By John Herrick, VTDigger.org More than 150 people attended a State House hearing Tuesday night, March 24, which was designed to help lawmakers draft policy to address concerns over the siting of the growing number of wind and solar farms in Vermont. The amount of wind and solar energy generated in Vermont has increased tenfold…

Vermont EB-5 Regional Center Executive Director Brent Raymond accepted an invitation from U.S. Ambassador Thummalapally to Belize and spoke at the two-day 2015 SelectUSA Investment Summit Academy March 23-24 in National Harbor, Maryland. Raymond participated in the panel discussion entitled “EB-5: How Does it Fit with FDI Development?” The focus of the panel was to…

Part of federal effort to ensure high-quality educators for all The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) is pleased to announce seven regional meetings for public input in response to the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) call that all states must examine the extent to which schools that serve students from historically underserved communities (poverty and…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org After spending 10 weeks erasing an massive budget deficit, the House gave final approval to two bills that will constitute the backbone of Vermont’s finances in the coming fiscal year. House lawmakers rejected a flurry of last-minute amendments before passing the FY 2016 state spending package, H.490, on a voice vote…

Dear Editor, The LoveYourBrain fundraiser Sunday at Base Camp Outfitters was a huge success with over 29 people attending the gentle yoga and meditation class. We were able to raise $615 to donate to the cause. LoveYourBrain is a non-profit organization working to improve the quality of life for people affected by brain injury. A personal…

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 the members of the Appropriations…

By Governor Peter Shumlin Last I week I visited with young professionals along the western side of Vermont in Rutland, St. Albans, and Middlebury. At every stop, I was inspired to see so many committed to living, working, and building strong communities in Vermont. Some hailed from outside Vermont, attracted to our state by its…

By Rob Roper Last November, Vermonters sent a loud and clear message to Montpelier to fix Vermont’s education financing system and lower our property tax burden. A proposal now coming out of the Legislature is based on mandatory consolidation of school districts into units of no fewer than 1,100 students, which will affect all but…

By Lani Duke GMC helps develop innovative study tour POULTNEY—Green Mountain prof Philip Ackerman-Leist has spent the current academic year working with sustainable agricultural leaders at other Vermont colleges and the Vermont Council on Rural Development to create the first Vermont food systems study tour. The tour, worth three credits, takes undergraduate and graduate students…

By Lee H. Hamilton After Congress came a hair’s-breadth from shutting down the Department of Homeland Security a few weeks ago, members of the leadership tried to reassure the American people. “We’re certainly not going to shut down the government or default on the national debt,” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared on CBS’s “Face the…

Courtesy of BRGNS Okemo volunteers Sarah, Heather, Dan and Michelle collect food from skiers at the Okemo base lodge on March 29. LUDLOW — On Sunday, March 29, Okemo held their annual Cares and Shares spring food drive. On a beautiful Sunday morning, Okemo Mountain Ambassadors helped collect nonperishable food items and cash in exchange…

By Lani Duke Electric car owners with “range anxiety” find relief RUTLAND—With the weather's cooperation, Rutland's electric car drivers may have the convenience of a public car charging station available. Installed on Cottage Street near West Street, the new Freedom Station was due to go into service the first week of April. It will provide…

RUTLAND—The Mentor Connector board announced March 26 that Christopher Hultquist will serve as its new executive director, replacing Rebecca Majoya, who resigned to pursue other interests. Mr. Hultquist formerly served as director of outreach for the Pregnancy Center of the Upper Valley. He holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling from Capella University and…

By Lani Duke In the 1880s, trains played a critical role in the development of local industry as well as tourism. Central Vermont's economic prosperity relied on trains, which carried the state's maple products, apples, other goods, marble and slate to New York and beyond. The building on Evelyn Street that now houses TD Bank…

RUTLAND–Organizers of Rutland Blooms are hoping to grow the city beautification effort significantly this year and are looking for civic-minded citizens and businesses to help make it happen. “Rutland Blooms is already making a big impact on the look and feel of Rutland, and we want to grow the effort substantially this year,” said Steve…