By John Flowers Some of the state’s political pundits are claiming next month’s general election ballot provides little chance for upsets or even tight races. Burlington Progressive Dean Corren wants to prove the pundits wrong. The Middlebury College graduate (class of 1976) is stumping for votes in hopes of unseating incumbent Lt. Gov. Phil Scott,…

By John Flowers Vermont Lt. Gov. Phil Scott has won a few races during his lifetime, primarily as a stock car driver at the Thunder Road SpeedBowl. But the Berlin Republican is currently focused on winning a different kind of race — for re-election as lieutenant governor against Progressive Dean Corren of Burlington. Scott, 56,…

KILLINGTON – Is Vermont prepared to handle the Ebola virus should it come here? Dr. Harry Chen, M.D., acting secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, addressed that question at the 25th annual Vermont Health Care and EMS Preparedness Conference, held last weekend at the Grand Hotel at Killington Resort. Chen said the risk…

Oct. 23-27: Corn maze, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Hathaway Farm, Rutland. Oct. 24: Halloween Wildlife Festival, 5 p.m. at Edward F. Kehoe Conservation Camp, Castleton. Oct. 24-25: Pittsford Haunted House, 6:30-9 p.m. on Plains Road, Pittsford. Huge and scary ! Oct. 24: Wilson Castle Terrorealm, 7-10 p.m. at Wilson Castleton, Proctor. Oct. 24, 25, 31:…

RUTLAND – The biggest blood drive in America, Rutland’s record-breaking Gift-of-Life Marathon, is about to become the longest. The revamped “Gift-of-Life Marathon — 12 Days of Giving” will run from Dec. 2 to 16 at sites throughout the Rutland region, and will be the longest blood drive in U.S. history. “The GOLM will change significantly,…

By Cristina Kumka RUTLAND — A man who spent years studying open-air drug markets in places where mothers put their babies to bed in bathtubs out of fear of flying bullets said Rutland has “much promise” in its fight against drugs. David Kennedy, the director of the Center for Crime Prevention and Control at one…

By Brett Yates The weird, inclusive Vermont gubernatorial debate held on Oct. 9 has managed—at a time when political debates tend to be dispiriting and unpopular—to become something of a national phenomenon. The complete broadcast is available on YouTube. Reddit was responsible for drumming up some of the initial fascination when a user who had…

Secretary Voter registration deadline fast approaching Secretary of State Jim Condos reminds all eligible voters that the voter registration deadline for the Nov. 4 General Election is 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 29. Vermonters can register at their Town Clerk’s Office or by filling out a Voter Registration Form from the Secretary of State’s website and…

WOODSTOCK — The young “Pumpkin Bowling Champion” dressed in monster costume tries the next challenge: to eat a doughnut hanging from a string at a past Halloween celebration at Billings Farm and Museum. This year, the 21st Annual Family Halloween will take place Sunday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children in costume receive…

RUTLAND – With a big push from dozens of groups and businesses, donors set a record in the just-completed GMP Fill the Cupboard Challenge. Far surpassing the 20,000-item goal set earlier this year, 27,199 food items were collected to benefit the Rutland Community Cupboard. GMP will also donate $5,000 to the Cupboard next summer, 25…

A new nationwide report released by the After-school Alliance ranks Vermont as 4th in the nation for after-school programming. The “America After 3 p.m.” report, based on a comprehensive survey commissioned by the after-school Alliance and conducted by Shugoll Research, highlights the progress Vermont has made over the past decade in providing quality after-school programs.…

By Laura Krantz, VTDigger.org Vermont ranks 39th in the nation for gender equality in local, state and national elected office, according to a report published last week by Representation 2020, a national group that promotes women in politics. The state is second highest in the nation for women in the lower house of the Legislature,…

LUDLOW — Friends of Ludlow Auditorium (FOLA) will sponsor a Candidates Forum on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium. The forum will feature candidates for the Windsor County Senate seats in Montpelier as well as the newly-created Rutland-Windsor (RW-2) seat in the House. The RW-2 seat will represent Ludlow, Mt Holly, and Shrewsbury. The…

CAVENDISH — The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association will hold an informational meeting and debate for Cavendish voters on Thursday, Oct. 23, starting at 7 p.m. at the Cavendish Town Elementary School on Main Street in Proctorsville. Since only one local office is contested this year, that of State Representative, the evening will focus on…

The Nov. 1 deadline is approaching for the Vermont Writers’ Prize, an annual competition sponsored by Green Mountain Power and Vermont Magazine that provides an opportunity for Vermont writers to showcase their talent. “Entries are already coming in for this year’s prize,” said Dorothy Schnure, corporate spokesperson for Green Mountain Power. “We are always amazed…