The nonprofit projects it will reach more than 5,000 children at 81 sites The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) is increasing its efforts to prevent “summer slide” among New Hampshire and Vermont children. Its popular Summer Readers program will reach more than 5,000 children at risk of growing up with low literacy skills and donate more…

RUPERT — On July 10 at 2:48 p.m. a call was made in reference to a deceased bicyclist on Vermont Route 315 in the town of Rupert. The cyclist, later identified as Michael Munson age 51 from Peru, Vt., had been riding his bicycle and had stopped to rest at the top of a long, steep…

Option taxes, surplus funds, charter and parking lot all pass, Wyman elected By Lee J. Kahrs BRANDON — Despite a very low voter turnout, all five articles on the Brandon ballot passed on Tuesday, many by almost 4-1. Voters approved using surplus paving funds for other public works needs, establishing a charter and a 1…

By Sam Heller, VTDigger.org A new federal grant will arm Vermont with $12.4 million to combat the state’s worsening drug problem, Sen. Patrick Leahy and Gov. Peter Shumlin announced at the Statehouse on Monday. The money, granted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will fund the expansion of Vermont’s Regional Prevention Partnerships…

Submitted Lucas Farrell (left) and Louisa Conrad (right) of Big Picture Farm, with judge Alex Guarnaschelli (center). Raspberry Rhubarb Goat Milk Caramels, from the Townshend, Vt. producers won the Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation award for 2015. Vermont specialty food producers took top honors at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, June 28-30.…

Longtime journalist and educator Mike Donoghue of South Burlington has been selected to receive the Matthew Lyon Award for his lifetime commitment to the First Amendment and the public’s right to know the truth in Vermont. The Vermont Press Association, which represents the interests of 11 daily and about four dozen non-daily newspapers circulating in…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org The number of Vermont children in the custody of the Department for Children and Families (DCF) has jumped by a third since the beginning of 2014, according to a report published this week. The child abuse hotline saw an increase of more than 10 percent in calls in 2014, with a…

The Vermont State Police participated in the July 4th weekend National Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) over the holiday weekend from Friday, July 3 until Sunday, July 5. Sadly, there was one fatality on Vermont roadways this past holiday weekend. There have been 21 total fatalities in Vermont this year to date. 33 percent…

The outage will affect Pawlet and sections of Wells and Rupert. Green Mountain Power line crews need to interrupt electric service to 2,300 customers in Pawlet early Saturday morning so they can safely make reliability improvements to the system serving the Pawlet area. The outage will affect the town of Pawlet, customers adjacent to Route…

Same-sex couples will be free to marry throughout the United States On June 26, the Supreme Court held that same-sex couples can no longer be denied the freedom to marry guaranteed by the Constitution, assuring that soon all loving and committed couples will be able to marry throughout the United States. It was a 5-4…

Prison escapees found near the Canadian boarder By Polly Lynn Convicted murders David Sweat and Richard Matt had planned to drive to Mexico after successfully escaping from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, N.Y., more than three weeks ago. However, they had to improvise after civilian prison employee Joyce Mitchell, accused of aiding them, failed…

By Jess Wisloski, VTDigger.org Vermont’s largest union has joined the ranks of unions nationwide that are endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in his run for president. The Vermont National Education Association, which represents teachers and education workers across the state, issued a statement in support of Sanders’ bid for the Democratic nomination for president. “Bernie’s…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org Two-thirds of homicides in Vermont last year were related to domestic violence, with victims ranging from 14 months to 60 years old, according to data from the Vermont Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission. The 2014 report, published this week, is an annual product of a 17-member commission that includes representatives of…

WALLINGFORD—On June 13 at about 2 p.m. Cedric Rogers, 58, of Wallingford, was traveling north on Route 7, approaching the intersection of Route 103.  Terri Harrington, 48, of East Wallingford, was driving on Route 103 approaching the intersection. Harrington collided with Rogers in the intersection and came to rest in the intersection. Investigation revealed that Rogers had…

By Morgan True, VTDigger.org Among the problems Rutland Mental Health Services must address to remain one of the state’s regional human services contractors is its management of a waiting list for adolescent mental health services, a state report shows. Within the past year a 13-year-old girl took her own life after waiting almost six months…