RUTLAND – With blood donations in a summer slump, Rutland’s Gift-of-Life Summer Mini Marathon Blood Drive will be back for a fourth run this summer, aiming to boost regional blood donations cut short by donor travel and school vacations. “As sure as thunderstorms and beach outings, summertime means a reduction in blood donations,” said organizer…

By Jess Wisloski, VTDigger.org Vermont’s largest union has joined the ranks of unions nationwide that are endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in his run for president. The Vermont National Education Association, which represents teachers and education workers across the state, issued a statement in support of Sanders’ bid for the Democratic nomination for president. “Bernie’s…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org Two-thirds of homicides in Vermont last year were related to domestic violence, with victims ranging from 14 months to 60 years old, according to data from the Vermont Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission. The 2014 report, published this week, is an annual product of a 17-member commission that includes representatives of…

WALLINGFORD—On June 13 at about 2 p.m. Cedric Rogers, 58, of Wallingford, was traveling north on Route 7, approaching the intersection of Route 103.  Terri Harrington, 48, of East Wallingford, was driving on Route 103 approaching the intersection. Harrington collided with Rogers in the intersection and came to rest in the intersection. Investigation revealed that Rogers had…

Dear Editor, In a news article last week it stated FEMA would not pay any of the required upgrades to infrastructure destroyed during Irene imposed on towns from the state of Vermont. I know the town of Killington has been waiting for funds from FEMA for some four years now so I have a few…

Dear Editor, Thank you so much for your great and supportive coverage of our recent Trek to Taste on the trails of Woodstock. Over 1200 people attended the event, enjoying local food, fun and fitness. This was a record number, due in part to your great community reporting. Thank you for that, and for all…

Dear Editor, Rutland’s PEG-TV recently announced the retirement of their long time executive director. The three-station juggernaut has been a success that hopefully will continue. They last reported revenues of $750,000 and $1.4 million in assets with a well-paid and benefitted staff. But that success came in part at great cost to the town of…

State to submitting final case to FEMA on Killington’s behalf in July Dear Editor, Last weeks’ news about FEMA rejecting the state’s appeal to fund the cost of box culverts for other towns raised questions about our own town’s outstanding claims to FEMA. I wanted to write to share where the town of Killington stands…

By Morgan True, VTDigger.org Among the problems Rutland Mental Health Services must address to remain one of the state’s regional human services contractors is its management of a waiting list for adolescent mental health services, a state report shows. Within the past year a 13-year-old girl took her own life after waiting almost six months…

By Morgan True, VTDigger.org The Department of Corrections is not properly tracking transitional housing services delivered by community partners and is not adequately measuring how those services help released inmates reintegrate into the community, a state auditor’s report shows. DOC’s transitional housing program provides grants to 25 organizations statewide that offer temporary housing and support…

By Dom Cioffi The other day I had half an hour to kill so I grabbed my iPad, flopped down on the couch and fired up my Netflix app. After perusing for a bit, I came across one of my all-time favorite movies, “High Fidelity,” starring John Cusack as the love-mangled record store owner, Rob…

KILLINGTON — Graham has been working in bike shops since the age of 14.  A former downhill mountain bike racer, he spends most of his time freeriding locally at Killington.  Having ridden in the Killington area for the better part of the last 20 years, it was no surprise he said “yes” when offered the…

By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org A lack of high-quality early learning opportunities for Vermont’s young children has led the Vt. Legislature and Gov. Peter Shumlin to form a Blue Ribbon Commission on Financing High Quality, Affordable Child Care. The commission will collect information on the state of early childhood learning opportunities across Vermont and will…

By Anthony Accurso, Alpine Bike Works “Trail 18,” also known as “The Cable Trail,” is a local favorite at Killington Resort. Located between the South Ridge and Stash areas, “The Cable Trail” is a short, technical line which is divided into three sections: upper, middle and lower. After one crosses the namesake cable at the…

  By Kyle Finneron What do you think is the most important variable when you are training? I’ll give you a hint: it’s not your pre-workout drink, or the food you have had for that day. People tend to forget that the most important ingredient to your training success is oxygen. If you don’t believe…