Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos announced Friday, June 24 as the official start of early voting for the Vermont statewide primary election, to be held on Tuesday, Aug. 9. “Early voting options have proven to increase both voter access and voter participation in our civic process,” said Condos. “Our democracy is stronger when we…

Vt Dept. of Health says 'get take-home tests now' Vermont Health Dept. testing sites will close June 25. Vermonters are encouraged to pick up free take-home tests from these sites to keep at home and use if needed. Vermonters can get up to four antigen test kits for each appointment, but only one LAMP (similar to…

Saturday, June 11 — STATEWIDE—Vermont’s annual, statewide summer free fishing day is Saturday, June 11 this year, and it will be highlighted by a free family fishing festival in Grand Isle as well as opening day of the state’s regular bass fishing season. “Vermont’s Free Fishing Day gives resident and nonresident anglers the opportunity to…

By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger Gov. Phil Scott has signed two important bills affecting schools statewide. One create a one-year pilot program of free breakfast and lunch for Vermont students and the other bans offensive school mascots. The governor’s signatures represent victories for anti-hunger advocates and for activists who have pushed to retire mascots that stereotype marginalized…

Wednesday, June 15 at 6 p.m. — RUTLAND — Next Wednesday watch back-to-back Republican and Democratic debates starting at 6 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland. With incumbent Lt. Gov. Molly Gray stepping aside to run for Congress, Vermont’s No. 2 job is wide open. Republican candidates include Sen. Joe Benning, R-Caledonia, and former Rutland…

With the beginning of summer and anglers fishing from shore, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reminds people that open fires and swimming are prohibited at all Vermont state fishing access areas. Open fires and their remnants, create unsafe areas for other anglers and boaters to use and enjoy. The remnants of these fires are…

Vermont’s turtles will be on the move this spring, and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking for the public’s help in keeping them safe. Female turtles will be looking for places to deposit their eggs, sometimes choosing to lay them along the shoulders of roads, which can bring them into the path of…

Facing an urgent need to recruit more foster parents to provide safe and loving homes for children and youth, the Vermont Dept. for Children and Families (DCF) is expanding its recruitment efforts by partnering with the Pride Center of Vermont and RaiseAChild, the nationwide leader in the recruitment and support of LGBTQ+ and all prospective…

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department alerts residents and visitors alike that deer fawns are being born this time of year and asks that people avoid disturbing or picking them up — for their safety and wellbeing. Most deer fawns are born in late May and the first and second weeks of June, according to…

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly called avian flu, continues to spread among Vermont’s wild bird population since its initial detection in a pair of bald eagles on April 8. HPAI has now been detected in four bald eagles, one red-tailed hawk, three Canada geese, one wood duck, and one turkey vulture in Vermont. Infected…

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VTF&W) is stocking a new strain of rainbow trout this spring and is looking for help from anglers to evaluate its performance. “Vermont stocks about 115,000 rainbow trout annually into inland rivers and lakes to provide recreational fishing opportunities for the public,” said state fisheries biologist Lee Simard. “We are…

By Sen. Alison Clarkson What a biennium this has been. It began in January of 2021 in the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic, conducted entirely by Zoom, and it ended in mid-May 2022, in the State House, in person — except for those members of the Legislature who had Covid or needed to care for…

By Sarah Mearhoff/VTDigger Gov. Phil Scott is running for a fourth term. Hours after he announced his reelection plans in a news release May 17, Scott told reporters in Montpelier that he “carefully considered (his) options” when deciding whether to seek another two years in office. “It’s been a long six years” in office, he…

By Peter D'Auria/VTDigger Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill Monday, May 23 to upgrade Vermont’s education funding formula, capping a legislative effort to make the system fairer. “Giving all students an equal chance at success has been a priority of mine since coming to office,” Scott wrote Monday, May 23, in a letter to…

By Sarah Mearhoff/VTDigger First it was U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., last November. Then it was U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., the next week. Next, it was Lt. Gov. Molly Gray in December and Secretary of State Jim Condos in February. And finally, in a flurry of activity in early May, Treasurer Beth Pearce and Attorney General TJ Donovan joined the list of top Vermont…