By Erin Mansfield, www.VTDigger.org The Vermont Senate rejected a last-ditch effort Wednesday to require photo identification at the polls as part of a same-day voter registration bill. An amendment delays implementation of S.29 until 2017 — after the next presidential election. Sen. Dustin Degree, R-Franklin, abandoned an amendment that would delay S.29 until the Secretary…

Dear friends, family and neighbors: At 6:15 p.m. on Friday March 28, the Vermont House of Representatives voted to pass the budget. It will now go to the Senate and be debated further before coming back to the House for final passage. While this year's budget is the result of a lot of hard work—and…

Dear Editor, I am writing to express my support for the Healthy Workplaces bill H.187, which is being debated in Montpelier. The bill establishes a minimum standard of earned leave which an employee can use to manage their health and the health of their families. Currently, almost 60,000 Vermonters don’t have access to any paid…

By Secretary Deb Markowitz, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources As I’ve been traveling around the state talking with Vermonters about the new universal recycling law, I have met many impressive individuals on the front lines of implementation. Trevor Mance, founder of TAM Waste Management, is one example. Mance got his start in the solid waste…

By Governor Peter Shumlin Since its inception in 2007, the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive program (VEGI) has encouraged companies to relocate to or grow in Vermont, translating into well-paying jobs for Vermonters. In the eight years since the program was launched, companies approved for VEGI have created 3,038 new full-time jobs, added $187 million in…

SHREWSBURY — On April 3, at approximately 3:45 p.m. the Shrewsbury Fire Department responded to a fire on Cold River Road in Shrewsbury. Upon arrival the fire department located a fully involved structure fire involving a single family residence. One occupant who was in the house at the time of the fire was located during fire…

11-year-old Collie Shane rises to the occasion for handler Kelly Kirby at For the Love of Dogs variety show fundraiser for the Rutland County Humane Society Show held on Saturday, April 4 at the Rutland Intermediate School. The show raised just under $1,600 for the homeless animals at the shelter.

By Karen D. Lorentz Two years ago I received a gift certificate for a massage at the Killington Grand Spa. Having put it in a safe place so I wouldn’t lose it, I kept forgetting I had it. Then last month I was visiting the doctor for a neck injury and headache sustained in a…

Submitted Nathan Mackey of Poultney poses with a beautiful rainbow trout he recently caught and released in Bennington during Vermont’s year-round, catch-and-release trout season. Spring is prime time to fish for Vermont trout Despite the late return of spring, Vermont’s traditional trout fishing season is set to open on Saturday, April 11, marking the start…

By Wayne Laroche, courtesy of Vt. Fish &Wildlife Vermont is estimated to have 2,400 moose statewide. This year, 225 regular moose season permits will be issued, representing a 21 percent decrease from the 285 permits issued last year. Hunters are expected to harvest close to 110 moose during the regular season hunt, Oct. 17 to…

LUDLOW – For more than a decade, Okemo Mountain Resort staff members have been celebrating Valentine’s Day by donating to the resort’s Have a Heart Program. The fundraising campaign began in January and ended on Feb. 14 to celebrate the “Have-a-Heart” theme. This year, staff donations totaled $3,343 and Okemo generously matched the donation amount…

LUDLOW — The Black River Academy Museum is in the process of repairing and recaulking all of the historic windows at the museum. The sashes are the original wooden ones and have not been modified with the addition of weather stripping or storm windows. This maintenance must be done every so many years; it is an ongoing…

LUDLOW – The arrival of spring invokes thoughts of warm-weather activities and Okemo Mountain Resort is planning to add lift-serviced mountain biking to its lineup of summer and fall amenities. Okemo’s South Ridge Quad A will provide access to more than three miles of trails in the resort’s Clock Tower base area as the first…

By Justin Lemanski, Athletics Reporter April 1 Bill Brancatella hurled a shutout to score CSJ an 8-0 victory over Penn State Beaver at Monaca, PA. Brancatella struck out 12 while giving up just five hits over seven shutout innings. The Saints pounded out 10 hits. Jordan Matos contributed three RBIs on three hits for the…

Courtesy of VSP The camper police say was the home for two miniature horses at Ladd Brook Inn. On April 3, 2015 at approximately 12:36 p.m., the Vermont State Police responded to the Ladd Brook Inn located at 5939, Route 7 in Pownal, Vt. for a report of horses living in a camper. Upon arrival,…