Gov. Phil Scott tapped a maple tree at the Connor Maple Farm in St. Albans March 3 to recognize the beginning of the new maple season.  The governor was joined by Mike and Joanne Connor and their family, Sen. Peter Welch, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts and a large contingent of area children, all…

By John Flowers/Addison County Independent Editor’s note: Bill Heffernan is a brother-in-law to reporter John Flowers. Faced with widespread concerns about potential costs to fossil-fuel dealers and consumers, the authors of the proposed Affordable Heat Act have decided to pump the brakes on the design and approval timetable for the bill. But they still aim…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger Vermont House and Senate budget writers have hammered out a deal to extend emergency housing in motels for people experiencing homelessness through June 30 — but not for all.  After May 31, only people fleeing domestic violence, families with children, those aged 60 and over, pregnant people, people with disabilities, and certain households that…

By Kate O’Farrell/VTDigger Vermont’s Covid-19 community levels remained “low” this past week, the state Dept. of Health reported Wednesday, March 1, rounding out the month of February with consistently low community levels.  The number of cases, hospital admissions and people in Vermont hospitals for Covid have remained relatively flat in recent weeks as XBB became the dominant strain…

By Sen. Alison Clarkson The Windsor County District now encompasses 25 towns, and the county is the largest in Vermont (977 square miles). As a result, one of the biggest challenges for a state senator is attending as many Town Meetings as possible. I treasure Vermont’s Town Meeting tradition and its form of direct democracy.…

By Rep. Jim Harrison Over the past two weeks, the House and Senate Appropriation Committees held public hearings on the FY24 budget, which begins on July 1, 2023. A quick tally on the various asks on Friday afternoon, March 3, came up with over $700 million in new spending, which is well beyond what might…

Over 100 Vermont businesses from diverse industries completed the 2023 annual economic survey in January regarding the outlook of Vermont’s small- to medium-sized businesses. Of the business owners who responded, 80% have fewer than 25 employees.  The survey, presented by Davis and Hodgdon CPAs and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, revealed that there is more…

By Aubrey Weaver Editor's note: Aubrey Weaver is a reporter with Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program. The Senate Judiciary Committee heard from familiar faces on a familiar policy last week: THC potency limits for cannabis concentrates.  A bill in the committee, S.72, would remove the current…

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Dept. has proposed issuing 180 moose hunting permits in Vermont’s Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) E in the northeastern corner of the state in a continued effort to reduce the impact of winter ticks on moose in that area.   No permits are recommended for the rest of the state.  The…

Editor’s note: The following Real Estate Advice was provided by Amy Ryan of IPJ in Middlebury. The statistics are derived from data from New England Real Estate Network (NEREN), which is Vermont’s primary Multiple Listing Service. Is there a disconnect in today’s market? The answer lies somewhere between the seller’s motivation, the buyer’s desperation to…

Project SELFIE offers tools to better navigate digital communications In response to a new emerging issue, Prevent Child Abuse Vermont has developed a new sexting prevention program for middle and high schoolers.  Vermont youth are sexting at a rate that may surprise many adults. According to the Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey, in 2019, 27%…

By Rep. Jim Harrison This past week Governor Scott held a special press conference to talk about the need to maintain the $150 million his administration put in its budget proposal for purposes of the state share of federal infrastructure grants. Under the so-called bi-partisan infrastructure legislation approved by Congress last year, Vermont stands to…

The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) announced Feb. 9 a group of 16 new participants to the 2023 Climate Catalysts Leadership Program from a strong pool of applicants. The 16 participants come from across the state and will focus their time on implementing projects addressing topics such as developing town climate actions; expanding outreach…

By Marin Howell/Addison County Independent Before he was an economics major at Middlebury College, Ben Lash was getting hands-on instruction in the distribution of goods and services by running his own business.  Lash, now a senior at the college, founded American Student Helpers in 2016. The odd jobs company connects students looking for part-time work…

A registration requirement for residential contractors had been debated for many years before Act 182, a light-touch registration was passed by the Vermont Legislature and signed by Governor Scott in 2022. Act 182 requires that residential contractors register with the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR).  At its heart, the residential contractor registration is a consumer protection…