By Governor Phil Scott Over the past few months, my administration has rolled out a plan to transform and strengthen our public education system. After last year’s double digit increase in property taxes, Vermonters made it clear that we need to make major changes to a system that no longer meets the needs of our…

Dear Editor, Justice should not be a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. In Vermont, the gap between legal needs and available resources continues to grow, leaving too many individuals and families without meaningful access to the justice system. This is not just a legal issue — it is a fundamental challenge to…

Dear Editor, For better or worse, the word “affordability” is the new buzzword. It is all over the news and in the public sphere. It was all over the campaign trail and the governor and our Legislature mention it in practically every other sentence. While this is a great thing, something we all should be…

Dear Editor, Thank you to our Killington community for supporting the Drive-Thru Lasagna dinner on Monday, March 3, at the Killington Public Safety Building. The event was sponsored by the Sherburne United Church of Christ, Killington’s Little White Church. A special thanks to our chef, Rob Merrill, who prepared and cooked 12 pans of lasagna…

Dear Editor, Lawsuits and similar threats against local nonprofits and their volunteers don’t just target individuals, they weaken our community. They deter public service, drain resources, and distract organizations from delivering vital services many of us rely on. It is a reality that well-meaning community members — in many cases our neighbors and friends —…

By Jonathan Haidt Editor’s note: Jonathan Haidt is the author of “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” a 2024 book which argues that the spread of smartphones, social media and overprotective parenting have led to a rise in mental illness. Vermont is at a critical…

In recognition of National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Charity Clark announced the top 10 consumer complaints received by her office’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) in 2024. In keeping with past years, the top complaints involved vehicles, home improvement matters, and retail, which collectively represent 48% of all complaints filed in 2024. Attorney General Clark…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger Vermonters who work mostly from home earned 28% more than the average employee in the state in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau that was recently released.  Remote workers reported a median income of about $65,000 per year, well above the $51,000 median for all workers 16 and older, according to the…

By Karen D. Lorentz Before their use as recreation destinations, the mountains in Vermont presented formidable barriers to travel and trade, especially in the southern half of the state. The unbroken ridge was not as penetrable as the northern half where river valleys traversed the higher peaks. The Green Mountain range cut off the eastern…

CHITTENDEN — Mountain Top Resort has been recognized as the World’s Greatest Wedding Venue by World’s Greatest TV (WGTV), a show that spotlights companies excelling in their industries. After a rigorous selection process, the Vermont resort was chosen over numerous wedding venues nationwide, securing the title in the summer of 2024. The recognition was highlighted…

The Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) recently welcomed Paula Vanguilder, chairman of Neighbors Together, to speak about the organization’s ongoing community support efforts. Originally formed during the 2023 flood relief efforts, Neighbors Together has since expanded its outreach to provide mental health and addiction recovery support, cooking classes, school snacks, fresh flowers for seniors, and more.…

Members of the New England Hemophilia Association and their families went to Washington, D.C., to lobby Senators and Representatives for support. Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder where blood doesn’t properly clot and affects around 30,000 American adults and children. Vermont was represented by Ian Cornell, his brothers Kaleb Cornell and Levi Cornell, and their mother,…

By Habib Sabet/VTDigger State lawmakers in the Senate Committee on Institutions advanced a bill late last month that would put up guard rails for social media platforms designed to keep teens hooked. The bill, S.69 — known as the “Kids Code” by proponents — will land on the Senate floor for a vote this week after the week-long…

By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger Despite more than a year of political focus on the cost of Vermont’s education system, voters across the state by and large backed their local school budgets on Town Meeting Day. According to preliminary results compiled by the Vermont Superintendents Association, just nine school district budgets out of more than 119 statewide had…

By Matt Anderson Hello readers! I’m Uncle Matty, here for your help, but please be advised to swim at your own risk. I am not a doctor, therapist, lawyer, or man of the cloth. My professional certifications are limited to slinging cocktails and umpiring. If you have serious medical, financial, legal, or faith-based questions, please…