By Curt Peterson The almost 14% average education tax increase last year shocked Vermonters into taking serious interest in education finance. The governor, the Legislature and local school board members blamed each other and/or alleged bloated school budgets. Now the education system itself is the focus for all stakeholders.  One group, Vermont Rural Schools Community…

By Habib Sabet/VtDigger Cabot Creamery has issued a voluntary recall for nearly a ton of butter due to potential fecal contamination, the brand’s parent company, Agri-Mark Inc., announced April 9. The recall covers 189 cases of the iconic Vermont brand’s 8-oz. Extra Creamy Premium Butter across Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire and…

“Moving Day” in the world of golf often refers to Saturday’s third round play at the annual Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta Country Club. This is when top players often move into contention for Sunday’s final round for the championship, just like Rory McIlroy did this past Saturday with an impressive six under par performance.…

The Vermont Historical Society (VHS) announced that the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) terminated its federal funding for the Activating 21st Century Local History Training Program, effective April 8. The decision follows President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to defund several federal agencies, including IMLS. In a letter from acting IMLS director Keith…

By Auditi Guha/VTDigger Masked men in plainclothes detained an Upper Valley resident in Colchester during a scheduled citizenship interview Monday morning, April 14, despite his status as a lawful U.S. permanent resident. Mohsen Mahdawi’s lawyers filed a petition Monday alleging unlawful detention in the U.S. District Court in Vermont. Judge William Sessions III then issued a temporary restraining order saying…

National Dog Bite Prevention Week is underway (April 9–16), and the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA) reminds families and caregivers of the importance of understanding dog behavior to help reduce the risk of bites—especially among young children. Veterinary professionals play a key role in public education, helping people recognize signs of stress, fear, or anxiety…

On April 3, a coalition of service industry professionals, lawmakers, and gun safety advocates gathered at the Vermont State House to urge the Legislature to approve Burlington’s charter change (S.131), which would ban guns in bars and was overwhelmingly supported by 86.6% of Burlington voters in 2025. Advocates are also calling for the passage of…

Killington ski legend Jon Lamb dies in accident Local skier Jon Lamb (63) suffered a fatal accident at Big Sky Resort in Montana on April 2. He was found about 200 feet below the ridge at the bottom of a rock field in the Dakota Bowl, an out-of-bounds area. Lamb was a long-time Killington local.…

Vermont’s trout fishing season opens Saturday, April 12. Despite lingering snow cover in some areas of the state, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife (VTF&W) says anglers can still have fun and be successful early in the season if they keep a few strategies in mind. “Just like any other time of year, anglers fishing early…

Thank you, Windsor County, for showing up for the Saturday, April 5, Hands Off! Our Democracy rallies. Thousands of you braved the chilly rain to protest on democracy’s behalf – in Chester, South Royalton, White River Junction, and Woodstock. People of all ages turned out to protest the Trump administration’s handling of our economy, our…

As expected, Governor Scott vetoed the Budget Adjustment Act (BAA) for the second time last Friday, April 4, after House and Senate leaders refused to allow the winter rules of the hotel voucher program to end April 1. Winter rules, which allow more people to stay in hotels at state expense, ended April 1, as…

By Izzy Wagner/VTDigger Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources may trap and remove beavers from roughly 25 state-owned dams impacted by beaver-induced debris. The plan is an effort to comply with new technical standard dam safety rules, which are a product of a state law passed in 2018. They require the state to remove the beaver materials, modify…

By Greta Solsaa, Community News Service Editor’s note: This story is via Community News Service in partnership with Vermont State University Castleton. In the past decade, rechargeable lithium ion batteries have become ubiquitous in products like smartphones, electric toothbrushes, and electric vehicles, powering Vermonters’ everyday lives. But the new technology has its own challenges, particularly fire…

New tariffs imposed by the Trump administration April 2, plus tariffs implemented since January, will cost Vermont households an estimated $1 billion annually, according to an estimate provided by the State Treasurer’s Office.   On Wednesday, April 2, the White House announced a sweeping range of tariffs and “reciprocal” tariffs that the administration claims will “free”…

As spring returns to Vermont, the Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) is reminding outdoor enthusiasts that mud season is in full swing—and with it comes the need for caution and stewardship on the state’s hiking and biking trails. Mud season typically lasts through late May in Vermont’s higher elevations, as snowmelt, thawing ground,…