By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org Personal income tax receipts for April were the highest ever, according to the Vermont Agency of Administration. With two months left in the fiscal year, Vermont is $26.5 million (2.28 percent) above target, according to state figures. Gov. Peter Shumlin and lawmakers have indicated that any surplus at the end of…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org A bill that would criminalize so-called “revenge porn” is on its way to the governor’s desk after passing a final voice vote in the Senate on Wednesday, May 6. More than a dozen other states have similar laws. H.105 establishes criminal penalties for sharing intimate photos and videos without the consent…

By House Speaker Shap Smith States have faced many challenges as the country recovers from the Great Recession, but in Vermont, we are making progress and we know our approach is working. Vermont has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, our roads and bridges are in better shape than ever before, and…

By Steven J. Sinclair The localvore movement in Vermont is strong, whether for vegetables, meat, craft beer, or goods and services. I am here to promote the same approach in the purchase and burning of firewood. Why is this important? Transported firewood is a major vehicle of invasive pests such as the emerald ash borer…

By Dom Cioffi During the recess after my freshman year of college, several of my friends and I decided to head to Cape Cod to work for the summer. The idea was to rent a beach house for three months, get mundane jobs that catered to the tourist crowd and party as much as possible.…

Insuring multiple vehicles and/or drivers on an auto insurance policy may prove cheaper than having each of those drivers and vehicles insured separately on multiple policies. That's because insurers typically offer bulk rates to policy holders willing to insure several vehicles and/or drivers on a single policy. But such discounts typically adhere to guidelines that…

Submitted Air filters need to be changed regularly to maintain the right flow of air into the engine and to protect it from debris. Motorists routinely check their tires for proper inflation, top off engine fluid levels and maintain oil change schedules. But some drivers do not understand the importance of keeping engine air filters…

Submitted Routinely checking tire pressure and inflating underinflated tires is one way drivers can reduce their risk of flat tires and blowouts. Know the warning signs that a tire is about to go flat Few drivers will be fortunate enough to go their entire driving lives without encountering at least one flat tire. Flat tires…

Courtesy of BRGNS Shoppers sort through piles of bargains at a fall rummage sale. May 15-17 — LUDLOW — Black River Good Neighbor Services will hold its annual Spring Rummage Sale at Fletcher Farms, 611 Route 103 South in Ludlow on Friday and Saturday, May 15 and 16 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, May 17 from…

Courtesy of Brandon Music EMILY MURE Saturday, May 16 — BRANDON — Classically informed singer-songwriter Emily Mure makes a welcome return to Brandon Music on Saturday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. Her previous appearance with her trio wowed the audience with its virtuoso mix of folk and classical sounds. This concert follows a songwriting workshop Emily is…

Courtesy of BigTown Gallery ¡Viva Cuba! will be on exhibit at BigTown Gallery.  Saturday, May 16 — ROCHESTER — The BigTown Gallery will host presentations and a panel discussion on U.S.-Cuban history and future relations on the afternoon of Saturday, May 16, at the Rochester High School Auditorium, South Main Street, prior to the opening reception for ¡Viva Cuba!,…

By Johan Persson Cast members and props fill the stage in the National Theatre of Great Britain’s  presentation of “Treasure Island”  Live in HD. Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m. — RUTLAND — The Paramount Theatre continues its Live in HD from the National Theatre of Great Britain series with “Treasure Island,” Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of…

Submitted Display your best fish in the bowl show, May 17 at Holiday Inn. Sunday, May 17 at 9:30 a.m. — RUTLAND — On Sunday, May 17,  the Otter Valley Aquarium Society (OVAS) will hold its annual fundraising auction and bowl show in the Governor’s Room at the Rutland / Killington Holiday Inn. This event is free…

Submitted Muffy Kashkin Grollier needlepoints a daffodil, timely for the spring season. Sunday, May 17 at 10 a.m. — BRANDON — With her acclaimed exhibit “Felted Flora, Fauna and Fantasy” on display, Muffy Kashkin Grollier will be leading a workshop in needlefelting at the Compass Music and Arts Center on Sunday, May 17 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.…

Thursday, May 14 at 6 p.m. — RUTLAND — NeighborWorks and Castleton Downtown will host a free workshop on smart investing as part of their “Forget the Fluff: Finances for Real Life” series. The workshop will be Thursday, May 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Castleton Downtown in the Opera House on Merchants Row in Rutland. An expert from Heritage Family Credit Union, Steve…