Courtesy VTSU Castleton Next Wednesday, April  24, VTSU Castleton students will debut a documentary that’s been 18 months in the making. It documents the state’s failed effort to digitize VTSU libraries. VTSU Castleton students to debut documentary “Error 404: Books Not Found,” on failed effort to digitize libraries For 18 months, Vermont State University Castleton…

By Curt Peterson The Vermont House Ways and Means Committee is rushing madly to solve a crushing education tax problem. Early in January, several state representatives warned colleagues that an education fund issue would cause severe pain property taxpayers across the state. Many of the elected, and Governor Scott, chanted, “Cut your budgets!” as their…

$1 billion aimed at removing harmful PFAS from drinking water On April 10, the Biden-Harris Administration issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ Exposure to PFAS has been linked to deadly cancers, impacts to the liver and…

April 10, the same day new national standards were set, the Vermont House advanced legislation (S.25) on a strong voice vote to ban per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) and other toxic chemicals from personal care products and menstrual products, and to ban PFAS from apparel, cookware, artificial turf, and children’s products. An earlier version of…

Last Tuesday, the House Ways & Means Committee unveiled a proposal to make significant changes to Vermont’s education financing system, including limits on how much school budgets could go up going forward. The plan even garnered some support from the Scott Administration. However, by Thursday, April 11, when organizations representing various education sectors came out…

The State House is an extraordinarily busy place at the moment. The Legislature is in the last month of its two-year 2023-24 Biennium. Which means, that if bills don’t pass in the next four weeks, they are “dead” until January 2025, when they can be re-introduced. So, for many issues and bills, this is crunch…

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) announced Wednesday, April 10, the recipients of more than $8.6 million in federal funds for municipal grant projects through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Municipal Highways and Stormwater Mitigation Program. “These diverse projects will help continue to enhance and expand Vermont’s transportation infrastructure,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn. “Improvements to…

By Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield As the founders of Ben & Jerry’s, we know firsthand the power of investing in Vermont’s communities. Since opening our first location in downtown Burlington, we’ve used our platform to support economic and social justice. That’s why we wholeheartedly support the proposal to create a Baby Bonds program in…

Dear Editor, Vermont stands as a beacon of community values. Yet, beneath this facade, our education system has harbored inequities for decades that undermine these very principles. Enter Act 127 — a legislative commitment to Vermont’s constitutional guarantee for equity, opportunity and fairness for every child in our state. For decades, Vermont’s education funding system, while…

Dear Editor, Under political pressure from animal rights groups, in coordination with a national organization, Senate bill S.258 was passed and is now in the House. This bill would remove the authority for rulemaking from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife board (Board) and transfer it to the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. This moves…

Dear Editor, Governor Phil Scott’s decision to veto S.18, legislation that would ban the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products in Vermont, is a win for small businesses, the economy, and adults’ right to make their own choices. Proponents of bans like this argue they are necessary to protect public health by preventing the…

Dear Editor,   The Killington highway and roadway workers did an excellent job all year long maintaining my road and area roads. Innsbruck Lane is a steep road that intersects Merrill and George Streets. Snow plowing is difficult on most narrow roads but particularly challenging here. The team plowed early, often, and skillfully to maintain a…

Dear Editor, It’s time to change our state government’s archaic tax system and truly make it fair for every single Vermonter. Vermont’s current tax system employed by the Legislature needs a true and absolute overhaul!   First, it is exclusive. Second, they want to tax everything, and in some cases they are. We need changes under both…

By Zoie Saunders Editor’s note: The following is a message addressed to Vermont educators, students and families from incoming Education Secretary Zoie Saunders, who was appointed to the position on March 22 and began April 15, the Senate is expected to take up her confirmation hearing April 23. I am delighted and honored to be joining…

By Steven Foster Editor’s note: Steven Foster is president of the Vermont Association of Realtors, a statewide association of over 2,000 real estate practitioners. On March 15, 2024, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) announced a $418 million settlement that would resolve litigation over claims in a national class action lawsuit brought on by home…