Discover More from This Category: State News

Vermont arts organizations receive National Endowment for the Arts grants totalling $110,000

January 6, 2016
Grantees represent organizations from Burlington, Guilford, Johnson, Middlebury, and Putney Six Vermont arts organizations were awarded grants totaling $110,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). In announcing more than $27 million in grants awarded nationwide during this grant round, NEA Chairman Jane Chu said, “The arts are part of our everyday lives – no…

Statewide anti-hunger organization uncovers embezzlement

December 29, 2015
On Tuesday, Dec. 8, leaders of Hunger Free Vermont announced that a long-time, trusted employee secretively had siphoned off the organization’s reserve funds over a 10-year period. The theft was initially discovered by the organization’s executive director, Marissa Parisi, who received a call from the charity’s bank reporting irregularities with its checking account. Parisi immediately…

Sanders takes big lead in N.H. in latest poll

December 29, 2015
Submitted Bernie Sanders By Jasper Craven, VTDigger.org Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has taken a double-digit lead over Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire, just two months before Granite State voters go to the polls in the nation’s first primary. According to the CNN/WMUR poll released Wednesday, Dec. 9, Sanders has a 50 to 40 percent…

Sanders introduces bill to cut carbon emissions 80 percent

December 29, 2015
Expanding on his ambitious plan to combat climate change, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the Climate Protection and Justice Act, Dec. 10, to establish a price on carbon pollution. The legislation would cut total emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, fund historic investments in energy efficiency and sustainable energy technologies, return billions of…

Investors help Sugarbush Resort return to profitability

December 29, 2015
By Matthew Cox, VTDigger.org A controversial federal visa program that offers permanent U.S. residency to foreigners willing to invest $500,000 or more in at-risk companies has helped Sugarbush Resort return to profitability, while also benefitting the 40 foreign investors who loaned the Warren, Vt., resort $20 million, both sides say. The 40 investors—from Canada, Mexico,…

Wait to feed birds, Vermont Fish & Wildlife suggests

December 29, 2015
Courtesy of  VTF&W, By Kris & Norm Senna Vermont Fish & Wildlife says some bears are still active and to wait for six or more inches of snow and colder weather before putting up your bird feeders. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is urging people to wait for colder weather and snow before putting…

Vermont ranks first among Peace Corps Volunteer-producing states in 2015

December 29, 2015
On Dec. 8, Peace Corps announced that Vermont ranked No. 1 among states with the highest number of Peace Corps Volunteers per capita for the third straight year, with 52 residents currently serving worldwide in Peace Corps. With a ratio of 8.3 Volunteers for every 100,000 residents, the Green Mountain state has the highest per…

Heating birdbaths and other December gardening tips

December 29, 2015
By Leonard Perry, UVM horticulturist, and Charlie Nardozzi, garden consultant Providing birds with water by means of heated birdbaths, starting herbs indoors, and choosing the best poinsettias are some of the gardening activities for this month. Keep birdbaths ice-free and filled with fresh water. Heated bird baths, and heating elements made to insert into bird…

Gov. Shumlin announces plans for 24-hour Berlin travel center

December 29, 2015
Public-private partnership assures no cost to taxpayers Gov. Peter Shumlin, Department of Buildings and General Services Commissioner Michael Obuchowski, and Transportation Secretary Chris Cole Dec. 11 joined the partners of Maplewood LTD to sign an agreement and break ground on the state’s first 24-hour Vermont Traveler Services Center. The center will be built and operated…

The Science of Medical Marijuana: UVM pharmacology course breaks new ground

December 29, 2015
It’s a formidable challenge to develop a syllabus for a college-level pharmacology course focused entirely on a drug that’s illegal to possess, use and even research under federal law. That’s the task that Wolfgang Dostmann, Ph.D., and Karen Lounsbury, Ph.D., have undertaken as they plan the University of Vermont’s first medical cannabis course in the…

Vermont educators take wait-and-see approach to new federal Every Student Success Act

December 29, 2015
By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger.org While Vermont’s congressional delegation has lauded the passage of new federal education legislation, leaders of the state’s schools are more cautious. After 14 years of federal mandates meant to help improve learning that often bucked up against Vermont’s more progressive policies, the Agency of Education and State Board of Education…

$1.1 billion allocated to Vermont in Transportation Bill

December 22, 2015
On Dec. 2, Sen. Bernie Sanders announced that a five-year, $305 billion transportation bill agreement reached Tuesday by House and Senate negotiators will deliver nearly $1.1 billion to Vermont to improve the state’s roadways. The passage of the new Federal Transportation Bill, known as the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, promises to bring a…

Lawmakers preview budget challenge in advance of session

December 21, 2015
By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org Lawmakers got a preview of the budget struggles ahead in an all-day meeting at the State House Tuesday, Dec. 1. When legislators return to Montpelier in January, they’ll need to put together a budget for fiscal year 2017 that will make up for a projected gap between state revenues and spending…

Gov. Shumlin to request additional resources for state child welfare

December 21, 2015
In response to the urgent and growing demand for child protection services largely driven by the opiate addiction crisis affecting Vermont and other states, on Dec. 3 Gov. Peter Shumlin outlined a comprehensive proposal to enhance Vermont’s child welfare system. The package will add 35 new positions in the Department for Children and Families (DCF)…

“Trouble in Toyland,” a Vermont survey, finds dangerous toys on store shelves

December 21, 2015
Tips help parents shop safely Dangerous or toxic toys can still be found on America’s store shelves, according to Vermont Public Interest Research and Education Fund’s 30th annual “Trouble in Toyland” report. The survey of potentially hazardous toys found that, despite recent progress, consumers must still be wary when shopping this holiday season. The report…