With potentially just three weeks left in the legislative session, one of this year’s most controversial bills, the Affordable or Unaffordable Clean Heat bill (depending on your perspective), S.5, cleared the House on Friday after two days of contentious debate. The approval in the House was 98-46, with several members absent, signaling an ominous override…

With the growing number of electric vehicles on the road, the state of Vermont is working proactively to find more locations for charging stations. In partnership with Drive Electric Vermont, the state is seeking to identify property and business owners interested in supporting plug-in electric vehicle (EV) charging or providing services associated with the installation…

By Sarah Mearhoff/VTDigger While federal litigation threatens access to a widely used abortion medication nationwide, Gov. Phil Scott is setting his sights north. Lawmakers and abortion access advocates are scurrying to craft backup plans as a lawsuit making its way through the federal appeals process could revoke or severely tighten the Food and Drug Administration’s 23-year-old approval of mifepristone,…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger Senate budget writers have advanced their draft of Vermont’s $8.5 billion budget, which would inject tens of millions of new money into child care, health care and the human services — and end, as of July 1, a pandemic-era motel housing program that thousands currently rely on for shelter. The bill, H.494, as unanimously…

By Curt Peterson Selectman Jim Haff and Town Manager Chet Hagenbarth presented an update on the Killington Forward project at the April 24 Select Board meeting. Current focus is on two phases of the proposed municipal water system, which is a federal requirement to fund proposed workforce housing, part of the Killington Forward master plan,…

By Paul Heintz/VTDigger As the son of a dentist, David Remnick spent plenty of time in his youth flipping through the pages of the New Yorker in his father’s waiting room.  “Among the most visually recognizable artists of my growing up was Ed Koren,” Remnick said. “He was on the cover. He was in the magazine,…

BARNARD—When life hands you lemons … Hang on for the ride! Sara Widness, a Barnard resident, did just that! She played a pregnant game of ping pong in the psychiatric ward; dressed to the nines on the world’s most famous train; baked 18 loaves of bread a day at her East Poultney country store; entertained…

On the morning of Jan. 15 the Castleton Volunteer Fire Department accompanied by surrounding fire departments responded to a devastating fire at the Gilmore Home Center. In addition to the loss of a business anchor, concern immediately presented as to addressing the loss of income of a number of Castleton and Bomoseen citizens and students…

Dollar General has a new store at 61  Beaman Street in Poultney. DG stores provide area residents with an affordable and convenient store location to purchase household essentials including food, cleaning supplies, paper products, over-the-counter medicines, hygiene products, baby items and more through its mission of serving others. In addition to the national and private…

At a simple service on Easter Sunday, a rainbow of color was unveiled in a dossal behind the altar at Church of Our Saviour at Mission Farm in Killington. This quilted piece was a gift from a member of the small community that gathers in this special place in the heart of the Green Mountains.…

By Brett Yates A plan to provide full-time, nature-based education to three-, four- and five-year-olds in Chittenden has secured a home at Barstow Memorial School. The Barstow Unified Union School Board unanimously approved the concept in a special meeting on April 24. Starting in the fall, the recently christened Fox Hollow Forest School will occupy…

By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger Vermont State University is reversing course on changes to its libraries and athletics programs, putting an end — for now — to a controversial slate of decisions to transform member campuses. The changes were announced Monday afternoon, April 24, by Vermont State University interim president Mike Smith, who took over the institution after…

By Katy Savage The Woodstock Village Trustees held an hour-long community discussion with a consultant as the municipality seeks a new police chief since Robbie Blish announced his retirement, effective July 16. The Woodstock Village Trustees and consultant Jim Baker held the first of what are expected to be multiple listening sessions on Monday, April…

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By Cassandra Tyndall Much has changed since last week. We exited the fiery inferno of Aries season under a cloak of darkness and entered the serene pastures of Taurus. Though this time around, they don’t look to be the fields of green and skies of blue of which we are accustomed. There’s a lot of…