By Ethan Weinstein / VTDigger State records show that since the start of 2020, taxpayers have funded more than $9 million in wages for state employees on paid leave while under investigation for alleged misconduct. According to Vermont Dept. of Human Resources records obtained through a public records request, the cost of paid investigative leave…

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) has initiated a monthly bulk milk sampling program to monitor for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle to protect Vermont’s dairy farms and the state’s agricultural economy. This proactive measure aligns with a USDA mandate to test Grade A milk nationwide following the first…

How many dads out there can say they spent 22-days and 5,000 miles in a minivan with their 22-year-old musician daughter as she gigged her way from coast to coast? Well, journalist and college professor at Castleton David Blow can. And now, after five years in the works having been derailed by Covid, Blow is…

The Vermont Dept. of Mental Health, in partnership with the Vermont Dept. of Health’s Division of Substance Use Programs has chosen four more community mental health agencies as demonstration sites for the Certified Community-Based Integrated Health Centers (CCBHCs) model. The CCBHC model provides mental health, substance use, and physical health services in one place. It…

By Klara Bauters/VTDigger The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. estimates that hunters in Vermont harvested more than 17,200 deer during fall 2024 — but the final tally won’t be released until March.  That translates to roughly 3.4 million servings of venison, according to a Monday, Jan. 6, news release. The buck harvest tally is expected to…

On Jan. 1, Rene Sanchez became the superintendent of schools for the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union (RNESU). Sanchez, who previously held the position of interim superintendent, brings extensive experience and a vision of innovation and community-focused leadership. Before joining RNESU, Sanchez served as superintendent of the Champlain Valley School District in Vermont, as assistant superintendent…

The City of Rutland Board of Aldermen approved the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District Plan and its submission to the Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC) at its meeting Monday night, Jan. 6. This action comes after the Oct. 21, 2024, approval of the TIF District Letter of Intent. If approved by VEPC, Rutland’s TIF District…

PITTSFORD—The Rutland County Humane Society (RCHS) Board of Directors announced Jennifer Perrigo as the shelter’s new Executive Director. Perrigo assumed her role on Dec. 23, 2024, bringing extensive experience in animal welfare and nonprofit leadership. Perrigo previously served as Adoption Center Manager for the North Shore Animal League America in Glens Falls, N.Y., where she…

By Deborah J. Benoit Streptocarpus (Streptocarpus) is commonly known as cape primrose, but don’t confuse it with the common primrose (Primula vulgaris), a perennial plant that you may have grown outdoors at home. While the two share some physical similarities, their care requirements are quite different. The common primrose in your garden is hardy in…

ByJared Rasic Because I don’t live in L.A., New York, or some larger market like that, I don’t get to see a lot of the big releases before they open wide in theaters. This usually means that by the end of the year, many of the big awards contenders haven’t opened near me, so I…

By Maggie Cassidy/VTDigger Meteorologists at the National Weather Service’s Burlington office pivoted among computer screens, each displaying a colorful digital smorgasbord of data. Interspersed with spreadsheets, line charts and big blocks of text, eight maps of New York and New England were overlaid with a variety of wavy lines, and numbers — lots of numbers. Indecipherable…

Dear Editor, Thanks to G. Gregory Hughes for his Dec. 18 letter, “The dictates of conscience in Vermont.” Mr. Hughes identifies a fundamental flaw in our laws: they allow spending tax money on religious schools. He also suggests a sensible solution to the problem: eliminating state expenditures on all private or religious schools. To paraphrase…

As Rutland enters the new year, city officials and library leaders are taking significant steps toward enhancing community infrastructure. Rutland City and the Rutland Free Library will co-host three public meetings to discuss the proposed civic center at 88 Merchants Row, inviting residents to participate in shaping the future of local public spaces. Upcoming public…

By Debra Heleba, Extension community horticulture program director, University of Vermont If your holiday includes a live, cut Christmas tree, you may be wondering what to do with it after the festivities are over. Many towns, civic clubs, and solid waste districts across Vermont now have disposal programs in place. Most offer curbside pick-up of…

Dear Editor, As we think about the new year, we often ponder the positive changes we want to make for ourselves, but why stop there? Remember your furry companions: you can make many easy resolutions to bring you happiness and enrich your pets’ lives. Just like us, pets need regular exercise to stay healthy. Do…