By Rep. Jim Harrison File it under "be careful what you divulge in a public forum." As I began some remarks in a House session last week, I started with a short childhood story to make a point where my mother would say, “Jimmy, you must clean your room.” Well, I have gone by “Jim”…

Vermonters participated in the nationwide Prescription Drug Take Back Day this past Saturday, April 24, turning in more than 3.5 tons of unused, unwanted and expired medication at over 55 collection sites throughout the state. The 7,165 pounds of collected medication sets a record for Drug Take Back Day in Vermont, exceeding the previous record of 6,734 pounds collected in October 2019.  “As we continue to work to prevent substance misuse in Vermont, we know having unused prescriptions in the medicine cabinets at…

U.S. congressmen Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), and senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) re-introduced bipartisan legislation that requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take enforcement action against manufacturers labeling non-dairy products as dairy on April 22. The Dairy Pride Act would stop the use of dairy terms such…

May 1-31— A successful hunter in Vermont’s May 1-31 spring turkey season must, by law, report their turkey within 48 hours to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. The department says hunters can report their turkey online through its website vtfishandwildlife.com or at local big game reporting stations. “Online reporting was used successfully last year,”…

Youth help to keep a 50+-year-old environmental tradition alive Saturday, May 1 —With Green Up Day celebrating its 51st year, attracting new generations and keeping the activity of cleaning up litter exciting is an ongoing commitment and fun sort of challenge for Green Up Vermont coordinators.  “It is so important to attract Vermonters of all…

By Curt Peterson Some people aren’t fans of returning to full-time, in-class learning. Who they are may surprise you. But pro-reopening voices have echoed loudly across the country and state — nowhere, perhaps, more so than at the virtual National Safe School Reopening Summit on March 24.  First Lady Dr. Jill Biden said, “Classrooms are…

All adults 16-plus can sign up for a Covid-19 vaccine Staff report Vermont teens age 16-18 became eligible for vaccine signup early on Saturday, April 17 at 10 a.m. The full age band (including 19- to 29-year-olds) followed Monday, April 19 at 6 a.m. About 47,000 have registered, or 40% of that age group, said…

By Xander Landen/VTDigger A consulting firm hired to examine Vermont’s corrections system has proposed five plans for redesigning it in the coming years — all of which involve closing the state’s only prison for women. The proposals, presented to legislators Tuesday, April 13, would increase the number of beds in the state’s prison system to more…

Vermont will receive $ 104,438,131 from FEMA to support the state with emergency protective measures to store, handle, transport, distribute, and administer the Covid-19 vaccine in accordance with the state vaccination plan. These funds are being awarded to support the Vermont Agency of Human Services in order to address this immediate threat to life and…

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) issued a grant invitation for new infrastructure projects that improve access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, April 14. In 2020, awards totaled $3 million for construction and planning projects throughout the state. “These projects make it possible for more people to walk and bike safely in Vermont communities,”…

By Rep. Jim Harrison In the not-too-distant past, Vermonters would call the State House and leave a message for their legislator, which would then be hand-delivered by a page. Additionally, the State House had advocates for most sides of any initiative that could share information or answer legislators’ questions. Of course, there were emails, but…

By Governor Phil Scott Editor’s note: Governor Phil Scott announced April 17  that he will allow H. 315 to become law without his signature and issued the following letter to the General Assembly. Pursuant to Chapter II, Section 11 of the Vermont Constitution, H.315, An Act Relating to Covid-19 Relief, will become law without my signature for…

By Madeleine May Kunin Editors note: Madeleine May Kunin was the 77th governor of Vermont, serving from 1985 until 1991. She is the author of “Coming of Age, My Journey to the Eighties.” In the old days, back in the 1970s, issues like child care, equal pay and paid family and medical leave, were labeled “Women’s…

A new grant program, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, or RRF, is launching soon for restaurants, brew pubs, food trucks, coffee shops, bars and many more. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) site sba.gov/restaurants shares information on how the program will roll out, the application requirements and the documents to prepare. The SBA is strongly encouraging all potential applicants…

The VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region, (VNAHSR), one of the state’s largest providers of skilled home health and hospice services, announced March 29 that its board of directors has appointed Sara C. King as chief executive officer. She will replace Ron Cioffi, RN, CEO who is retiring in June. King assumed the leadership…