Local News
Pride in Rutland: Flags, resistance, and showing up
June 25, 2025
By Emily Pratt Slatin Pride returned to downtown Rutland this June with more color, noise, and purpose than ever before. What began as a joyful celebration quickly became something deeper—something that felt like resistance. And belonging. And a promise that no one in this community has to stand alone. The day kicked off with the…
Plan to manage 72,000 acres of the Telephone Gap project is finalized
June 25, 2025
Staff report The U.S. Forest Service issued its final plan for managing 72,000 acres of public and private land on June 16. The proposed Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project area is located on the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) within the towns of Brandon, Chittenden, Goshen, Killington, Mendon, Pittsfield, Pittsford, and Stockbridge. “The Telephone Gap project is…
Hot air balloons took flight over Quechee
June 25, 2025
By James Kent This past weekend, June 21-22, people came from all over New England to participate in the 45th annual Hot Air Balloon Festival. Music, food, games, and fun were available for all ages throughout the weekend, but the main attraction was the hot air balloons. And for those looking to see these gigantic,…
Killington residents push for skate park as town reimagines recreation future
June 25, 2025
By Greta Solsaa/VTDigger As Killington celebrates the 50th anniversary of its recreation center, some residents are pushing to make a skate park a new permanent fixture of the town’s summer offerings. The town crafted its recreation master plan to holistically determine how to best use its resources to serve residents in the future, Recreation Department Director Emily Hudson…
AOT reports this week’s road construction
June 25, 2025
This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on local state highways and interstates for the week of June 23. For a full statewide list of construction this week visit: vtrans.vermont.gov. I-89 Royalton Construction continues Monday through Friday on the I-89 bridges near Exit 3. Traffic is reduced to…
Opinions/Columns
The public reality of private schools
June 25, 2025
Dear Editor, In their June 13 commentary, “The Achilles’ heel of Vermont education reform,” the Friends of Vermont Public Education state that, “Since the early 1990s, we have been operating two parallel educational systems — public and private.” The organization calls upon the Vermont Legislature to create “one unified educational system,” arguing that, “The current…
Alternative steps for true education reform
June 25, 2025
By Jim Lengel Editor’s note: Jim Lengel, of Duxbury and Lake Elmore, started teaching in Vermont in 1972, worked for the state board of education for 15 years, and retired back in Vermont after helping schools all over the world improve the quality of teaching and learning. Our executive and legislative branches have failed during…
Protect SNAP—because no Vermonter should go hungry
June 25, 2025
Dear Editor, As a longtime anti-hunger advocate, a former SNAP recipient, and a proud Vermonter, I am deeply alarmed by proposals moving through Congress that would gut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known here in Vermont as 3SquaresVT. If passed, these cuts would devastate thousands of families across the Green Mountain State that rely…
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of H.454
June 25, 2025
By Sen. Ruth Hardy Editor’s note: Ruth Hardy, of East Middlebury, represents Addison County in the Vermont Senate. She wrote the following reflection (originally posted at ruthforvermont.com) on voting “no” on H.454, the eduction transformation reform bill that passed last week. On Monday, June 16, the Legislature passed H.454, the education transformation bill that was…
When it is hard to know what to believe in, believe in the power of connection — and summer camp
June 18, 2025
By Sultana Khan Editor’s note: This commentary is by Sultana Khan of Randolph, executive director of YWCA Vermont and Camp Hochelaga. Right now, so many of Vermont’s small, wonderful communities are struggling to combat divisiveness, financial hardship, the impacts of climate change and so much more. During times of uncertainty, it often seems easier to…
Top Events
State News
Two members, including chair, resign from the Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont
June 25, 2025
By Corey McDonald/VTDigger Two members of the Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont, including the commission’s chair, announced last week they would be resigning, saying they no longer believed their efforts would make any impact. Meagan Roy, the chair of the commission, and Nicole Mace, the former representative of the Vermont School Boards…
Vt plastic bag use dropped 91% following ban, researchers find
June 25, 2025
In the midst of 2020 Covid measures, another change took place in Vermont: A law went into effect banning businesses from offering plastic bags to customers, with paper bags only available for a fee. A 2023 analysis of a survey of hundreds of Vermonters found the law appeared to have worked. Plastic bag use in…
A Roadmap
June 25, 2025
The Vermont Legislature adjourned Monday evening, June 16, following the passage of H.454, the education reform plan. I call it a roadmap as the legislation lays out a list of changes that will take place over the next few years. And as various studies and reports come back in, there will also likely be adjustments,…
Vermont to get over $21 million in nationwide settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers
June 25, 2025
Attorney General Charity Clark announced June 16 that all 55 attorneys general, representing all eligible states and U.S. territories, have agreed to sign on to a $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family. This settlement was reached after the previous settlement was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. It resolves…
802Opportunity expands to offer free tuition for 70% of Vt households
June 25, 2025
More Vermonters than ever now qualify for free tuition at the Community College of Vermont (CCV), thanks to a major expansion of the 802Opportunity program. The initiative, led by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) in partnership with CCV, now offers full tuition coverage to Vermonters with household incomes of up to $100,000—doubling the previous…
Arts & Entertainment
Hot air balloons took flight over Quechee
June 25, 2025
By James Kent This past weekend, June 21-22, people came from all over New England to participate in the 45th annual Hot Air Balloon Festival. Music, food, games, and fun were available for all ages throughout the weekend, but the main attraction was the hot air balloons. And for those looking to see these gigantic,…
Mowitz-Hong Duo to open 27th season of Sundays On The Hill in Weston
June 25, 2025
June 29 at 4 p.m.—WESTON—The acclaimed Mowitz-Hong Duo will open the 27th season of the Sundays On The Hill concert series in Weston at the historic Parish Church, located at 144 Main St. The duo— pianist Sahun Sam Hong and cellist Zachary Mowitz—will perform works by Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann, Leos Janácek, and Johannes Brahms.…
Rockin the Region with the Mojo Birds
June 25, 2025
The Mojo Birds don’t come around often. Most of them hail from Colorado, with one member residing in North Carolina and one local member from Shrewsbury. If you have the chance to see them, I highly recommend doing so. I got to see them last summer at the Killington Block Party. They put on a…
World-class musicians gather in West Windsor for Vermont Music Festival
June 25, 2025
June 27-29—WEST WINDSOR — Now in its fourth season, the West Windsor Vermont Music Festival returns this weekend with four live performances showcasing acclaimed classical and jazz musicians in an intimate historic setting. The festival will once again be held at the West Windsor Town Hall, an accessible, air-conditioned venue with on-site parking. Under the…
