Vermont news

• Super Senior: Ernie Strong

  30-06-2017 00:00
  
  Ernie Strong has 17 acres of paradise with a splendid view of Mount Mansfield.
  
  Read more

• Burlington City Council confirms Geraci as new police chief with 10-2 vote

  11-11-2026 00:33 via VTDigger
  
  Anthony Geraci chats with Burlington City Councilor Allie Schacter, D-East District, after being ratified as the new police chief at City Hall in Burlington on Monday, November 9, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell, VTDiggerBURLINGTON — Anthony Geraci started Tuesday as Burlington’s new police chief amid some concerns about accountability related to a previous position of leadership.In a 10-2 vote after 8 p.m. Monday, the City Council confirmed Progressive Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak’s appointme
  
  Read more

• Annual count finds slight decline in homelessness in Vermont 

  11-11-2026 00:00 via VTDigger
  
  The cold weather shelter at the Miller Center in Burlington in Jan. 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerCarly Berlin covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public, in partnership with VTDigger.For the second year running, an annual tally found a modest decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness in Vermont. “On its face, this is an encouraging finding. We certainly want to see fewer people experiencing homelessness in Vermont, and any movement in that direction is
  
  Read more

• A broken heart, and a strong backbone

  10-11-2026 23:54 via VTDigger
  
  Veterans’ Advocate Garry DuFour examines a 1980s map that details the number of Veterans Administration locations available in each section of the country. Photo by Danielle M. Crosier/Vermont News and MediaThis story by Danielle M. Crosier was first published in the Bennington Banner on Nov. 9, 2026.PAWLET — In 1968, Garry DuFour was drafted into a war that he strongly opposed. More than half a century later, he has found that he never stopped serving. Disillusioned from the start, DuFour�
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Vermont can’t build its way to affordability

  10-11-2026 23:40 via VTDigger
  
  Dear Editor,Act 250, now maligned by builders, real estate agents and financiers, has kept unmitigated growth and sprawl at bay in Vermont for years. It was enacted by people who wanted to keep the natural beauty of Vermont’s woods, fields and open spaces protected from the wanton destruction of urban growth and capital greed.And it worked. But the Vermont of half a century ago is gone. The idyllic, romantic view of old rural Vermont has somehow persisted while our towns have become cities a
  
  Read more

• Kid Governor shows our future voters that their voices matter now

  10-11-2026 23:28 via VTDigger
  
  This commentary is by Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Vermont’s secretary of state. Think of a problem that’s too big for you to solve alone. One that requires bringing people together and participating in collective action to propose solutions. This is really the crux of civics and democracy. It’s the question I pose to Vermont’s students whenever I visit classrooms, and some of those students are answering it on a public stage right now — fifth graders, to be exact.Vermont’s Kid Governor
  
  Read more

• Why do only 2 health insurers sell plans on Vermont’s exchange?

  10-11-2026 23:09 via VTDigger
  
  Left: BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont headquarters in Berlin in Oct. 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger. Right: A building for the MVP insurance agency on State Street in the downtown section of Schenectady, New York, captured Oct. 2, 2020. Photo by Tyler A. McNeil via Wikimedia Commons.Over the weekend, Andrew Garland, an executive at BlueCross and BlueShield of Vermont, found himself at Home Depot staring down the array of tools that “all seemed to do the same thing,” he said. DeWalt?
  
  Read more

• Mya Adams is soaring toward a career in aviation

  10-11-2026 16:11 via VTDigger
  
  Mya Adams first considered a career as a pilot after watching an aviation documentary. She watched another, and another, and soon her mom was calling it her new hobby. Mya was intrigued by the risk management aspect of flying. “There is this saying that ‘the rules and regulations are written in blood,’” she said. “Each one was put in place because there are lives in your hands when you operate a plane. It’s a big responsibility.” Encouraging her passion at Habitat for Aviation Af
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• A different kind of return: Investing in Vermont’s future

  10-11-2026 15:21 via VTDigger
  
  What if charitable dollars could go beyond grants to help build homes, grow businesses, and strengthen Vermont communities?That’s the idea behind mission investing at the Vermont Community Foundation. By investing 5% of nearly every charitable fund it manages in Vermont businesses and community projects, the Foundation helps create local opportunities while seeking financial returns that support future charitable giving.A new short film from the Vermont Community Foundation takes viewers acro
  
  Read more

• Measles cases found in Orleans County, health officials warn

  10-11-2026 00:20 via VTDigger
  
  Measles, mumps and rubella virus vaccine at Union Community Care clinic in Lancaster, Pa., on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. Photo by Jessie Wardarski/APThe Vermont Department of Health has confirmed a “small number” of connected measles cases in Orleans County, it said Monday. An investigation and response are ongoing, according to a release.The department is asking healthcare providers to maintain a heightened awareness and report suspected cases immediately, even if there is not yet laboratory
  
  Read more

• Montpelier has its long-awaited housing blueprint for Country Club Road

  10-11-2026 00:02 via VTDigger
  
  An overhead rendering of a housing development project proposed by DEW Properties for the Country Club Road property in Montpelier that would incorporate townhomes and smaller buildings.MONTPELIER — Four years after buying a 138-acre former golf course to help solve its housing crisis, Montpelier finally has its most detailed development blueprint to date for Country Club Road.Under a non-binding letter of intent approved unanimously by the Montpelier City Council, developer DEW Properties ha
  
  Read more

• Air Force veteran takes a ride of a lifetime

  09-11-2026 23:29 via VTDigger
  
  Lucille Malaney and her caretaker for the day, Karen Parotte, smile together. Courtesy photoThis story by Mari Huglin was first published in the Shelburne News on Nov. 5, 2026.On Oct. 2, Shelburne resident Lucille Malaney began a journey she would never forget.The 83-year-old, a United States Air Force veteran who served during the Vietnam War, joined around 30 other veterans for a flight from Plattsburgh, New York, to Washington, D.C.North Country Honor Flight, based in New York and Vermont, i
  
  Read more

• Vermont’s schools are not the problem. Property tax is.

  09-11-2026 23:10 via VTDigger
  
  This commentary is by Paul Cillo, a former member of the Vermont House and co-author of Act 60.In his 2025 inaugural address, Gov. Phil Scott decried rising education property taxes. He noted that if trends continue as they have, property tax bills will have increased by an average of 33% in just three years.It is true that changes made in the Legislature to Vermont’s education financing system have propelled property taxes skyward. But instead of addressing education taxes head-on, the gove
  
  Read more

• Stop strong-arming towns into signing off on regional plans

  09-11-2026 21:04 via VTDigger
  
  This commentary is by Colleen Geddis, founder of the Rural Vermont Rising Facebook group.Imagine being handed a 408-page document that will shape how land in your town can be used for decades. You get about 30 days’ notice before the first hearing. Your town’s map was redrawn only this summer, after the law changed again in June. And if your region misses the Dec. 31 deadline, your town could lose state grants, housing exemptions and the help it counts on after a disaster.That is exactly wh
  
  Read more

• VTDigger launches year-end drive with goal of providing 10,000 meals by Thanksgiving

  09-11-2026 21:00 via VTDigger
  
  Dear Reader,Vermonters have a long tradition of looking out for their neighbors. This year, you can support two essential community services: independent local news and access to food.Every gift to VTDigger during our year-end member drive helps keep Vermont informed and provides 10 meals through the Vermont Foodbank. Help us reach our goal of sending 10,000 meals by Thanksgiving.
  Donate and send 10 meals
  The need is real and growing. The Vermont Foodbank’s network partners, including food sh
  
  Read more

• Every child deserves someone in their corner

  09-11-2026 16:44 via VTDigger
  
  The Statewide GAL Conference held on October 23rd at Capitol Plaza in MontpelierWhen a child becomes involved in Vermont’s juvenile court system, there are often many adults involved in the decisions that will affect that child’s life. Parents, attorneys, social workers, court professionals and others may all have important roles to play.But in the middle of all of that, there is one perspective that can be difficult to fully understand from a courtroom: the child’s.That is where Vermont�
  
  Read more

• Losing Ground: Vermont’s Struggle Against River Erosion

  09-11-2026 16:01 via VTDigger
  
  This story is part of The Coming Storm, a yearlong investigation by VTDigger, in partnership with FRONTLINE (PBS), into Vermont’s ability to help communities recover from natural disasters.MARSHFIELD — Julie Rapczynski wasn’t worried that her home on the Nasmith Brook would flood. She couldn’t even see the quiet little river more than 300 feet away, hidden behind a wall of trees at the far edge of her property. Then, on July 10, 2023, torrential rain turned the river fast and swift. It
  
  Read more

• My teeth could kill me

  08-11-2026 16:07 via VTDigger
  
  Dear Editor,I’ve experienced avalanches, tornadoes, earthquakes, high-voltage shocks and aggressive toxins. And always gotten through. Usually shaken but escaping being stirred into nothingness. Ribs, arms, fingers, legs, back, neck — I’ve broken them all. And while not fun, none of them were dead ends. The hassle and patience of healing was always just a hiccup in my adventures. Twenty-five years ago, while training for an extreme skiing competition in Crested Butte, Colorado, I broke m
  
  Read more

• Setting the goal: more households with workers

  08-11-2026 15:32 via VTDigger
  
  Kate Trzaskos, executive director of the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, center, listens to Brattleboro Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director Rachel Shields Ebersole. Photo by Randolph T. Holhut/The CommonsThis story by Virginia Ray was first published in The Commons on Nov. 4, 2026.BRATTLEBORO — When State Treasurer Mike Pieciak asked his father what he earned after moving to Brattleboro in 1970, the answer was $10,000 — about $80,000 in today’s dollars. On that salary, his fath
  
  Read more

• Report finds Vermont is experiencing unprecedented weather extremes

  08-11-2026 14:17 via VTDigger
  
  A snowmaking gun operates at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston in Jan. 2023.File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThis is the first of two stories on the findings in a new climate assessment. The second story will look at adaptation strategies that the report says could reduce climate risks. Ski areas have a lot of priorities to balance when it comes to making snow in a changing climate.The majority of snowmaking machines at Vermont’s ski areas are several times more energy-efficient than
  
  Read more

• ‘Vermont wants a farm show’: Long-running agricultural event returns in April

  08-11-2026 13:24 via VTDigger
  
  Samual Jones, 3, of Milton, looks at Alison the cow with his dad Greg Jones, as Louie Terwilliter from Vermont Technical College looks on at the Vermont Farm Show. Photo by Bob LoCicero/VTDiggerThe Vermont Farm Show, a historic meeting place for farmers since the 1930s, is set to return next spring with the first show in seven years taking place April 16-17 at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction.The show, which attracted farmers and vendors from Vermont, New Hampshire, New York an
  
  Read more

• Vermont’s Sen. Bernie Sanders poised to get back powerful committee chair in new Congress

  08-11-2026 12:42 via VTDigger
  
  U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, speaks during a press conference with U.S. Senator Peter Welch, D-Vermont, at the Statehouse in Montpelier in February 2026. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerAfter Tuesday’s election swept Democrats into control of both houses of Congress, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said he intends to get back the powerful post he held two years ago: chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.He’ll use that post, he said in an intervi
  
  Read more

• Spiritual adviser to death row inmates visits Middlebury

  07-11-2026 12:50 via VTDigger
  
  Rev. Jeff Hood visits Middlebury Chapel during a trip to Addison County last week. Hood was in town for a screening of “The Spiritual Advisor,” a 23-minute documentary produced by Middlebury College professor James Chase Sanchez that follows Hood and his role as a spiritual advisor in the days leading up to the 2024 execution of Emmanuel Littlejohn in Oklahoma. Photo courtesy of Jeff HoodThis story by Marin Howell was first published in the Addison Independent on Nov. 5, 2026.MIDDLEBURY —
  
  Read more

• Susan Newell

  07-11-2026 00:59 via VTDigger
  
  Born: 04/08/1953Edinburgh, ScotlandDied: 09/11/2026Lebanon, NHDetails of service:In Loving Memory of Susan Newell (nee Donaldson).In the early morning hours of September 11th, 2026, Susan, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, passed away peacefully after a life that carried her from Scotland to the United States nearly 48 years ago. A graduate of the Edinburgh School of Nursing, she was a Registered Nurse and Certified Midwife.Fiercely proud of her Scottish roots, she carried Scotland with her wher
  
  Read more

• PHOTOS: Anti-ICE march of remembrance

  07-11-2026 00:20 via VTDigger
  
  More than 200 people participate in a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Williston on Friday, November 6, 2026. Local clergy carry cardboard coffins past the entrance to ICE’s National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center during a march from there to ICE’s Law Enforcement Support Center. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerActivists staged a mock funeral procession Friday in Williston to protest the presence of two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in
  
  Read more

• Promising growth, Utah-based investor leads board takeover at Ethan Allen

  07-11-2026 00:08 via VTDigger
  
  The Ethan Allen factory pictured in Orleans. Photo by Fred Thys/VTDiggerTheo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.Three of Ethan Allen’s five board members were ousted on Wednesday in a shareholder vote, marking a successful takeover led by Utah-based investor and former Verifone CEO Doug Bergeron. Ethan Allen, a furniture and interior design company, was founded in Vermont in 1932, and has long been an “anchor employer” in the state’s Northeast
  
  Read more

• Burlington City Council president launches bid for mayor

  06-11-2026 23:58 via VTDigger
  
  Democrat Ben Traverse, Ward 5 representative and president of the Burlington City Council, announced his bid to run for mayor at a press conference in Battery Park on Nov. 6. 2026, flanked by supporters of his campaign. Photo by Auditi Guha/VTDigger.BURLINGTON — City Council President Ben Traverse is running for mayor, potentially setting up a contest with the incumbent, Progressive Emma Mulvaney-Stanak.The mayor said Friday, in a statement via her political director, that she will make an an
  
  Read more

• Vermont stores feel ripple effect of strike at grocery distributor

  06-11-2026 23:48 via VTDigger
  
  An aisle in a grocery store with canned food items. Photo via Adobe StockSome Vermont grocery and convenience stores are seeing reduced stock and delayed deliveries as a New England labor union refuses to give up its pension plan.“We certainly hope that this is resolved soon,” said Matt Cota, executive director for the Vermont Retail and Grocers Association, a trade group representing the state’s retail stores. Teamsters at the Associated Grocers Northeast warehouse in Pembroke, New Hamp
  
  Read more

• ‘Where is your emergency?’: Hartford’s emergency communications specialists shortage echoes national trend

  06-11-2026 21:54 via VTDigger
  
  Christina Kramer, 47, answers a 911 phone call in the communications center of the Hartford Public Safety Building in White River Junction, Vt., on Thursday, October 29, 2026. An emergency communications specialist, Kramer takes phone calls and dispatches all over Vermont, often working between 65 and 70 hours a week. Photo by Sophie Levenson/Valley NewsWHITE RIVER JUNCTION — In the bathroom at the Hartford Emergency Communications Center, there are two radios and a phone atop the toilet tank
  
  Read more

• Essex Junction cannabis and duck farmer poised to get his growing license back

  06-11-2026 21:51 via VTDigger
  
  Jason Struthers with some of the cannabis plants at his licensced growing operation at his home in Essex Junction on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerThe Essex Junction man long mired in controversy for growing cannabis and raising ducks in his suburban backyard wants permission to keep cultivating. Vermont Superior Court Judge Thomas Walsh ruled late last month that Jason Struthers, who has farmed in his half-acre backyard since 2022, did not violate local zoning la
  
  Read more

Follow @NewsVermont_ on Twitter!