Sen. Bernie Sanders received a perfect score (100 percent) Feb. 24 from the League of Conservation Voters for his environmental voting record in 2015. Sanders has a 95 percent lifetime score. “On climate stuff he’s been the most aggressive voice in the Senate,” environmentalist and co-founder of 350.org Bill McKibben said of Sanders. Among his…

Susan L. Donegan, commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR), announced Feb. 26 that Continental Indemnity Co., a subsidiary of Applied Underwriters, Inc., has paid Vermont $335,000 and owes 16 Vermont businesses an additional $352,000. An investigation conducted by the department revealed that between 2007 and 2015, Continental had overcharged a number of small…

By Michael Bielawski, Vermont Watchdog Lawmakers seeking to control education costs in Vermont are discussing how many special education teachers is too many. The House Education Committee on Feb. 11 invited Michael Giangreco, professor of education at the University of Vermont, to offer advice on budget and resources for special education students. Giangreco, whose expertise…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger.org The nonprofit that provides health insurance for education employees and retirees in Vermont is making some significant changes to try to stay relevant amid calls from Legislators to move school employees onto the state health insurance exchange. The federal health care law says small school districts must shift onto Vermont…

On Feb. 18, the Community College of Vermont (CCV) announced a new partnership with the Vermont Department of Libraries (VTLIB) to place CCV student interns in six Vermont libraries as job-hunt helpers for Vermont residents. These libraries include the public libraries in Barre, Brattleboro, Newport, Rutland, St. Johnsbury and Winooski. The interns will work with…

By Mike Faher, VTDigger.org In 2011, after years of work, the Massachusetts Legislature approved a major overhaul of the state’s alimony law. There was not a single dissenting vote, “and it’s very rare that happens,” said Steve Hitner, the man who led the effort. Now, a group led by Brattleboro businessman Rick Fleming is attempting…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org After hours of wrangling Monday, Feb. 22, a Senate committee narrowly approved a bill to legalize recreational marijuana — paving the way for the legislation to come up before the full Senate this week. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved S.241 by a slim majority of 4 to 3. But some of the committee’s…

At an annual meeting of the nation’s governors, Gov. Peter Shumlin led a successful bipartisan effort to create nationwide prescribing protocols to reduce the availability of Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) approved opiates in America. The protocols, which are likely to include restrictions on the number of opiates that can be prescribed, will be developed…

On Feb. 10, Berkshire Natural, a healthy snack and beverage company serving New England, announced the expansion of their healthy vending machines to New Hampshire and Vermont. The expansion will further Berkshire Natural’s goal to make healthy snacks available and convenient to the general public. Currently, there is one Berkshire Natural Healthy Vending Machine in…

By Jasper Craven/VTDigger Former Gov. Madeleine Kunin defends Hillary Clinton’s record Thursday in Keene, N.H. By Jasper Craven, VTDigger.org Hillary Clinton placed a secret weapon in the audience for the last Democratic debate before the New Hampshire primary: a former Vermont governor. Thursday evening, Howard Dean sat attentively in the audience at the MSNBC debate.…

Courtesy UVM

Submitted The University of Vermont Vaccine Testing Center will be involved in the development of a vaccine for Zika virus, which was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization on Feb. 1. The University of Vermont Vaccine Testing Center (VTC) announced Feb. 4 that it will be involved in the development of a vaccine…

By Morgan True, VTDigger The wall art inside the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies in Burlington quotes Steve Blank’s definition of a startup as “A temporary organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.” By Morgan True, VTDigger.org LaunchVT, a statewide business pitch competition, is hoping to attract greater interest from a…

By Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDigger Trissie Casanova, a social worker, testifies Wednesday , Feb. 3, at the State House about threats to Department for Children and Families employees. Casanova and others seek stricter penalties for assaulting social workers. By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org Trissie Casanova told lawmakers Wednesday, Feb. 3, that she’s been a social worker for 13…

Courtesy of Vermont State Police Garrett M. Lever MT. HOLLY—On Feb. 3, at about 10 p.m., members of the Vermont State Police in Rutland were advised of a single motor vehicle crash, in which a pickup truck had driven off the road at the intersection of Hortonville Road and Cole Road in Mt. Holly, and…