By Angelo Lynn BURLINGTON—Early Monday morning, Vermont Lt. Gov. Molly Gray declared her candidacy for Vermont’s lone congressional seat being vacated by Congressman Peter Welch. A lifelong Vermonter, Gray, 37, was born and raised in South Newbury on a vegetable […]
Category: State News
State expects an ‘unprecedented’ $90 million surplus in the education fund
School tax rates likely to decrease By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger This spring, Vermont lawmakers may have a welcome question on their hands: what to do with a $90 million surplus in the state’s education fund. State tax officials unveiled the projected surplus in the […]
Nesting loons have a record year
Vermont’s loons are thriving with a record 109 nesting pairs recorded in 2021, the highest since loon monitoring began in 1978, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. and Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE). “Across Vermont, 77 loon nests […]
Few area towns keen to create mask mandates
By Ethan Weinstein Despite Gov. Phil Scott signing a legislation on Nov. 23 allowing cities and towns to create their own mask mandates, few municipalities seem keen to use the new power. The town of Rutland is one exception. On […]
Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s map project wins $100,000 federal grant to help wildlife adapt to climate change
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. won a $106,256 competitive grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to take advantage of groundbreaking new data that will help conservation planners protect plants, animals and their habitats in the face of […]
Welch launches campaign to replace Leahy in the U.S. Senate
By Sarah Mearhoff/VTDigger The long-suspected rumors are true: Vermont’s U.S. Rep. Peter Welch is launching his campaign for the U.S. Senate. The Democrat announced early Monday, Nov. 22, that after 14 years in the 435-member House of Representatives, he wants […]
Legislature allows municipal mask mandates
Cases hold steady at near record highs across the state By Ethan Weinstein As statewide case counts remain at or near record levels, reinstated mitigation measures may be coming. The state Legislature reconvened Monday, Nov. 22, passing a bill allowing […]
Gov. Phil Scott orders ‘universal booster program’
On Nov. 17, Governor Phil Scott directed the Agency of Human Services to implement a universal booster program for Covid-19 vaccinations and is strongly encouraging every Vermonter over the age of 18 to get a Covid booster shot. Anyone who […]
Lawmakers react to being called back into session to allow town mask mandates
By Lola Duffort/VTDigger As soon as Gov. Scott told top lawmakers in a letter Monday afternoon, Nov. 15, that he would call them back into session and allow them to pass a measure clearing the way for time-limited municipal mask […]
RNESU: Schools are stressed, dealing daily the best they can
By Angelo Lynn BRANDON — To say schools across the state are stressed is an understatement. That they are in crisis is a more accurate description, and one that school officials don’t shy away from. But in doing so, it’s […]