By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger “Nima is planning a vacation. The total cost of his vacation, c, in dollars, for n nights of stay at a hotel can be estimated by the equation c = 375n + 1,700. If Nima can spend no more than 4,000 dollars on his vacation, what is the greatest number of nights…

By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger Vermont students are urging state officials and educators to make a series of sweeping reforms to combat longstanding racial inequities in the state. A new report, written by the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network, a group of students from across the state seeking to address racial inequities, aims to be a resource for…

Rutland residents will soon be able to enjoy a new mural on Rutland City Hall thanks to a recently launched crowdfunding campaign. The campaign is sponsored by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development’s Better Places program and is led by the Chaffee Art Center. “Murals bring a sense of unity, strong community identity,…

By Rick Weinstein Weinstein has a Ph.D. in Antarctic microbial ecology from Cambridge University and was a biology lecturer at the University of Tennessee for 15 years. He now lives in Stowe. There is no such thing as cold. That might sound idiotic coming from a Vermonter, but it’s true. In actuality there is only…

By Erin Forbes Editor’s note: Erin Forbes is a veterinarian at Mountain View Veterinary Clinic in Essex Jct. September is Animal Pain Awareness Month. Pain comes in many forms: arthritis, cancer, post-surgery, acute injuries, and chronic injuries. Acute pain is obvious and distressing and hard to miss. Think a broken leg or an injury from…

A female pedestrian died after being hit by a vehicle on Route 7 in Rutland town on Aug. 26. Police said Chelsea Sikora, 42, of Rutland, was crossing Route 7 near Cold River Road in rainy, wet conditions around 8 p.m. when she was struck by a 2009 Chevy TrailBlazer in the southbound lane driven…

The unexpected chemistry of lightning By Kenrick Vezina To say that lightning “splits” the sky is no mere poetry. A single stroke contains about one billion joules of energy, roughly 280 kilowatt-hours of electricity, and could power a modern American household for more than nine days. What’s more, it’s enough to blast apart the very…

By Alan J. Keays/VTDigger The Ludlow police officer who shot and seriously wounded a Cavendish man following a pursuit Monday night was a new recruit on patrol with another officer as part of training, according to a press release from Vermont State Police. Zachary Paul, 21, joined the Ludlow Police Department in July after graduating…

By Brett Yates On an average day, more than 4,000 motor vehicles pass through Pittsfield, which has a population of 504, on Route 100, the north-south state highway that crosses its village center. Here, the speed limit drops from 50 to 35 mph. But how many cars actually slow down? New data from the Two…

By Brett Yates On Aug. 18, the Pittsfield Select Board approved a $24,610 expenditure for a backup generator for the Town Hall. The Briggs & Stratton 26kw unit will supply enough power during a blackout not just to keep the Town Hall fully operational but also to keep the lights on at the Town Office…

Even the Covid-19 pandemic couldn’t stop Batman! A marble sculpture inspired by DC’s Caped Crusader Batman and DC comic book creators in Rutland is finally underway, delayed for two years by the Covid-19 pandemic — but not defeated! Italian sculptor Alessandro Lombardo this week began working on the larger-than-life sculpture designed by Chinese artist Jiannan…

Teens with an interest in mental health and wellbeing may apply to become a Teen Health and Wellness Ambassador. The University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4–H Health HEROES (Health Education Resources for Outreach, Engagement and Service) program will provide free training for 20 Vermont teens, ages 14-18, to help them promote healthy living in their…

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says bear hunting season starts in September and reminds hunters about the bear hunting regulations. Vermont has two bear hunting seasons. The early season, which requires a special bear tag, starts Sept. 1, and continues through Nov. 11 with one exception. Nonresident hunters using dogs cannot start bear hunting…

By Brett Yates The Chittenden Select Board took the first step on Aug. 22 toward realizing a long-debated plan to address flooding near Lefferts Pond by raising two sections of Wildcat Road. “I’ve been talking about it for four years now,” Selectman Andrew Quint noted. An estimate by Enman Kesselring Consulting Engineers priced the job…

By Curt Peterson The Killington Select Board seemed to struggle with semantics as they discussed adoption of the Vermont Declaration of Inclusion at a meeting on Aug. 22. Ultimately the board suggested a committee recommend changes in the document at the Sept. 12 meeting to resolve issues over possible conflicts regarding board authority, enforcement, and…