On Nov. 8, Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) introduced the Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-scene Care and Support (EMS ROCS) Act. Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) introduced companion legislation in the House. Currently, Medicare does not reimburse Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers unless the patient is transported to a hospital. However, EMS providers…

By Babette Stolk/VTDigger As Vermont State University enacts a series of cost-cutting measures, members of the school’s student government say that their voices are not being heard. During a press conference said Monday, Nov. 13, at the Statehouse, students implored school officials to give them a seat at the table and allow them greater input as…

  By Emma Cotton/VTDigger LUDLOW — At a meeting Thursday night, Nov. 9, designed to discuss climate resilience in towns hard-hit from the summer’s flooding, residents had many questions about the preparedness of their communities.  Was there an emergency plan in case local dams failed? Would sediment from flooding make local waterways unsafe for recreation? What…

  By Curt Peterson On Oct. 23, three Green Mountain Power (GMP) representatives presented their plan for eliminating local outages to the Killington Select Board. Without electricity, wintertime Killington is just a very cold, very quiet mountain littered with dark businesses and houses, and hundreds of stalled lift chairs swinging in the wind. The town…

  By Curt Peterson About two years ago, Ashuquallah, a former interpreter for the U.S. military in Afghanistan, arrived in Hartland hoping to be reunited with his wife Soma and to start a new life. Their saga and successful integration into the community were celebrated Sunday during the First Universalist Society of Hartland’s weekly service.…

  By Katy Savage  After Rutland city residents were prevented from speaking at a contentious town hall at the Paramount Theater Nov. 2 ​​Mayor Mike Doenges is planning to hold a second meeting at the Rutland Recreation Community Center on Nov. 29 for people to ask direct questions about an uptick in crime in the…

  November is National Marrow Donor Month and this year it marks the 25th anniversary of the National Marrow Donor Program at Rutland Regional Medical Center. The first marrow donor registration event was held on Nov. 17, 1998, and the hospital is celebrating the 25th anniversary milestone on this same date, 25 years later. On…

  Marks 10th year since record breaking drive of 2013 Vermont’s biggest blood drive is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year — with a Rutland resident’s story of survival highlighting the need for blood. The Gift-of-Life Marathon Blood Drive, which began in 2003, will cover four days — Dec. 5, 7, 13, and 15 —…

  For business leader, altruist and creative guru Paul Gallo, Rutland is where the magic happens Unless this is your first visit to this area, the likelihood is high that you have touched, listened to, viewed, tasted, learned about, and been delighted at least once by a Vermont treasure dreamt up, built, championed or brought…

  On Oct. 31, his last day at Vermont State University (VTSU), Interim President Mike Smith released the refined set of program offerings, called Optimization 2.0.  Vermont State University combines the best of Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College and serves students on five campuses and online. The initial set of recommendations…

  The Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL)  announced the launch of a statewide, in-home vaccine service for people of all  ages.   “Covid-19 and flu are still dangerous health risks, especially for people with  disabilities and older adults”, said Sarah Launderville, VCIL executive director.  “These communities were reaching out and telling us that they…

  With winter around the corner and heating costs projected to increase this season, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) Oct. 25 announced that Vermont will receive more than $20.7 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds. “As Vermonters prepare for colder months, we are…

  The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT)and local town crews  still have a few planned construction activities  underway this week in Rutland and Windsor Counties. They are as follows: I-89 White River Junction – NHDOT are working on a multi-year bridge replacement project on I-89 over the Connecticut River. Motorists should expect daily lane closures and speed…

  Select Board considers repairs to outdoor classroom lean-to on town land By Curt Peterson According to Hartland Select Board chair Phil Hobbie, the town was in negotiations with a desirable candidate for the vacant town manager position when the individual withdrew their application. The position has been filled on an “acting” basis by Finance…

  Killington Resort has been named one of the 2023-2024 best family ski resorts by FamilySkier.com. “Our readers consistently report having a great skiing experience at Killington, and we like both the breadth of the lift system as well as the healthy amount of beginner and intermediate terrain — 28% green and 33% blue runs,”…