State News

Vermont’s 2025 legislative session is off to a very fast start. This is due in large measure to the clear message Vermonters sent all legislators through the 2024 campaign and the election in November. Seldom have I experienced the Legislature so unified in its top priorities: tackling education financing, affordability of life in Vermont, building…

Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders and Tax Commissioner Craig Bolio shared an overview of the administration’s proposal for reforming Vermont’s education system with the Legislature. While many questions remain regarding the details, it is safe to say the plan represents the most significant change to education governance and finance in decades. There will undoubtedly be…

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…

The issues most important for the voters in Windsor-5 remain:   1.  Education financing 2.  State aid for school construction 3.  Accessible housing 4.  Adapting to more severe and frequent weather events. Close behind and contributing to the high costs of living and working in Vermont is:  5.  High cost of healthcare and health insurance. …

This Wednesday, Jan. 22, members of the administration will share with all lawmakers their proposal to reform Vermont’s education system and the way to fund it. One leading legislator, who was briefed on the proposal, indicated the reform plan may be the biggest overhaul the Legislature has seen in 50 years. It’s no secret that…

On Friday, Jan. 10, the Divided Sky Foundation announced the appointment of Seth Dolinsky as its first executive director, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s growth and dedication to expanding its recovery services in Ludlow. Dolinsky, a seasoned expert in behavioral healthcare, brings over a decade of experience managing residential treatment and sober living…

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,…

Phil Scott, the Vermont Dept. of Labor (VDOL), and the McClure Foundation announced the release of Vermont’s Most Promising Jobs list, featuring more than 50 occupations expected to pay a median wage above $30/hour and have at least 300 openings over the next decade.  “We have tens of thousands of jobs available in Vermont,” said Governor Scott. “It’s more important than ever…

On Dec. 18, Governor Phil Scott and Treasurer Mike Pieciak announced the launch of the MoneyBack Program, a partnership to proactively return unclaimed property to Vermonters whose identity and address can be verified via Tax Department data. The program will rightfully return a total of nearly $1.3 million to over 5,000 Vermonters this holiday season.…

By Ethan Weinstein / VTDigger State records show that since the start of 2020, taxpayers have funded more than $9 million in wages for state employees on paid leave while under investigation for alleged misconduct. According to Vermont Dept. of Human Resources records obtained through a public records request, the cost of paid investigative leave…

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) has initiated a monthly bulk milk sampling program to monitor for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle to protect Vermont’s dairy farms and the state’s agricultural economy. This proactive measure aligns with a USDA mandate to test Grade A milk nationwide following the first…

By Maggie Cassidy/VTDigger Meteorologists at the National Weather Service’s Burlington office pivoted among computer screens, each displaying a colorful digital smorgasbord of data. Interspersed with spreadsheets, line charts and big blocks of text, eight maps of New York and New England were overlaid with a variety of wavy lines, and numbers — lots of numbers. Indecipherable…

Vermonters Evan Fennelly and Barb Heath, and Aharoni Zisling of Pennsylvania, have been named 2024 Volunteers of the Year by Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, a nonprofit organization that empowers people of all abilities through inclusive sports. Recipients of the annual award exude tireless dedication, strong leadership and a big heart, Executive Director Erin Fernandez said. “This…

Vermont experienced a net gain of 7,500 residents moving from other states, according to a Treasurer’s Office analysis of recent U.S. Census data.  The report highlights Vermont’s strong appeal in the post-pandemic era. In 2023, Vermont had the highest per capita net migration in New England and the third-highest per capita net migration of any U.S. state. Over…