The state identified 71 new coronavirus positive cases Saturday — the largest increase of any single day so far — and reported three new deaths in Vermont. Sunday brought 52 more. The new cases bring the total number of positive coronavirus tests in the state since the beginning of the outbreak to 512. Thus far,…

On Friday, April 3, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, recommended that Vermonters wear cloth facial masks, or coverings, if they need to leave their homes for essential purposes. This advice is based on new data about how COVID-19 can spread before a person has any symptoms. Because people may have COVID-19 but no symptoms, wearing…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imXVykm-5PY&feature=youtu.be Mike Coppinger, Executive Director of the Killington Pico Area Association, interviews owner and publisher of the Mountain Times Polly Mikula. They talk about the Killington community's response in the wake of COVID-19. This interview was taped on April 1, 2020

Medical surge preparations Gov. Phil Scott today (April 2) announced additional medical surge locations to prepare for a surge of COVID-19 patients and the need for additional hospital and medical capacity. In partnership with the Vermont National Guard, the state is creating two additional high capacity care sites for surge: one in Essex Junction at…

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Pranks, practical jokes and various goofs are Hallmarks of April 1st, April Fools’ Day — a tradition that dates back several centuries. Media has been a prime vehicle for some April tomfoolery over the years, too. Here are a few favorites: In 1957, the BBC told viewers there was a great spaghetti crop in Switzerland…

Tuesday's coronavirus #s, charts: While Vermont continues to see more coronavirus cases each day, the exponential growth is rate is not as steep as some had feared. Experts expect social distancing will continue to work and broader testing will allow contact-tracing, which will help identify those who may be contagious. For daily local news about…

Castleton University cancels graduation Staff report On Thursday afternoon, March 26, Governor Phil Scott directed schools to remain dismissed through the end of the 2019-2020 school year. K-12 schools will stay closed for in-person instruction and be required to implement continuity of learning plans for remote learning. This extends the governor’s previous directive dismissing preK-12…

Calls for 14-day home-quarantine for anyone coming from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut On Monday, March 30, Governor Phil Scott ordered additional restrictions on travelers arriving in Vermont and announced additional guidance for the lodging industry to enhance compliance with his “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order. The measures under the order, effective March 25,…

Legislation includes small business aid, direct payments to individuals and increased unemployment compensation Staff report President Trump signed a $2 trillion economic stimulus bill Friday afternoon, March 27, after the House passed it earlier that day. The package provides aid to help individuals, families, small businesses and hospitals mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.…

The Outside Story By Elise Tillinghast This is such a disorienting time, when all our lives have been turned upside down and shaken. One of the ways my own family is coping is by spending time outside every day. We stage nature treasure hunts in the woods behind our house. The kids work as a…

Dear Editor, Everyone is having to deal with disruptions to their daily lives in light of the COVID-19 crisis. Many of us are out of work, or adjusting to working from home. Families of school-aged children especially are going through major changes right now. Parents are having to be teachers as well as moms and…

Dear Editor, On behalf of the Killington Active Seniors, I would like to thank the many people who have reached out to offer help and support to us in these unusual times. I would particularly like to acknowledge the Killington Locals Group on Facebook who contacted me early on. I remember thinking that we should…

Dear Editor, Unless activists stop the plan, thousands of acres of Green Mountain National Forest near Killington and Mount Snow will be logged. “They are coming hard with the chainsaws to Green Mountain National Forest,” said Chris Matera, a civil engineer and founder of Massachusetts Forest Watch, a citizens group formed to protect New England public…

Dear Editor, While Vermont communities were watching for signs the federal government would help them weather the current public health issues, 130 federal legislators had their sights set on something else. These members of Congress had the audacity to jointly petition the House Armed Services Committee, just four days after the White House declared a…