As Vermonters patiently wait for spring temperatures, the Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) invites the public to report when Vermont’s lakes and ponds lose their ice cover. Also known as the “ice-out date,” this date marks when lakes or ponds become ice-free from shore to shore. Tracking ice-out dates helps DEC scientists decide when to begin…

Key changes may bring steep financial losses and reduced flexibility for state health services Staff report Vermont’s Medicaid program could face significant restructuring and funding challenges under a series of federal policy proposals currently under discussion. Testifying before the House Health Care Committee on March 21, Ashley Berliner, director of Medicaid policy for the Agency…

By Maggie Lenz and Nick Charyk on behalf of Atlas Government Affairs consultants Education reform in Montpelier is finally starting to take shape. After months of plans, counterplans, and more questions than answers, lawmakers have their hands in the clay. Governor Scott’s sweeping January proposal set the wheel in motion, calling for major district consolidation,…

By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday, March 20, calling for dismantling the U.S. Dept. of Education. What that means for the country — and Vermont — is an open question. The U.S. Congress created the Dept. of Education, and its dissolution requires the body’s approval. The courts have blocked or…

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Dept .(VTF&W) has begun to receive reports of bears coming out of their dens and is urging Vermonters to remove their birdfeeders and take additional steps now to prevent conflicts with bears over the spring and summer. “Do not wait to take down your birdfeeders and bearproof your yard until…

Depending on one’s perspective we might look at various issues as making progress or going in the wrong direction, just like the proverbial glass  half full or half empty. For example, Governor Scott issued his first veto of the 2025 session on the annual mid-year Budget Adjustment Act over concerns about increased spending and extending…

The Vermont Dept. of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living and the Dept. of Health released a report last month on progress made by Age Strong Vermont, the state’s dedicated effort to provide all people who live in Vermont the opportunity to thrive as they age.   Age Strong VT serves as a roadmap for building a…

The Vermont House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Thursday, March 13, to outlaw the use of toxic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in dental floss, cleaning products, and fluorine-treated containers — a critical step in reducing Vermonters’ exposure to these harmful substances. According to the Vermont Dept. of Health, PFAS exposure can lead to reproductive and…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger A short new section to a 22-page bill focused on retargeting energy efficiency goals has given Senate Republicans what they have been seeking — with increasing insistence — for weeks: the end of any mention of a clean heat standard in Vermont law. “30 V.S.A. chapter 94 is repealed” was the key…

In recognition of National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Charity Clark announced the top 10 consumer complaints received by her office’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) in 2024. In keeping with past years, the top complaints involved vehicles, home improvement matters, and retail, which collectively represent 48% of all complaints filed in 2024. Attorney General Clark…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger Vermonters who work mostly from home earned 28% more than the average employee in the state in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau that was recently released.  Remote workers reported a median income of about $65,000 per year, well above the $51,000 median for all workers 16 and older, according to the…

By Habib Sabet/VTDigger State lawmakers in the Senate Committee on Institutions advanced a bill late last month that would put up guard rails for social media platforms designed to keep teens hooked. The bill, S.69 — known as the “Kids Code” by proponents — will land on the Senate floor for a vote this week after the week-long…

By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger Despite more than a year of political focus on the cost of Vermont’s education system, voters across the state by and large backed their local school budgets on Town Meeting Day. According to preliminary results compiled by the Vermont Superintendents Association, just nine school district budgets out of more than 119 statewide had…

VT Helplink, Vermont’s statewide resource for alcohol and drug use support services, is now available to connect with people in Vermont 24/7. For nearly five years, VT Helplink resource specialists have been available by phone and through chat at VTHelplink.org to provide information and referrals to people seeking substance use information and support services.  New this year,…

On Feb. 21, Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont) reintroduced the Peer Education and Emergency Response (PEER) Mental Health Act. This legislation would support peer mental health training for teachers, school personnel, parents, caregivers, and students.  With an alarming 76% of public schools reporting concerns about depression, anxiety, and trauma in students since the start of the Covid pandemic,…