By Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDigger Trissie Casanova, a social worker, testifies Wednesday , Feb. 3, at the State House about threats to Department for Children and Families employees. Casanova and others seek stricter penalties for assaulting social workers. By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org Trissie Casanova told lawmakers Wednesday, Feb. 3, that she’s been a social worker for 13…

Courtesy of Vermont State Police Garrett M. Lever MT. HOLLY—On Feb. 3, at about 10 p.m., members of the Vermont State Police in Rutland were advised of a single motor vehicle crash, in which a pickup truck had driven off the road at the intersection of Hortonville Road and Cole Road in Mt. Holly, and…

Submitted Vermonters are now able to recycle household batteries by bringing them to over 100 drop-off sites statewide. National Battery Day celebrated, Feb. 18 Call2Recycle, Inc., North America’s largest consumer battery stewardship organization, and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources announced the official launch of the statewide program for the responsible recycling of single-use (primary)…

Submitted A Jack Russell Terrier stands in front of hydrangeas looking guilty with his ears up. Yuccies, welltality and petscaping among new trends By Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor, UVM Syncing gardening with technology, engaging hands-on with the local environment and nature, night lighting, garden whimsy, and layered landscapes incorporating various types of plants, are…

By Michael Bielawski, Vermont Watchdog A bill introduced recently at the State House would require gun owners to report their weapons to homeowner’s insurance companies. The bill, H.709, is currently in the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, and it’s only in “short form.” This means it’s relatively simple and vague: “This bill proposes…

By Morgan True, VTDigger.org Burlington City officials have billed Donald Trump’s campaign for costs incurred for public safety and security during his Jan. 7 rally at the Flynn Center on Main Street. Mayor Miro Weinberger sent the Republican presidential candidate two separate invoices, one for the overtime worked by police officers and one for firefighters.…

By Michael Bielawski, Vermont Watchdog The House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development met with labor leaders on Thursday, Feb. 4, to gauge how new bills regarding contractor work can best suit employers and employees. “The big issue is trying to ensure that the long tradition of true independent contractors is able to continue,” said…

By Kate Robinson, VTDigger.org The state Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 4, approved a new mandate requiring all businesses in Vermont to offer sick leave benefits to employees. The legislation will now go back to the House, where lawmakers may concur or amend the Senate version. Gov. Peter Shumlin has said he would sign paid sick…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger.org Is Vermont spending too little or too much on schools? The answer, according to experts hired by the state, is that Vermont may have spent about 10 percent more than necessary in the 2014-2015 school year. However, they say the findings don’t mean the state should start sharpening the budgetary…

On Feb. 4, TDI New England announced that the United States Army Corps of Engineers issued a federally-required Department of Army permit to the New England Clean Power Link, allowing it to be placed in the waters of the United States along its proposed route. TDI New England plans to build a 1,000-megawatt transmission line…

Using credit responsibly is an integral part of personal financial health. Not only is credit a key factor in securing loans for a home, vehicle or other major purchases, potential employers may review an applicant’s credit as part of the interview process, and landlords often look at credit before approving new renters. “Improving and maintaining…

Two years ago the Vermont Volunteer Services for Animals (VVSA) humane society, based in Bridgewater, Vt., was asked by state police to conduct a statewide survey of reported acts of neglect and abuse towards animals, including the number of cases, which agencies responded, and how the reports were handled. Starting January 2016, police departments are…

Courtesy of Dave Hoffenberg JARED JOHNSON There is a new music spot in Killington where you can feast on good food and good tunes. Capriccio Ristorante has live music on Friday and Saturday nights. This Saturday, don’t miss Jared Johnson who is performing from 6-10 p.m. Johnson plays a wide variety of good listening and…

By Cal Garrison, a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s Horoscopes are coming out under the light of a brand-new, Aquarius Moon, with a bevy of aspects that make it seem like we will be totally blissed-out and completely in accord for the next week or so. On the surface, who knows? Positive energy moving…

By Charley Akers