By Julia Purdy If anyone doubts the existence of domestic terrorism, stoked by murderous, insane hatred and abetted by weekend wargames and pseudomilitary fantasies, it was on full display at the nation’s Capitol Jan. 6. The irony is that these insurrectionists claimed to be defending democracy while they in fact were bent on demolishing it,…

By Bill Bender, president of Solaflect Energy It is time for the Scott administration and Vermont electric utility regulators — the Public Service Department (PSD), the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR)) to watch the Super Bowl, or more specifically, the ads. The world is changing, but Vermont’s regulators and…

Dear Editor, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the William Thomas family of Rutland Town. Bill Thomas was a long time servant of the town who wore many hats over the years. His hard work on the Select Board and his dedication on the School Board will be remembered. When Thomas Dairy closed…

Dear Editor, For the past few years oligarchs on the right and anarchists on the left have turned father against mother, brother against sister, child against parent, neighbor against neighbor, and Christian against Christ. Seems that now 57% of Republicans consider Democrats “enemies” rather than “political opposition,” and 41% of Democrats consider Republicans “enemies” rather…

Dear Editor, Rutland County Court Diversion and Restorative Justice Center (dba Rutland County Restorative Justice Center) is celebrating 40 years of service! Since 1981, we have been continuously evolving to better serve our community by fostering partnerships, expanding programs, and actively pursuing best practices in restorative justice. Our mission is to engage community members in…

Dear Editor, OneCare, Vermont’s “Accountable Care Organization” (ACO), operates the “All Payer” (AP) system that Vermont adopted a few years ago.  It is frequently in the news these days, but even people who are heavily involved in health care issues don’t fully understand what it is, how it works, and why it supposedly benefits the…

By Curtis Hier Some of us are old enough to remember when Mr. Rogers welcomed Officer Clemmons into his neighborhood and onto his television show. They famously shared a foot bath. And a towel. It was a momentous television event because Francois Clemmons was black and also, as Fred Rogers knew at the time, was gay.…

The Small Business Administration (SBA) began rolling out the Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance (EIDL) Feb. 1, which provides businesses located in low-income communities with additional funding. Applicants located in low-income communities who previously received an EIDL Advance for less than $10,000 will have first priority to apply and will be the first group…

Governor Phil Scott announced Feb. 10 that the state will provide a suite of identity protection services to all unemployment insurance claimants who will receive a 2020 1099-G from the Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL). This service is being provided in response to the inadvertent disclosure that occurred on Jan. 29 when VDOL mailed incorrect…

The Vermont State Police is hiring a new victim services specialist to work with people who have experienced the trauma of a crime, helping victims and witnesses navigate challenging circumstances and access needed resources while cases are under investigation. The new position, housed in the Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), is the result of the…

By Xander Landen/VTDigger Vermont lawmakers on Thursday, Feb. 11, approved a plan to use nearly $100 million worth of federal funding to help low-income Vermonters who are struggling to pay their rent during the pandemic. The money comes out of a $200 million pot of funding for housing and utility assistance included in the $1.3 billion Vermont received from Congress’…

Tests of Burlington wastewater point to virus strain known as the “UK variant” Burlington’s testing of wastewater has detected the presence of two Covid-19 virus mutations that are associated with the B.1.1.7 variant, first detected in the United Kingdom. Detection of these two mutations is a strong indicator that the B.1.1.7 variant is present in…

By Katy Savage Two candidates are seeking an open Select Board seat in Woodstock. Jill Davies is running against Woodstock Police Sgt. Joe Swanson for a three-year seat vacated by Butch Sutherland, who is retiring. Davies has served on the board for four years. As her two-year term was up this year, she decided to…

By Brett Yates It’s official: the Rutland Raiders will become the Rutland Ravens. On Feb. 9, a 6-4 vote by the Rutland Board of School Commissioners authorized the new athletic mascot, logo and symbol following a presentation by members of a student advisory committee from Rutland High School (RHS) and Principal Greg Schillinger. The decision…

By Hannah Diction The second annual Vermont snowmobile festival took place Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Vermont State Fairgrounds in Rutland. Machinists of all ages attended. Admission was open to the public and free to viewers who delighted in watching as competitors raced around the track, and trophies were handed out. The event was spread…