Fred Thys/VTDigger CNBC has ranked Vermont as the top state to live in, same as last year. The cable business news channel cited how easy it is to vote in Vermont as one reason, mentioning that residents can opt to vote by mail or in person, and can start voting 45 days before election day.…

By Emma Cotton/ VTDigger When Julia Pupko pulled a little red bug out of her sweep net in late June, she doubted it was the two-spotted lady beetle. No one had seen the species in Vermont since 1996, and biologists feared it was extinct in the state. Upon closer inspection, she saw that she had,…

Vermont launched the 9-8-8 suicide and crisis lifeline on July 16. Callers will be immediately connected to compassionate, caring counselors who are trained to provide support for individuals experiencing everything from emotional distress to a mental health crisis. While they are trained to treat and address suicidality, it is not only for those individuals in…

By Rep. Jim Harrison Although the Vermont legislative session concluded on May 12, just like with a book or movie, I find it interesting to learn what happened afterwards. And because the legislative leaders decided to adjourn sine die, the outcome of various bills sent to the governor during the month after the session concluded…

Three new hunting or trapping related laws passed by the Vermont Legislature during the 2022 session are now in effect, as of July 1. Under the new laws: hunting coyotes with dogs and training dogs to hunt coyotes will be temporarily banned in Vermont; the retrieval and use of game and fur-bearing animals by hunters…

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says many people continue to have problems with bears looking for food near their homes. Part of the problem could arise from the food scrap ban that recently has gone into effect. “We have been receiving lots of reports of bears on decks, tearing down bird feeders, wrecking beehives,…

The Vermont State Police on Friday, July 1, marked the 75th anniversary of the agency’s creation, a watershed moment that arose from tragedy and laid the groundwork for a proud legacy of dedicated service across generations. State leaders established the Vermont State Police on July 1, 1947, in the aftermath of the disappearance of Paula…

The Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Friday, July 1, the approval of a settlement in Vermont’s first-ever joint state/federal employment discrimination lawsuit. The settlement requires Coughlin, Inc, a McDonald’s restaurant franchisee, to pay $1.6 million in damages and state penalties and substantially reform its business practices under a…

By Sam Lipin/ Addison County Independent Someone who visited the Short Stop gas station on Middlebury’s Court Street last week just became a millionaire — a hundred-millionaire, in fact. For the first time in Vermont history, the winning Powerball jackpot ticket was sold at a Vermont retailer, Vermont Lottery officials said. And the winning ticket…

Following a formal announcement by the state of Vermont, beverages categorized as Ready-to-Drink (RTD) cocktails are now part of Vermont’s private sector as of July 1, 2022. This marks a significant legal change from previous policy, whereby RTDs could only be distributed and sold by the 80 802-agency liquor outlets throughout the state. Starting July…

Keeping a small flock of chickens at home to provide eggs and meat has become increasingly popular, but many first-time small-scale poultry farmers are discovering that several species of wildlife like the taste of chicken as much as we do. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Dept. (VTF&W) urges poultry owners to use electric fencing and…

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is receiving reports from across the state of black bears seeking food in yards, outbuildings and livestock enclosures this spring, and the department urges Vermonters to take proactive steps for safely coexisting with bears. “Bears—and people—are at risk when bears spend time in human-dominated landscapes,” said the Vermont Fish…

By VTDigger Editor An unknown person or people smashed seven windows at the Vermont State House in Montpelier early Saturday morning, June 25, and spraypainted a message on the front portico of the building, according to the Capitol police. The message read, “If abortions aren’t safe you’re not either.” The State House was due to…

The Vermont Ski Areas Association’s 53rd annual meeting on June 8-9 For the first time in two years ski area members, associate members, partners and sponsors were able to recap a successful ski season in person. Despite the lingering effects of the ongoing pandemic, this season Vermont ski areas reported an additional 230,000 skier visits,…

Vermont maple syrup production totaled 2.55 million gallons in 2022, an 800,000-gallon increase from 2021. “As I always tell my fellow governors, Vermont has, hands-down, the best maple syrup in the world,” said Gov. Phil Scott. “This year’s record level of maple production is good news for our sugar makers and our economy, and I…