By Stephen Seitz RUTLAND — A number of unfounded beliefs about Syrian refugees have made their way into the discussion over whether to allow 20-30 families to relocate to Rutland. Stacie Blake, the director of communications for government and community relations for the U.S. Committee on Refugees and Immigrants, of which the Vermont refugee program…

By Adam Federman, VTDigger.org RUTLAND — The Board of Aldermen came up just short Tuesday, July 5, of granting a controversial citywide special election on whether to participate in a refugee resettlement program, but then endorsed a statement withholding the Board’s support for taking in refugees, at least until more information is available. A petition…

By Polly Lynn KILLINGTON— Killington Select Board Chair Patty McGrath said that new rate for municipal property taxes would be 0.3333, “only slightly higher than we anticipated,” she said. The Select Board unanimously approved the rate at its regular meeting Tuesday, July 5, there was no further discussion. The 2015-16 rate was $0.4633 for an 18-month…

By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org The U.S. Senate passed a GMO bill late Thursday, July 7, that will require food manufacturers to provide information about genetically engineered ingredients. The measure passed 63-30. The bill, S.764, allows companies to choose a text label, a symbol or a QR or bar code for GMO products. Manufacturers have lobbied…

Killington Mountain Lodge owner hopes to open hotel in downtown Rutland RUTLAND — An initiative of the Rutland Redevelopment Authority (RRA) and the City of Rutland took a big step forward recently with the City and a local private developer agreeing to a lease option, which could lead to the eventual development of a first…

Courtesy  Dirty Girl Mud Run KILLINGTON — Dirty Girl Mud Run returns to Killington Resort Saturday, July 9. The 3.1 mile, 14-obstacle course is “a muddy event built to inspire fabulous females to run, walk, climb, jump, and laugh their way, hand in muddy hand, to an unabashed sense of accomplishment,” according to godirtygirl.com. This is the…

By Mark Brown/Kustom Keepsakes

By Julia Purdy The geometry of the bridge contrasts with Otter Creek’s natural environment. On Monday, June 20, drivers waiting at the light at West Street and Route 7 in Rutland were forced to make room for a 100-foot flatbed truck, escorted by police, bringing fully-assembled components of the Ripley Bridge from Casco Bay, Maine.…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger.org The State Board of Education has decided to draw up guidelines and rules for communities interested in pursuing an alternative path to complying with Act 46 changes to school governance. And one thing is clear: For places hoping to keep things as they are, the bar is going to be…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger.org Revisiting a controversy from the initial round of Act 46 mergers, the State Board of Education has made clear that school districts merging under the later phases of the law will face the same prohibition on combining systems that operate a school and those that tuition students for the same…

By Karen D. Lorentz The most recent news to hit Vermont indicates that state regulators are paying greater attention to the details of EB-5 projects in the aftermath of the problems besetting certain Northeast Kingdom EB-5 projects. They are also meeting with success in their investigations of fraudulent use of EB-5 funds. The developer of…

RUTLAND—Baxter Street Park has opened, according to a news release Friday, July 1. “Thanks to many hours of effort from community members and the Rutland Recreation Parks staff the Baxter Street Park is now open,” wrote Cindi Wight, director of Rutland Recreation. An official grand opening event is scheduled for Thursday, July 14, from 6:30…

RUTLAND — On Tuesday, July 5, Rebecca Allen Hougher, president of the Descendants of the Green Mountain Boys, presented Greg Cox, president of the Vermont Farmers Food Center, with a plaque honoring the VFFC for their revitalization and advancement of our Vermont heritage as workers of the earth and promoters of healthy farm to market…

Photo courtesy of VSP Police photograph of the house taken from the South Burlington Fire Department’s ladder truck after the fire was extinguished. SOUTH BURLINGTON — On Monday, July 4, at approximately 3:45 a.m. the South Burlington Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 213 Cobblestone Circle in South Burlington after receiving a 911 call.…

ROCHESTER — Gordon Merrill, age 44 from Rochester, Vt., reported that a 2000 325 Magnum 4-wheeler was stolen from his residence in Rochester, Vt. The 4 wheeler is white with red trim. It was stolen between the hours of 8:45 p.m. on June 28 and 8:10 a.m. on June 30. Anyone with information is asked…