Courtesy NIEER — The chart shows the percent of Vermont’s population by age enrolled in its preschool programs from 2002 to 2023. Since Act 166 of 2014, which mandated 10 hours of universal pre-K for all 3 to 5-year-olds for 35 weeks a school year, there has been a notable increase. 
By Glenn Russell/VTDigger — Zoie Saunders speaks at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Education Committee at the Statehouse. 
By Jason Mikula — The west side of Killington Road is dug out, blasting to come. 
Local News
Slow down, you’re on camera! Bill would put speed cameras in work zones
May 1, 2024
By Holly Sullivan, Community News Service Editor’s note: The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost. Ever whizzed through a work zone when it seems no one is looking? Even with no cops around, your speeding could…
Bald eagles are back, but great blue herons paid the price
May 1, 2024
By Olivia Wilson, Community News Service Editor’s note: Olivia Wilson is a reporter with Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont’s reporting and documentary storytelling program. After years of absence, the most patriotic bird in the sky returned to Vermont — but it might’ve come at another’s expense. Vermont finally took the bald eagle…
Killington Rec’s new Street Hockey League welcomes new players each week
May 1, 2024
The first week in the Killington Street Hockey League, Sunday, April 21, the Fireballs topped the Meteors with a single goal late in sudden death overtime. Rutland’s Liam Bradley scored to take his team to victory. Both teams played each other very tight the entire game with a few missed opportunities on each end. In the…
Rutland’s Idle Hour Maple farm was one of 11 maple producers selected
May 1, 2024
State receives record demand for maple grants The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) has awarded over $540,000 in grants to maple producers and processors through the Maple Agriculture Development Grants program, the agency announced April 26. Eleven producers, ranging in size from 500 to 30,000 taps, received funds for operational efficiency,…
Rutland Area Robotics achieved new milestone at championship in Houston
May 1, 2024
Rutland Area Robotics’ IBOTS FRC team 2370 achieved a program milestone at the 2024 Championship in Houston, Texas, by winning their division (Hopper) and reaching the World Series of robotics competition, the Einstein Finals. Rutland Area Robotics’ IBOTS alliance of four teams placed fourth in a field of more than 600 FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition)…
Arts & Entertainment
Discover your future in Health Careers
May 1, 2024
Expo hopes to attract high school and college-age students Wednesday, May 8 at 3 p.m.—RUTLAND— A Health Careers Expo will be on Wednesday, May 8, from 3-7 p.m. at the Rutland Recreation and Community Center, 134 Community Drive, in Rutland. The event is being put on by Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in…
May Day dance party held in Hartland
May 1, 2024
By Curt Peterson Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m.—HARTLAND—The Moonlighters Big Band and Hartland Council of the Arts will host a dance party at Damon Hall, 1 Quechee Road, Hartland. Amy and Jamie Orr, professional dance instructors, are providing an hour of dance lessons beginning at 7 p.m., music at 8 p.m. The instruction is…
Fish at free derby
May 1, 2024
By Adam Davis Saturday, May 4 from 8:30 a.m.— RUTLAND—The annual Free Fishing Derby will be held at Combination Pond located at 9 Sharon Drive in Rutland on Saturday, May 4 from 8:30 a.m. until 11a.m. Registration for the event will be held at 8 a.m. The fishing derby is for children up to 13…
Spring guided history walk is at Mount Independence
May 1, 2024
Saturday, May 4 at 12 p.m.—ORWELL—Enjoy a spring guided history walk to learn about and see remains of the Revolutionary War defenses at the Mount Independence State Historic Site, 472 Mt. Independence Road, Orwell. This is the perfect time of year to go off trail and explore before all the leaves come out. Revolutionary War…
Killington celebrates Green Up Day
May 1, 2024
Saturday, May 4—KILLINGTON—The Town of Killington invites residents, businesses, and volunteers to participate in Green-Up Day on May 4th. Killington’s participation in this annual statewide event is a testament to our community's dedication to environmental stewardship and preserving the natural beauty of Killington. Residents are encouraged to pick up Green-Up bags from the Town Office,…
State News
Hartland Garden Club told to relocate annual plant sale from Damon Hall
May 1, 2024
The Hartland Garden Club (HGC) has run an annual plant sale for 25 years in front of Damon Hall, but new town manager John Broker-Campbell notified HGC president Dan Talbot the sale could not take place at Damon Hall on May 18 as planned. By Curt Peterson He cited a 1995 town “Vendors Ordinance” clearly…
The final two-week countdown
May 1, 2024
There are about two weeks left in Vermont’s 2024 Legislative Session. This is not a lot of time to negotiate policy differences between the House and the Senate. A great deal of policy work is still not settled, which concerns me. I am not a fan of the work that is often done in the…
Could be a bumpy ride?
May 1, 2024
The last few weeks of the legislative session often contain a bit of theater, eureka moments, surprises, and just plain old disagreements. With the legislature scheduled to adjourn on May 10, the next two weeks could prove interesting. Major legislation, such as the state budget, education property tax rates, higher electric costs related to the…
VHFA awards $40 million for affordable housing
April 24, 2024
Rutland and Woodstock are two of the five communities selected for apartment developments The Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners announced April 15, that its annual award of federal housing tax credits will support the construction of 156 in “perpetually affordable” apartment buildings in five communities across the state. The sale of this…
‘Like brushing your teeth’: Bill cuts red tape around sunscreen in schools
April 24, 2024
Currently, putting on sunscreen in Vt. schools is regulated like medicine By Holly Sullivan, Community News Service Editor’s note: The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost. Despite being one of the cloudiest and coldest states, Vermont…
Opinions/Columns
Chris Brown announces candidacy for Vt House
May 1, 2024
Dear Editor, I’m Chris Brown and I’m running to represent Castleton in the Vermont House of Representatives. I’m proud and excited at the prospect of representing the citizens of my hometown in the Legislature. I’m a lifelong resident of Castleton and a 10 generation Vermonter. I feel my decades of business experience and my Republican…
Joys of being outside, fishing
May 1, 2024
Dear Editor, Yesterday was so magnificent. Found myself again spiritually through the power of being in nature. Plenty of places along the way to stop and throw a line but fell to the wanderization of what lay ahead. Just curious if I could get to the bend that I could see ahead. I wondered about…
Why we should all supportAct 127
May 1, 2024
Dear Editor, In Vermont we hold the belief that every child should have access to an equitable education. Though this promise is a constitutional right, in reality it’s been challenging to fulfill given the outdated funding mechanisms that have historically governed our schools. As a member of both the Burlington School Board and the Coalition…
Taking a beat on education funding reform
May 1, 2024
By Jack Hoffman Editor’s note: Jack Hoffman is Senior Analyst at Public Assets Institute, a non-partisan, non-profit organization based in Montpelier. He is a resident of Marshfield currently living in France. A projected jump in school taxes next year has everyone’s hair on fire in Montpelier. But before taking drastic action, legislators and the administration…
A broken system
April 24, 2024
By Ross Connelly Editor’s note: This commentary is by Ross Connelly of Hardwick. Now retired, he was the editor and co-publisher of The Hardwick Gazette from 1986 to 2017. He is a past president of the Vermont Press Association and the New England Press Association. A quick look at the internet provides ample evidence that…
