On Friday, April 28 the Vermont Senate passed a bill, H.230, “an act relating to implementing mechanisms to reduce suicide and community violence” on a vote of 21 to 9.  The objective of the bill is to save lives by reducing gun violence by passing a safe storage provision, reducing the number of suicides by…

With potentially just three weeks left in the legislative session, one of this year’s most controversial bills, the Affordable or Unaffordable Clean Heat bill (depending on your perspective), S.5, cleared the House on Friday after two days of contentious debate. The approval in the House was 98-46, with several members absent, signaling an ominous override…

With the growing number of electric vehicles on the road, the state of Vermont is working proactively to find more locations for charging stations. In partnership with Drive Electric Vermont, the state is seeking to identify property and business owners interested in supporting plug-in electric vehicle (EV) charging or providing services associated with the installation…

By Sarah Mearhoff/VTDigger While federal litigation threatens access to a widely used abortion medication nationwide, Gov. Phil Scott is setting his sights north. Lawmakers and abortion access advocates are scurrying to craft backup plans as a lawsuit making its way through the federal appeals process could revoke or severely tighten the Food and Drug Administration’s 23-year-old approval of mifepristone,…

BARNARD—When life hands you lemons … Hang on for the ride! Sara Widness, a Barnard resident, did just that! She played a pregnant game of ping pong in the psychiatric ward; dressed to the nines on the world’s most famous train; baked 18 loaves of bread a day at her East Poultney country store; entertained…

By Emerson Lynn Editor’s Note: Emerson Lynn is editor emeritus at the St. Albans Messenger. If the state of Vermont accepted the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard for airborne polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs], Burlington would not be on the hook for a $190 million rebuild of its high school and the administrations of most of Vermont’s other…

As the session moves along, it seems increasingly clear, at least to this observer, that with increased majorities in the House and Senate this year, legislative leaders do not feel a real need to compromise or listen to objections raised by the Governor. Senate leader Phil Baruth, D-Chittenden County, essentially said that this past Thursday,…

By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger Vermont State University president Parwinder Grewal has resigned after less than a year in the position and less than three months before the university is set to officially launch.  Controversial changes to libraries and sports programs will also be paused at the direction of the Vermont State Colleges board of trustees, officials said…

In April we begin the season of rallies and political gatherings on the front lawn of the Statehouse. This past week alone we had two big demonstrations, one supporting our work on childcare (S.56) and one on reducing climate change (S.5). On Wednesday, hundreds of families and caregivers came to lend their voices in support…

In a unanimous vote, the Vermont Senate passed VT Saves, a program championed by state treasurer Mike Pieciak and Senate Democrats, and designed to create greater retirement security for all Vermonters.  In Vermont, 45% of employers do not offer retirement benefits. For small businesses with 20 employees or less, 55% do not offer retirement benefits.…

In an effort to reduce Vermont’s recidivism rate and support workforce development, the Community College of Vermont (CCV) is partnering with the Vermont Dept. of Corrections to deliver the Corrections Post-Secondary Education Initiative (CPSEI).  Supported by a federal grant from the Dept. of Justice, the program provides tuition-free college courses to Dept. of Corrections staff…

Rolston Rest connects more than 140,000 acres of protected land CHITTENDEN—Trust for Public Land (TPL) has transferred Rolston Rest, the largest private unprotected inholding remaining in Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest, to the U.S. Forest Service for permanent protection. Adding the property to the Green Mountain National Forest will shield the land from the threat…

During mud season, which can run until Memorial Day in upper elevations, hiking and biking trails are extremely wet and muddy due to the combined effects of snow melt, thawing ground, and seasonal rain. FPR asks the public to avoid muddy, soft trails to protect sensitive vegetation and ensure trails are in good shape for…

By Katy Savage Parents and community members sounded off at an Otter Valley Unified Union School Board meeting April 11 over safety concerns in the wake of a series of unrelated violent threats made from two students and a teacher in addition to a School Board member’s transphobic remarks.  The lack of transparency around the…

Recently during a late evening floor session, our committee had the unenviable task of explaining the 258-page budget that touches virtually everything the state does. All 12 committee members took turns explaining their sections, which took over two hours. So, when it was my turn, I started off with: “Madam Speaker, we often start each…