KILLINGTON—After 35-plus years in Killington, Craig and Mary Hogstrom are beginning  the next chapter of their lives in Newark, Del. As you can tell from the smiles on their faces, parting is not such sweet sorrow, as they are excited about their upcoming move in mid-May. Mary is leaving her most recent job at The…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger Following spirited debate Friday, April 21, the Senate supported a proposal that would legalize marijuana and create a system to regulate and tax marijuana sales. The proposal, which would set up a system similar to the model currently in place in Colorado, came after several members of the Senate expressed frustration…

By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger An attorney for Rutland City is disputing claims of bias policing and wants a federal judge to toss out a lawsuit from a former nightclub owner alleging discriminatory police tactics forced him out of business. The city, in its recent filing, also asked the judge to require Charles Greeno III,…

By Evan Johnson Governor Phil Scott has stated he wants economic growth to be a cornerstone of his administration and this week in Rutland he got a preview of what that growth could look like in a state with a rich history of agriculture. On a tour of the Vermont Farmers Food Center (VFFC), Scott…

By Evan Johnson Jim Harrison has jumped “with two feet” into his new role as state representative for the towns of Killington, Mendon, Chittenden and Bridgewater. The Chittenden resident was selected by Gov. Phil Scott to replace Rep. Job Tate, who resigned from his post for a deployment with the U.S. Navy Seabees earlier this…

RUTLAND—A group of Rutland boosters is hoping to use a pop-up gallery to raise local artists’ profiles and add to the growing art scene that will include galleries, murals and a planned series of sculptures in downtown Rutland. Organizers this week issued a call for artists for the new pop-up gallery, which will feature a…

CASTLETON—Castleton’s student-run newspaper, the Spartan, was recently selected by the New England Society of News Editors to receive recognition as one of the top college newspapers in the region. “I honestly can’t believe it,” said senior co-editor Jadie Dow. “We’ve always been this good, we just haven’t been recognized until now.” To be considered for…

RUTLAND—An initiative of the Rutland Redevelopment Authority (RRA) and the City of Rutland to improve appearance and safety along one of the key gateways into downtown is ready to commence. The Gateway Improvement Project construction contract has been awarded to Parker Excavation, of New Haven, Vt. Work is set to begin in mid-June and is…

ArtBeat Cafe and multi-media space to open RUTLAND—The Chaffee Art Center will begin a major transformation this summer with the addition of a café, artisan co-op, multi-media HD gallery, and expanded educational and community outreach offerings, including a dedicated mobile art unit. In addition, the property will begin the first stage of a major permaculture…

A new report entitled “Clean Energy Momentum: Ranking State Progress” and published by the Union of Concerned Scientists highlighted Vermont for its success in developing a clean energy economy. Vermont ranked second nationally, bested onlyby California. The report scored states on 12 metrics in the three broader areas of technical progress, direct visible effects on…

The Vermont Press Association is praising the Vermont Legislature for approving a shield law designed to protect journalists from unwarranted subpoenas concerning their sources. The House of Representatives gave final approval to the legislation, 140-2, on Thursday afternoon, and Gov. Phil Scott signed it on Friday, April 21. “This is an important piece of legislation…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger The State Board of Education has approved the Agency of Education’s revised draft rules that will guide how school districts that don’t want to or can’t merge under Act 46 will make their case to the state. The rules—on what are referred to as “alternative structures”—will now go to the…

Walker Bridge and Branch Brook Bridge work to start May 1 By Stephen Seitz LUDLOW—Hoping for the smoothest possible project, officials from the Vermont Agency of Transportation outlined their plans for replacing the Walker Bridge, which is the gateway to downtown Ludlow, at a public forum Thursday, April 20. At about the same time, a…

By Dom Cioffi I was in Nashville, Tenn., this past week for a marketing conference. This was my first trip to the country metropolis known as “Music City.” And while I spent most of my day attending lectures and workshops with my 20-something coworker, I did find time to break away during the nights to…

Wednesday, May 3, 7 p.m.—TINMOUTH—Looking to learn more about the forests of Vermont and the wildlife that inhabit them? Join the discussion Wednesday, May 3, 7-9 p.m. at the Tinmouth Community Center in a free presentation “From Butterflies to Birds to Bears” with Sue Morse of Keeping Track. Morse is one of the top wildlife…