By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org A bill that would prohibit Vermont public school teachers from striking passed the House Education Committee on an 8-3 vote Tuesday, March 17. Under the bill, teachers cannot strike and school boards cannot impose contracts. The bill, introduced by Rep. Kurt Wright, R-Burlington, originally required mandatory binding arbitration in contract…

By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org Wardsboro Elementary School children want a turnip to be the state vegetable—the Gilfeather turnip, grown in and around Wardsboro. On Tuesday, a dozen students told the House Committee on Forest and Agriculture Products to consider designating their hometown’s prized root as Vermont’s state vegetable. The students were informed by Rep.…

By Richard Podlesney Killington artist Peter Gould works on murals in the children’s room at the Sherburne Memorial Library on River Road. The work has been commissioned by the Town of Killington and Friends of the Library. The colorful murals depict toys and stuffed animals on shelves and beautiful Vermont landscapes complete with rolling hills,…

By Lee J. Kahrs BRANDON — Former Brandon Town Manager Robin Bennett has resigned, reaching a $12,578 settlement in principle with the town that officially closes the book on her 18-month tenure. The deal was announced following a brief executive session of the Brandon Select Board on Monday morning, March 23, at the Brandon Town…

By Stephen Goodhue, courtesy of vermontvacation.com A sugar-maker empties a bucket full of sap into a collection tank, pulled by draft horses. A Vermont time-honored tradition March 28-29 — STATEWIDE — Vermont’s biggest harbinger of spring, maple sugar season, kicks off in March. Vermonters know that spring has arrived when sugaring season starts. Warm days and cold nights mean…

Rutland station’s future to be determined By Erin Mansfield, VTDigger.org The House Appropriations Committee approved a stopgap measure Monday that puts off a decision on closing selected state police call centers until mid-September. The plan uses $425,000 in funding from the state’s 2 percent universal service fee to fund the four state-operated public safety answering…

First time city has received a report with no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies RUTLAND — The City of Rutland has earned its fourth unqualified audit opinion with the completion of the FY 2014 audit.  City Treasurer Wendy Wilton presented the audited financial statements to the Board of Aldermen on Monday, March 16, at the Board’s…

Dear Editor, I have been reflecting on my experience in the legislature and the campaign last fall, and realize that I didn’t use this messaging as I should have, the least of which should have been to write to thank those of you who supported me in my work. Perhaps more letters during the campaign…

Today’s pot is stronger Dear Editor, Today’s pot is much more potent than people realize. Combine a much more potent and dangerous drug with the enhanced delivery methods available today–edibles, vapor pens, oil extracts–and the discussion about legalizing marijuana for recreational use takes on a much darker and troubling tinge. Many people tried marijuana in their…

By Governor Peter Shumlin This week, the Vermont Department of Labor released revised calendar year 2014 data. Unlike the monthly reports that can fluctuate for various reasons, this data gives a more accurate view of the year as a whole. The results were promising: Vermont’s average unemployment rate was 4.1 percent for 2014, 3/10 of…

By Julia Purdy The Marijuana Policy Project’s paid lobbyist in Montpelier has been touting the results of a poll MPP contracted with the Castleton Polling Institute (CPI) in May 2014, ten months ago, taking the public temperature on the issue of legalizing recreational marijuana in Vermont. Since then, opinions have shifted. More recent polls show…

By Angelo Lynn Open meeting laws are part of state statute to insure citizens are kept abreast of what government is doing. That’s as much true in state government as it is for school boards, town selectboards, zoning and planning commissions, or numerous other committees and subcommittees formed to carry out the important work of…

By Dom Cioffi Sometimes all it takes is a lucky break. Such is the case for Reyn Guyer. Far from a household name, Guyer has hit it big in the toy industry not once, but twice in his lifetime. But none of his industry fame or millions of dollars would have materialized had it not…

By Robin Alberti Also held March 15, the Vermont Specialty Food Days took over Bear Mountain, drawing a large crowd. KILLINGTON — Spring at Killington means soft snow, abundant sunshine, live music and surprising events both on and off the snow. The Nor’Beaster spring celebration kicked off this past weekend, March 14 and 15 with the…

By Robin Alberti Get last laps in on the terrain park at Bear Mountain at Hibernation park jam on March 28, before the metal goes back into the shop after a great season. Saturday, March 28 — KILLINGTON — Send Bear Mountain parks out in style! Another great season with Killington Parks is once again coming to…