National Dog Bite Prevention Week is underway (April 9–16), and the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA) reminds families and caregivers of the importance of understanding dog behavior to help reduce the risk of bites—especially among young children. Veterinary professionals play a key role in public education, helping people recognize signs of stress, fear, or anxiety…

On April 3, a coalition of service industry professionals, lawmakers, and gun safety advocates gathered at the Vermont State House to urge the Legislature to approve Burlington’s charter change (S.131), which would ban guns in bars and was overwhelmingly supported by 86.6% of Burlington voters in 2025. Advocates are also calling for the passage of…

By Rep. Peter Conlon and Rep. Charlie Kimbell Editor’s note: Rep. Peter Conlon, Cornwall, is the chair of the House Education Committee and Rep. Charlie Kimbell, Woodstock, is the ranking member of the House Ways & Means Committee. On Friday, March 28, Vermont’s House Committee on Education voted out its much anticipated “Education Transformation” bill,…

Dear Editor,  I was at the Hands-Off rally in Montpelier on Saturday. It was an amazing display of solidarity and showed the determination we need to oppose what’s going on in our nation’s capital. The size of the crowd gave me hope that we are at the start of a true resistance movement that will…

Dear Editor, I would like to bring to your attention The Institute For Museum and Library Services Executive Order. Services are threatened. The March 23 Manchester Journal quoted Starr LaTronica, the director of Brooks, about the cuts to essential library services, including staffing, purchasing large print books, and inter-library loan service. (Vermont’s 228 libraries shared…

Dear Editor, Can an entire country kill itself? We’re about to find out. Among all the self-destructive policies being pursued by this administration, I’ll focus on the one I spent my entire academic career studying: our medical response to infectious disease. In 1796, Dr. Edward Jenner created the smallpox vaccine. But now, under Robert F.…

Dear Editor, Equity is meaningless when it is defined by those in power, rather than by stakeholders. Legislators need to keep this in mind as they reimagine Vermont’s education system. Living in a rural area is a social determinant of health, of educational outcomes, and, I would argue, of power. Nearly 65% of Vermonters live in small towns, rural,…

By Seth Bowden Editor’s note: Seth Bowden, Jericho, is president of the Vermont Business Roundtable. Vermont stands at a crossroads. In fact, we’ve been there for some time. Economic growth, affordability and social equity must converge to create a sustainable and prosperous future, yet the existing conditions of our communities prevent them from doing so. …

Killington ski legend Jon Lamb dies in accident Local skier Jon Lamb (63) suffered a fatal accident at Big Sky Resort in Montana on April 2. He was found about 200 feet below the ridge at the bottom of a rock field in the Dakota Bowl, an out-of-bounds area. Lamb was a long-time Killington local.…

Vermont’s trout fishing season opens Saturday, April 12. Despite lingering snow cover in some areas of the state, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife (VTF&W) says anglers can still have fun and be successful early in the season if they keep a few strategies in mind. “Just like any other time of year, anglers fishing early…

By Izzy Wagner/VTDigger Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources may trap and remove beavers from roughly 25 state-owned dams impacted by beaver-induced debris. The plan is an effort to comply with new technical standard dam safety rules, which are a product of a state law passed in 2018. They require the state to remove the beaver materials, modify…

By Greta Solsaa, Community News Service Editor’s note: This story is via Community News Service in partnership with Vermont State University Castleton. In the past decade, rechargeable lithium ion batteries have become ubiquitous in products like smartphones, electric toothbrushes, and electric vehicles, powering Vermonters’ everyday lives. But the new technology has its own challenges, particularly fire…

New tariffs imposed by the Trump administration April 2, plus tariffs implemented since January, will cost Vermont households an estimated $1 billion annually, according to an estimate provided by the State Treasurer’s Office.   On Wednesday, April 2, the White House announced a sweeping range of tariffs and “reciprocal” tariffs that the administration claims will “free”…

By Pearl Bellomo Cristina Kumka, owner of the local pet-care service Bow Wow Babysitters, is bringing more opportunities for dogs and their owners through obedience classes hosted by recreation departments.  What began last summer at the Brandon Town Recreation Department continues at the West Rutland Recreation Department, which utilizes its indoor recreational space and outdoor…

By Karen D. Lorentz One of the things that made Killington unique was the input and work of women from the get-go.  The 1950s were the era when ski area development and management were the province of men. Few wives of founders participated in decision-making, let alone were incorporators, directors, and officers of the parent…