Twenty-one Vermont employers join the “Drive the Dream Vermont” initiative On Sept. 16, Gov. Peter Shumlin joined Drive Electric Vermont in celebrating the launch of "Drive the Dream Vermont,” a campaign to increase the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the state. As part of the campaign, a diverse group of leading Vermont employers, including…

On Sept. 18, Executive Director Sarah Carpenter of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) announced that Governor Shumlin has joined leaders from VHFA, the Vermont Legislature and the business community to launch a bold new effort to help the state's first-time homebuyers. Each qualified buyer will receive up to $5,000 for downpayment and closing costs.…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org Some 272 state employees are on track to retire under an incentive program designed to reduce the state’s labor costs, Treasurer Beth Pearce told lawmakers Tuesday, Sept. 15. As part of the budget for fiscal year 2016, the Legislature approved a retirement incentive for up to 300 employees. Under the plan,…

By Polly Lynn If you’ve seen an apple tree lately, you’d know this was a good year for the state’s largest fruit crop as each tree struggles to hold up the weight of hundreds apples. “We’re looking at one of the best crops in years — possibly topping one million bushels,” said Steve Justis, executive…

The Vermont State Police participated in the Labor Day weekend national Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) over the holiday weekend from Friday, Sept. 4 through Monday Sept. 7. Sadly, there were two fatalities on Vermont roadways this past holiday weekend. There have been 37 total fatalities in Vermont this year to date. Of those,…

Vermont’s clean energy economy continues to grow and create good jobs for Vermonters, according to a report released Monday, Sept. 14, by Gov. Peter Shumlin and the Department of Public Service (DPS). At Building Energy, the governor was joined by Vermonters employed by the clean energy sector to outline results of the “2015 Vermont Clean…

By Anne Galloway/VTDigger Matt Dunne, former state senator. By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.com A Democratic gubernatorial primary in 2016 is now official. Matt Dunne, a Google executive, announces his bid for governor via email Wednesday morning. Dunne’s candidacy sets up a Democratic primary contest with at least one other candidate, House Speaker Shap Smith, who announced…

By John Herrick/VTDigger.org Lt. Gov. Phil Scott By Jasper Craven and Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Scott made official what has long been assumed — he will run for Vermont governor in 2016. “I’ve made this decision because I believe too many families and employers are on the economic edge,” Scott wrote in…

The Vermont Department of Health has received a $4 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent overdose deaths related to prescription opioids, Gov. Peter Shumlin and Health Commissioner Harry Chen announced Sept. 4. The funding is part of the Prescription Drug Overdose: Prevention for States program. Vermont will be…

Research poll shows only one quarter of voters feel regulation is adequate On Aug. 26 news was released in Denver that is a negative for the marijuana industry. SmithJohnson Research, a polling firm who has worked with Democrats and Republicans, released a poll finding that a majority (51 percent) of likely Coloradan voters would oppose…

On Aug. 25, Sen. Bernie Sanders announced that all 11 community health centers in Vermont received funding totaling $493,860, in recognition of their achievements providing high quality health care. The awards are Vermont’s share of $63.3 million in nationwide grants for 1,153 health centers and will be used to expand access to high quality primary…

By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org In a letter released Tuesday, Aug. 25, Justin Johnson, the secretary of the Agency of Administration, urged commissioners and secretaries to be “extremely cautious and restrained” as they develop budgets. Typically, budget instructions are issued to secretaries and commissioners in October and budgets are submitted about a month later. This year…

On Aug. 30, the American Red Cross announced it would be deploying Vermont and New Hampshire’s chief communications officer Lloyd Ziel to work in Wenatchee, Washington in response to the raging wildfires that plague the area. Ziel will work with the public affairs team, working with local and national media as well as working interdepartmentally keeping…

Courtesy of VF&W Bears are attracted to human-created food sources, so steps must be taken to reduce problems between bears and people. Bears are already thinking about winter and are currently in search of easy calories to fatten up. Because bears make a habit of feeding on human food sources once they find them, Forrest…

On Sunday, Aug. 23, at approximately 8:33 p.m., Hardwick Police Department responded to a residence on The Bend Road in Greensboro, Vt., to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered Lou Ron Schneider, age 68, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Schneider was transported to Copley Hospital where he later died.  Subjects at the residence…