By Anne Wallace Allen/VTDigger Vermonters who live in long-term care facilities could have their first face-to-face visits with visiting family or friends by Father’s Day, Gov. Phil Scott said Wednesday. Scott and Agency of Human Services Secretary Mike Smith outlined new guidance that the state plans to put into effect Sunday for the state’s more…

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Vermont high school graduates gifted a free CCV course As school districts across the state said good-bye to the Vermont high school class of 2020, the McClure Foundation announced a graduation gift for every member of that class. Every graduating senior, no matter their circumstances, will be eligible for a free course of their choosing…

Law enforcement and public safety leaders from across Vermont presented to the Legislature a draft set of action items and reforms intended to modernize policing in the state, according to a news release June 11. The 10-point proposal, intended as a starting point for the conversation, was developed by the Vermont Department of Public Safety,…

The Vermont State Police in 2015 initiated efforts to obtain body-worn cameras for all troopers and to replace two-decade-old in-cruiser dashboard camera systems. State police leaders have been working ever since with the Legislature to acquire not only body-worn cameras but also the necessary data storage systems to support them, according to a news release,…

LUDLOW—It was November 2019 when Wright Construction began the project at the Inn at Water’s Edge. The historic building, on the shore of Echo Lake off Route 100 in Ludlow, deserved a major facelift after serving as a peaceful retreat for guests over the past 21 years, the new owners, Bob and Connie Rae, felt.…

Dear Editor, The 2020 Lt. governor’s race is wide open. It presents an important opportunity to turn the tide for struggling Vermonters. Voters have a clear choice in the Aug. 11 primary election. Meg Hansen is the only Republican Lt. Governor candidate who can defeat the Progressive/Democrat nominee in November. Hansen has a medical degree,…

Dear Editor, This is the first time I have written a letter to a paper. There were three items in the June 3-9 edition of the Mountain Times that compelled me to write. 1) This goes first as it is the one I know the most about not because it is the most important. To…

Dear Editor, Editor’s note: This was written as an open letter to the member of the Vermont General Assembly, June 10. As you build a plan to spend the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) monies that were allocated to Vermont, we hope you will use some basic guidelines in your decision making. Vermonters are struggling. These…

Find new ways to make your summer count By Secretary Anson Tebbetts As the weather gets warmer, Vermonters are comforted by the simple pleasures of summer, among them, fun with friends at Vermont country fairs and festivals. My own family has enjoyed fairs all over the state year after year. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has caused this summer’s…

By Angelo Lynn In this unique moment in the national debate over racial justice, particularly as it is being portrayed through acts of police brutality, we are all asked to do the hard work of looking within, to examine our own wells of systemic racism and flush them out. It’s a tall task and not…

By Rep. Jim Harrison This past Friday, the House gave final approval to S.348, which removes the governor from the decision on how the elections are run this fall and allows the secretary of state to establish any new rules. Secretary Condos has indicated he plans to mail out ballots to all registered voters for…

School immunization data recently released by the Vermont Department of Health shows that over 95% of Vermont students from kindergarten to 12th grade have all their required vaccines. “This high rate of children who are up-to-date with their vaccines reflects the ongoing work by Vermont health care providers, child cares, schools and parents,” said Christine…

Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association (VMSMA) members said “thank you” to essential workers in hospitals throughout Vermont with a tasty donation as part of their new Maple Essential Gratitude Program. VMSMA collected and delivered over 60 gallons of 2020 maple syrup from sugar makers statewide to hospitals in each corner of Vermont, including, but not…

Until the recent Covid-19 restrictions, the number of Vermont homes used as short-term rentals has ticked up each year, according to a recent analysis by Vermont Housing Finance Agency. In a typical month last year, about 8,000 homes were listed as short-term rentals across the state. Largely located in towns near Vermont ski areas, homes…