Governor Peter Shumlin announced Feb. 19 that Commissioner of Economic Development Lisa Gosselin will be leaving her post in April to take a job outside state government. She will be replaced by Joan Goldstein, who currently serves as executive director […]
Category: State News
State News
DCF allocates additional funds to WARMTH programs
Commissioner Ken Schatz announced Feb. 26 that the Department for Children and Families (DCF) is providing $375,000 to the state’s five community action agencies to fund additional crisis fuel assistance grants through their WARMTH programs. “When a family asks for […]
State News
Pollina proposes duelling presidential primaries
By Morgan True, VTDigger.org Senator Anthony Pollina (D/P/W-Washington) wants Vermont to hold its presidential primary the same day as neighboring New Hampshire, and he’s introduced a bill to do just that. The former gubernatorial candidate and longtime state Legislator says […]
State News
Home heating assistance among proposed cuts
By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org In the ups and downs of the proposed 2016 budget for the Agency of Human Services, there are a few big winners, and many small losers. Under the proposal, the agency’s overall budget would be $3.8 […]
State News
Senate unanimously supports child protection law
By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org The Senate gave unanimous preliminary approval to S.9, a hefty child protection reform package, in a roll call vote Wednesday, Feb. 25. The bill has loomed large on the Senate’s agenda since the beginning of the […]
State News
Rural schools struggle to keep teachers
By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger Rural Vermont schools with high poverty rates have higher numbers of first-year teachers than other schools in Vermont, according to information in a federal report that looks at educator equity in public schools nationwide. The […]
State News
Business group suggests alternatives to earned leave bill, oposes “one-size-fits-all” mandate
By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org A House bill that would introduce paid time off is not sitting well with everyone in Vermont’s business community. H.187, introduced last week, proposes to establish three days of paid leave for the next two […]
State News
New England housing market affected by near-historic levels of snowfall, according to one New England housing report
The New England housing market felt the effects of historic or near-historic levels of snowfall across much of the region in January. Many states accumulated more than 60 inches of snow in a two-week period, forcing potential homebuyers to put […]
State News
Vermont Officials Outline Impacts of Department of Homeland Security Shutdown
WATERBURY – With continued uncertainty over whether or for how long Congress will approve funding for the Department of Homeland Security, Gov. Peter Shumlin and Vermont public safety officials today outlined impacts of a shutdown for Vermont. If funding is […]
State News
Student-teacher ratios are the focus as House Education Committee hones bill
By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org Attention turned to class sizes and student-staff ratios as the House Education Committee continued to fine tune its education reform bill Monday, Feb. 23. Brad James, education finance manager for the Vermont Agency of Education, […]