By Megan Sullivan Editor’s note: Megan Sullivan, of Jericho, is the vice president of government affairs for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Last year at this time, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce shared that “amid a nation more divided than ever, Vermont remains a leader in unity, particularly when it comes to agreeing on the top issues…

  That was how Governor Scott responded to the Nov. 30 letter from the Tax Commissioner, which projected an 18.5% increase in the average statewide education property tax rate for next year. The annual letter, required by law, bases the increase on an estimated 12% hike in school budgets and revenue forecasts for the state’s…

    Experts believe the new system will provide a clearer picture of Covid and leave the door open for more disease tracking By Erin Petenko/VTDigger Bob Fischer, water quality superintendent for South Burlington, remembers when researchers first realized that they could track the health of a population through its sewer system decades ago.  Measuring all…

Submitted  350Vermont is seeking to pressure utilities to sell energy using renewable sources.    The grassroots climate justice organization 350Vermont is seeking to pressure utilities to sell energy using renewable sources while producing fewer or no greenhouse gases. The organization will do this by ratcheting up pressure on the Legislature to tighten up the state’s…

   The recent FOLA (Friends of Ludlow Auditorium) production of the play, “Love Letters,” drew a very large audience whose donations exceeded $2,000.  Featuring Linda and George Thomson as the readers, the play, by A. R. Gurney, told the story of two people writing to each other as they went through two very different lives. …

  The Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) is sad to report the passing of the organization’s founder, Gwen Allard, who passed away peacefully on Nov. 28 at the age of 86. Allard was born in 1937 and strapped on her first pair of skis when she was just 4 years old. A Schenectady native, she was…

  The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) has recognized Rutland Regional Medical Center, as one of 78 ACS NSQIP participating hospitals that have achieved meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care in 2022. As a participant in ACS NSQIP, Rutland Regional is required to track the outcomes of inpatient and…

  File photo by Tiffany Tan,VTDigger Rutland County State’s Attorney Ian Sullivan showed the jury video clips of the baby on Monday, Nov. 27, the first day of Stacey Vaillancourt’s trial in Rutland Superior criminal court.     Stacey Vaillancourt was convicted of manslaughter and child cruelty at the end of a five-day trial, Dec.…

  By Curt Peterson Even late-comers to Hartland will remember the eyesore at the end of Weed Road — there was a self-destructing house and fence, But by February 2015 the rotting structure was gone, laying bare an illegal junk yard containing an eclectic collection of cars, trucks, a trailer, and unrecognizable junk, all networked…

  The Woodstock VT Rotary Club received enormous support from the community in their fundraising efforts to replace the star on Mt. Tom.  As of Nov. 29,  the club surpassed the fundraising goal of $120,000. The club intends to establish a fund for the ongoing repair and maintenance of the star from donations in excess…

File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger Daniel Banyai, owner of Slate Ridge, a gun range used for paramilitary weapons training in West Pawlet, appeared for a contempt hearing in Environmental Court in Rutland.     A previous arrest warrant was never executed By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger Following an official inspection of Slate Ridge late last week, a judge determined…

Governor: 18.5% increase in property taxes is ‘unacceptable’ Projected hike is driven largely by a likely unprecedented 12% increase in education spending By Curt Peterson and Peter D’Auria/VTDigger The Vermont Dept. of Taxes is projecting a whopping 18.5% increase in residents’ property tax rates, a spike that Gov. Phil Scott quickly seized on, calling for lawmakers…

Pico Mountain will kick off the 2023/24 winter season at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9 with a bonus weekend. The resort will operate Saturday and Sunday and then reopen on Friday, Dec.15 for the regular Thursday-Monday schedule.    “We are excited to welcome back skiers and riders to Pico Mountain early this year!” said…

  Rutland City’s new local 1% option tax is off to a strong start. It raised $423,000 in the quarter ending in October, Treasurer Mary Markowskitold the Board of Aldermen Monday, Dec. 4. The tax, which raises revenue for the city through an adding 1% to the state’s 6% sales tax, went into effect July…

By Brooke Geery Following the heart-pounding races of the Stifel Killington Cup, passionate skiers may just be inspired to take up racing themselves. But excelling at the global level of competition is not something that can be achieved overnight. This is why so many academies and clubs exist in the Northeast — to give aspiring athletes…