In mid-October, Ethan Allen Extension Amtrak qualification trips began to operate between Rutland and Burlington in advance of the start of regular passenger service. Qualification runs are used to familiarize railroaders with how to run over a new or unfamiliar […]
Category: State News
Health officials: Horse, cattle sedative contributing to Vt opioid overdoses
By Tiffany Tan and Alan J. Keays/VTDigger State health officials learned something in October: An animal sedative is increasingly contributing to opioid overdose deaths among Vermonters. The drug, xylazine, is used as a sedative, muscle relaxant and pain reliever in […]
Redistricting proposal redraws many local lines
Panel goes all in on single-member House districts By Lola Duffort & Erin Petenko/VTDigger and Polly Mikula Not for the first time, a special panel advising state lawmakers about how to redraw House and Senate district maps has proposed the […]
Leaders discuss benefits, limitations of Zoom
As local officials enter budget discussions in preparation for Town Meeting, some wonder if online municipal meetings will ever end? By Kevin O’Connor, VTDigger Local officials in every town across Vermont are set to spend a long winter drafting budget […]
Local policymakers call on Scott to reenact Covid mitigation
By Curt Peterson A group of lawmakers and healthcare professionals, confused by Governor Phil Scott’s failure to take more aggressive action to stem the recent surge in Covid hospitalizations and deaths, which equal last winter’s rates, publicly urged him to […]
White River Junction VA Medical Center opens mental health beds to Vermonters in need
A partnership between the Dept. of Veterans Affairs and the state will alleviate some strain in the mental health system Agency of Human Services Secretary Mike Smith announced Oct. 27 that the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) will temporarily offer […]
Note to self: dog biscuits next time
Reapportionment in Legislature could split up local district By Jim Harrison I want to thank all that took a moment to visit during my recent “Office Hours” a.k.a. “Dump & Donuts” tour through the district recently. It was good to […]
Vermont lawmakers implore Scott to declare Covid-19 emergency, protect children
By Sarah Mearhoff/VTDigger Vermont state lawmakers joined health care workers, teachers and others during a Monday afternoon press conference, Oct. 25, to increase pressure on Gov. Phil Scott to reinstate an emergency declaration amid rising coronavirus case counts in the […]
State rolls out boosters and prepares to vaccinate children 5-11 following approval
By Ethan Weinstein Following another week of near-record case counts, Governor Phil Scott announced no new restrictions but assured the public that the state will be ready to roll out vaccines for kids 5-11 as soon as they are approved. […]
Vermonters must now dial 802 for every call
Nationwide 10-digit dialing begins Oct. 24 As part of the 988 implementation process, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) has identified 84 area codes across the U.S. that must transition to 10-digit dialing before the deadline for the number […]