Last Tuesday, Jan. 21, Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Senator Ginny Lyons, and Representative Alyssa Black announced a proposal to provide medical debt relief to thousands of Vermonters. The proposal would eliminate up to $100 million in medical debt for a one-time investment of $1 million. Further, the proposal would protect Vermonters’ credit scores by eliminating the…

By Karen D. Lorentz What started out as a fun winter sport on a school trip and a hobby — perhaps inspired by his artistic mother — led to a new vocation and lifestyle for Jerry LeBlond. Born in 1946 and raised in Biddeford, Maine, a coastal French speaking community, until the  6th grade when…

By Auditi Guha/VTDigger He was called the N-word. His head was compared to a chimpanzee’s skull. A banana was waved at him with comments about him looking like he needed it. His arm was drawn on with a dark marker with remarks about how it could not be seen on his skin. Comments and memes…

By Polly Mikula A first look at the Town Meeting Day ballot was presented at the Killington Select Board meeting, Monday, Jan. 27 — and there were some surprises with two contested races, two bonds and an article to change the governing structure of the Select Board.  The first article on the ballot asks voters…

by Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger State officials unveiled the broad strokes of Gov. Phil Scott’s education proposal on Wednesday, Jan. 22, a plan that includes sweeping changes like consolidating Vermont’s dozens of school districts to just five and adopting a foundation formula. “We know that the work that we’re describing here is going to be really challenging,”…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger The chair of the state’s Public Utility Commission told lawmakers on Thursday, while presenting a long-awaited report, that implementing the controversial clean heat standard could cost significantly less than others have previously suggested. However, chairman Ed McNamara concluded that the commission recommends that the state not move forward with it. Debate about…

By James Kent Brent Dickinson, a veterinary practice manager from Merchantville, New Jersey, is no stranger to Killington or the infamous Sherburne Pass. His family still owns a condo at Mountain Green, which they’ve had for over two decades. Dickinson graduated from Green Mountain College and was a Poultney volunteer firefighter before moving back to…

By Katy Savage Banners demanding “Save the Halfpipe” and “Build the Pipe” flutter across the balconies of Winterplace condominiums at Okemo Mountain Resort, as the community protests the closure of the popular halfpipe for a second consecutive year. A change.org petition with nearly 4,000 signatures reflects the outcry, spurred by Vail Resorts’ decision not to open the…

By James Kent A new dining spot has taken root off Route 4 in Rutland. Townline Grill and Bakery, known to locals as a popular food truck, now occupies the space in the former Restoration BBQ location. Owner and primary cook Tracy Rose launched her food truck in 2021, gradually building a loyal following. In…

By James Kent Perhaps you’ve seen it as you drive along Route 7. In an abandoned lot next to Godnick’s on the corner of 259 N Main St. in Rutland City, erected atop a leftover sign from a long-shuttered mini golf course, a Trump/Vance election sign is affixed overhead. Even those with a cursory knowledge…

By Karen D. Lorentz Editors Note: This is Part 3 of a three-part series that explores how innovations at Okemo and Killington enabled them to become successful and popular ski resorts that also contributed to the growth of the ski industry in Vermont and the East. Killington’s pioneering approach Killington co-founder Preston Leete Smith had…

By Corey McDonald/VTDigger According to state education officials, the personal data of students and staff at several dozen Vermont school districts may have been compromised in a nationwide data breach of a student information system. PowerSchool, a California-based company that provides a student information system and cloud software used by 39 school districts in Vermont,…

By James Kent Below-freezing temperatures and icy snow conditions couldn’t deter 50 supporters from across New England from gathering at the Green Mountain National Forest Service building in Mendon on Jan. 11. Their goal: to halt the Telephone Gap Integrated Resources project, which proposes logging 11,000 acres, including 800 acres of rare old-growth forests, and…

Killington Resort announced Tuesday, Jan. 14, the promotions of several team members to new roles with the organization. Continuing its tradition of promoting from within, these promotions will help streamline efficiencies across the resort with a new structure within several key departments and create opportunities for growth throughout the organization.  Kayla Sarajian In Mountain Operations, Vice…

By Karen D. Lorentz Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of a three-part series that explores how innovations at Okemo and Killington enabled them to become successful and popular ski resorts that also contributed to the growth of the ski industry in Vermont and the East. Okemo Ski Area, which debuted Jan. 31, 1956, was…