont where people go to cultivate their stories. Some are written, but many are painted or carved from iron and wood. Two of the most stunning that I saw were made from clay. In this time of divisive challenge, creating art is more important than ever.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Vermont Studio Center, an internationally recognized institution in Johnson, gave me and 29 other Verm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-the-day-job-disappears/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-the-day-job-disappears/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Expedited judicial process coming to Windham County court]]></title><description><![CDATA[State&rsquo;s Attorney Steve Brown shows some of the drug evidence with Brattleboro Police Officer Seth Wild as he takes the stand during a trial in August 2024. File photo by Brattleboro ReformerThis story by Chris Mays was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on July&nbsp; 14, 2026.BRATTLEBORO &mdash; Defendants in criminal court in Windham County will soon be resolving cases and receiving immediate services through the Rapid Accountability Docket.&ldquo;Recidivism can only be reduced]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/expedited-judicial-process-coming-to-windham-county-court/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 01:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/expedited-judicial-process-coming-to-windham-county-court/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ben &amp; Jerry&rsquo;s Foundation says it will shut down amid legal dispute with parent company]]></title><description><![CDATA[Two patrons enter the Ben &amp; Jerry&rsquo;s Ice Cream shop on Church Street in Burlington. File photo by Charles Krupa/APThe Ben &amp; Jerry&rsquo;s Foundation says it will shut down at the end of the year after its corporate parent cut off funding and evicted its three staffers Wednesday. The move leaves $600,000 a year in grants to Vermont organizations, and 40 years of the ice cream brand&rsquo;s progressive mission, hanging on a judge&rsquo;s future ruling.&ldquo;This is the other foot dr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ben-amp-jerryrsquos-foundation-says-it-will-shut-down-amid-legal-dispute-with-parent-company/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ben-amp-jerryrsquos-foundation-says-it-will-shut-down-amid-legal-dispute-with-parent-company/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge rejects bid for new lawyer by Burlington man accused of shooting three Palestinian students]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jason Eaton appears during his competency hearing in Chittenden Superior criminal court in Burlington in March 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &ndash; A Vermont judge has denied a request for a new lawyer by a Burlington man accused of shooting and wounding three Palestinian college students more than two years ago.The ruling by Judge John Pacht during a hearing Wednesday in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington clears the way for the trial for Jason Eaton]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-rejects-bid-for-new-lawyer-by-burlington-man-accused-of-shooting-three-palestinian-students/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 23:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-rejects-bid-for-new-lawyer-by-burlington-man-accused-of-shooting-three-palestinian-students/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Some joy, some tragedy. 2 Vermont authors on the struggles of rural living]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Vermont authors Brett Ann Stanciu, left, and Catherine Tudish each have a new novel out this summer that takes place in a fictionalized version of a Vermont town. Courtesy photosSummer reading is often about traveling to far-away places and meeting fasci]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-some-joy-some-tragedy-2-vermont-authors-on-the-struggles-of-rural-living/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 22:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-some-joy-some-tragedy-2-vermont-authors-on-the-struggles-of-rural-living/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cutting GLP-1 coverage may cost UVM Health more than it saves]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Adrienne Gil, who lives in Montpelier.I understand that UVM Health is facing a serious financial crisis. I understand that leaders are looking for savings and that eliminating coverage of GLP-1 medications for weight management under its employee health plan is expected to save the health network approximately $19 million a year.But as someone whose health &mdash; and use of the healthcare system &mdash; has been fundamentally changed by this treatment, I believe this deci]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cutting-glp-1-coverage-may-cost-uvm-health-more-than-it-saves/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 21:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cutting-glp-1-coverage-may-cost-uvm-health-more-than-it-saves/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[From conversation to community action: at one year mark, Gone Guys documentary inspires new investments across Vermont and beyond ]]></title><description><![CDATA[&nbsp;Gone Guys Screening, BurlingtonOver the past year, Gone Guys has grown far beyond a documentary film. What began as a conversation about the challenges facing boys and young men has become a statewide effort to listen, engage communities, and turn dialogue into action. &nbsp;Since its release in July 2025, Gone Guys has been screened over 130 times, reaching audiences in every Vermont county and expanding to communities across the nation. Community-hosted screenings have taken place in sc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/from-conversation-to-community-action-at-one-year-mark-gone-guys-documentary-inspires-new-investments-across-vermont-and-beyond/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/from-conversation-to-community-action-at-one-year-mark-gone-guys-documentary-inspires-new-investments-across-vermont-and-beyond/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s Kaiden McCarthy picked in second round of MLB draft by Atlanta Braves]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Lake Monsters before a home opener against the Norwich Sea Unicorns at Centennial Field in Burlington in May 2021. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on July 12, 2026.&nbsp;History has been made. Kaiden McCarthy, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher from Chester and graduate of Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the second round (48th overall) of the Major League Baseball draft on Saturd]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-kaiden-mccarthy-picked-in-second-round-of-mlb-draft-by-atlanta-braves/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-kaiden-mccarthy-picked-in-second-round-of-mlb-draft-by-atlanta-braves/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Washington County bus service looks to turn a corner with switch from beleaguered Green Mountain Transit]]></title><description><![CDATA[A bus stop on U.S. Route 2 in Middlesex on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerPublic bus service in Washington County is expected to be on firmer financial ground now that an operator with a rural focus has taken over after years of service cuts under Green Mountain Transit.&nbsp;Tri-Valley Transit, which has operated routes in Addison, Orange and northern Windsor counties since 2017, took over from GMT in Washington County this month.Local riders and officials had decried p]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/washington-county-bus-service-looks-to-turn-a-corner-with-switch-from-beleaguered-green-mountain-transit/</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/washington-county-bus-service-looks-to-turn-a-corner-with-switch-from-beleaguered-green-mountain-transit/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In a crowded Windsor County Senate primary, similar Democrats vie to distinguish themselves]]></title><description><![CDATA[Evelyn Seidner, outreach and campaigns coordinator for Vermont Conservation Voters, holds up a card to warn Benjamin Brickner, of Pomfret, that his response time is running short during a forum for candidates in the Windsor County Democratic Senate Primary at Hartford Town Hall in White River Junction on June 29, 2026. From left are candidates Chris Dube, Becca White, Heather Chase, Joe Major, Brickner and Elizabeth Burrows. Photo by James M. Patterson / Valley NewsFor voters considering the si]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-a-crowded-windsor-county-senate-primary-similar-democrats-vie-to-distinguish-themselves/</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 21:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-a-crowded-windsor-county-senate-primary-similar-democrats-vie-to-distinguish-themselves/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[High temps and high winds: What to know about Vermont’s severe weather threat today]]></title><description><![CDATA[The entire state of Vermont is under a heat advisory, with the heat index expected to reach above 100 degrees in the Champlain Valley and portions of southeastern Vermont.<br />
Updated 5:23 p.m.Vermont is expecting a triple threat of heat, wildfire smoke and severe storms &mdash; including the possibility of tornadoes &mdash; from Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night and possibly beyond, the National Weather Service reported.The weather service has taken the rare step of issuing an &ldquo;enhanced r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/high-temps-and-high-winds-what-to-know-about-vermonts-severe-weather-threat-today/</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/high-temps-and-high-winds-what-to-know-about-vermonts-severe-weather-threat-today/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[High temps and high winds: What to know about Vermont’s possible severe weather today]]></title><description><![CDATA[The entire state of Vermont is under a heat advisory, with the heat index expected to reach above 100 degrees in the Champlain Valley and portions of southeastern Vermont.<br />
Vermont is expecting a triple threat of heat, wildfire smoke and severe storms &mdash; including the possibility of tornadoes &mdash; from Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night and possibly beyond, the National Weather Service reported.The weather service has taken the rare step of issuing an &ldquo;enhanced risk&rdquo; design]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/high-temps-and-high-winds-what-to-know-about-vermonts-possible-severe-weather-today/</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/high-temps-and-high-winds-what-to-know-about-vermonts-possible-severe-weather-today/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[No one struggling to pay rent can meet a $12,000 deductible]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I was glad to see that Blue Cross Blue Shield canceled its proposed &ldquo;Vermont Basic&rdquo; health plans. The debate over this proposal showed just how completely disconnected the people designing these plans and our healthcare system have become from the lives of ordinary Vermonters.To call a plan with an $11,800 deductible before the insurance would bother to kick in an &ldquo;affordable option&rdquo; exists only in a policy fantasy bubble. An individual or a family struggling]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/no-one-struggling-to-pay-rent-can-meet-a-12000-deductible/</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/no-one-struggling-to-pay-rent-can-meet-a-12000-deductible/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The two Democrats running for Chittenden County sheriff couldn’t be more different]]></title><description><![CDATA[Chittenden County Sheriff Dan Gamelin, left, and Kevin Bloom, a candidate for Chittenden County Sheriff. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerKevin Bloom has never been a cop and doesn&rsquo;t own a gun. But now, they want to be sheriff.Bloom runs a music studio and works for an audio software company. They have no law enforcement background, and their campaign platform questions whether the regular duties of Vermont sheriffs are even necessary.&ldquo;This isn&rsquo;t a law enforcement job,&rdquo; B]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-two-democrats-running-for-chittenden-county-sheriff-couldnt-be-more-different/</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 01:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-two-democrats-running-for-chittenden-county-sheriff-couldnt-be-more-different/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Teen killer of Dartmouth professors in 2001 resentenced, eligible for parole in 20 years]]></title><description><![CDATA[Robert Tulloch listens as Judge Lawrence MacLeod reads out his new sentence during a hearing on Monday, July 13, 2026, in Grafton Superior Court in North Haverhill, N.H. At right is Tulloch&rsquo;s lawyer, Richard Guerriero. Tulloch was pled guilty of murdering two Dartmouth College professors as a teenager more than 25 years ago. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsThis story by Alex Ebrahimi was originally published in the Valley News on July 13, 2026.Robert Tulloch, who previously received a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/teen-killer-of-dartmouth-professors-in-2001-resentenced-eligible-for-parole-in-20-years/</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/teen-killer-of-dartmouth-professors-in-2001-resentenced-eligible-for-parole-in-20-years/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Alexander Read Cronin]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 04/12/1978Littleton, NHDied: 06/25/2026Montecito, CADetails of service:His family will be honoring him in a private ceremony in October in the Adirondack woods.Alexander Read Cronin was born in 1978 in Littleton, New Hampshire, just over the border of Vermont &mdash; a place that shaped his lifelong love of woods, water and things with wheels. He grew up surrounded by nature and family, spending his early years hunting in Vermont and the Adirondacks, fishing in Lake Champlain, camping in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/alexander-read-cronin/</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/alexander-read-cronin/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Robin Jones]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 06/28/1950Stamford, Ct.Died: 06/28/2026Arlington, Vt.Details of service:Funeral services for Robin will be held at the Hanson-Walbridge and Shea Funeral Home on Route 4596, Vermont 7A in Arlington, Vt., on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Arlington.Robin Jones, 76 of Arlington, Vt. passed away at her home in Arlington on June 28, 2026. Robin was born in Stamford, Ct. on June 28, 1950, the daughter of William and Clara Henry. She was raised]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/robin-jones/</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/robin-jones/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wanda Ivette Otero]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born:<br />
Spanish Harlem, NYDied: 04/21/2026Buenavista, Guerrero, MexicoDetails of service:Saturday July 25, 2026 at noonUnited Church of Lincoln<br />
23 Quaker St, Lincoln, VT 05443Wanda Ivette Otero Esq. of Lincoln, Vermont passed away at her home in Buenavista, Mexico on April 21st of a heart attack. She was 57 years old.Wanda was born in Spanish Harlem, attended and graduated from Wesleyan University, SUNY at Albany, and Temple Law School of Philadelphia. She moved to Bridport, and worked at Paul, F]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/wanda-ivette-otero/</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/wanda-ivette-otero/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Electric’: After yet another win, Vermont Green FC women head to national final]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Green FC forward Emily Mara takes on a defender on Saturday, July 11 at Virtue Field in Burlington. Tyler Davis/Vermont Green FCTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.Vermont Green FC&rsquo;s women&rsquo;s team extended its undefeated inaugural season yet again Saturday with a semifinal win against North Carolina&rsquo;s Asheville SC. The team will travel to Seattle on July 18 to take on Salmon Bay FC in the national championship game.&ldq]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/electric-after-yet-another-win-vermont-green-fc-women-head-to-national-final/</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 22:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/electric-after-yet-another-win-vermont-green-fc-women-head-to-national-final/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Court filing alleges Vermont Catholic Church posed ‘ethical proposition’ to shield funds from abuse survivors]]></title><description><![CDATA[A section of a sworn court statement filed in the Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese&rsquo;s bankruptcy protection case. Photo illustration by VTDigger Digital EditorTwo decades after the Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese aimed to protect local parishes from priest misconduct lawsuits by placing their estimated $500 million of holdings into trusts, a recent job applicant alleges the state&rsquo;s largest religious denomination&rsquo;s past and current bishops asked if she&rsquo;d help shelter more fun]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/court-filing-alleges-vermont-catholic-church-posed-ethical-proposition-to-shield-funds-from-abuse-survivors/</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 22:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/court-filing-alleges-vermont-catholic-church-posed-ethical-proposition-to-shield-funds-from-abuse-survivors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Closing Brattleboro’s birthing center will cost Vermont more than it saves]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Corina Tennant, the chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and a partner at Four Seasons OB-GYN &amp; Midwifery.When I became an OB-GYN, I was told, &ldquo;Great choice &mdash; you&rsquo;ll never go out of business delivering babies.&rdquo; I now find myself fighting to make sure that&rsquo;s still true.I was born at home in Newfane. My parents relied on Brattleboro Memorial Hospital as their backup. Forty years later, I am the local OB-GYN wor]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/closing-brattleboros-birthing-center-will-cost-vermont-more-than-it-saves/</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/closing-brattleboros-birthing-center-will-cost-vermont-more-than-it-saves/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A new flood threatens Vermont: Dark money]]></title><description><![CDATA[Are you a billionaire? No? You still deserve a voice in our politics. Yet ordinary Vermonters are being drowned out by outside money flooding our elections. A record $1.9 billion was spent by dark money groups in the 2024 federal elections, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.We have the Supreme Court to thank for this. Its decisions have allowed individuals, corporations and foreign interests to spend vast sums influencing elections.&nbsp;Our neighbors in Maine supported a ballot initi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-new-flood-threatens-vermont-dark-money/</link><pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-new-flood-threatens-vermont-dark-money/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Middlebury taps new housing development tool]]></title><description><![CDATA[Construction on a housing project in Vermont. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by John Flowers was originally published in the Addison Independent on July 9, 2026.MIDDLEBURY &mdash; The town of Middlebury is dipping its toe into a new state program designed to help Vermont communities unlock housing opportunities by investing in critical public infrastructure.It&rsquo;s called the Community and Housing Infrastructure Program, a statewide tax increment financing tool created in 202]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/middlebury-taps-new-housing-development-tool/</link><pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/middlebury-taps-new-housing-development-tool/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tunbridge fire chief pushes back against new forest fire warden law]]></title><description><![CDATA[West Windsor Firefighter Oden Cramer wets the edge of a 2.5 acre patch of burned ground to make sure a brushfire does not reignite in West Windsor, Vt., in April 2026. File photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Sofia Langlois was first published in the Valley News on July 9, 2026.TUNBRIDGE &mdash; In the wake of a new Vermont law designating every fire chief as forest fire warden, some fire chiefs, including in Tunbridge, have opted not to accept the role at this time.Per Act 162]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tunbridge-fire-chief-pushes-back-against-new-forest-fire-warden-law/</link><pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 14:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tunbridge-fire-chief-pushes-back-against-new-forest-fire-warden-law/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As strong El Niño develops off the Pacific, experts say Vermont impact is tough to tease out]]></title><description><![CDATA[The drought has led to low water in the St. Albans reservoir. Seen on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerParticularly warm water forming along the coasts of North and South America have caught the eyes of weather watchers across the globe, but the impacts on Vermont are murky for now.The warming and associated weather patterns are known as El Ni&ntilde;o, a natural climate phenomenon where strong winds that normally push warm waters from east to west are weakened a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-strong-el-nio-develops-off-the-pacific-experts-say-vermont-impact-is-tough-to-tease-out/</link><pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 13:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-strong-el-nio-develops-off-the-pacific-experts-say-vermont-impact-is-tough-to-tease-out/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The nation is craving protein, but Vermont dairy isn’t cashing in]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tom Bellavance of Dairy Farmers of America, left, speaks during a meeting of farmers and others concerned with the recent closures of dairy production facilities in the state in North Hero on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDozens of dairy farmers from across the state drove to Grand Isle on July 2 with the intention of talking about a recent dairy plant closure. Instead, a larger issue emerged: Some dairy processors are giving up on Vermont, and the state is failing to c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-nation-is-craving-protein-but-vermont-dairy-isnt-cashing-in/</link><pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-nation-is-craving-protein-but-vermont-dairy-isnt-cashing-in/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tulloch to be resentenced for Zantop murders]]></title><description><![CDATA[Robert Tulloch, 17, is escorted into Lebanon, N.H. District Court by Tropper James Stienmetz, right, and Hanover Sgt. Jeffrey Fleury, Feb. 21, 2001. File photo by Jim Cole/Associated PressThis story by Clare Shanahan was first published in the Valley News on July 10, 2026.A man convicted of murdering two Dartmouth professors as a teenager more than 25 years ago will get a new sentence in a three-day hearing that begins Monday in the same courthouse where he was convicted.After years of delays,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tulloch-to-be-resentenced-for-zantop-murders/</link><pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tulloch-to-be-resentenced-for-zantop-murders/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘I still worry’: Vermonters recount floods’ impacts at anniversary climate panel]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., speaks at the Extreme Weather People&rsquo;s Hearing about flood damage and climate change in Barre on Wednesday. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDiggerBARRE &mdash; At Good Samaritan Haven, a homeless shelter along the Gunner Brook in Barre, there is a ruler spray-painted onto one of the old brick walls.It&rsquo;s there &ldquo;to help us know when and how fast the brook is rising &mdash; so that we have enough time to evacuate guests safely,&rdquo; said Julie Bond, the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/i-still-worry-vermonters-recount-floods-impacts-at-anniversary-climate-panel/</link><pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/i-still-worry-vermonters-recount-floods-impacts-at-anniversary-climate-panel/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A choice ‘on a scale from environmental to spiritual’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Michael Mayer, director and resident steward of Higher Ground and one of the nonprofit&rsquo;s three founding board members, stands at the entrance of the new natural burial cemetery on the Manitou Project&rsquo;s conserved land in Williamsville. Courtesy photo from Kelly FletcherThis story by Annie Landenberger was first published in The Commons on July 7, 2026.WILLIAMSVILLE &mdash; After several years of gestation, Higher Ground Conservation Burial will finally be celebrated this weekend when]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-choice-on-a-scale-from-environmental-to-spiritual/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-choice-on-a-scale-from-environmental-to-spiritual/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Benjamin “Ben” Huffman]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 11/08/1937Lewisburg, OhioDied: 07/08/2026Montpelier, VermontDetails of service:No service planned. Contact Kristin Glaser for more information.Benjamin &ldquo;Ben&rdquo; Huffman, 88, died July 8, 2026 at his Montpelier home, from polycystic kidney failure.Ben was a worker, and a thinker, sustained by his marriage of 50 years to Kristin Glaser, and by the pleasure of his children.&nbsp;Ben had a three decade career in Vermont helping the state&rsquo;s political leaders analyze public polic]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/benjamin-ben-huffman/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/benjamin-ben-huffman/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s public schools could benefit from a new federal school choice tax credit program, but skeptics abound]]></title><description><![CDATA[Students outside of the Westford School in April 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont may soon opt into a federal school choice tax credit program that would allow parents to make tax deductible payments toward private school tuition and possibly public school programs.The program, and whether to opt in, was a quiet point of contention this legislation session. But news that the Trump administration may allow the tax credit dollars to flow to public afterschool and summer school pr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-public-schools-could-benefit-from-a-new-federal-school-choice-tax-credit-program-but-skeptics-abound-2/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-public-schools-could-benefit-from-a-new-federal-school-choice-tax-credit-program-but-skeptics-abound-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s public schools could benefit from a new federal school choice tax credit program, but skeptics abound.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Students outside of the Westford School in April 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont may soon opt into a federal school choice tax credit program that would allow parents to make tax deductible payments toward private school tuition and possibly public school programs.The program, and whether to opt in, was a quiet point of contention this legislation session. But news that the Trump administration may allow the tax credit dollars to flow to public afterschool and summer school pr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-public-schools-could-benefit-from-a-new-federal-school-choice-tax-credit-program-but-skeptics-abound/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-public-schools-could-benefit-from-a-new-federal-school-choice-tax-credit-program-but-skeptics-abound/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When did school boards stop answering to the public?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Rebecca Foster, a former Champlain Valley Union High School parent who lives in Hinesburg.For an hour at the Champlain Valley School District board meeting on June 30, district residents took the microphone, one after another, to deliver reasoned, well-researched arguments against the contentious artificial turf proposal for Champlain Valley Union High School. In aggregate, it was a damning financial, legal, environmental, ethical and health verdict.&nbsp;After public comm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-did-school-boards-stop-answering-to-the-public/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-did-school-boards-stop-answering-to-the-public/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[July 10 is synonymous with flooding in Vermont. Here’s a look back at VTDigger’s coverage.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brady Gervais uses a kayak to navigate flooded Route 5 in Lyndonville. File photo by Ethan Weinstein/VTDiggerFriday marks three years since the devastating floods of 2023 &mdash;&nbsp;and two years since 2024&rsquo;s repeat in some towns.&nbsp;For many Vermonters, July 10 resurfaces memories of communities under water, homes inundated and neighbors supporting neighbors through disaster.&nbsp;At VTDigger, we&rsquo;ve worked to bring comprehensive coverage of Vermont&rsquo;s years of severe flood]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/july-10-is-synonymous-with-flooding-in-vermont-heres-a-look-back-at-vtdiggers-coverage/</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/july-10-is-synonymous-with-flooding-in-vermont-heres-a-look-back-at-vtdiggers-coverage/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Content creator ‘Planet Hank’ sues Vermont attorney general over AI video probe]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hank Poitras, better known as &ldquo;Planet Hank,&rdquo; speaks during a social media livestream in May 2026. ScreenshotA new Vermont law regulating political media that&rsquo;s generated with artificial intelligence is facing an early legal challenge from a content creator in Brattleboro.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hank Poitras, better known by his social media moniker &ldquo;Planet Hank,&rdquo; filed a lawsuit in federal court Wednesday against the Vermont attorney general&rsquo;s office, arguing that the la]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/content-creator-planet-hank-sues-vermont-attorney-general-over-ai-video-probe/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/content-creator-planet-hank-sues-vermont-attorney-general-over-ai-video-probe/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Scott names new secretary of commerce and community development as Kurrle exits for Vermont Gas]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tayt Brooks was appointed secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development in July 2026. Courtesy photoTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Gov. Phil Scott has announced a change in leadership at the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, which oversees economic growth initiatives, housing development and tourism, among other responsibilities.Lindsay Kurrle, who has served as the agency&rsquo;s secretary for seven years, w]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-names-new-secretary-of-commerce-and-community-development-as-kurrle-exits-for-vermont-gas/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-names-new-secretary-of-commerce-and-community-development-as-kurrle-exits-for-vermont-gas/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Substantial concerns’: new filing in border patrol agent’s killing challenges law enforcement version of events]]></title><description><![CDATA[Teresa Youngblut appears at a hearing in U.S. District Court in Burlington in June 2025. Sketch by Don DrakeAn attorney for the person charged with killing a border patrol agent in northern Vermont says evidence disputes a version of events from federal authorities about what led to the traffic stop and deadly shootout.Teresa Youngblut, 22, of Seattle, faces federal charges including murder in the fatal shooting of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland. The shooting occurred during a traffic st]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/substantial-concerns-new-filing-in-border-patrol-agents-killing-challenges-law-enforcement-version-of-events/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/substantial-concerns-new-filing-in-border-patrol-agents-killing-challenges-law-enforcement-version-of-events/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s low-barrier shelters are failing the people they were created to serve]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Derek Thomas, a South Burlington resident currently living in emergency housing through Vermont&rsquo;s 211 program.&nbsp;For nearly a year, I lived at Champlain Place, a low-barrier shelter in Burlington. Low-barrier shelters are designed to minimize the conditions someone must meet before they can get a bed for the night. I entered believing it existed for one purpose: to help people experiencing homelessness regain stability and transition into permanent housing.I left]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-low-barrier-shelters-are-failing-the-people-they-were-created-to-serve/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-low-barrier-shelters-are-failing-the-people-they-were-created-to-serve/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Broken’ trust: Energy site redevelopment company seeks input from Vernon community on uses for former Vermont Yankee plant]]></title><description><![CDATA[Members of the Vernon Selectboard listen to representatives from Power Transitions discuss plans for the redevelopment of the former Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant during a meeting in Vernon on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. From left to right are board members Shelli Harvey, Sandra Harris and board chair Brandon Bucossi. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVernon Selectboard members are raising concerns about being left out of the planning process for the future of a former nuclear power plant, which c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/broken-trust-energy-site-redevelopment-company-seeks-input-from-vernon-community-on-uses-for-former-vermont-yankee-plant/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/broken-trust-energy-site-redevelopment-company-seeks-input-from-vernon-community-on-uses-for-former-vermont-yankee-plant/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Poll: Most young Vermonters say they’re likely to leave state amid affordability concerns]]></title><description><![CDATA[University of Vermont students gather at a protest on campus in Burlington in April 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Nearly two-thirds of Vermonters ages 18 to 34 say they&rsquo;re likely to leave the state within five years in search of adventure or a cheaper place to live, according to a poll from the University of New Hampshire.&nbsp;&nbsp;Overall, the poll estimated that 86% of Vermonters find the sta]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/poll-most-young-vermonters-say-theyre-likely-to-leave-state-amid-affordability-concerns/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/poll-most-young-vermonters-say-theyre-likely-to-leave-state-amid-affordability-concerns/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Phil Scott issues executive order that would allow age-based health insurance premiums]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott speaks during a press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier in April 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerGov. Phil Scott issued an executive order Wednesday that included a number of measures to decrease health insurance regulations in an effort to lower costs, including implementing age-based insurance premiums.&nbsp;&ldquo;None of these ideas are radical,&rdquo; Scott said in a Wednesday press conference. &ldquo;In fact, they&rsquo;re very mainstream, and we know th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/phil-scott-issues-executive-order-that-would-allow-age-based-health-insurance-premiums/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/phil-scott-issues-executive-order-that-would-allow-age-based-health-insurance-premiums/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont gets $1.3 million to settle allegations Cash App did not shield users from fraud]]></title><description><![CDATA[Attorney General Charity Clark speaks during a press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier in June 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; Vermont will receive $1.3 million as part of a multistate settlement with Cash App over allegations that the popular currency transfer platform failed to protect its users from fraud and misled them about the platform&rsquo;s safety.Charity Clark, Vermont attorney general, announced the settlement with Cash App&rsquo;s parent compan]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-gets-13-million-to-settle-allegations-cash-app-did-not-shield-users-from-fraud/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-gets-13-million-to-settle-allegations-cash-app-did-not-shield-users-from-fraud/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Report: Norwich woman died of asphyxia]]></title><description><![CDATA[Noel Neely, the 82-year-old woman whose death at her residence at 48 Douglas Hill Road in Norwich, Vt., on May 9 remains under investigation. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsThis story was first published in the Valley News on July 6, 2026.NORWICH &mdash; A woman who was found dead in Norwich in May died due to &ldquo;asphyxia by exclusion of oxygen&rdquo; as a result of &ldquo;nitrogen gas delivered to face mask and plastic bag over head,&rdquo; according to the Vermont Chief Medical Examin]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/report-norwich-woman-died-of-asphyxia/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/report-norwich-woman-died-of-asphyxia/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont doesn’t have a housing shortage. It has a hoarding problem.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I&rsquo;m responding to Mickey Nowak&rsquo;s recent letter to VTDigger, which in turn was a response to a commentary by John Bossange.There was a time when housing was both affordable and aesthetically appealing. People gathered to build a structure in town, whether it be a town hall, church, covered bridge or house or barn for their neighbor, and despite primitive carpentry skills and lack of fancy tools, built some of Vermont&rsquo;s most iconic structures that still stand proudly]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-doesnt-have-a-housing-shortage-it-has-a-hoarding-problem/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-doesnt-have-a-housing-shortage-it-has-a-hoarding-problem/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Judge Dickson Corbett remembered for kindness and dedication to the law]]></title><description><![CDATA[Judge H. Dickson Corbett in the Windsor Superior Court in White River Junction in May 2026. File photo by Alex Driehaus/Valley NewsThis story by Alex Hanson was first published in the Valley News on July 7, 2026.THETFORD &mdash; Vermont Superior Court Judge Dickson Corbett died unexpectedly last week.Former colleagues said Corbett was found unresponsive Thursday morning and was taken to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. Colleagues and friends said he died of]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-judge-dickson-corbett-remembered-for-kindness-and-dedication-to-the-law/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-judge-dickson-corbett-remembered-for-kindness-and-dedication-to-the-law/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tristram Gray Chase Jensvold]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 08/03/1978Burlington, VermontDied: 04/16/2026Nashville, TennesseeDetails of service:Donations in Tristram&rsquo;s name may be made to Turning Point of Chittenden County, Spectrum Youth and Family Services, or The Humane Society.Tristram (aka T, Tris, TJ) Gray Chase Jensvold was born in Burlington on August 3, 1978. Shortly after birth, he and his parents moved to Danville, where T spent his first years living on the Danville Morgan Horse farm, later moving to a log cabin overlooking Joe&r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tristram-gray-chase-jensvold/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:20:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/tristram-gray-chase-jensvold/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: ‘How the Democrats Screwed Bernie.’ Former Sanders chief campaign strategist Tad Devine on the 2016 presidential race]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Author and Democratic strategist Tad Devine. Photo by Ellen DevineIn 2016, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was an insurgent candidate taking on Hillary Clinton, the heavily favored pick of the Democratic establishment for the presidential primary. As Sa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-how-the-democrats-screwed-bernie-former-sanders-chief-campaign-strategist-tad-devine-on-the-2016-presidential-race/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-how-the-democrats-screwed-bernie-former-sanders-chief-campaign-strategist-tad-devine-on-the-2016-presidential-race/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Chittenden County recycling facility to remain on track after waste district recovers $2.27 million stolen in scam]]></title><description><![CDATA[The existing recycling facility will be replaced by a new one that is expected to take on more processing capacity. Courtesy photoA long-awaited Chittenden County recycling facility will see a chunk of its funding returned after it was stolen in a cyber fraud scheme early this year, federal authorities said Tuesday.The reimbursement will allow the Chittenden Solid Waste District to stay on track in funding the upgraded plant, said Sarah Reeves, the waste district&rsquo;s executive director.&nbs]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-chittenden-county-recycling-facility-to-remain-on-track-after-waste-district-recovers-227-million-stolen-in-scam/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-chittenden-county-recycling-facility-to-remain-on-track-after-waste-district-recovers-227-million-stolen-in-scam/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Platner’s last pillar of support falls as Sanders says: Drop out]]></title><description><![CDATA[Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, right, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., join hands at an event in Orono, Maine, on May 24, 2026. File photo by Robert F. Bukaty/AP Credit: AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty / The Associated PressThis story by Jenna Monnin&nbsp;was first published&nbsp;in NOTUS on July 7, 2026.U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called on Graham Platner to drop out of the race for Maine&rsquo;s U.S. Senate seat Tuesday, leaving the scandal-scarred candidate without the s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/platners-last-pillar-of-support-falls-as-sanders-says-drop-out/</link><pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/platners-last-pillar-of-support-falls-as-sanders-says-drop-out/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why do Vermont roots matter in a story about economic power?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,The recent article in VTDigger about Beta Technologies stated that Mike Vincent, owner of J&amp;M Avionics in Middlebury, &ldquo;said his family roots in Vermont go back generations.&rdquo; It also described Beta CEO Kyle Clark as &ldquo;a native Vermonter.&rdquo; I&rsquo;m curious why VTDigger thinks such ascriptions &mdash; treated as a claim in one case and (perhaps carelessly) as a fact in the other &mdash; are pertinent to the story. Please tell me why, in this instance, family]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-do-vermont-roots-matter-in-a-story-about-economic-power/</link><pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 22:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-do-vermont-roots-matter-in-a-story-about-economic-power/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Grand Isle prosecutor’s DUI case heading to court diversion, court records state]]></title><description><![CDATA[Grand Isle State&rsquo;s Attorney Doug DiSabito speaks in the Grand Isle Superior criminal court in July 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe drunken driving case against Grand Isle County State&rsquo;s Attorney Douglas DiSabito is being referred to a court diversion program, according to court records.&nbsp;DiSabito was arrested in April after police alleged he showed up at the Franklin County Superior Court in St. Albans displaying signs of intoxication, court records stated. Later,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/grand-isle-prosecutors-dui-case-heading-to-court-diversion-court-records-state/</link><pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/grand-isle-prosecutors-dui-case-heading-to-court-diversion-court-records-state/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge H. Dickson Corbett]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 09/26/1979Died: 07/02/2026Details of service:A remembrance of life ceremony will be held to honor Dickson later this summer.Judge H. Dickson Corbett died unexpectedly on July 2nd after walking in the woods and making his family breakfast. After his passing, he will be forever loved by his wife Megan Campbell, his children Plover and Ira Corbett, his parents Adele and Henry Dickson Corbett III, his sister Taylure Corbett and her husband Andrew Salvitti, his sister Alyssa King, her husband]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-h-dickson-corbett/</link><pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 20:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-h-dickson-corbett/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington’s mayor says the city is ‘back.’ Is it just a blip?]]></title><description><![CDATA[People walk along Church Street in Burlington on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak stood at a podium on Church Street, flanked by city employees, and declared that &ldquo;Burlington is back.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a growing sense that Burlington is turning a corner, that energy is back, the confidence is returning in this city, and that this city is moving forward,&rdquo; Mulvaney-Stanak said at a press conference late]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlingtons-mayor-says-the-city-is-back-is-it-just-a-blip/</link><pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlingtons-mayor-says-the-city-is-back-is-it-just-a-blip/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[VTrans receives over $19 million in federal funds for Route 7 reconstruction]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sen. Bernie Sanders, left, Rep. Becca Balint, center, and Sen. Peter Welch. File photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Vermont Agency of Transportation received $19.7 million in federal funding to help complete the reconstruction of Route 7 from Pittsford to Brandon, one of the state&rsquo;s &mdash; and New England&rsquo;s &mdash; busiest highways, the Vermont Congressional Delegation announced Monday.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&rsquo;re seeing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work here in Rutland County]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtrans-receives-over-19-million-in-federal-funds-for-route-7-reconstruction/</link><pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vtrans-receives-over-19-million-in-federal-funds-for-route-7-reconstruction/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Michel “Mich” Daniel Allen]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 10/19/1943Died: 11/17/2025Details of service:Graveside Services and Interment will be at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at St. Joseph&rsquo;s Cemetery, Archibald Street, Burlington.A Celebration of Life will be held at 12:15 p.m. at the Fellowship Hall of the First Congregational Church of Essex Jct. near the five corners. At Mich&rsquo;s request, you are invited to join us for a meal and memories. Casual dress is preferred.Michel &ldquo;Mich&rdquo; Daniel Allen passed away peacef]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michel-mich-daniel-allen/</link><pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/michel-mich-daniel-allen/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In inaugural season, Vermont Green FC women win conference title]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Green FC Women won the USL W Eastern Conference title on July 5, 2026 in Burlington. Photo Courtesy Josh Wallace/Vermont Green FCTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.In its inaugural season, Vermont Green FC&rsquo;s women&rsquo;s team has still not lost a match.Following an unbeaten regular season, the squad has pushed on with two home playoff wins that saw them crowned conference champions on July 5 in front of a sold-out crowd in Burlington]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-inaugural-season-vermont-green-fc-women-win-conference-title/</link><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-inaugural-season-vermont-green-fc-women-win-conference-title/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Foresters adapt as insects become driving force in tree mortality]]></title><description><![CDATA[An emerald ash borer perched on a leaf. Photo courtesy Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and MarketsErika Tally is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont&rsquo;s Reporting &amp; Documentary Storytelling program.BURLINGTON &mdash; Across Northeastern forests, natural causes now account for more tree deaths than harvesting, including in Vermont, according to a recent study from the University of Vermont.&nbsp;But these natural causes are still cause for co]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/foresters-adapt-as-insects-become-driving-force-in-tree-mortality/</link><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/foresters-adapt-as-insects-become-driving-force-in-tree-mortality/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[US Supreme Court ruling on deportation protections leaves Vermont Haitians out of work and scrambling for options]]></title><description><![CDATA[People hold hands and a Haitian flag during a vigil at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex after a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary immigration status, or TPS, for Haitians, Feb. 2026, in North Miami. File photo by Lynne Sladky/APErin Jacobsen was texting a potential client, worried about the future.The following day, Jacobsen, advocacy director and senior staff attorney at the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, would see that worry deepen.A June 25 decision by]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/us-supreme-court-ruling-on-deportation-protections-leaves-vermont-haitians-out-of-work-and-scrambling-for-options/</link><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/us-supreme-court-ruling-on-deportation-protections-leaves-vermont-haitians-out-of-work-and-scrambling-for-options/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[PHOTOS: Warren July 4th parade draws thousands]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thousands of people participate in a Fourth of July parade in Warren on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThousands of people lined Main Street in Warren for the annual Fourth of July parade.&nbsp; Torrential rain began to fall right before the start of the sesquicentennial celebration, but that didn&rsquo;t deter those marching or watching from enjoying the display. After a raucous review in the rain, the sun came out again.<br />
Read the story on VTDigger here:PHOTOS: Warren J]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-warren-july-4th-parade-draws-thousands/</link><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 16:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-warren-july-4th-parade-draws-thousands/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermonters need to do their part to keep bears wild]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jason Batchelder, the commissioner of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.On June 3, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department authorized the killing of a bear in Stowe that had grown dangerously comfortable seeking food around people from homes and businesses. If the past few years are any indication, by the end of summer, we will have had to put down or provide similar authorizations for dozens more bears to end acute conflicts that threaten human safety.&nbsp;No one]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-need-to-do-their-part-to-keep-bears-wild/</link><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 16:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-need-to-do-their-part-to-keep-bears-wild/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Montpelier tackles housing shortage with talks of taller buildings and simplified zoning]]></title><description><![CDATA[Multi-story apartment building on Cedar Street in Montpelier. Photo by Michael Bielawski/The BridgeThis story by Michael Bielawski was first published in The Bridge on July 1, 2026.MONTPELIER &mdash; Planning commissioners have been considering the possibility that buildings could start getting taller in Montpelier&rsquo;s River District.&nbsp;Planning Director Mike Miller recently spoke with The Bridge about the direction in which the commission is going in terms of shaping the city&rsquo;s fu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/montpelier-tackles-housing-shortage-with-talks-of-taller-buildings-and-simplified-zoning/</link><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:03:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/montpelier-tackles-housing-shortage-with-talks-of-taller-buildings-and-simplified-zoning/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nothing to sneeze at: Dartmouth Hitchcock is home to the region’s only pollen counter]]></title><description><![CDATA[The roof of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, in Lebanon, New Hampshire, is home to the only motorized pollen counter of its kind in New England. Photo by Olivia Gieger/VTDiggerLEBANON, N.H. &mdash; On the roof of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, cast against a backdrop of the Upper Valley&rsquo;s rolling green hills, a green metal motor no bigger than a blender hums as its rudder directs it to spin and turn with the breeze.This unassuming device is the only one of its kind in New England.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nothing-to-sneeze-at-dartmouth-hitchcock-is-home-to-the-regions-only-pollen-counter/</link><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 14:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/nothing-to-sneeze-at-dartmouth-hitchcock-is-home-to-the-regions-only-pollen-counter/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Then Again: Lemuel Haynes — a minuteman, preacher and longtime Vermonter — puts his stamp on history again]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lemuel Haynes is featured on a new U.S. Postal Service stamp as part of its Figures of the American Revolution series, which honors 25 individuals who played important roles during the period. Photo by Mark BushnellLemuel Haynes was of two minds about the American Revolution. He was outraged by the stark hypocrisy of some of the rebellion&rsquo;s leaders, slaveholders who condemned the British government for impinging on their freedoms. At the same time, however, he risked his life for the revo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-lemuel-haynes-a-minuteman-preacher-and-longtime-vermonter-puts-his-stamp-on-history-again/</link><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 14:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/then-again-lemuel-haynes-a-minuteman-preacher-and-longtime-vermonter-puts-his-stamp-on-history-again/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bolstered bloc of Vermont Republicans see bills repealed this year as a win]]></title><description><![CDATA[Senate Minority Leader Scott Beck, R-Caledonia, listens to discussion on the floor of the Senate on the opening day of the legislature at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerPolitical parties are quick to declare victory when the bills they support make it into law. But for Vermont&rsquo;s Republican minority in the Legislature, it was the laws they succeeded in rolling back this year that seem to have the party celebrating just as much.In]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bolstered-bloc-of-vermont-republicans-see-bills-repealed-this-year-as-a-win/</link><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 13:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bolstered-bloc-of-vermont-republicans-see-bills-repealed-this-year-as-a-win/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Two more Montpelier officers head to Northfield as department grapples with staffing crisis]]></title><description><![CDATA[Two more officers from the Montpelier Police Department are departing for Northfield. File photo by Natalie Williams/VTDiggerThis story by Grace Benninghoff was first published in The Bridge on July 2, 2026.The exodus of Montpelier police officers to the nearby town of Northfield is not over.Two additional members of the Montpelier Police Department &mdash; Sgt. Diane Mathews and Detective Alesha Donovan &mdash; have resigned to join the Northfield Police Department. That makes four officers de]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/two-more-montpelier-officers-head-to-northfield-as-department-grapples-with-staffing-crisis/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/two-more-montpelier-officers-head-to-northfield-as-department-grapples-with-staffing-crisis/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Noah Kahan fans blamed for disappearing Strafford road sign]]></title><description><![CDATA[An empty road sign post sits on the end of Alger Brook Road in Strafford, Vt., on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. The sign was recently stolen. Photo by Jennifer Hauck/Valley NewsThis story by Marion Umpleby was first published in the Valley News on June 29, 2026.STRAFFORD &mdash; Town officials believe that fans of Noah Kahan, the singer-songwriter turned global superstar, have been stealing the sign for a road mentioned in one of his songs.&ldquo;Past Alger Brook Road, I&rsquo;m over the bridge/A m]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/noah-kahan-fans-blamed-for-disappearing-strafford-road-sign/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/noah-kahan-fans-blamed-for-disappearing-strafford-road-sign/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Independence Day reminds us why a free press matters]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont State House, in Montpelier, VermontDear Reader,This Independence Day, many of us are celebrating with family traditions, parades and fireworks. It&rsquo;s also a moment to reflect on the values at the heart of our country&rsquo;s founding.While the freedoms proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence were not initially extended to everyone, it advanced an enduring principle: that those who hold power should answer to the people.Two hundred and fifty years later, we can&rsquo;t los]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/independence-day-reminds-us-why-a-free-press-matters/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/independence-day-reminds-us-why-a-free-press-matters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Women’s history is American history. So why isn’t it taught in Vermont schools?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Amelie Fairweather, a student at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg.Even as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, women&rsquo;s history is still not taught in Vermont schools. Right now, there is no requirement in the state curriculum to teach women&rsquo;s suffrage as part of U.S. history classes.&nbsp;In 2025, I founded Her Education Required, a national organization dedicated to integrating women&rsquo;s history int]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/womens-history-is-american-history-so-why-isnt-it-taught-in-vermont-schools/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/womens-history-is-american-history-so-why-isnt-it-taught-in-vermont-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘It’s go time, it’s about to happen’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kevin Conger (center), of Williston, won three medals, including a gold, at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games held June 20-26 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Conger, who participated in track-and-field events, was one of 20 Vermont athletes from around the state who competed at the games in track, swimming and Unified basketball. Photo by Lois CongerSpecial Olympics Vermont&rsquo;s team trip last week to Minneapolis for the USA Games was in some ways a tale of numbers and medals.More than 30 Vermo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-go-time-its-about-to-happen/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/its-go-time-its-about-to-happen/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dirt Road News is back on the road this summer]]></title><description><![CDATA[Last year, more than 2,000 Vermonters participated in the Dirt Road News project, helping us better understand how people stay informed, what issues matter most in their communities and how VTDigger can better serve Vermonters across the state. Read what we learned from last year&rsquo;s survey and how those insights are guiding the next chapter of Dirt Road News.This summer, we&rsquo;re continuing the conversation. Through surveys, community events and local partnerships, Dirt Road News is bri]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dirt-road-news-is-back-on-the-road-this-summer/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dirt-road-news-is-back-on-the-road-this-summer/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Candidates for Vermont governor and lieutenant governor report large fundraising hauls]]></title><description><![CDATA[Aly Richards, left, and Amanda Janoo are Democratic Party candidates in the state&rsquo;s 2026 governor&rsquo;s race. Richards photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDigger and Janoo photo by Mayellen Matson.Campaign season is in full swing, with candidates in dozens of races reporting hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions at a crucial July 1 deadline.The midsummer deadline offers a window into the candidates&rsquo; support weeks ahead of Vermont&rsquo;s primary election on Aug. 11. The]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/candidates-for-vermont-governor-and-lieutenant-governor-report-large-fundraising-hauls/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/candidates-for-vermont-governor-and-lieutenant-governor-report-large-fundraising-hauls/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM Health to suspend weight loss drug coverage for its employees]]></title><description><![CDATA[The injectable drug Ozempic is shown in July 2023, in Houston. File photo by David J. Phillip/AP PhotoUVM Health plans to stop paying for some weight loss medications for employees on its health insurance plans, the hospital group announced in an email Wednesday.&nbsp;The hospital group says it expects to save $19 million each year by no longer covering the cost of the drugs for weight loss, a change that will begin in September. Shifting the cost onto individuals will help keep insurance premi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-to-suspend-weight-loss-drug-coverage-for-its-employees/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-to-suspend-weight-loss-drug-coverage-for-its-employees/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[St. Johnsbury landlord seeks to join wife in Vermont Legislature]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Debbie Dolgin, R-St. Johnsbury, left, and her husband, Steve Dolgin, are both running for seats in the Vermont House of Representatives this year.Glenn Russell/VTDigger and Courtesy<br />
Carly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.A prominent Northeast Kingdom landlord and business owner is vying for a seat in the Vermont House. And so is his wife.Steve Dolgin hopes to join incumbent Rep. Debbie Dolgin to represent the two-member Caledonia-Ess]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/st-johnsbury-landlord-seeks-to-join-wife-in-vermont-legislature/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 23:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/st-johnsbury-landlord-seeks-to-join-wife-in-vermont-legislature/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ringing the bell for all of us]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Devon Thomas, the new pastor serving Bethany Church in Montpelier and the United Church of Northfield. He is also a proud Black Vermonter.You may have noticed that the United Church of Northfield rang its bell in commemoration of America&rsquo;s 250th birthday. I would like to talk about that.The United Church of Northfield is not a political monolith; in truth, many of us would prefer we keep politics away from the church as much as possible, but it is impossible for us a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ringing-the-bell-for-all-of-us/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 23:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ringing-the-bell-for-all-of-us/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rutland murder suspect reaches plea deal to lesser charge, faces 10 years in prison]]></title><description><![CDATA[Police cruiser lights in blue and yellow. Photo via Adobe StockA Rutland County woman arrested on a murder charge more than four years ago has reached a plea deal on a reduced charge that calls for her to serve at least 10 years in prison.Courtney Samplatsky, 38, had been charged in 2022 with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Sincere Johnson, 46, of New York City, inside a Rutland apartment. Samplatsky was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly pointing a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-murder-suspect-reaches-plea-deal-to-lesser-charge-faces-10-years-in-prison/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rutland-murder-suspect-reaches-plea-deal-to-lesser-charge-faces-10-years-in-prison/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brattleboro Memorial Hospital plans to close its birthing center]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Brattleboro Memorial Hospital campus on Belmont Avenue. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerBrattleboro Memorial Hospital&rsquo;s board of directors voted to close the hospital&rsquo;s birthing services, according to an email sent to staff Wednesday evening.&nbsp;The news comes amid intense financial precarity and executive-level strain at the hospital. The hospital said its obstetrics unit lost $3.8 million in 2025. Its leaders predicted a loss of $4.8 million in 2026.There are no curren]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-memorial-hospital-plans-to-close-its-birthing-center/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 21:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/brattleboro-memorial-hospital-plans-to-close-its-birthing-center/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stop telling Gen Z to save the world]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Addie Lentzner, a student at Middlebury College, where she is studying sociology and Black studies.My generation &mdash; Gen Z &mdash; has been told repeatedly that we can save the world. Policymakers ask us to come to the halls of power and tell us that if we testify on bills, we will make a real change. Professors teach us to pursue higher education; with a degree, they say, we will finally have the credentials to make real change. Remain diligent and keep advocating on]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stop-telling-gen-z-to-save-the-world/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/stop-telling-gen-z-to-save-the-world/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Killington Selectboard approves proposed budget after months of debate]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Killington Selectboard accepted a budget after months of debate and a standoff with the town manager. File photo by Natalie Williams/VTDiggerThe selectboard in Killington approved a budget Monday by a 4-1 vote after months of contentious meetings and a standoff with the town manager over who has the authority to make staffing decisions.&nbsp;The town&rsquo;s voters had rejected an $8.2 million budget proposal on Town Meeting Day in March.&nbsp;Killington has been beset by upheaval in recent]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/killington-selectboard-approves-proposed-budget-after-months-of-debate/</link><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/killington-selectboard-approves-proposed-budget-after-months-of-debate/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The river Vermont traded for a country]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Justin Neuman, who is a professor of literary studies at Eugene Lang College, The New School and a developer of philosophical software.&nbsp;Some mornings I put my wooden canoe in the Connecticut River north of Bellows Falls and paddle out onto water that isn&rsquo;t Vermont&rsquo;s. The line between Vermont and New Hampshire doesn&rsquo;t run down the middle of the river, the way river borders traditionally do. It runs along the low-water mark on the Vermont side. New Ham]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-river-vermont-traded-for-a-country/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 23:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-river-vermont-traded-for-a-country/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: ‘Strive for that more perfect union.’ Rep. Becca Balint on resurgent white nationalism, war in Iran and her mixed feelings about America’s 250th]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vermont, at the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps farm in Richmond in Aug. 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Supreme Court ended its term with a series of blockbuster decisions on birthright citizenship, immigration,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-strive-for-that-more-perfect-union-rep-becca-balint-on-resurgent-white-nationalism-war-in-iran-and-her-mixed-feelings-about-americas-250th/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 23:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-strive-for-that-more-perfect-union-rep-becca-balint-on-resurgent-white-nationalism-war-in-iran-and-her-mixed-feelings-about-americas-250th/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The problem with e-bikes is e-motos]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Jack Evans, a complete streets specialist at Local Motion.&nbsp;Vermont communities are seeing a rapid increase in high-powered, high-speed, unregulated devices operating on streets, sidewalks and shared-use paths.&nbsp;The problem is not with electric bikes. It is a different category of device entirely: what Local Motion and our national partners call e-motos. E-motos have more powerful motors and are capable of significantly higher speeds than e-bikes and often don&rsqu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-problem-with-e-bikes-is-e-motos/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 23:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-problem-with-e-bikes-is-e-motos/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont has long treated air conditioning as optional. A warming climate could be changing that.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Noah Witt of Burlington pours water over his head while cooling off at the Andy A_Dog Williams skatepark in Burlington on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFor generations, air conditioning in Vermont has been treated less as a necessity and more like a luxury.That might be changing.&ldquo;They don&rsquo;t even look at the forecast,&rdquo; Tony Rowell, owner of Premier Heating and AC in Barre, said of new customers seeking air conditioning. &ldquo;They just feel it, and th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-has-long-treated-air-conditioning-as-optional-a-warming-climate-could-be-changing-that/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 23:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-has-long-treated-air-conditioning-as-optional-a-warming-climate-could-be-changing-that/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge blocks attorney from raising police misconduct as a defense in chase that killed Rutland officer]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tate Rheaume appears in Rutland County Superior criminal court on Tuesday April 9, 2024. Rheaume is charged in the crash that killed Rutland City police officer Jessica Ebbighausen in 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Rutland judge has blocked the attorney for the driver charged with murder in a chase that killed a Rutland City police officer from introducing at trial key parts of a damning internal affairs report that found officer misconduct in the pursuit.The decision last month by Judg]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-blocks-attorney-from-raising-police-misconduct-as-a-defense-in-chase-that-killed-rutland-officer/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/judge-blocks-attorney-from-raising-police-misconduct-as-a-defense-in-chase-that-killed-rutland-officer/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont is heating up, potentially forcing the state’s 7 petroleum-based plants to start picking up the slack]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Green Mountain Power Berlin GT Substation #5 in Berlin on Friday, June 26, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermonters spend nearly $4 million a year to keep seven petroleum plants on standby, facilities that, on average, fire up for about 10 hours a year when summer heat and winter cold push the grid to their limit.These generators run at times &ldquo;when the system is stressed, usually when demand is very high,&rdquo; TJ Poor, director of planning at the Vermont Department of Public]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-heating-up-potentially-forcing-the-states-7-petroleum-based-plants-to-start-picking-up-the-slack/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-heating-up-potentially-forcing-the-states-7-petroleum-based-plants-to-start-picking-up-the-slack/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermonters paid too much for eggs, officials say. Now they’re getting nearly 1 million of them.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Nearly 1 million eggs will go to the Vermont Foodbank after a 15-month investigation that found several large egg producers may have colluded to inflate egg prices. File photo by Terry Chea/APTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Vermont will receive 915,000 eggs and $56,000 in settlement payments after an investigation indicated several large egg producers may have colluded to inflate prices between 2022 and 2025, officials said Tuesday. The eggs wil]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-paid-too-much-for-eggs-officials-say-now-theyre-getting-nearly-1-million-of-them/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonters-paid-too-much-for-eggs-officials-say-now-theyre-getting-nearly-1-million-of-them/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont is in trouble]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Kevin Chu, executive director of Vermont Futures Project; Tino Rutanhira, co-executive director of Vermont Professionals of Color Network; Seth Bowden, president of Vermont Business Roundtable; Amy Spear, president of Vermont Chamber of Commerce; Miro Weinberger, executive chair of Let&rsquo;s Build Homes; and Cathy Davis, president of Lake Champlain Chamber.Vermont is in trouble. Not someday in some distant future. Now.We are aging, shrinking and pricing out our own child]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-in-trouble/</link><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 23:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-in-trouble/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont has bigger fish to fry than housing aesthetics]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I am writing about the recent commentary in VTDigger by John Bossange and wondering if he meant to send it to the Onion but mistakenly addressed it to VTDigger.&nbsp;Bossange takes issue with the look of some new houses and the land upon which they sit. He says new housing &ldquo;is often poorly located and is either an unsightly scar on the natural landscape or a depressing blight along a major road, in a commercial development or in a village center.&rdquo; To paraphrase, it appea]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-has-bigger-fish-to-fry-than-housing-aesthetics/</link><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 23:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-has-bigger-fish-to-fry-than-housing-aesthetics/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Family of Putney man killed by police sues the state]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Vermont State Police crime scene truck is parked Tuesday at the site of a shooting at the Putney Landing apartment complex just off Interstate 91&rsquo;s exit 4. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerThe family of an unarmed Putney man who was shot and killed by a Vermont state trooper last year is suing the state, alleging the incident violated the man&rsquo;s civil rights.&nbsp;Scott Garvey, 55, was shot and killed in his home by Vermont State Police Trooper Peter Romeo while he was experie]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/family-of-putney-man-killed-by-police-sues-the-state/</link><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:54:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/family-of-putney-man-killed-by-police-sues-the-state/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont set to celebrate nation’s 250th birthday with fireworks and festivities]]></title><description><![CDATA[An America250 semiquincentennial flag flies at the Four Columns Inn in Newfane. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerThe Green Mountain State is ready to go red, white and blue as at least 50 cities, towns and villages prepare to celebrate this Independence Day week with parades, programs and pyrotechnics.Even though this year marks the nation&rsquo;s 250th anniversary, most communities are sticking to the same holiday events they traditionally hold, according to a VTDigger survey.Then again,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-set-to-celebrate-nations-250th-birthday-with-fireworks-and-festivities/</link><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-set-to-celebrate-nations-250th-birthday-with-fireworks-and-festivities/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In latest attempt to charge March 11 ICE protesters, state police identify man accused of smashing police van window]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont State Police cruisers seen in Burlington in Jan. 2025. File Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerState police have identified and cited a suspect they accused of smashing a police van window and injuring a trooper during the chaotic March 11 immigration raid and protest in South Burlington.&nbsp;Police issued aggravated disorderly conduct and simple assault citations Friday against Colin Wesley Palmer, 24, of Burlington, according to a news release. Both charges are misdemeanors.&nbsp;Chitten]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-latest-attempt-to-charge-march-11-ice-protesters-state-police-identify-man-accused-of-smashing-police-van-window/</link><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-latest-attempt-to-charge-march-11-ice-protesters-state-police-identify-man-accused-of-smashing-police-van-window/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After 2 days on the run, woman accused of stabbing 2 relatives turns herself in]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland, pictured in March 2023. The correctional facility is where Tamara Stone is being held without bail after allegedly stabbing two of her relatives. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe woman who authorities said fled a double stabbing that left two of her relatives injured last week, setting off a large-scale search, returned to the scene in Brandon two days later and called 911 to turn herself in, according to Vermont State Police.&]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-2-days-on-the-run-woman-accused-of-stabbing-2-relatives-turns-herself-in/</link><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-2-days-on-the-run-woman-accused-of-stabbing-2-relatives-turns-herself-in/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[BlueCross BlueShield of VT pulls its proposed lower-cost, higher-deductible health plans]]></title><description><![CDATA[BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont headquarters in Berlin, pictured in October 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBlueCross BlueShield of Vermont has withdrawn a proposal for cheaper insurance plans that it had intended to offer on Vermont Health Connect for 2027.Supporters saw the plans as expanding health insurance options for Vermonters, while critics worried it left people with little coverage and potentially high bills.<br />
Earlier this spring, the state&rsquo;s largest commercial health i]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bluecross-blueshield-of-vt-pulls-its-proposed-lower-cost-higher-deductible-health-plans/</link><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/bluecross-blueshield-of-vt-pulls-its-proposed-lower-cost-higher-deductible-health-plans/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington’s Champlain Parkway, a project 60 years in the making, opens to the public]]></title><description><![CDATA[Burlington Mayor Emma-Mulvaney-Stanak waves from the passenger seat of a 1965 Ford Mustang driven by Dan Nolin of Georgia during the opening ceremony for the Champlain Parkway in Burlington on Monday, June 29, 2026. Nolin&rsquo;s Mustang was built in the year the road was conceived of 61 years ago. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; After more than six decades of starts and stops, legal fights and revisions to plans already revised, the final segment of Burlington&rsquo;s Champla]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlingtons-champlain-parkway-a-project-60-years-in-the-making-opens-to-the-public/</link><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlingtons-champlain-parkway-a-project-60-years-in-the-making-opens-to-the-public/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Finding our way back to the fireworks]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Rich LaMonica, a retired U.S. Army veteran, leadership advocate and founder of the podcast The MisFitNation.America turns 250 this Fourth of July. Across Vermont, families will unfold lawn chairs along parade routes. Community bands will tune their instruments on village greens. Volunteer firefighters, veterans groups and civic organizations will make their way down Main Streets. Children will chase candy tossed from floats while neighbors who may not have seen each other]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/finding-our-way-back-to-the-fireworks/</link><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 22:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/finding-our-way-back-to-the-fireworks/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plastic in our water isn’t going away]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor:I read the recent commentary in VTDigger by Peggy Stevens, which barely scratches the surface of the issue. We are facing a problem with no solution. Plastics are already in our air, soil and water and will remain there for up to 1,000 years. They are being consumed by every living thing on Earth, from zooplankton in the Arctic to the food we eat.&nbsp;Plastics flow in the ground like ink in water. One only has to look at Bennington &mdash; where a former Teflon plant contaminated d]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/plastic-in-our-water-isnt-going-away/</link><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 20:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/plastic-in-our-water-isnt-going-away/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Imminent closure of Fair Haven manufactured home park leaves residents with few options]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hope Turi resides in the Green Mountain Mobile Manor in Fair Haven. Seen on Wednesday, June 17, 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.FAIR HAVEN &mdash; When Hope Turi moved her family into a manufactured home at the Green Mountain Mobile Manor one year ago, it felt like everything clicked right into place.&nbsp;Turi&rsquo;s family of seven had been living in northe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/imminent-closure-of-fair-haven-manufactured-home-park-leaves-residents-with-few-options/</link><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/imminent-closure-of-fair-haven-manufactured-home-park-leaves-residents-with-few-options/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Research at Middlebury College reveals nuanced story about artificial intelligence use]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Davis Family Library at Middlebury College in Middlebury in November 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Jing Williams was first published in the Addison Independent on June 25, 2026.MIDDLEBURY &mdash; Artificial intelligence is a powerful force in education today. It can accurately summarize novels, write essays, solve math problems and code &mdash; in seconds.And a popular narrative online now is that most college students use AI to automate their work and to cheat, Mi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/research-at-middlebury-college-reveals-nuanced-story-about-artificial-intelligence-use/</link><pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/research-at-middlebury-college-reveals-nuanced-story-about-artificial-intelligence-use/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont lawmakers tried to curb license plate surveillance. Police found a way around it.]]></title><description><![CDATA[State lawmakers clamped down on the use of automatic cameras to track vehicles by their license plates years ago, and Vermont police have told the Legislature they no longer use such surveillance.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But behind the scenes it was a different story: They just reached across state lines to do it, according to a data analysis by VTDigger.&nbsp;Vermont police departments conducted over 100 license plate searches since 2023, surveilling people under investigation when they traveled out]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-tried-to-curb-license-plate-surveillance-police-found-a-way-around-it/</link><pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-lawmakers-tried-to-curb-license-plate-surveillance-police-found-a-way-around-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[As Beta Technologies expands employment — and investors — other technical businesses struggle to survive]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bill Hanf of Green Mountain Avionics shows a private aircraft at Middlebury Airport in Middleburyon Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFor six months, Nathan Merrill would come into work at Green Mountain Avionics, an aircraft maintenance company in Middlebury, at 3:00 a.m. and leave at 6:00 p.m.&nbsp;&ldquo;There wasn&rsquo;t very many of me,&rdquo; he recounted. With a short staff of technicians and a pile of projects to be completed, Merill clocked in the long hours to ens]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-beta-technologies-expands-employment-and-investors-other-technical-businesses-struggle-to-survive/</link><pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 13:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/as-beta-technologies-expands-employment-and-investors-other-technical-businesses-struggle-to-survive/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dog attacks are a people problem, not a breed problem]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Alana Stevenson, an animal behaviorist with more than 20 years of experience. She provides humane dog and cat training.Earlier this month, a woman in Essex was charged with manslaughter after police said her dog attacked and killed her father. After the incident in March, online discussions and selectboards focused on breed bans &mdash; specifically targeting pit bulls, a broad, generic term applied to Staffordshire terriers, bull terriers and square-headed mixed breeds.Th]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dog-attacks-are-a-people-problem-not-a-breed-problem/</link><pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 13:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dog-attacks-are-a-people-problem-not-a-breed-problem/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can Vermont celebrate a big national birthday amid turbulent times? We did in 1976.]]></title><description><![CDATA[A &ldquo;George Washington Slept Here&rdquo; float marks the U.S. bicentennial in Brattleboro on July 4, 1976. Family photo courtesy of Kevin O&rsquo;ConnorOn July 4, 1976, a gaggle of Brattleboro grade-schoolers celebrated the nation&rsquo;s 200th anniversary by tying a pair of bedposts to a Jeep, blanketing the hood with a sheet and turning a beach ball into the head of the first president.&ldquo;George Washington Slept Here,&rdquo; read the sign my friends and I crafted for our attempt at a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/can-vermont-celebrate-a-big-national-birthday-amid-turbulent-times-we-did-in-1976/</link><pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 12:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/can-vermont-celebrate-a-big-national-birthday-amid-turbulent-times-we-did-in-1976/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rockwell was ‘At Home in Vermont’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Shelburne Museum Curator Carolyn Bauer stands in front of the three Norman Rockwell paintings the museum owns. Photo by Sophia Balunek/Shelburne NewsThis story by Liberty Darr was first published in the Shelburne News on June 25, 2026.&ldquo;In New York, the models I&rsquo;ve had to depend on are all washed-out and unhealthy. Up here, I not only encounter practically every type of American I&rsquo;ll ever have to use, but they look healthy!&rdquo;The quote by iconic illustrator Norman Rockwell]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rockwell-was-at-home-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 2026 13:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/rockwell-was-at-home-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[West Rutland man killed in hit-and-run, state police say]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Vermont State Police cruiser seen in Burlington on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA West Rutland man was killed there early Friday morning in a hit-and-run crash on Main Street, and investigators are searching for the driver who fled, according to Vermont State Police.Devin Pierro, 30, of West Rutland, was walking west on Main Street near Whipple Hollow Road around 5:25 a.m. when a passing vehicle struck him, according to state police. He was pronounced dead at the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/west-rutland-man-killed-in-hit-and-run-state-police-say/</link><pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 2026 01:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/west-rutland-man-killed-in-hit-and-run-state-police-say/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beta Technologies plans to expand campus to 100 acres]]></title><description><![CDATA[Flyers for Beta Technologies&rsquo; Shunpike Road June 10 meeting to discuss growth plans with neighbors were still visible last week. Photo by Sophia Balunek/The Other PaperThis story by Liberty Darr was first published in The Other Paper on June 25, 2026.It&rsquo;s no surprise that Beta Technologies, the electric aviation tech giant, has plans to build an empire in the Green Mountain State.But the company has now publicly showcased some preliminary plans to build out its campus off Williston]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-technologies-plans-to-expand-campus-to-100-acres/</link><pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 2026 00:32:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beta-technologies-plans-to-expand-campus-to-100-acres/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Driver faces charge of DUI with death resulting in Orleans County crash that killed passenger]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Vermont State Police cruiser seen in Burlington on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Lowell man faces a charge of drunken driving with death resulting after a crash that killed a woman riding in the side-by-side vehicle he was driving Thursday night, according to Vermont State Police.Charging documents state that police were notified of the crash at around 10:30 p.m. on Newton Road in Lowell when Randy Lemieux II, 27, was driving a Polaris RZR. The vehicle rolled ov]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/driver-faces-charge-of-dui-with-death-resulting-in-orleans-county-crash-that-killed-passenger/</link><pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 2026 00:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/driver-faces-charge-of-dui-with-death-resulting-in-orleans-county-crash-that-killed-passenger/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[James D. Carr]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 02/01/1926Halifax, Vt.Died: 06/23/2026Bellows Falls, Vt.Details of service:July 18, 2026, 11:00 a.m., Oak Hill Cemetery, Bellows Falls, VTJames D. Carr was born on February 1,1926 in W. Halifax, Vermont the son of Donald and Lu (Brown) Carr.&nbsp;He attended schools in W. Halifax and Putney.&nbsp;At age 14, he dropped out of school and went to work on a farm in Putney for room and board for 50 cents a week. He moved to Bellows Falls with his family at age 15 and worked at Hubbard, Parker]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/james-d-carr/</link><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 23:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/james-d-carr/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In post-pandemic Vermont, the high-end destination wedding industry has ‘exploded’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Wedding cocktails are held at the formal gardens of Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home in Manchester. Photo courtesy of Jesse SchloffTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.When Emily Pierson decided to get married in Vermont, she knew she had to act fast before venues and vendors booked up.Having often visited her mother&rsquo;s childhood stomping grounds in the Green Mountain State when she was younger, the Las Vegas-based educational consultant sa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-post-pandemic-vermont-the-high-end-destination-wedding-industry-has-exploded/</link><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/in-post-pandemic-vermont-the-high-end-destination-wedding-industry-has-exploded/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lyme disease is on the rise in Vermont. Here’s how to protect yourself and still enjoy the outdoors]]></title><description><![CDATA[A tick on a blade of grass waiting for a host. Its front legs are outstretched to allow it to latch onto the host. Photo by Leroy Baptiste/Creative CommonsPatti Casey remembers some news organization calling her job one of the &ldquo;ten worst jobs in the world, ever.&rdquo;&nbsp;But to Casey, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s kind of cool.&rdquo;&nbsp;Casey is director of a Vermont Agency of Agriculture program tasked with monitoring the state&rsquo;s tick population. So from spring to early summer, her team]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lyme-disease-is-on-the-rise-in-vermont-heres-how-to-protect-yourself-and-still-enjoy-the-outdoors/</link><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lyme-disease-is-on-the-rise-in-vermont-heres-how-to-protect-yourself-and-still-enjoy-the-outdoors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trust in Vermont Fish and Wildlife is eroding ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Brenna Galdenzi, the president of Protect Our Wildlife.Trust is a fragile thing &mdash; hard to earn, easy to lose. For wildlife protection advocates, trust in the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department&rsquo;s leadership has never really been earned and keeps slipping further away.&nbsp;Earlier this year, the department began discussing bear management and the need to kill more bears. Notably, at the Fish and Wildlife Department Board meeting on June 17, the department ackn]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/trust-in-vermont-fish-and-wildlife-is-eroding/</link><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/trust-in-vermont-fish-and-wildlife-is-eroding/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marcel Rocheleau]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 06/10/1949St. Albans, Vt.Died: 06/19/2026Morrisville, Vt.Details of service:Military ServiceJuly 9, 11:00 a.m.Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Randolph, Vt.Arrangements are in the care of Lamoille Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.vtfuneralhomes.comMarcel Lucien Rocheleau died in his home in Morrisville, Vermont on Friday June 19th, at age 77.Marcel was born June 10, 1949 in St. Albans to Ovila and Gabrielle (Godin) Rocheleau.He attended St. Albans schools and enjoyed]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marcel-rocheleau/</link><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 19:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marcel-rocheleau/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Housing Authority seeks Hartford-area land donations]]></title><description><![CDATA[Clean shovels await ceremonial duty at a ribbon-cutting. File photo by Hilary Niles/VTDiggerThis story by Liz Sauchelli was first published in the Valley News on June 24, 2026.The Vermont State Housing Authority is looking for landowners in Hartford and the surrounding area who are interested in subdividing part of their properties to build single-family homes.This year, the public corporation launched Move-In Vermont to connect with municipalities, nonprofits and private landowners who have va]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/housing-authority-seeks-hartford-area-land-donations/</link><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/housing-authority-seeks-hartford-area-land-donations/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Elizabeth “Leslie” Frydenlund]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 03/25/1953Bennington, Vt.Died: 06/22/2026Burlington, Vt.Details of service:Please join us for a cheerful celebration of Leslie&rsquo;s life on Saturday, August 1st at the Greg Brown Lodge from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 264 Hardack Drive, St. Albans, VT 05478.Elizabeth &ldquo;Leslie&rdquo; Frydenlund of West Swanton, Vermont. passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on June 22, 2026.&nbsp; A woman of boundless warmth and witty humor, Leslie was born on March 25, 1953 in Bennington,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/elizabeth-leslie-frydenlund/</link><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 23:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/elizabeth-leslie-frydenlund/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Don’t let Donald Sinex anywhere near Burlington’s downtown]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Ron Jacobs, who lives in Winooski.Now that Burlington High School will be returning to its previous grounds in a new building, the question is what will happen to the building formerly known as Macy&rsquo;s.&nbsp;&nbsp;Developers are proposing a variety of possibilities. One is a developer who contributed significantly to the failure of the former CityPlace mall project, Donald Sinex, the owner of the Macy&rsquo;s building.&nbsp;In 2016, Sinex and then-Mayor Miro Weinberge]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-let-donald-sinex-anywhere-near-burlingtons-downtown/</link><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 23:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-let-donald-sinex-anywhere-near-burlingtons-downtown/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Creditors in Vermont Catholic bankruptcy case seek access to an estimated $500M in parish assets]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ludlow&rsquo;s Church of the Annunciation is one of nearly 70 local parishes overseen by the Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerClergy abuse claimants have asked a court to allow them to pursue an estimated half-billion dollars in local parish assets as part of the Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese&rsquo;s current bankruptcy case.The state&rsquo;s largest religious denomination filed for Chapter 11 protection in the fall of 2024, arguing that a past series of pri]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/creditors-in-vermont-catholic-bankruptcy-case-seek-access-to-an-estimated-500m-in-parish-assets/</link><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:41:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/creditors-in-vermont-catholic-bankruptcy-case-seek-access-to-an-estimated-500m-in-parish-assets/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Zizian member tied to border patrol agent killing in Vermont now charged in the deaths of her own parents]]></title><description><![CDATA[Michelle Zajko, who is associated with a cultlike group known as Zizians that is linked to several deaths across the U.S., is escorted into court for a pretrial hearing on trespassing, gun and drug charges in Cumberland, Md., Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Scolforo, File)A member of a cultlike group who authorities allege was tied to the fatal shooting of a border patrol agent in Vermont is now facing charges of killing her parents in Pennsylvania years earlier.&nbsp;The new murder charg]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/zizian-member-tied-to-border-patrol-agent-killing-in-vermont-now-charged-in-the-deaths-of-her-own-parents/</link><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/zizian-member-tied-to-border-patrol-agent-killing-in-vermont-now-charged-in-the-deaths-of-her-own-parents/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont utilizes food shelves to provide children with free meals during summer break]]></title><description><![CDATA[Seven-year-old Vivian Denney takes food from Culinary Manager Justin Pfanzer at Feeding Champlain Valley in Burlington on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFor Vermont children from food-insecure families who rely on school lunches as their most dependable meal, advocacy groups are filling the summer gap with free meal programs.At a food site in Burlington at the Community Resource Center, an average of five to 10 kids a week stop by and are met with a food shelf, soup kitc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-utilizes-food-shelves-to-provide-children-with-free-meals-during-summer-break/</link><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-utilizes-food-shelves-to-provide-children-with-free-meals-during-summer-break/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont passed its education law. Now comes the hard part.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Flor Diaz Smith, president of the Vermont School Boards Association and eastern representative and chair of the legislative committee of the National School Board.On June 18, Gov. Phil Scott signed into law an education transformation bill that aims to strengthen Vermont public schools and districts, make efficient use of public funding, and ultimately ensure the success of all students and graduates.&nbsp;H.955, the final bill approved by the General Assembly and signed b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-passed-its-education-law-now-comes-the-hard-part/</link><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-passed-its-education-law-now-comes-the-hard-part/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Seeking technical education, schools may be looking inward]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Center for Technology Essex in Essex Junction.File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis story by Liberty Darr and Briana Brady was first published in The Other Paper on June 18, 2026.This month, more than 5,000 seniors across Vermont graduated from high school. A significant portion of those teens graduated from the state&rsquo;s career and technical centers.Of the more than 20,000 high school students in Vermont, around a quarter enroll at one of the state&rsquo;s 17 career and technical ce]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/seeking-technical-education-schools-may-be-looking-inward/</link><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 01:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/seeking-technical-education-schools-may-be-looking-inward/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Attorney General will not prosecute state trooper who fatally shot unarmed Putney man]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Vermont State Police crime scene team member at the site of the Scott Garvey shooting in July 2025. File photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerVermont Attorney General Charity Clark declined Tuesday to prosecute a state police officer who shot and killed an unarmed man who was experiencing a&nbsp;mental health crisis last year.&nbsp;Vermont State Police Trooper Peter Romeo fatally shot 55-year-old Scott Garvey in his Putney home on July 7, 2025. Romeo opened fire on Garvey after police entere]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-attorney-general-will-not-prosecute-state-trooper-who-fatally-shot-unarmed-putney-man/</link><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:35:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-attorney-general-will-not-prosecute-state-trooper-who-fatally-shot-unarmed-putney-man/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Candidates backed by Vermont’s Bernie Sanders sweep House primaries in New York City]]></title><description><![CDATA[U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT., speaks during a Get Out The Vote rally ahead of New York&rsquo;s primary election, Thursday, June 18, 2026, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)A slate of progressive Democratic candidates for Congress backed by Vermont&rsquo;s independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani swept their primary elections Tuesday.The victories, in one case over a five-term incumbent, showed that the wave of support on which Mamda]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/candidates-backed-by-vermonts-bernie-sanders-sweep-house-primaries-in-new-york-city/</link><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/candidates-backed-by-vermonts-bernie-sanders-sweep-house-primaries-in-new-york-city/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘A ray of hope’: A Franklin County dairy facility to reopen this fall amid a spate of shutdowns]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dairy cows behind a barn in Vermont in March 2022. File photo by Riley Robinson/VTDiggerA longtime plant manager is buying a recently shuttered Franklin County dairy facility and reopening it this fall, a rare bright spot for a Vermont dairy industry battered by a string of recent production shutdowns.John Ovitt said he plans to take ownership of the Franklin Foods plant Sept. 1 and will reopen it as Franklin County Cheese, producing some of the same line of products as the previous operation b]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-ray-of-hope-a-franklin-county-dairy-facility-to-reopen-this-fall-amid-a-spate-of-shutdowns/</link><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-ray-of-hope-a-franklin-county-dairy-facility-to-reopen-this-fall-amid-a-spate-of-shutdowns/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Cartoonist Tillie Walden celebrates early American queer love in Vermont in new book]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.From left: &ldquo;Charity &amp; Sylvia&rdquo; graphic novel by cartoonist Tillie Walden; A self-portrait of the cartoonist Tillie Walden, who is a former Vermont Cartoonist Laureate.In the early 1800s, Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake spent 44 years as li]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-cartoonist-tillie-walden-celebrates-early-american-queer-love-in-vermont-in-new-book/</link><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-cartoonist-tillie-walden-celebrates-early-american-queer-love-in-vermont-in-new-book/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Patriotism is not a dirty word]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Shawn Tester, the chief executive officer of Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital.A few months ago, rummaging through some old memorabilia, I came across a large bronze commemorative medallion my grandfather gave me during our nation&rsquo;s bicentennial celebration in 1976. I was only 5 years old at the time, but I still remember the exuberance and pride that seemed to fill every corner of our community &mdash; flags waving from front porches, parades winding through to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/patriotism-is-not-a-dirty-word/</link><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/patriotism-is-not-a-dirty-word/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s classrooms are a Big Tech sales pitch]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Laura Derrendinger, who co-leads the Vermont Coalition for Independence, Reconnection and Liberation.With the 250th anniversary of our nation&rsquo;s founding approaching, it is time to declare Vermont&rsquo;s schools independent of so-called Big Tech. The online and digital product companies &mdash; Google and Apple chief among them &mdash; are this era&rsquo;s mercenaries, hired to maximize profits by putting their products directly in front of a captive audience of scho]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-classrooms-are-a-big-tech-sales-pitch/</link><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 22:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-classrooms-are-a-big-tech-sales-pitch/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A federal judge orders an ICE detainee with mental illness released, finding her six-month detention unconstitutional]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington in August 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerRUTLAND &mdash; A Haitian asylum seeker arrived at a Vermont prison having been prescribed psychiatric medication weeks earlier, but prison healthcare providers and outside experts disagreed about the kind of treatment she needed while incarcerated in the state, according to testimony in a federal case that ended Monday when a judge ordered her release.&ldquo;The list really goe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-federal-judge-orders-an-ice-detainee-with-mental-illness-released-finding-her-six-month-detention-unconstitutional/</link><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 02:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-federal-judge-orders-an-ice-detainee-with-mental-illness-released-finding-her-six-month-detention-unconstitutional/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Drunken driving case may linger for Addison state’s attorney due to new disciplinary action]]></title><description><![CDATA[Addison County States Attorney Eva Vekos pleads no contest to a DUI charge in Chittenden County Superior criminal court Burlington in Dec. 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash;&nbsp; Prosecutors don&rsquo;t want Addison County State&rsquo;s Attorney Eva Vekos&rsquo; drunken driving conviction expunged from her record yet, because they say the move could jeopardize a new professional disciplinary proceeding against her.&nbsp;A delay in expungement, which the defense opposed and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/drunken-driving-case-may-linger-for-addison-states-attorney-due-to-new-disciplinary-action/</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 23:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/drunken-driving-case-may-linger-for-addison-states-attorney-due-to-new-disciplinary-action/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[National Weather Service classifies West Woodstock storm as EF1 tornado]]></title><description><![CDATA[Broken trees stand on the hill across the Ottauquechee River from the home of Bryon and Jen Lockhart in West Woodstock after a powerful storm swept across the Upper Valley on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Marion Umpleby was first published in the Valley News on June 22, 2026.WEST WOODSTOCK &mdash; Meteorologists from the National Weather Service have deemed the storm that wreaked havoc in the area of Bridgewater and West Woodstock on Thursday an E]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/national-weather-service-classifies-west-woodstock-storm-as-ef1-tornado/</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 23:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/national-weather-service-classifies-west-woodstock-storm-as-ef1-tornado/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Calling nuclear power clean doesn’t make it true]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Gov. Phil Scott selling Vermont the nuclear kool-aid is unacceptable. The governor insists that nuclear power is clean. He supports developing small modular nuclear reactors in Vermont. In an attempt to meet Vermont&rsquo;s carbon commitments, the state wants to substitute the definition of &ldquo;clean&rdquo; for &ldquo;renewable&rdquo; to justify nuclear&rsquo;s inclusion with H.601. Nuclear energy is neither clean nor green. We must do better. We need solutions that are truly sus]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/calling-nuclear-power-clean-doesnt-make-it-true/</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 23:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/calling-nuclear-power-clean-doesnt-make-it-true/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont needs better housing, not just more of it]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by John Bossange, the president of the board of directors of Better (not Bigger) Vermont.Few would deny that we have a shortage of lower and moderately priced housing available for hardworking Vermonters. Sadly, what is being constructed now is often pitched at wealthy second-home and out-of-state buyers rather than local Vermont families. Worse, the new housing is often poorly located and is either an unsightly scar on the natural landscape or a depressing blight along a maj]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-needs-better-housing-not-just-more-of-it/</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 20:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-needs-better-housing-not-just-more-of-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Court says it might dismiss Vermont Catholic diocese bankruptcy case if progress isn’t made soon]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese is selling its South Burlington headquarters at 55 Joy Drive for $3.13 million as part of its current bankruptcy case. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerA U.S. bankruptcy judge has told the Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese she might dismiss the church&rsquo;s bid to reorganize its depleting finances if a viable plan isn&rsquo;t submitted soon.The state&rsquo;s largest religious denomination filed for Chapter 11 protection in the fall of 2024 after a past ser]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/court-says-it-might-dismiss-vermont-catholic-diocese-bankruptcy-case-if-progress-isnt-made-soon/</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 19:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/court-says-it-might-dismiss-vermont-catholic-diocese-bankruptcy-case-if-progress-isnt-made-soon/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jimmy ‘The Iceman’ De Pierro]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 07/30/1946New York City, NYDied: 06/18/2026Colchester, VTDetails of service:A celebration of life is being planned for next summer.Jimmy &ldquo;The Iceman&rdquo; De Pierro, passed away June 18th, at the age of 79. Raised in Queens, he had many adventures as a bike messenger in New York City, a welder, a clam digger and a professional gambler. He came to Vermont in the 70s with friends to seek a different way of life in the North East Kingdom.Jim became known around Vermont for many things]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jimmy-the-iceman-de-pierro/</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jimmy-the-iceman-de-pierro/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Across Vermont, networks of volunteers push back on Trump’s immigration enforcement]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters surround a house as they demonstrate against an attempted stop by ICE agents in South Burlington in March 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMarita Canedo had just woken up when the phone started ringing.&nbsp;It was early morning on March 11, and Canedo was the on-call team member for the emergency phone line of Migrant Justice, a statewide immigrant rights organization.&nbsp;Several calls came in at once, Canedo said, and each caller said the same thing: U.S. Immigration and]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/across-vermont-networks-of-volunteers-push-back-on-trumps-immigration-enforcement/</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/across-vermont-networks-of-volunteers-push-back-on-trumps-immigration-enforcement/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Vermont that still feels wild’: Three waterways proposed for the ‘National Park System for rivers’]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Nulhegan River is a proposed addition to the federal Wild and Scenic River System. Photo courtesy of Caleb Kenna.Northeast Kingdom conservation organizations and communities are pushing to add three waterways to the federal Wild and Scenic River System, the country&rsquo;s strongest tool to protect rivers.The program, known as a sort of &ldquo;National Park System for rivers,&rdquo; provides funding and support to free-flowing rivers with outstanding natural, cultural or recreational value.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-that-still-feels-wild-three-waterways-proposed-for-the-national-park-system-for-rivers/</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-that-still-feels-wild-three-waterways-proposed-for-the-national-park-system-for-rivers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Vermont that still feels wild’: 3 waterways proposed for the ‘National Park System for rivers’]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Nulhegan River is a proposed addition to the federal Wild and Scenic River System. Photo courtesy of Caleb Kenna.Northeast Kingdom conservation organizations and communities are pushing to add three waterways to the federal Wild and Scenic River System, the country&rsquo;s strongest tool to protect rivers.The program, known as a sort of &ldquo;National Park System for rivers,&rdquo; provides funding and support to free-flowing rivers with outstanding natural, cultural or recreational value.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-that-still-feels-wild-3-waterways-proposed-for-the-national-park-system-for-rivers/</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-that-still-feels-wild-3-waterways-proposed-for-the-national-park-system-for-rivers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gov. Scott vetoed the Legislature’s latest attempt to lower health insurance costs. What’s next?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott speaks at the Statehouse in Montpelier in November 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWhen Gov. Phil Scott last week vetoed the Legislature&rsquo;s boldest attempt this year to lower health insurance costs, he said his own package of proposals offered a better alternative.Specifically, in a letter sent to the Senate, Scott highlighted efforts from a bill, H.585, that his administration put forward in January.&ldquo;These proposals included proven approaches that expanded]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-vetoed-the-legislatures-latest-attempt-to-lower-health-insurance-costs-whats-next/</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/gov-scott-vetoed-the-legislatures-latest-attempt-to-lower-health-insurance-costs-whats-next/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dartmouth Health reports $63.5 million deficit over 6 months]]></title><description><![CDATA[Evening falls at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Photo by James M. Patterson\Valley NewsThis story by Clare Shanahan was first published in the Valley News on June 21, 2026.LEBANON, N.H. &mdash; After two years operating mostly in the black, Dartmouth Health spent more money than it brought in from October through March, according to a May filing with bondholders.The $63.5 million deficit, equivalent to 2.9% of total system revenue, was driven by]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-health-reports-635-million-deficit-over-6-months/</link><pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 23:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-health-reports-635-million-deficit-over-6-months/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Karen Ann Warren]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 05/31/1951Bethesda, MarylandDied: 06/15/2026IdahoDetails of service: To be determinedThe world became a little quieter with the passing of Karen Ann Warren, 75, formerly of Winooski, Vermont, who died on Monday, June 15, in Idaho. Karen was a woman whose warmth, humor, and steady presence made life gentler for everyone fortunate enough to know her.Karen was born on May 31, 1951, in Bethesda, Maryland, to Kenneth W. and Ann McNeil Warren while her father was serving in the U.S. Navy. The f]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/karen-ann-warren/</link><pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 23:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/karen-ann-warren/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Don’t gamble with our drinking water]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Peggy Stevens, a retired teacher who lives in Charleston.On June 10, a panel of five experts in environmental pollutants, including PFAS, presented evidence of contamination in Lake Memphremagog&rsquo;s water and fish to a packed crowd of 70 gathered at the North Country Career Center, with a further 95 people joining online.&nbsp;As the scientists laid out their concerns about what that means for the lake&rsquo;s future, the question driving the meeting was whether landfi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-gamble-with-our-drinking-water/</link><pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dont-gamble-with-our-drinking-water/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Extortion and pollution killed the data center bill]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Alison Despathy, the community and environmental health director for Vermonters for a Clean Environment.&nbsp;This past legislative session, Vermonters for a Clean Environment participated in the development of a responsible data center bill, H.727. Despite these efforts, Gov. Phil Scott&rsquo;s veto of the bill was justified because of the Senate&rsquo;s massive fumble.Many people believe data centers are wreaking havoc across the country: guzzling power, contaminating wa]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/extortion-and-pollution-killed-the-data-center-bill/</link><pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/extortion-and-pollution-killed-the-data-center-bill/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Williston library expansion revote pushed to November]]></title><description><![CDATA[A rendering of a proposed Dorothy Alling Memorial Library redesign. Courtesy of Black River DesignThis story by Jason Starr was first published in the Williston Observer&nbsp;on June 18, 2026.Feeling rushed by an August revote proposed by the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library board of trustees, the Williston Selectboard last week unanimously backed a plan to push a library expansion bond question to the general election ballot in November.It will be the third time this year that Williston voters]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/williston-library-expansion-revote-pushed-to-november/</link><pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 15:31:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/williston-library-expansion-revote-pushed-to-november/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Vermont’s new pharmacy law could change rural healthcare]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Steven Simpson, the northern regional healthcare manager at Kinney Drugs.One of the things I&rsquo;ve always valued most about community pharmacy is the chance to serve people close to home. In towns across Vermont, the local pharmacy is often one of the most familiar and trusted places in the community, a place where people stop in for prescriptions, ask questions and see someone they know. Sometimes that means offering reassurance, helping someone think through what to d]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-vermonts-new-pharmacy-law-could-change-rural-healthcare/</link><pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 15:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-vermonts-new-pharmacy-law-could-change-rural-healthcare/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pride in the pews: Franklin County churches celebrate LGBTQ+ community]]></title><description><![CDATA[Parishioners make offerings during a Pride Praise Ecumenical Worship Service at Saint Paul&rsquo;s United Methodist Church in St. Albans on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerST. ALBANS &mdash; An unassuming sign out front of St. Paul&rsquo;s United Methodist Church told the history of the building with a message that rang true for that day&rsquo;s service.&nbsp;&ldquo;As the building has evolved, so has life within the church.&rdquo;&nbsp;In front of an altar decorated in rai]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pride-in-the-pews-franklin-county-churches-celebrate-lgbtq-community/</link><pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 14:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pride-in-the-pews-franklin-county-churches-celebrate-lgbtq-community/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Under Trump, ICE check-ins in Vermont have shifted]]></title><description><![CDATA[More than 200 supporters of Pastor Steven Tendo gather outside Tendo&rsquo;s check-in meeting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security facility in St. Albans on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerST. ALBANS &mdash; Steven Tendo hugged and shook hands with the throng of supporters waiting outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office Tuesday. He was relieved, for now: He&rsquo;d just walked out of a check-in with ICE, where]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/under-trump-ice-check-ins-in-vermont-have-shifted/</link><pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/under-trump-ice-check-ins-in-vermont-have-shifted/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Which 50 of the Vermont Historical Society’s 30,000 artifacts best sum up the state?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Historical Society collections manager Katie Grant and executive director Stephen Perkins unbox a globe &mdash; made in 1810 by James Wilson of Bradford &mdash; for a &ldquo;50 for 250&rdquo; U.S. semiquincentennial exhibit in Montpelier. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; A century-old pair of ash and rawhide snowshoes &mdash; embodying subsistence and sport &mdash; seemed an obvious choice when the Vermont Historical Society perused its 30,000 artifacts to pick t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/which-50-of-the-vermont-historical-societys-30000-artifacts-best-sum-up-the-state/</link><pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/which-50-of-the-vermont-historical-societys-30000-artifacts-best-sum-up-the-state/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[PHOTOS: Burlington commemorates Juneteenth with downtown festival]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cortney Smith dances as the Juneteenth Celebration Choir performs during a holiday commemoration in Burlington on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe City of Burlington commemorated the Juneteenth holiday with a block party in downtown Burlington on Saturday. The theme of the event was &ldquo;Freedom: Yesterday&rsquo;s legacy, Today&rsquo;s promise, Tomorrow&rsquo;s Hope&rdquo; and was produced by the city&rsquo;s Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. Scroll]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-burlington-commemorates-juneteenth-with-downtown-festival/</link><pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:51:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/photos-burlington-commemorates-juneteenth-with-downtown-festival/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Two central Vermonters invited to Washington event honoring extreme weather survivors]]></title><description><![CDATA[On the heels of its exhibit at the Vermont Statehouse, installed in its permanent home in Barre&rsquo;s Aldrich Public Library, and reproduced in book form, &ldquo;Heart of Barre: Building Community After the Floods&rdquo; is now heading to Washington, D.C. Later this month, a smaller, photographic reproduction of one of the two anchor pieces in the exhibit &mdash; the 80-by-80-inch grid of 20 portraits of survivors of the 2023 flood shown here &mdash; will represent Vermont at a two-day event]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/two-central-vermonters-invited-to-washington-event-honoring-extreme-weather-survivors/</link><pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 13:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/two-central-vermonters-invited-to-washington-event-honoring-extreme-weather-survivors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[2 central Vermonters invited to Washington event honoring extreme weather survivors]]></title><description><![CDATA[On the heels of its exhibit at the Vermont Statehouse, installed in its permanent home in Barre&rsquo;s Aldrich Public Library, and reproduced in book form, &ldquo;Heart of Barre: Building Community After the Floods&rdquo; is now heading to Washington, D.C. Later this month, a smaller, photographic reproduction of one of the two anchor pieces in the exhibit &mdash; the 80-by-80-inch grid of 20 portraits of survivors of the 2023 flood shown here &mdash; will represent Vermont at a two-day event]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/2-central-vermonters-invited-to-washington-event-honoring-extreme-weather-survivors/</link><pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 13:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/2-central-vermonters-invited-to-washington-event-honoring-extreme-weather-survivors/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Three years after flooding, Vermont Studio Center receives federal recovery funding, supporting an economic driver in Johnson ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Studio Center in Johnson sits on the banks of the Gihon River. Seen on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe river that runs through the Vermont Studio Center has for years been a source of inspiration and solace for the thousands of artists and writers who have filtered through its residency program, one of the largest in the U.S. But three years ago, the Gihon River&rsquo;s currents were instead the source of damage and destruction when catastrophic floods inu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/three-years-after-flooding-vermont-studio-center-receives-federal-recovery-funding-supporting-an-economic-driver-in-johnson/</link><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/three-years-after-flooding-vermont-studio-center-receives-federal-recovery-funding-supporting-an-economic-driver-in-johnson/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[3 years after flooding, Vermont Studio Center receives federal recovery funding, supporting an economic driver in Johnson ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Vermont Studio Center in Johnson sits on the banks of the Gihon River. Seen on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe river that runs through the Vermont Studio Center has for years been a source of inspiration and solace for the thousands of artists and writers who have filtered through its residency program, one of the largest in the U.S. But three years ago, the Gihon River&rsquo;s currents were instead the source of damage and destruction when catastrophic floods inu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/3-years-after-flooding-vermont-studio-center-receives-federal-recovery-funding-supporting-an-economic-driver-in-johnson/</link><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/3-years-after-flooding-vermont-studio-center-receives-federal-recovery-funding-supporting-an-economic-driver-in-johnson/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Black Vermonters celebrated in new South Burlington exhibit]]></title><description><![CDATA[From left: Ren&eacute; Renter&iacute;a, Amina Rhoads and Rajnii Eddins. Photo by Emily Rodin.Emily Rodin is an intern for the University of Vermont&rsquo;s Community News Service through Report for America&rsquo;s Local News Internship Program.SOUTH BURLINGTON &mdash; When Rajnii Eddins and Ren&eacute; Renter&iacute;a met at Burlington&rsquo;s Fletcher Free Library in 2024, neither knew the encounter would lead to an oral history project documenting the stories of Black Vermonters.Eddins, a poe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/black-vermonters-celebrated-in-new-south-burlington-exhibit/</link><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 23:11:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/black-vermonters-celebrated-in-new-south-burlington-exhibit/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Act 46 all over again’: Gov. Phil Scott signs education reform bill, kick-starting a familiar process for voluntary school mergers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Buses pick up students at the end of the day at the Westford School in Westford in April 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe year&rsquo;s landmark education reform proposal is now law.Gov. Phil Scott on Thursday signed into law H.955, the legislative session&rsquo;s signature bill that launches a new but familiar round of voluntary school district mergers.The bill&rsquo;s signing brings some closure to what has been a long year for educators, administrators and legislators. Or looked]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/act-46-all-over-again-gov-phil-scott-signs-education-reform-bill-kick-starting-a-familiar-process-for-voluntary-school-mergers/</link><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 22:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/act-46-all-over-again-gov-phil-scott-signs-education-reform-bill-kick-starting-a-familiar-process-for-voluntary-school-mergers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Who’s policing Vermont’s e-moto riders?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Having read a recent article in VTDigger about electric motorcycles &mdash; or e-motos &mdash; and as the owner of a registered, licensed, street-legal electric motorcycle, I&rsquo;m perplexed why Vermont police are not enforcing current statutes on unregistered, unlicensed, unhelmeted e-moto riders on public streets and bike paths.&nbsp;Electric motorcycles capable of traveling at speeds greater than 30 mph or having a motor output above 750 watts &mdash; such as the Sondors Metacy]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/whos-policing-vermonts-e-moto-riders/</link><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:26:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/whos-policing-vermonts-e-moto-riders/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘I tried so hard to stop Jack’: Woman denies manslaughter charge in dog attack on her father]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington in July 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIn a case that may test criminal liability for dog owners, a Vermont woman faces charges including manslaughter after police said her pit bull killed her father after injuring two other people in earlier attacks.&nbsp;Janna Campbell, 43, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington to a felony count of voluntary manslaughter. That charge stems fr]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/i-tried-so-hard-to-stop-jack-woman-denies-manslaughter-charge-in-dog-attack-on-her-father/</link><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:04:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/i-tried-so-hard-to-stop-jack-woman-denies-manslaughter-charge-in-dog-attack-on-her-father/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State and employees’ union butt heads over telework in Vermont’s highest court]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont State Employees Association attorney Alfred Gordon O&rsquo;Connell, right, speaks as the Vermont Supreme Court considers the union&rsquo;s suit against the Scott Administration&rsquo;s back-to-office order in Montpelier on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMONTPELIER &mdash; The state of Vermont and the Vermont State Employees&rsquo; Association presented oral arguments to the Vermont Supreme Court Thursday over whether the state had the right to change employees&r]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-and-employees-union-butt-heads-over-telework-in-vermonts-highest-court/</link><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-and-employees-union-butt-heads-over-telework-in-vermonts-highest-court/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State police seeking ICE raid protester, even as earlier arrests yielded no charges]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont State Police cruisers seen in Burlington in January 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMonths after a chaotic immigration raid at a South Burlington home, state police are asking the public to help identify a man they say smashed a police van window and injured a trooper, even as a Vermont prosecutor declined in April to charge any of the six protesters arrested that day.State police sent out the request this week, alongside body camera footage of the incident and two photos of t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-police-seeking-ice-raid-protester-even-as-earlier-arrests-yielded-no-charges/</link><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/state-police-seeking-ice-raid-protester-even-as-earlier-arrests-yielded-no-charges/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vergennes battery project raises red flags]]></title><description><![CDATA[Carrie Hathaway is a senior financial advisor at Howard Center and owns a home in Vergennes.As the nearest, most affected property owner to Lightshift&rsquo;s proposed battery energy storage system in Vergennes, I would like to point out that the recent article in VTDigger about the project being put on hold left out some important information.The article says that &ldquo;while the 4.99-megawatt, five-shipping-container-sized facility could reduce electric bills for Vergennes residents and Verm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vergennes-battery-project-raises-red-flags/</link><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vergennes-battery-project-raises-red-flags/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thunderstorms hit Vermont, downing powerlines and causing a flash flood warning in Bennington County]]></title><description><![CDATA[A crew from Green Mountain Power works on a line in Charlotte in Nov. 2019.File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerHeavy thunderstorms hit Vermont on Thursday, triggering a flash flood warning for part of Bennington County and causing power outages across the state.&nbsp;Storms began rolling over the state early Thursday morning, and by the afternoon, the National Weather Service had issued severe thunderstorm warnings for the area around Rutland, Middlebury, Montpelier and much of Windsor County.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thunderstorms-hit-vermont-downing-powerlines-and-causing-a-flash-flood-warning-in-bennington-county/</link><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/thunderstorms-hit-vermont-downing-powerlines-and-causing-a-flash-flood-warning-in-bennington-county/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When a state agency loses its way]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,A recent letter to VTDigger regarding the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department&rsquo;s failure to represent Vermonters pointed to a culture that is not reflective of the state at large. It suggested a hiring practice that ensures Vermont values are not reflected in the makeup of staff.&nbsp;To add to these issues comes the department&rsquo;s decision to embark upon a greenwashing campaign on Vermont Public. While there are countless sound reasons that businesses and individuals shou]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-a-state-agency-loses-its-way/</link><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-a-state-agency-loses-its-way/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM Health is downsizing. Here’s what those cuts mean for services.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Union members and their supporters attend a press conference in Burlington in July 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWhen the University of Vermont Health network laid off more than 140 employees last week, it sent shock waves through the state&rsquo;s largest healthcare provider.As some staff try to make sense of the sudden news, others weigh just how much the estimated $9.5 million in annual savings can help the hospital meet its goal of cutting expenses by $300 million in three years]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-is-downsizing-heres-what-those-cuts-mean-for-services/</link><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-is-downsizing-heres-what-those-cuts-mean-for-services/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ralph Wright, ‘revered and feared’ longest-serving Vermont House speaker, dies at 91]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rep. Ralph Wright, D-Bennington, waves after his election as Vermont House speaker in 1985. Photo by Ron MacNeil/UPI, courtesy Vermont Historical SocietyWhen Montpelier journalist Chris Graff wrote his 2006 memoir, &ldquo;Dateline Vermont,&rdquo; he recounted the rise of such 20th-century politicians as the state&rsquo;s first woman governor, Madeleine Kunin; its chief executive who died in office, Richard Snelling; and its physician turned presidential candidate, Howard Dean.Then came a second]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ralph-wright-revered-and-feared-longest-serving-vermont-house-speaker-dies-at-91/</link><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 19:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ralph-wright-revered-and-feared-longest-serving-vermont-house-speaker-dies-at-91/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: ‘Going to where the silence is.’ Journalist Amy Goodman on 30 years of speaking truth to power]]></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, YouTube&nbsp;or wherever you get podcasts.Amy Goodman is the host, executive producer and co-creator of Democracy Now! Photo by Wolfgang SchmidtFor 30 years, journalist Amy Goodman has been &ldquo;going to where the silence is&rdquo; to report stories that the powerful would rather you not know]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-going-to-where-the-silence-is-journalist-amy-goodman-on-30-years-of-speaking-truth-to-power/</link><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-going-to-where-the-silence-is-journalist-amy-goodman-on-30-years-of-speaking-truth-to-power/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Protecting public lands means protecting them from us]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,I&rsquo;d like to respond to the recent letters and commentaries in VTDigger about public land use and remind their authors that the overarching goal of setting aside lands for protection is, well, protecting these natural resources for the future, leaving them as wild as possible. No one can predict all the treasures that nature holds until science advances enough to discover them.&nbsp;<br />
READ MORE<br />
For example, we&rsquo;re still learning about mycorrhizae &mdash; symbiotic fungi tha]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/protecting-public-lands-means-protecting-them-from-us/</link><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/protecting-public-lands-means-protecting-them-from-us/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Freedom is not free for everyone]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Devon Thomas, the new pastor serving Bethany Church in Montpelier and the United Church of Northfield. He is also a proud Black Vermonter.On June 19, 1865, the U.S. Army proclaimed to the people of Galveston, Texas, that the enslaved Black people of Texas were emancipated.The fact that this proclamation came nearly three years after Lincoln&rsquo;s Emancipation Proclamation had freed all enslaved people of the Confederacy, and that this freedom had to be won by force throu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/freedom-is-not-free-for-everyone/</link><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/freedom-is-not-free-for-everyone/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vernon community and the state grapple with potential redevelopment of Vermont Yankee site]]></title><description><![CDATA[Spent radioactive fuel is seen stored at the site of the former Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon in Oct. 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAfter 40 years in operation, the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in Vernon shuttered in 2014, leaving over 100,000 tons of nuclear waste. More than a decade later, the developer that holds the lease, PowerTransitions, is in the midst of envisioning the site&rsquo;s future.&nbsp;Now, the local community and state are mulling the poten]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vernon-community-and-the-state-grapple-with-potential-redevelopment-of-vermont-yankee-site/</link><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:06:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vernon-community-and-the-state-grapple-with-potential-redevelopment-of-vermont-yankee-site/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Scott vetoes Legislature’s latest attempt at healthcare reform]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott listens to an economic briefing at the Statehouse in Montpelier in July 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerGov. Phil Scott has vetoed S.190, a healthcare bill designed to fast-track premium savings for two groups of insurance customers: public school employees and people buying plans on Vermont&rsquo;s Affordable Care Act marketplace.&nbsp;The bill was one of the few healthcare reform initiatives the Legislature passed this session.&nbsp;&nbsp;It would have sped up the st]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/scott-vetoes-legislatures-latest-attempt-at-healthcare-reform/</link><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 22:22:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/scott-vetoes-legislatures-latest-attempt-at-healthcare-reform/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dairy Farmers of America to ‘idle’ its St. Albans plant, affecting 80 employees]]></title><description><![CDATA[Members of the Teamsters local 597 union picket outside the Dairy Farmers of America plant in St. Albans in Sept. 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerDairy Farmers of America will &ldquo;idle&rdquo; its St. Albans milk processing plant and close the adjoining St. Albans Creamery &amp; Supply, the group announced Wednesday, putting roughly 80 employees out of work.&ldquo;Both the plant and store have been foundational parts of the St. Albans community for generations,&rdquo; DFA said in a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dairy-farmers-of-america-to-idle-its-st-albans-plant-affecting-80-employees/</link><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dairy-farmers-of-america-to-idle-its-st-albans-plant-affecting-80-employees/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Public weighs in on roadmap for state land planning]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mike DeBonis, executive director of the Green Mountain Club speaks at Camel&rsquo;s Hump State Park in October 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermonters trek state forests, set up camp at state parks and hunt and fish in wildlife management areas on the sprawling 375,000 acres of the lands the Agency of Natural Resources manages in Vermont.&nbsp;Now, proposed rules governing the management of those state lands are up for public comment until June 18.&nbsp;The rules will help adopt a]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/public-weighs-in-on-roadmap-for-state-land-planning/</link><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:57:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/public-weighs-in-on-roadmap-for-state-land-planning/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lindsey Ferris learned caregiving skills on her family’s Franklin County farm]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lindsey has known since she was a kid that she would go into the medical field.&nbsp;In a family of seven children ranging in age from 13 to 26, Lindsey falls right in the middle. She always knew that if she were going to go to college to pursue her dream, she&rsquo;d have to figure it out herself. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s our responsibility,&rdquo; she stated practically of herself and her siblings. &ldquo;So, we all take school really seriously because our education is on our money. If we do well in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lindsey-ferris-learned-caregiving-skills-on-her-familys-franklin-county-farm/</link><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lindsey-ferris-learned-caregiving-skills-on-her-familys-franklin-county-farm/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jean Day Rubin]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 05/16/1939New Berlin, NYDied: 05/14/2026Sierra Vista, AZJean Mae Houghtaling was born in New Berlin, NY on May 16, 1931 to Hugh Foote Houghtaling and Beulah Elizabeth Dimorier.Jean graduated from Richfield Springs (NY) Central School in 1948, and married William Moore Day in September 1953.&nbsp;In January 1961, Jean and Bill bought The Economy 5-cent to $1 Store in Woodstock: a two-aisle, 1,200-square-foot variety store that carried everything from stationery to sewing goods to clothing,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jean-day-rubin/</link><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:10:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/jean-day-rubin/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Phil Scott signs bill that will restructure Vermont’s homelessness response]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gov. Phil Scott at the Statehouse in Montpelier in Nov. 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.Vermont&rsquo;s homelessness response system is getting a restructure.Gov. Phil Scott signed H.938 into law Tuesday evening, marking a rare moment of political agreement on Vermont&rsquo;s approach to homelessness. The issue has divided the Republican governor and the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/phil-scott-signs-bill-that-will-restructure-vermonts-homelessness-response/</link><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/phil-scott-signs-bill-that-will-restructure-vermonts-homelessness-response/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Partial rollback of Vermont’s land-use law Act 181 becomes official with Phil Scott’s signature]]></title><description><![CDATA[Several hundred demonstrators gather to protest Act 181 at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. 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.A partial repeal of the controversial land-use law Act 181 is now official.Gov. Phil Scott signed S.325 on Tuesday evening, marking a win for a broad coalition of rural landowners who organized en masse this year to]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/partial-rollback-of-vermonts-land-use-law-act-181-becomes-official-with-phil-scotts-signature/</link><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:05:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/partial-rollback-of-vermonts-land-use-law-act-181-becomes-official-with-phil-scotts-signature/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[U.S. Cuba policy is cruel, incoherent and hurting ordinary people]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Armando Vilaseca, a former commissioner and secretary of education in Vermont. He is the president of the nonprofit Cuban American Friendship Society.I write this sitting in a darkened room without electricity, illuminated only by a small battery-powered light and the brightness of my iPad. I am in Havana, Cuba, on a humanitarian trip organized by the Vermont-based Cuban American Friendship Society.I have brought U.S. dollars, medicine, food, school supplies and other desp]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/us-cuba-policy-is-cruel-incoherent-and-hurting-ordinary-people/</link><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 23:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/us-cuba-policy-is-cruel-incoherent-and-hurting-ordinary-people/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ex-Addison County sheriff: ‘You can have my certification’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Former Addison County Sheriff Peter Newton in the Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington in October 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerFormer Addison County Sheriff Peter Newton, sentenced to probation on criminal convictions last year, now has been banned from working as a law enforcement officer in Vermont.The Vermont Criminal Justice Council, the body that regulates police in the state, voted Tuesday to permanently revoke Newton&rsquo;s law enforcement certification.&]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ex-addison-county-sheriff-you-can-have-my-certification/</link><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 23:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ex-addison-county-sheriff-you-can-have-my-certification/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington man charged with stalking, harassing Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak]]></title><description><![CDATA[Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak speaks at a press conference with Shawn Burke, interim chief of the Burlington Police Department, not seen, in Burlington in April 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Burlington man was charged this week with stalking and harassing Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, after he allegedly accosted her in public on multiple occasions and made her fear for her and her family&rsquo;s safety.Ari Moskowitz, 40, pleaded not guilty Monday and was released]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-man-charged-with-stalking-harassing-mayor-emma-mulvaney-stanak/</link><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 22:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-man-charged-with-stalking-harassing-mayor-emma-mulvaney-stanak/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Global budgets would free hospitals to serve patients, not profits]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,In his recent commentary for VTDigger, James Hodge was correct in his observation about proposed hospital transformation plans: Simply applying the same prices to a small hospital as a large hospital will not work in our current system.Things would be quite different, however, if we had a universal publicly financed single payer, or at least a single payer for hospitals. We would then have global budgets for hospitals, which would actually give them more freedom to do what Hodge say]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/global-budgets-would-free-hospitals-to-serve-patients-not-profits/</link><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 22:29:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/global-budgets-would-free-hospitals-to-serve-patients-not-profits/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beyond education reform: Here’s a roundup of Vermont’s new school laws]]></title><description><![CDATA[Burlington High School is currently closed due to elevated levels of PCB&rsquo;s. Seen on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis year&rsquo;s legislative session was dominated by one issue in particular: school district consolidation aimed at education reform.But lawmakers in the House and Senate also spent hours of committee work on other consequential education bills. Legislation around chronic absenteeism, immigration protocols in schools and pre-kindergarten school c]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beyond-education-reform-heres-a-roundup-of-vermonts-new-school-laws/</link><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/beyond-education-reform-heres-a-roundup-of-vermonts-new-school-laws/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund surpasses its $1 million goal year after founding]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mohsen Mahdawi speaks at the launch of the Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund at the Statehouse in Montpelier in May 2025. File photo by Ethan Weinstein/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &mdash; A year ago, the thousands of residents in Vermont seeking U.S. citizenship had just two lawyers in the state who specialized in deportation defense, leaving many to face court alone.&nbsp;Today there are eight.That&rsquo;s according to the organizers of the Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund, who announced Mon]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-immigration-legal-defense-fund-surpasses-its-1-million-goal-year-after-founding/</link><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:20:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-immigration-legal-defense-fund-surpasses-its-1-million-goal-year-after-founding/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Are Vermonters hungry for neighborhood connection?]]></title><description><![CDATA[A block party hosted on Germain Street in Burlington in May 2026. Courtesy of Thomas DeSistoBen Doyle knows block parties. This time, though, he was in over his head.Last summer, Doyle decided to roast a whole pig for his Montpelier neighborhood&rsquo;s annual block party. Panicked, he left a voicemail for Richard Amore, a fellow Montpelier resident who happened to know his way around a brine.&ldquo;Richard, I&rsquo;m in trouble, man. I got this pig, I don&rsquo;t know what to do,&rdquo; Doyle]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/are-vermonters-hungry-for-neighborhood-connection/</link><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 23:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/are-vermonters-hungry-for-neighborhood-connection/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chittenden schools can avoid forced mergers if they act fast]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,In her recent commentary for VTDigger, Nina Antin correctly identifies the coercive financial architecture underlying H.955&rsquo;s voluntary language. For small rural districts facing existential pressure, her warning deserves serious attention.The picture looks different in Chittenden County. The six Chittenden Central Cooperative Educational Service Area (CESA) members &mdash; Burlington, Colchester, Essex-Westford, Grand Isle, South Burlington and Winooski &mdash; are large enoug]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/chittenden-schools-can-avoid-forced-mergers-if-they-act-fast/</link><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 22:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/chittenden-schools-can-avoid-forced-mergers-if-they-act-fast/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont murder suspect gets 13 years on federal drug charges, faces more time on state homicide count]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Federal Building in Burlington houses the U.S. District Courthouse and the U.S. Postal Service. File photo by Bob LoCicero/VTDiggerBURLINGTON &ndash; A Connecticut man awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to a state murder charge in the killing of a Derby woman more than two years ago was ordered Monday to serve a little more than 13 years in prison on federal drug offenses.&nbsp;Judge William K. Sessions III handed down the 157 month prison sentence to 26-year&ndash;old Jakiy Tramaine]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-murder-suspect-gets-13-years-on-federal-drug-charges-faces-more-time-on-state-homicide-count/</link><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 22:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-murder-suspect-gets-13-years-on-federal-drug-charges-faces-more-time-on-state-homicide-count/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kenneth Ray Helms]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 07/28/1954Centralia, WashingtonDied: 06/06/2026Westford, VermontDetails of service:There will not be a memorial service, but we hope those of you who knew him will get out into nature and enjoy the woods in his honor. If you are interested in making a donation in his memory, he was a strong supporter of the Carter Center and the Chittenden County Humane Society (where his last three best friends came from).Ken R. Helms of Westford passed away peacefully on the morning of June 6 after a si]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kenneth-ray-helms/</link><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 20:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/kenneth-ray-helms/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s childcare shortage is really a housing problem]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Erin Roche, who is the director of First Children&rsquo;s Finance Vermont. She works with childcare businesses statewide on planning, financing and expansion.Housing is on everyone&rsquo;s minds these days: how to build more of it, and how to make it affordable for more families. There are many ideas to increase funding and reduce regulations to make it more attractive for developers to build in Vermont. But housing is also directly connected to another challenge: access t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-childcare-shortage-is-really-a-housing-problem/</link><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 19:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-childcare-shortage-is-really-a-housing-problem/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[After years of stifling heat, Vermont invests nearly $10.5 million in prison air conditioning]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield in October 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAfter years of complaints from prison staff and incarcerated people about sweltering summer conditions, Vermont has approved its largest investment in cooling state correctional facilities in recent years.&nbsp;Lawmakers agreed to spend nearly $10.5 million to install prison cooling systems, which appears to be more money than the state put toward the project in the last four years combi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-years-of-stifling-heat-vermont-invests-nearly-105-million-in-prison-air-conditioning/</link><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/after-years-of-stifling-heat-vermont-invests-nearly-105-million-in-prison-air-conditioning/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Forest workers deserve a voice in decisions about public lands]]></title><description><![CDATA[Zack Porter&rsquo;s recent commentary for VTDigger, in which he said that Vermont&rsquo;s Agency of Natural Resources is threatening democratic ideals, omitted some inconvenient facts.First, Porter implies that the only people with a right to weigh in on management of Vermont&rsquo;s state forests are those who use them for &ldquo;s&rsquo;mores, skis and summer hikes.&rdquo; He doesn&rsquo;t mention that many people in Vermont derive their livelihood from harvesting and manufacturing wood produ]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/forest-workers-deserve-a-voice-in-decisions-about-public-lands/</link><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:33:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/forest-workers-deserve-a-voice-in-decisions-about-public-lands/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vergennes battery project on hold]]></title><description><![CDATA[Power lines cut across a Vermont hillside. File photo by Josh Larkin/VTDiggerThis story by Sophia Keshmiri was first published in the Addison Independent on June 11, 2026.VERGENNES &mdash; The company that proposed building a battery energy storage system at 99 Panton Road in Vergennes has put the project on pause.&nbsp;The Wednesday announcement comes on the heels of a tense informational meeting in the Little City the previous week that featured pushback from residents who&rsquo;ve expressed]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vergennes-battery-project-on-hold/</link><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 16:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vergennes-battery-project-on-hold/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Haskell library opens a new door to Canadians, but have they closed the door on Vermont?]]></title><description><![CDATA[A U.S. Customs and Border Protection sign next to the Haskell Free Library and Opera House on June 10, 2026. Photo by Charlotte Oliver/VTDiggerSTANSTEAD, CANADA &mdash; For more than a century, Canadians could quietly cross an international border to check out a book at the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, which straddles the border with Vermont. That suddenly changed last year when U.S. border officials demanded Canadians go through an official checkpoint before entering the building&rsqu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/haskell-library-opens-a-new-door-to-canadians-but-have-they-closed-the-door-on-vermont/</link><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 15:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/haskell-library-opens-a-new-door-to-canadians-but-have-they-closed-the-door-on-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Vermont is celebrating Pride Month — without the Pride Center]]></title><description><![CDATA[A person wears a hat festooned with pride flags during Montpelier Pride on the lawn of the Statehouse in Montpelier in May 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe news was &ldquo;heartbreaking.&rdquo;&nbsp;After 26 years, the Pride Center closed its doors in October due to a critical funding shortfall, said Monica Allard, co-chair of the center&rsquo;s board of directors. It had lost money that typically comes from the federal government through the state of Vermont, a result of changing]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-vermont-is-celebrating-pride-month-without-the-pride-center/</link><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/how-vermont-is-celebrating-pride-month-without-the-pride-center/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A former teacher and preacher, Vermont writer Garret Keizer seeks hope amid the headlines]]></title><description><![CDATA[Northeast Kingdom writer Garret Keizer is the author of a new book of essays, &ldquo;Starting from Paterson.&rdquo; Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerGarret Keizer was listening to a prison group talk about his quarter-century-old first novel, &ldquo;God of Beer,&rdquo; when he felt gobsmacked.&ldquo;It was quite humbling to have some of these young men quote passages to me that I couldn&rsquo;t even remember writing,&rdquo; he recently recalled with a laugh.Keizer could be forgiven. The 73]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-former-teacher-and-preacher-vermont-writer-garret-keizer-seeks-hope-amid-the-headlines/</link><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-former-teacher-and-preacher-vermont-writer-garret-keizer-seeks-hope-amid-the-headlines/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Is this the summer of the e-moto?]]></title><description><![CDATA[An electric motorcycle in downtown Putney in May 2026. Photo by Artaxerxes via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.This story by Jason Starr was first published in the Williston Observer on June 11, 2026.There is a fading line between electric bikes and electric motorcycles &mdash; and cycling advocates, government officials and law enforcement are struggling to keep pace.Recently in Williston, a resident of Village Grove behind Williston Central School was startled by two students who]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/is-this-the-summer-of-the-e-moto/</link><pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 18:36:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/is-this-the-summer-of-the-e-moto/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Randolph hospital offers extended-release opioid treatment in emergency department]]></title><description><![CDATA[A statue outside of Gifford Medical Center in Randolph. Photo courtesy of the Valley NewsThis story by Clare Shanahan was first published in the Valley News on June 11, 2026.RANDOLPH &mdash; Patients struggling with opioid use disorder will now be able to access extended-release medication through the emergency room and inpatient unit at Gifford Medical Center.Gifford in Randolph is the only Vermont hospital to give patients the option to start Sublocade, an injectable form of buprenorphine tha]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/randolph-hospital-offers-extended-release-opioid-treatment-in-emergency-department/</link><pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:19:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/randolph-hospital-offers-extended-release-opioid-treatment-in-emergency-department/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[More than $8 million in grants heading to Vermont, including funding for Newport projects]]></title><description><![CDATA[An undeveloped vacant lot in downtown Newport, seen in March 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMore than $8 million in federal grants is headed to Vermont, including funding to help redevelop Newport&rsquo;s long-vacant downtown &ldquo;pit&rdquo; and advance other infrastructure, transportation and workforce projects across parts of the state.&nbsp;&ldquo;These investments help improve the day-to-day lives of the people living in our communities and highlight the exciting opportunities]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-than-8-million-in-grants-heading-to-vermont-including-funding-for-newport-projects/</link><pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 23:44:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/more-than-8-million-in-grants-heading-to-vermont-including-funding-for-newport-projects/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lawsuit against Vermont nursing home for allegedly allowing racial harassment of staff headed to trial]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Elderwood at Burlington nursing home in Burlington in Nov. 2020. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA federal judge in Vermont has decided to allow a civil rights complaint against a Burlington nursing home to be heard by a jury, according to a filing this week.The lawsuit, brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleges Elderwood at Burlington nursing home operators maintained a hostile work environment and failed to protect black employees from persistent racial hara]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawsuit-against-vermont-nursing-home-for-allegedly-allowing-racial-harassment-of-staff-headed-to-trial/</link><pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 23:34:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/lawsuit-against-vermont-nursing-home-for-allegedly-allowing-racial-harassment-of-staff-headed-to-trial/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s low-income housing voucher programs begin to stabilize after more than a year of anxiety]]></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. Photo by David Littlefield/Vermont PublicThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.After more than a year of gridlock caused by federal funding cuts, the public housing authorities that issue rental v]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-low-income-housing-voucher-programs-begin-to-stabilize-after-more-than-a-year-of-anxiety/</link><pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 22:46:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-low-income-housing-voucher-programs-begin-to-stabilize-after-more-than-a-year-of-anxiety/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Scott’s data center veto was a mistake]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Rep. Kathleen James, D-Manchester, who is chair of the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure.&nbsp;On May 28, Gov. Phil Scott vetoed H.727, an important bill that would have protected Vermonters from the negative financial and environmental impacts of future large-scale artificial intelligence data centers.The next day, the last of the legislative session, the House attempted a veto override. The roll-call vote had the support of every Democratic, independen]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/scotts-data-center-veto-was-a-mistake/</link><pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 22:21:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/scotts-data-center-veto-was-a-mistake/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Education beyond the headlines]]></title><description><![CDATA[Our current news cycle often includes challenges and complexities faced by schools: mergers and consolidations, budget shortfalls, and achievement gaps. While these are real and consequential, they do not tell the whole story.&nbsp;Every year at the Upper Valley Educators Institute, individuals join us to become teachers, principals, and literacy specialists. We visit many educators in their schools and witness countless moments of inspiration, joy, and hope that take place in their classrooms,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/education-beyond-the-headlines/</link><pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/education-beyond-the-headlines/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mother wins $150,000 settlement against Burlington over police treatment of disabled Black son]]></title><description><![CDATA[Burlington Police Department cruisers parked outside the department in Burlington on Monday, August 26, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Burlington mother won a $150,000 settlement against the City of Burlington over claims that her son, who is Black and has behavioral and intellectual disabilities, faced excessive use of force and racial discrimination from the Burlington Police Department, the teen&rsquo;s lawyers announced Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;The lawsuit, which Cathy Austrian filed mo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mother-wins-150000-settlement-against-burlington-over-police-treatment-of-disabled-black-son/</link><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/mother-wins-150000-settlement-against-burlington-over-police-treatment-of-disabled-black-son/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington pays $150,000 settlement over police treatment of Black teen with disabilities]]></title><description><![CDATA[Burlington Police Department cruisers parked outside the department in Burlington on Monday, August 26, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe City of Burlington is paying a $150,000 settlement over claims that Burlington Police officers used excessive force and were racially discriminatory in their treatment of a Black teen with behavioral and intellectual disabilities, the teen&rsquo;s lawyers announced Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;The lawsuit, which the teen&rsquo;s mother, Cathy Austrian, filed m]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-pays-150000-settlement-over-police-treatment-of-black-teen-with-disabilities/</link><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 23:37:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-pays-150000-settlement-over-police-treatment-of-black-teen-with-disabilities/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s flash flood season opens with washed-out roads — and a heat advisory right behind it]]></title><description><![CDATA[Pedestrians cover themselves from the rain as they walk along Main Street in Richmond on Friday, August 9, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont is entering the most flood-prone stretch of its year with a double-barreled forecast: more thunderstorms possible through the weekend and the first heat wave of the season already triggering advisories across much of the state.A large mass of humid air has made its way from the Gulf and across the South up to states in the Northeast, bringing al]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-flash-flood-season-opens-with-washed-out-roads-and-a-heat-advisory-right-behind-it/</link><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 23:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-flash-flood-season-opens-with-washed-out-roads-and-a-heat-advisory-right-behind-it/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont student activist Mohsen Mahdawi faces new deportation order]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mohsen Mahdawi speaks after being released in Burlington on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Photo by Caleb Kenna/VTDiggerA federal immigration judge last week ordered Mohsen Mahdawi, the Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist arrested in Colchester last year, to be removed from the U.S. to Jordan, according to legal filings made public Wednesday.&nbsp;Mahdawi, a green card holder who lives in the Upper Valley, has already moved to appeal the federal government&rsquo;s decision, acc]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-student-activist-mohsen-mahdawi-faces-new-deportation-order/</link><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-student-activist-mohsen-mahdawi-faces-new-deportation-order/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[There’s no such thing as ‘other people’s money’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,In his recent commentary for VTDigger, Matt Swenson laments a governing class distant from the working class in Vermont. Really? It seems to me that many Vermont legislators are themselves working class. All were elected by Vermont residents, not second-home owners. And, of course, all legislators live under the laws they pass.Swenson presents his argument as a defense of the working class, but his claim that &ldquo;The productive class pays. The credentialed ideological class decid]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/theres-no-such-thing-as-other-peoples-money/</link><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/theres-no-such-thing-as-other-peoples-money/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s net metering decision just made solar harder]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Linda Gray, a Norwich energy committee member; Catherine Crawley, the former Stowe energy committee chair; Jeff Forward, a former Richmond climate action committee member; Jim Hand, a Dorset energy committee member; and Allison Pouliot, a Bristol energy committee member.As long-standing current and former members of Vermont&rsquo;s active and dispersed network of town energy committees, we have worked hard to advance solutions in our communities, and for our friends and ne]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-net-metering-decision-just-made-solar-harder/</link><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:52:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-net-metering-decision-just-made-solar-harder/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s largest health insurer wants to offer a cheaper plan. Can it actually help Vermonters?]]></title><description><![CDATA[BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont headquarters in Berlin, pictured in October 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerVermont&rsquo;s largest commercial health insurer wants to offer a new suite of cheaper plans, but the state&rsquo;s primary healthcare regulator is casting doubt on whether that would actually yield any real savings.When expanded federal subsidies for people buying health insurance ended at the end of 2025, the number of Vermonters receiving that assistance dropped by more than]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-largest-health-insurer-wants-to-offer-a-cheaper-plan-can-it-actually-help-vermonters/</link><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:25:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-largest-health-insurer-wants-to-offer-a-cheaper-plan-can-it-actually-help-vermonters/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Feds approve $31.7 million in disaster aid for flood-hit Vermont farmers]]></title><description><![CDATA[The flooded greenhouse at the New Farms for New Americans farm in the Intervale. File photo by Hannah Cho/VTDiggerVermont farmers impacted by sweeping floods in 2023 and 2024 will receive more than $30 million in specialized relief funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the office of U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., confirmed Wednesday.&nbsp;In a Senate committee hearing Wednesday with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Welch asked for an update on the status of the more than $62 mill]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/feds-approve-317-million-in-disaster-aid-for-flood-hit-vermont-farmers/</link><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:55:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/feds-approve-317-million-in-disaster-aid-for-flood-hit-vermont-farmers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s media has a rural blind spot]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Neil Ryan, a third-generation Vermont farmer and consultant helping brands and nonprofits in Corinth.&nbsp;A cross-partisan grassroots movement of many thousands rises from nowhere, forces the reversal of large parts of a gargantuan law months before its rules take effect, and offers a hyper-articulate set of underrepresented economic, cultural and policy interests. In an objective newsroom, that is the story of the year. At Vermont Public, VTDigger and Seven Days, coverag]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-media-has-a-rural-blind-spot/</link><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-media-has-a-rural-blind-spot/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Like Christmas’: For Vermont’s Congolese community, a historic World Cup bid is cause for celebration]]></title><description><![CDATA[Muyisa Mutume, owner of the M Square Market in Winooski, is rooting for the Leopards soccer teams of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the upcoming World Cup. Seen on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerWINOOSKI &mdash; Muyisa Mutume&rsquo;s neighborhood grocery store here is always stocked with food and drinks popular in his native Congo. But in recent months, he&rsquo;s also been selling something else: soccer jerseys.That&rsquo;s because, for the first time in more than h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/like-christmas-for-vermonts-congolese-community-a-historic-world-cup-bid-is-cause-for-celebration/</link><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/like-christmas-for-vermonts-congolese-community-a-historic-world-cup-bid-is-cause-for-celebration/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Conversation: Are smartphones birth control? Economist Caitlin Myers on sex, abortion access and talking across divides]]></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.Caitlin Myers is the John G. McCullough Professor of Economics at Middlebury College. Courtesy photoThe birth rate in the U.S. has dropped by an astonishing 22% since 2007. Are smartphones to blame?Yes, according to a groundbreaking new study by Middlebury econom]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-are-smartphones-birth-control-economist-caitlin-myers-on-sex-abortion-access-and-talking-across-divides/</link><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-conversation-are-smartphones-birth-control-economist-caitlin-myers-on-sex-abortion-access-and-talking-across-divides/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Facing hard truths is the only way to save Vermont’s rural schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,The challenges facing Vermont voters who believe in the value of public education are many. Vermont has many small, remote schools, and the population of school-age children and tax-paying parents is decreasing. The burden from income tax, sales tax and property tax hits everyone hard.But the education problem is also a housing and healthcare problem. Housing is scarce and expensive, and health insurance premiums are among the highest in the country.There are no easy or quick soluti]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/facing-hard-truths-is-the-only-way-to-save-vermonts-rural-schools/</link><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/facing-hard-truths-is-the-only-way-to-save-vermonts-rural-schools/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marjorie Sugar]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 09/14/1942Danvers, MADied: 05/30/2026Hanceville, ALDetails of service:A service and shiva was held on June 2 in Birmingham, Alabama.With great sadness, we announce the passing of Marjorie Suanne Sugar, who died on May 30, 2026, at the age of 83. Margy grew up in the greater Washington, DC area, followed by 30 years in Vermont (Brattleboro, Johnson and Jericho), and finally 25 years in Birmingham, Alabama.Marjorie was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Samuel J. Sugar and Naomi V. S]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marjorie-sugar/</link><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:56:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/marjorie-sugar/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont Green FC plays Canada’s national soccer team in World Cup tuneup]]></title><description><![CDATA[Vermont Green FC plays a friendly match against the Canadian men&rsquo;s national soccer team on June 6 in Montreal ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Photo courtesy of Vermont Green FCVermont Green FC, a semi-professional soccer club based in Burlington, played the Canadian men&rsquo;s national team in a pre-FIFA World Cup scrimmage Saturday.&nbsp;The game, held in Montreal, served as one of Canada&rsquo;s final training sessions before competing in this year&rsquo;s World Cup, which starts Thursday]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-green-fc-plays-canadas-national-soccer-team-in-world-cup-tuneup/</link><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:45:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-green-fc-plays-canadas-national-soccer-team-in-world-cup-tuneup/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont students are losing a critical learning tool]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,As a reading interventionist at a Vermont public middle school, I witness daily how technology shapes our students&rsquo; futures. We use Google Chromebooks for statewide testing, diagnostic testing and even for daily instruction.&nbsp;&nbsp;As a Vermont teacher, I am expected to have all my work available through the web-based learning management system, Google Classroom, to regularly check my Gmail and to use only Google tools in my job. Generally, this helps Vermont schools move]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-students-are-losing-a-critical-learning-tool/</link><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 23:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-students-are-losing-a-critical-learning-tool/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington-area rental market cools off, bringing some relief for tenants]]></title><description><![CDATA[Signs advertising apartments and houses for rent in Burlington&rsquo;s Old North End seen on Tuesday, June 9, 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.Ally Quirk loved her Winooski apartment, with its scenic river views, proximity to restaurants, and amenities like in-unit laundry. But the monthly rent of $2,450 for a one-bedroom was straining her budget. So Quirk, a t]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-area-rental-market-cools-off-bringing-some-relief-for-tenants/</link><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 23:09:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-area-rental-market-cools-off-bringing-some-relief-for-tenants/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Top court rules in favor of Green Mountain Power in lawsuit over child injured at substation]]></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 sided with Green Mountain Power in a lawsuit stemming from a child who suffered severe burns after entering a fenced and locked substation in Springfield more than a decade ago.The state&rsquo;s highest court in its decision Friday ruled that Green Mountain Power was not liable for the child&rsquo;s injuries.&nbsp;Windsor County Superior Court Judge H.]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/top-court-rules-in-favor-of-green-mountain-power-in-lawsuit-over-child-injured-at-substation/</link><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/top-court-rules-in-favor-of-green-mountain-power-in-lawsuit-over-child-injured-at-substation/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM Health cuts 142 jobs — an estimated $9.5 million in staff positions]]></title><description><![CDATA[The University of Vermont Medical Center complex. Photo courtesy of UVM Health NetworkUpdated 4:21 p.m.The University of Vermont Health cut 142 positions across its Vermont and New York hospitals and hospice care network Tuesday. The positions affected are largely administrative, a spokesperson for the hospital told VTDigger.UVM Health laid off 76 staff members and is reassigning the remaining 66 in new roles. UVM Health, which consists of three hospitals in Vermont, three in New York and a hom]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-cuts-142-jobs-an-estimated-95-million-in-staff-positions/</link><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-cuts-142-jobs-an-estimated-95-million-in-staff-positions/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UVM Health cuts 142 jobs — an estimated $9 million in staff positions]]></title><description><![CDATA[The University of Vermont Medical Center complex. Photo courtesy of UVM Health NetworkThe University of Vermont Health cut 142 positions across its Vermont and New York hospitals and hospice care network Tuesday. The positions affected are largely administrative, a spokesperson for the hospital told VTDigger.UVM Health laid off 76 staff members and is reassigning the remaining 66 in new roles. UVM Health, which consists of three hospitals in Vermont, three in New York and a home health and hosp]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-cuts-142-jobs-an-estimated-9-million-in-staff-positions/</link><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/uvm-health-cuts-142-jobs-an-estimated-9-million-in-staff-positions/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont is talking. Is Montpelier listening?]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Loralee Tester, the executive director of the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce.A few weeks ago, my 17-year-old son published a commentary in VTDigger. His high school assignment was to write about something overrated. He chose Vermont.He wrote about the beauty, and then about everything behind it: the cost, the lack of opportunity, the missing infrastructure. He is a straight-A student, a competitive swimmer, a Poetry Out Loud finalist &mdash; exactly the kind of youn]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-talking-is-montpelier-listening/</link><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:58:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-is-talking-is-montpelier-listening/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A career as an art gallery curator is in Rose’s future]]></title><description><![CDATA[A career in art as a gallery curator is Rose&rsquo;s calling. She&rsquo;s creative, thoughtful, and observant, and is interested in inspiring others.&nbsp; And she knows she can do a lot in the art world with the bachelor&rsquo;s degree she just got from Vermont State University, and the master&rsquo;s degree she is pursuing next year.&nbsp;&ldquo;I know how to do every job,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;My professors here taught me all of it. And I&rsquo;m able to aspire to this dream because of the]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-career-as-an-art-gallery-curator-is-in-roses-future/</link><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:42:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/a-career-as-an-art-gallery-curator-is-in-roses-future/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pleading for routine purchases: Inside the chaos at the Forest Service in Vermont]]></title><description><![CDATA[Photo illustration by Greta Solsaa/VTDigger. Photo by Ellen Bartlett/VTDiggerHundreds of pages of records obtained by VTDigger reveal internal confusion in the U.S. Forest Service in Vermont during the first months of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s second term, with federal cutbacks and budget slowdowns leaving research and conservation projects hanging in the balance.&nbsp;&nbsp;The documents provide a look inside the agency as staff responsible for the Green Mountain National Forest &mdash; h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pleading-for-routine-purchases-inside-the-chaos-at-the-forest-service-in-vermont-2/</link><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pleading-for-routine-purchases-inside-the-chaos-at-the-forest-service-in-vermont-2/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pleading for routine purchases: Inside the chaos at the Forest Service in Vermont.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Photo illustration by Greta Solsaa/VTDigger. Photo by Ellen Bartlett/VTDiggerHundreds of pages of records obtained by VTDigger reveal internal confusion in the U.S. Forest Service in Vermont during the first months of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s second term, with federal cutbacks and budget slowdowns leaving research and conservation projects hanging in the balance.&nbsp;&nbsp;The documents provide a look inside the agency as staff responsible for the Green Mountain National Forest &mdash; h]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pleading-for-routine-purchases-inside-the-chaos-at-the-forest-service-in-vermont/</link><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:30:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/pleading-for-routine-purchases-inside-the-chaos-at-the-forest-service-in-vermont/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hybrid town meeting benefits to be studied in Charlotte]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jack Grossman, Lauren Ecock and Kristen Lupini at Town Meeting in Charlotte. Photo by Sophie MacMillan/VTDigger<br />
This story by Liberty Darr was first published in The Citizen on June 4, 2026.Since Charlotte&rsquo;s Town Meeting Day in March, folks have wondered how to keep the annual event at least somewhat traditional.The topic of a traditional in-person Town Meeting Day has largely been one of the most debated topics in town in recent months, particularly since 106 people voted by paper ballot]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hybrid-town-meeting-benefits-to-be-studied-in-charlotte/</link><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 01:24:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/hybrid-town-meeting-benefits-to-be-studied-in-charlotte/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New roadside marker celebrates Ann Story, ‘Mother of the Green Mountain Boys’]]></title><description><![CDATA[The new Ann Story marker will go up at the intersection of Story Drive and Shard Villa Road in Salisbury. Photo by Kyle Neece/Community News ServiceKyle Neece is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont&rsquo;s Reporting &amp; Documentary Storytelling program.SALISBURY &mdash; On the morning of May 30, Vermonters gathered at the site of a cabin belonging to Revolutionary War hero Ann Story. Known as the &ldquo;Mother of the Green Mountain Boys,&rdquo; Story]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-roadside-marker-celebrates-ann-story-mother-of-the-green-mountain-boys/</link><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:48:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/new-roadside-marker-celebrates-ann-story-mother-of-the-green-mountain-boys/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The state can’t fix Vermont’s hospitals by telling them what to do]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by James Hodge, who is a member of the board of trustees of Copley Hospital.In a recent article, VTDigger reported on the lack of progress by two lead state agencies, the Green Mountain Care Board and the Agency of Human Services, in developing a consistent, workable hospital transformation plan.&nbsp;The reason for the problem is simple. The approach the state is following will not work. The state wants to implement a top-down plan in which AHS coordinates all transformation]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-state-cant-fix-vermonts-hospitals-by-telling-them-what-to-do/</link><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 23:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/the-state-cant-fix-vermonts-hospitals-by-telling-them-what-to-do/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Montpelier’s former post office is up for auction this month. Its lead contender has doubts about the property’s condition.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The buidling that used to house the U.S.Post Office in Montpelier is up for auction. Seen on Monday, June 8, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe former Montpelier post office, vacant since the July 2023 flood, will go up for federal auction starting June 15, finally putting within reach the fate of one of downtown&rsquo;s most prominent buildings.The most interested buyer, however, still has major questions about what could be hidden inside.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re talking about a stone&rsquo;s]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/montpeliers-former-post-office-is-up-for-auction-this-month-its-lead-contender-has-doubts-about-the-propertys-condition/</link><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:39:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/montpeliers-former-post-office-is-up-for-auction-this-month-its-lead-contender-has-doubts-about-the-propertys-condition/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Spent fuel is the nuclear elephant in the room]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,Over the past months, there have been several letters to the editor advocating nuclear power&rsquo;s return to Vermont. Various reasons are given for this view.Not one of these letters has addressed the issue of what to do with the spent fuel. The casks of spent fuel &mdash; otherwise known as high-level nuclear waste &mdash; from the decommissioned Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant are still lining the bank of the Connecticut River in Vernon. If anything were to cause one to ruptu]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/spent-fuel-is-the-nuclear-elephant-in-the-room/</link><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:18:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/spent-fuel-is-the-nuclear-elephant-in-the-room/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Vermonters want more from their careers, The Curtis Fund helps make it happen]]></title><description><![CDATA[Nikki Howard could see the kind of work she wanted long before she had the certification to do it. At Vermont Orthopedic Clinic, she was working as a licensed nursing assistant, close to patients every day, and watching the medical assistants do tasks she hoped to learn herself someday. She liked the job she had, but she also knew she wanted more.That next step meant going back to school for a medical assistant certification, and that is where things got hard. Nikki was working full-time and ba]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-vermonters-want-more-from-their-careers-the-curtis-fund-helps-make-it-happen/</link><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:12:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/when-vermonters-want-more-from-their-careers-the-curtis-fund-helps-make-it-happen/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s public lands are costly to maintain. And soon, many may be more expensive to visit.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Anglers travel the water near the Lamoille River fishing access in Milton on Saturday, May 30, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for&nbsp;VTDigger.MILTON &mdash;&nbsp; Standing on a dock at a Lamoille River fishing access last week, Andrea Shortsleeve said that ballooning expenses and high demand are making state land and infrastructure harder and harder to manage.Moments later, Shortsleeve, who is the Vermont Fish and Wild]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-public-lands-are-costly-to-maintain-and-soon-many-may-be-more-expensive-to-visit/</link><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:16:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-public-lands-are-costly-to-maintain-and-soon-many-may-be-more-expensive-to-visit/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[One UVM lab’s surprise discovery led to flu science breakthrough]]></title><description><![CDATA[Emily Bruce, assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, at the University of Vermont in Burlington in April 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerIt was by accident that Emily Bruce&rsquo;s lab upended a long-held understanding of how the flu virus infects humans and stumbled across a finding that could set the stage for better prevention.That chance discovery evolved into a paper out this week in the Journal of Virology that details how different flu viruses enter and infe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/one-uvm-labs-surprise-discovery-led-to-flu-science-breakthrough/</link><pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:23:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/one-uvm-labs-surprise-discovery-led-to-flu-science-breakthrough/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Down the tubes: Vermont volunteers crawl culverts to outsmart the next flood]]></title><description><![CDATA[UVM students help clear leaves from a culvert as part of the Culvert Crawlers program. Photo courtesy Charis BokeA tube of corrugated metal running under a road might not look like much. But when the rain comes, these structures can mean the difference between a road that survives and one that washes out.&nbsp;Vermont has over 100,000 culverts doing the quiet daily work of protecting a vast network of state and town roads, including many gravel and dirt byways. Small towns in particular can str]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/down-the-tubes-vermont-volunteers-crawl-culverts-to-outsmart-the-next-flood/</link><pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 13:38:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/down-the-tubes-vermont-volunteers-crawl-culverts-to-outsmart-the-next-flood/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Waiting for prior authorization almost killed me]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Editor,The recent commentary in VTDigger regarding prior authorization was spot on. Prior authorizations are indeed &ldquo;prior aggravations&rdquo; for both patients and physicians. As a patient who nearly lost his life from such aggravations 20 years ago, I know firsthand what this means.&nbsp; Thousands of other Vermonters know it too: Insurance companies are practicing a very real form of healthcare rationing, not based on medical need, but on corporate profits, even as they try to con]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/waiting-for-prior-authorization-almost-killed-me/</link><pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 13:28:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/waiting-for-prior-authorization-almost-killed-me/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Notch-blocker fines to increase tenfold]]></title><description><![CDATA[From 2009 to 2021, an average of 8.6 trucks have gotten stuck in the Notch each year, according to data from the Vermont Agency of Transportation. That number decreased in 2021 to only five stuck semis. File photo by Greg Popa/Stowe ReporterThis story by Tracy Brannstrom was first published in The News &amp; Citizen on June 4, 2026.A new Vermont law will sharply increase penalties for oversized vehicles that illegally travel through Smugglers Notch.S.326, a wide-ranging motor vehicle bill passe]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/notch-blocker-fines-to-increase-tenfold/</link><pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/notch-blocker-fines-to-increase-tenfold/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Play it again, Sam: A Vermont picture palace reels in new money with old movies]]></title><description><![CDATA[A coming-attractions poster for the 1950 film &ldquo;Sunset Boulevard&rdquo; looks over the lobby of Brattleboro&rsquo;s historic Latchis Theatre. Photo by Kevin O&rsquo;Connor/VTDiggerBRATTLEBORO &mdash; Ever since the Latchis Theatre debuted the day after the Great New England Hurricane of 1938, its operators have aimed to take the town by storm with one splashy film premiere after another.Consider &ldquo;That Certain Age,&rdquo; a now forgotten musical comedy &ldquo;rushed from Hollywood by]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/play-it-again-sam-a-vermont-picture-palace-reels-in-new-money-with-old-movies/</link><pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 12:43:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/play-it-again-sam-a-vermont-picture-palace-reels-in-new-money-with-old-movies/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[South Burlington Planning Commission discusses data centers]]></title><description><![CDATA[This story by Liberty Darr was first published in The Other Paper on&nbsp; June 4, 2026.As the conversation around digital data centers stirs strong emotions across the entire country, Vermont and some of its municipalities, including South Burlington, have hopped onto the conversation to get at least a bit of a handle on the rapidly evolving industry.That&rsquo;s at least the initial approach South Burlington is taking. The city&rsquo;s planning commission has outlined some initial land use re]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/south-burlington-planning-commission-discusses-data-centers/</link><pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:53:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/south-burlington-planning-commission-discusses-data-centers/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center birthing pavilion to establish drug treatment program for patients]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Patient Pavilion at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, in May 2025. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley NewsThis story by Clare Shanahan was first published in the Valley News on June 4, 2026.LEBANON, N.H. &mdash; Dartmouth Health recently announced plans to use $900,000 in federal funds to establish an inpatient substance use treatment program in the birthing pavilion at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.More babies born at DHMC have been exposed to substances in]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-hitchcock-medical-center-birthing-pavilion-to-establish-drug-treatment-program-for-patients/</link><pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:01:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/dartmouth-hitchcock-medical-center-birthing-pavilion-to-establish-drug-treatment-program-for-patients/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[County prosecutor and sheriff who rebuffed calls to resign don’t file for reelection]]></title><description><![CDATA[Addison County State&rsquo;s Attorney Eva Vekos, left, and Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer have not filed paperwork to run for their current positions again. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerTwo elected county law enforcement officials in Vermont who rebuffed calls to resign that came from political leaders across parties, including Gov. Phil Scott, did not file for reelection.Addison County State&rsquo;s Attorney Eva Vekos and Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer, both Democrats, did not submi]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/county-prosecutor-and-sheriff-who-rebuffed-calls-to-resign-dont-file-for-reelection/</link><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 23:13:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/county-prosecutor-and-sheriff-who-rebuffed-calls-to-resign-dont-file-for-reelection/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Theresa McMahon LaPrad]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 03/03/1935Malone, NYDied: 06/04/2026Malone, NYDetails of service:Funeral services: TBD.Theresa McMahon LaPrad, age 91, of Constable, New York, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, June 4, 2026, at the Alice Hyde Hospital in Malone, New York.Born on March 3, 1935, in Malone, New York, Theresa was the daughter of Mary Molahan McMahon, who emigrated from County Longford, Ireland, and Thomas Raymond McMahon. She graduated from St. Joseph&rsquo;s Ursuline Academy in June 1954 and began]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/theresa-mcmahon-laprad/</link><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 23:07:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/theresa-mcmahon-laprad/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘Swatting’ incidents becoming more common for school districts, law enforcement officials]]></title><description><![CDATA[Law enforcement officials leave Montpelier High School in Feb. 2023, after giving the building the all-clear. Vermont police agencies responded to threats reported at multiple schools, which appeared to be hoax calls.File photo by Riley Robinson/VTDiggerThe calls arrived all the same: a garbled, AI-generated voice, speaking from the same script, warning seven Vermont schools of a bomb threat.In Burlington, Newport, Winooski and Montpelier, school buildings were cleared, classes were evacuated,]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/swatting-incidents-becoming-more-common-for-school-districts-law-enforcement-officials/</link><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:08:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/swatting-incidents-becoming-more-common-for-school-districts-law-enforcement-officials/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[All gifts matched Saturday, June 6: Help send final books during VTDigger member drive]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Reader,We&rsquo;re just 53 books away from our goal of sending 400 books to Vermont children through the Children&rsquo;s Literacy Foundation (CLiF).On Saturday, June 6, all gifts before midnight will be matched by a generous Vermont donor, doubling the impact of your donation for trusted Vermont news.<br />
Donate &amp; send a book<br />
Your donation will:&bull; Put a brand-new book into the hands of a Vermont child<br />
&bull; Go twice as far to power independent reporting across the stateFor some child]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/all-gifts-matched-saturday-june-6-help-send-final-books-during-vtdigger-member-drive/</link><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/all-gifts-matched-saturday-june-6-help-send-final-books-during-vtdigger-member-drive/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Vermonters who leave can’t stay away]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Justin Neuman, who is a professor of literary studies at Eugene Lang College, The New School.&nbsp;&nbsp;Everyone who makes the drive north on Interstate 91 knows the feeling. The chaos of Connecticut, funneled into the inevitable snarl at the hard turn in Springfield, Massachusetts &mdash; and then the hills appear, the billboards vanish, the traffic melts away, and you can breathe. You&rsquo;re home.When I was growing up in Vermont, I looked at the Massachusetts, Connect]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-vermonters-who-leave-cant-stay-away/</link><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:02:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/why-vermonters-who-leave-cant-stay-away/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cynthia S. Ross]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 11/22/1938Mount Jewett, Pa.Died: 06/01/2026Berlin, Vt.Details of service:Ceremony and burial will be at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph, Vt. for her family, military family and close friends on June 16 at 1 p.m.Cynthia Stimmel Ross of Barre, Vt., passed away peacefully on Monday June 1, 2026, at the age of 87. Born on November 22, 1938, she was the daughter of Eugene and Leocadia Stimmel. Cynthia led a life defined by dedicated service to her country and a compassionate]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cynthia-s-ross/</link><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:17:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/cynthia-s-ross/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Musical chairs: Many Vermont House and Senate leaders won’t seek reelection]]></title><description><![CDATA[Senators bid farewell to each other after the Senate adjourned for the year at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, May 29, 2026. From left to right are Sen. Chris Mattos, R-Chittenden North; Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison; Sen. Martine Gulick, D-Chittenden Central; Sen Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor; Sen. Robert Norris, R-Franklin; and Sen. Nader Hashim, D-Windham. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerLeadership in the Vermont Legislature is going to look a lot different next year.The top lawmakers in bo]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/musical-chairs-many-vermont-house-and-senate-leaders-wont-seek-reelection/</link><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:47:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/musical-chairs-many-vermont-house-and-senate-leaders-wont-seek-reelection/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burlington officials defend police actions during ICE raid, but Police Commission pushes back]]></title><description><![CDATA[Protesters scuffle with federal law enforcement agents and Vermont State Troopers in South Burlington on March 11, 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA Burlington Police Department report released this week concluded that its officers didn&rsquo;t use excessive force during an immigration enforcement action in South Burlington earlier this year.But in a response to the department&rsquo;s report, the city&rsquo;s Police Commission challenged some claims on which that determination was bas]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-officials-defend-police-actions-during-ice-raid-but-police-commission-pushes-back/</link><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:40:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/burlington-officials-defend-police-actions-during-ice-raid-but-police-commission-pushes-back/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ex-deputy accused of short-circuiting murder trial now faces obstruction charge]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Lamoille County Courthouse in April 2025. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerA former Lamoille County deputy sheriff who was accused of improperly questioning a murder suspect while transporting him to trial has been indicted on three felony charges.Christopher Turner, 43, of Johnson, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Lamoille County Superior criminal court in Hyde Park to two counts of obstruction of justice and a single charge of false swearing.&nbsp;It appears from the three-count indictm]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ex-deputy-accused-of-short-circuiting-murder-trial-now-faces-obstruction-charge/</link><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/ex-deputy-accused-of-short-circuiting-murder-trial-now-faces-obstruction-charge/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[80-hour weeks and drowning in debt: UVM Medical Center resident doctors rally for a new contract]]></title><description><![CDATA[Union doctors and staff workers at the University of Vermont Medical Center, along with their supporters, call for a fair contract during a rally in Burlington on Thursday, June 4, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerNearly 70 early-career doctors rallied outside UVM Medical Center in Burlington on Thursday to put pressure on the hospital&rsquo;s administration to agree to a contract that&rsquo;s been in negotiations since January.&nbsp;Many doctors and union activists marched, chanted and wav]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/80-hour-weeks-and-drowning-in-debt-uvm-medical-center-resident-doctors-rally-for-a-new-contract/</link><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:27:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/80-hour-weeks-and-drowning-in-debt-uvm-medical-center-resident-doctors-rally-for-a-new-contract/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Margaret Harrington Tamulonis]]></title><description><![CDATA[Born: 01/25/1943New York, NYDied: 05/29/2026Burlington, VTDetails of service:Margaret Harrington Tamulonis, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, actress, activist, volunteer, and storyteller, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2026 at the UVM Medical Center in Burlington after a long illness, surrounded by the love of her family. She was 83.She was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend whose intelligence, humor, strength and warmth enriched the lives of everyone who knew her. Sh]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/margaret-harrington-tamulonis/</link><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:59:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/margaret-harrington-tamulonis/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont eyes South Burlington for new youth facility. A state advocate calls it a ‘detention center.’]]></title><description><![CDATA[A rendering of the proposed Green Mountain Youth Campus when it was considered in Vergennes. Image courtesy of Vermont Department for Children and Families<br />
Vermont plans to build a permanent locked facility for young people involved in the state&rsquo;s justice system in South Burlington, the state announced this week.&nbsp;The 14-bed facility, called the Green Mountain Youth Center, would hold youth ages 12 through 18, according to an announcement from the Vermont Department for Children and F]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-eyes-south-burlington-for-new-youth-facility-a-state-advocate-calls-it-a-detention-center/</link><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:49:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermont-eyes-south-burlington-for-new-youth-facility-a-state-advocate-calls-it-a-detention-center/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s governing class is destroying the state it claims to serve]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Matt Swenson, who is the founder of Omnidex Solutions, a risk diagnostics company. He lives in Vermont.Vermont is dying by its own hand.Not dramatically, not all at once, but steadily, in the way ideological rot always works. It hollows things out from the inside while the surface still looks functional. The farms are still here. The mountains are still here. But the people who built this place &mdash; who worked it, paid for it, defended it &mdash; are being pushed out by]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-governing-class-is-destroying-the-state-it-claims-to-serve/</link><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:14:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-governing-class-is-destroying-the-state-it-claims-to-serve/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermont’s proposed school mergers aren’t really voluntary]]></title><description><![CDATA[This commentary is by Nina Antin, who is the parent of a Long Trail School student. They divide their time between Manchester and a farm on the Arlington border with White Creek, New York.Vermont&rsquo;s new education law, H.955 &mdash; which has passed the House and Senate and is now awaiting the governor&rsquo;s signature &mdash; has been described by its supporters as a voluntary framework, one that gives communities the freedom to study consolidation, vote on their future and chart their ow]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-proposed-school-mergers-arent-really-voluntary/</link><pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:50:00 +0200</pubDate><guid>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/vermonts-proposed-school-mergers-arent-really-voluntary/</guid></item><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[At Burlington Discover 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 Discover 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 i]]></description><link>https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/region/vermont/at-burlington-discover-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-discover-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></channel></rss>