By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger The state has investigated 52 claims of sexual harassment reported by state employees since 2014, according to the Vermont Department of Human Resources. Disciplinary action was taken in two cases in 2016 and two cases in 2017. (Penalties can range from a reprimand to dismissal.) The number of complaints spiked in…

On Dec. 20, U.S. border patrol agents assigned to the Champlain Station arrested an Albanian man identified as Sandra Hiraj, 20, during his failed attempt to illegally enter the U. S. Record checks revealed that Hiraj is wanted by the government of Albania for murdering a police officer. The arrest occurred after a resident called…

The Vermont Ski Areas Association (VSAA) board of directors has named Molly Mahar as the new president of the nonprofit trade group representing 20 Alpine areas and 30 cross country centers. She will be joining the Ski Vermont team on Jan. 8. Mahar is currently the vice president of marketing and sales at Loon Mountain…

By Michelle Monroe, St. Albans Messenger State officials used Governor Phil Scott’s Education Summit last week to drive home the point that school mergers have saved significant amounts of money and enabled merged districts to improve educational opportunities for students. Two panel discussions at the summit featured administrators and school board members from merged districts.…

State officials reported that nearly 23,000 Vermonters have confirmed a 2018 health plan and qualified for financial help to make the plan more affordable. Total enrollment in qualified health plans is expected to surpass 80,000. This year’s earlier deadline means fewer members will experience gaps in coverage. In past years, nearly 2,000 members missed out…

By Secretary of State Jim Condos As Vermont’s chief election official, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of our elections is one of my highest priorities. In a world of constantly changing technology we must stay ahead of those who seek to undermine the integrity of our elections. We must ensure that our elections are secure…

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Thursday that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) economic development investments in the Vermont now total more than $222 million during fiscal year 2017. Federal funds supported a broad range of activities in thirteen Vermont counties, including business development, housing construction and purchases, municipal investments in infrastructure and awards to academic institutions…

By Michelle Monroe, St. Albans Messenger NORTHFIELD, Vt. — How to provide Vermont’s students with a quality education at an affordable cost as the number of students across the state continues to decline? That is the question the state has been trying to answer for at least a decade. It’s a question that is taking…

By Alan Keays, VTDigger Prosecutors have cleared five state police troopers of criminal wrongdoing in a fatal shooting that followed a lengthy standoff in Poultney. A big factor in that decision, according to the prosecutors, was the misleading appearance of a weapon Michael Battles pointed down at troopers from a second-floor window of his home.…

Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy announced a grant of more than $1.3 million for the Vermont State Police to continue its aggressive work fighting the opioid epidemic in Vermont on Wednesday, Nov. 29. This was the second-largest of only eight grants awarded nationwide through the COPS Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) grant program that…

By Mike Polhamus, VTDigger Green Mountain Power’s electric rates are slated to rise by 5 percent in 2018 if the Public Utility Commission approves a deal the state’s largest utility reached this month with the Vermont Department of Public Service. The deal incorporates approximately $18 million due to GMP customers as a result of terms…

As part of a continued focus on protecting Vermont’s most vulnerable, six child care and preschool programs located within 200 feet of current or former dry cleaning businesses will be evaluated in December to determine if dry cleaning chemicals are present, according to a Nov. 29 news release. Chemicals associated with dry cleaning can seep…

State officials marked the end of the first month of Health Access open enrollment by thanking Vermonters for acting promptly ahead of this year’s deadline, but remind those who still need coverage to be sure to log in to VermontHealthConnect.gov or call by Dec. 15. The customer support center will be open Saturday, Dec. 9,…

Photo by Vt. Fish & Wildlife Hunters are asked to provide an incisor tooth from their deer at reporting stations. Hunters are gearing up for the start of Vermont’s 16-day rifle deer season that begins Saturday, Nov. 11 and ends Sunday, Nov. 26. A hunter may take one buck during this season with at least…

By Alan Keays, VTDigger Vermont Republicans chose a new party chair this weekend, and it wasn’t the candidate backed by the sitting governor. Deborah Billado of Essex Junction was elected to a two-year term as the party’s chair over Michael Donohue of Shelburne. Billado takes the place of David Sunderland, who did not seek re-election after four…