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…

Submitted Vermonters are now able to recycle household batteries by bringing them to over 100 drop-off sites statewide. National Battery Day celebrated, Feb. 18 Call2Recycle, Inc., North America’s largest consumer battery stewardship organization, and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources announced the official launch of the statewide program for the responsible recycling of single-use (primary)…

By Michael Bielawski, Vermont Watchdog A bill introduced recently at the State House would require gun owners to report their weapons to homeowner’s insurance companies. The bill, H.709, is currently in the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, and it’s only in “short form.” This means it’s relatively simple and vague: “This bill proposes…

By Morgan True, VTDigger.org Burlington City officials have billed Donald Trump’s campaign for costs incurred for public safety and security during his Jan. 7 rally at the Flynn Center on Main Street. Mayor Miro Weinberger sent the Republican presidential candidate two separate invoices, one for the overtime worked by police officers and one for firefighters.…

By Michael Bielawski, Vermont Watchdog The House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development met with labor leaders on Thursday, Feb. 4, to gauge how new bills regarding contractor work can best suit employers and employees. “The big issue is trying to ensure that the long tradition of true independent contractors is able to continue,” said…