Courtesy of VTDigger.org Jeb Spaulding, chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges, told lawmakers recently about an effort to consolidate functions among the institutions to save money. In an echo of the school district consolidation efforts around the state, Vermont State Colleges, a public corporation, is looking for ways to save money through efficiencies of scale…

By Chris Rueli Coach A.J. Kitt (right) stands on the podium with women winners at NASTAR Eastern Championships held this past week at Okemo Mountain Resort. By Karen D. Lorentz A.J. Kitt, a four-time Olympic downhiller who helped bring recognition to the U.S. Men’s Team with his World Cup downhill, Super G, and Combined finishes…

SNOWBOARD - A Women 1. Pam McNeil, Sweet Peaks. Time: 33.02 2. Amy Laramie, Highline Bombers. Time: 33.17 3. Jessi Travers, RAMROD. Time: 37.07 4. Kim Williamson, TBD. Time: 38.64 5. Ashley Handlin, Moguls ARS. Time: 45.21 Men 1. Aaron Moulton, RAMROD. Time: 27.54 2. Steven Kelly, RAMROD. Time: 27.70 3. Forrest Baker, Moguls ARS.…

Courtesy of Same Sun of Vermont A crowd gathered outside Phoenix Books Rutland for its grand opening, Sept. 2015. RUTLAND — Vermont’s Phoenix Books has been shortlisted for the 2016 Publishers Weekly Bookstore of the Year Award, which highlights singular achievements in the bookselling industry. “This year’s nominees for the 2016 PW Awards reflect the…

KILLINGTON — A large contingent of blind and visually impaired skiers will be attending the 9th Annual United States Association of Blind Athletes Winter Festival with Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports this weekend, Feb. 6-7, at Pico Mountain and Mountain Meadows. It is the largest gathering in the nation with 30 blind and visually impaired…

By Michael Bielawski, Vermont Watchdog Lawmakers who heard Gov. Peter Shumlin outline his spending priorities in Thursday’s budget address on Jan. 20 had mixed reactions on how money should be spent. To fix Vermont’s $68 million budget deficit, Gov. Peter Shumlin called for $30 million in increased revenue, but he also asked lawmakers to reduce the…

By Erin Mansfield, VTDigger.org Gov. Peter Shumlin’s health care reform team told the House Health Care Committee on Thursday, Jan. 28, about bigger challenges with Vermont Health Connect than were previously reported. Lawrence Miller, the chief of health care reform, said the number of changes to customer accounts waiting to be handled by the state’s…

In a statement issued Tuesday, Jan. 26, Gov. Peter Shumlin and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Richard Sears (D-Bennington) detailed legislation to cautiously and deliberately legalize marijuana in Vermont. The move comes after the governor announced in his State of the State Address that he and Sen. Sears would work to draft common-sense legislation…

By Elizabeth Hewitt During the first two weeks of the year, fewer than half of the 41 beds at Maple Leaf Farm, a residential opiate treatment facility in Underhill, were full. For a facility that usually has a waiting list of 34 and a wait of two weeks to get a bed, that’s unusual. The…

Vermont is seeking 15 small business owners to participate in the Emerging Leaders Initiative beginning in April at Vermont Technical College in Williston, Vt. Emerging Leaders, established by the federal Small Business Administration, is a free, executive-level training program for entrepreneurs to learn how to establish a three-year strategic growth plan for their businesses. The…

On Wednesday, Jan. 20, at about 3:22 p.m., the Vermont State Police responded to a head-on automobile crash on Route 125 near West Market Road in Bridport, involving a 2004 Pontiac Vibe and a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The driver of the Pontiac, Thomas Scheufler, age 66 of Shoreham, Vt., was found dead at the scene;…

HUBBARDTON — When fire departments from four towns showed up Tuesday, Jan. 26 at the fire on Black Pond Road in Hubbardton, it said much about small towns, the selflessness of firefighters and the generosity of one man’s life. Bob Gibbs is a native Vermonter, living in the small town of Hubbardton where he grew up.…

On Wednesday, Jan. 24, at approximately 2:19 a.m., the Vermont State Police and Londonderry Fire Department responded to a single motor vehicle collision on Middle Town Road at the intersection with Brooks Lane, in the town of Londonderry, Vt.  The investigation revealed that Michael Hazel, age 24 from Harvard, Mass., was operating a 2008 Subaru…

Four nonprofit organizations in Rutland County have received a total of $9,950 in Small and Inspiring grants from the Vermont Community Foundation for local projects. The Small and Inspiring grants fund work helps connect people to their neighbors, their land, and their history in ways that strengthen the community. “These projects remind us of the…

RUTLAND—Last month, the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) released the newly approved tactical basin plans for the Battenkill, Walloomsac, and Hoosic rivers and  their tributaries, referred to as Basin 01. The basin plan will protect, maintain, and improve surface waters by managing the activities that result in surface water stressors, and address the pollutants associated…