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Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos announced on Oct. 14 that a record number of ballots have been cast early in the Nov. 3, 2020 General Election as compared to ballots cast early in prior elections. As of the end of the day on Oct. 13, 110,016 Vermonters have voted early in the 2020 General…

Saturday, Oct. 24 and Wednesday Oct. 28—The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, along with several local, state and federal conservation partners, will be celebrating World Fish Migration Day on Saturday, Oct. 24 and Wednesday, Oct. 28 with in-person and online activities. World Fish Migration Day is a global day of recognition to raise awareness about…

Governor aims to prevent influx from high risk areas Following the decision by the State of New Hampshire to close indoor skating facilities for two weeks, Governor Phil Scott Oct. 16 issued an executive order prohibiting Vermont’s skating rinks from accepting new reservations for use beginning that Oct. 16, at 5 p.m., through midnight on…

Dear Editor, Donald Trump and the Republican Senate majority have long conspired to tilt the balance of power toward the pockets of billionaires. Now they’re stacking the Supreme Court with another hard-right, corporate-friendly ringer who will inflict even more damage on ordinary Americans. Throughout her confirmation hearings, Amy Coney Barrett claimed she was not “on…

Dear Editor, Senator Cheryl Hooker of Rutland County has our vote and support. As our State Senator, Cheryl Hooker has championed the needs of all citizens of Rutland County. Should you contact Senator Hooker with a need or issue, she promptly responds with accurate information and assistance. As educators in Rutland County for two decades,…

Dear Editor, While serving as a member of the Otter Valley Unified Union School Board, I attended a workshop about how to strengthen and sustain public engagement. I chuckled when I heard the phrase “crickets and pitchforks,” referring to the two typical reactions elected officials receive from the public: silence and outrage. I was excited…

Dear Editor, Think your vote for the Legislature doesn’t matter? You might want to consider the new “red tag” rule that prevents hundreds of Vermonters from filling up their heating oil tanks AND shames them in front of anyone with an internet connection. Read on if you value your dignity and privacy. H571/Act 76, the…

There are strict limits on what “poll watchers” can do As Election Day nears, President Trump has increasingly threatened to instigate voter intimidation. First, he has insinuated that he will deploy law enforcement officers to root out election-related crimes at the polls or call up the National Guard. (Spoiler alert: voter fraud is vanishingly rare).…

By Katy Savage/VTDigger The Mount Ascutney School Board fired Principal Tiffany Riley after she posted a controversial Black Lives Matter comment on her personal Facebook page. In the school board’s 50-page decision, released Friday, Oct. 16, board members said Riley’s post was seen by more than 250 people and created “serious disruption” to the school district.…

The state has announced $240,000 in additional relief funding was made available through two new Coronavirus Agriculture Assistance Programs that launched this past Friday, Oct. 16. Farmers Market Relief The Farmers Market Relief program will provide up to $2,000 to markets that suffered economic harm as a result of the global pandemic. Markets must have…

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Treasury Department, released a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less on Oct. 8. This action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars.…

Qualifying businesses can now receive up to $300,000 Governor Phil Scott announced Tuesday, Oct. 20, an expansion of the state’s Economic Recovery Grants, utilizing an additional $76 million in funds from the $1.25 billion the state received from the Federal CARES Act. These funds are in addition to the $152 million in economic relief already…

Agency dollars assist Vermont fruit, vegetable, and value-added producers and increase consumer access to locally produced food The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) last week  announced grants totaling $299,350 for seven projects to benefit Vermont fruit, vegetable, and value-added producers and increase consumer access to locally produced food. These grants, funded through…

Author of the bill cites lowering abortion rates among its goals Vermont will become the first state in the nation to make free condoms available in public middle and high schools next year. Gov. Scott signed a bill on Oct. 5 that expands access to contraceptives. Some of the country’s largest school districts have free…