Continuing a legacy of humanitarian work, Defender has announced the finalists of the 2023 Defender Service Awards. Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports has been selected as a finalist in the Outdoor Accessibility and Education Award, presented by Outside Interactive Inc.   In the third annual “Defender Service Awards,” which embraces the Defender inner spirit of heroism…

  Gov. Phil Scott and the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) are giving $5 million in funding to support low- and moderate-income Vermont homeowners in repairing or replacing their failed or inadequate onsite water or wastewater systems. This is the third round of funding for the program.  “Wells and septic systems can be costly to…

  Vermont’s moratorium on state aid for school construction is only in New England The School Construction Aid task force had its first working meeting last Friday, Sept. 22.  The task force is made up of a range of subject matter experts and key stakeholders and was formed to consider re-establishing a direct state aid…

  State Treasurer Mike Pieciak joined Governor Scott and state housing leaders to announce $55.5 million in housing investments from the Treasurer’s Office’s ”10% in Vermont” local investment program. The Treasurer’s Office awarded $50 million to the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA), $5 million to the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA), and $500,000 to the Northern…

  Staff report Mac’s Market is under contract with a new owner.  The family-owned grocery store, with locations in Woodstock, Stowe and Essex, is in the process of being acquired by the Associated Grocers of New England. “We’re under agreement with them,” said Mike Violette, the president and CEO of Associated Grocers. “Our plan right…

  In the last school year, fewer than a quarter of University of Vermont undergraduates were Vermonters, out-of-state enrollments have soared, what does that say about the university’s role in the state? By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger Erik Arnold, a sophomore from Minneapolis, came to the University of Vermont because, among other reasons, he wanted to get out…

  Staff report/VTD For the second time this year, the Vermont State Colleges System is poised to lose a top leader. The system’s board of trustees announced Monday evening that Sophie Zdatny will step down as chancellor at the end of December. She has served in that role since July 2020 and has worked for the state…

  The Okemo Valley Chamber recently celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony with new member Down to the Roots in Chester. Co-owners Scott Blair along with Andi Goldman and Meredith Milliken cut the ribbon along with their team —all dressed in matching plaid shirts — and Chamber Director Carol Lighthall (in back). They also recently held…

  School mourns loss of beloved bus driver WALTHAM — A juvenile watching a fight involving two women in a Waltham neighborhood Friday evening, Sept. 15, picked up a gun dropped by one of the women and shot her multiple times, State Police report. , 48, a resident of McKnight Lane in Waltham, was killed…

  Banyai’s arrest warrant expires, Pawlet files additional motions By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger With the 60-day warrant for Daniel Banyai’s arrest now expired, the town of Pawlet has requested an updated warrant seeking more oversight on the Rutland County Sheriff’s Department and Vermont State Police to ensure that Banyai is detained.  In a motion filed in state…

  By Emma Cotton/VTDigger A new report from Efficiency Vermont concludes that, while Vermonters have been paying relatively steady percentages of their income on energy over the last several years, programs designed to lower energy burdens haven’t reached many people who need them most.  Authors of the 2023 Vermont Energy Burden Report picked up from where a 2019…

  Vermont Agency of Transportation’s weekly report lists planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of Sept. 4-8. Most crews will be off for Labor Day on Monday and resume work on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Here are the local roadways affected: I-89 White River…

  Up to $53.5 million of Vermont bonds went on sale Aug. 24 for the first time in two years.  Vermont residents and businesses will be given first priority to the bonds. Maturities will range from one to 10 years, with proceeds going toward previously issued state debt. Bonds may be purchased in $1,000 increments…

  New research has revealed the best states for business growth and Vermont came in fourth nationwide.  Business consulting firm Venture Smarter analyzed data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics to discover the business growth rate in each state based on the number of establishments in December 2021 compared to December 2022.  Top of the list…

  The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) issued decisions requiring Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) and MVP Health Plan, Inc. (MVP) to modify the premiums they wanted to charge individuals and small businesses for health insurance plans in 2024.  In 2023, these plans covered just over 68,000 Vermonters.   The premium increases requested by BCBSVT and MVP…