By Rep. Jim Harrison In a few short weeks, ballots will be mailed to all registered voters in Vermont for the general election this fall. Voters can choose to fill the ballots out ahead of time and return to their town or choose to wait and vote in person on Nov. 8. For me, my…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger Covid-19 levels in Vermont remain “low,” according to the Vermont Department of Health’s latest weekly surveillance update. The data comes amid the first week of the Omicron booster, also called the bivalent vaccine, which became available Wednesday, Sept. 7 in Vermont. This booster specifically targets the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of Omicron. About 80% of…

Drivers need to be alert and cautious because moose are on the move, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Dept. (VTF&W). Moose are more likely to be crossing roadways at this time of year, especially after dark or early in the morning because this is breeding season for moose. “Motorists hit 49 moose on…

Vermont has expanded eligibility for the hMPXV (human monkeypox virus) JYNNEOS vaccine to certain groups at higher risk of contracting the virus and has increased vaccination opportunities, but officials caution that vaccine supply is still limited at this time. hMPXV can spread to anyone through close and often skin-to-skin contact with someone who is infected.…

Bivalent vaccine offers protection against new virus variants State health officials announced Tuesday, Sept. 6, that Vermonters will be able to receive the newly approved Covid-19 vaccine booster shots starting Wednesday, Sept. 7. The updated boosters are designed to be a match for the BA.5 Omicron variant currently affecting most people. Last week, the CDC…

By Jeralyn Darling/ VTDigger As she seeks to end her life through Vermont’s medical-aid-in-dying law, Lynda Bluestein faces one major obstacle: her zipcode. Bluestein, 75, was diagnosed last year with terminal fallopian tube cancer. She said she’d like to make use of Vermont’s Act 39, which allows doctors to prescribe life-ending drugs to terminally ill…

The Vermont hunting season for gray squirrels started Thursday, Sept. 1. The season runs through Saturday, Dec. 31, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. “Vermont has a healthy population of gray squirrels, concentrated in southern Vermont and the Champlain Valley,” said Hunter Education Coordinator Nicole Meier. “They’re a fantastic small game species for…

By Katy Savage The Agency of Education is recommending schools treat Covid like any other illness this year. Testing and masks will not be required and those with mild symptoms can stay in school. The agency released updated Covid guidelines in a memo on Aug. 10. The memo puts emphasis on school nurses determining if…

By Katy Savage Some districts are still scrambling for teachers and staff members as schools open this week. There were 1,200 open positions in the Vermont public school system about two weeks before the start of school, according to the Vermont National Education Association. Don Tinney, the president of the Vermont National Education Association, said…

By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger “Nima is planning a vacation. The total cost of his vacation, c, in dollars, for n nights of stay at a hotel can be estimated by the equation c = 375n + 1,700. If Nima can spend no more than 4,000 dollars on his vacation, what is the greatest number of nights…

By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger Vermont students are urging state officials and educators to make a series of sweeping reforms to combat longstanding racial inequities in the state. A new report, written by the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network, a group of students from across the state seeking to address racial inequities, aims to be a resource for…

Teens with an interest in mental health and wellbeing may apply to become a Teen Health and Wellness Ambassador. The University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4–H Health HEROES (Health Education Resources for Outreach, Engagement and Service) program will provide free training for 20 Vermont teens, ages 14-18, to help them promote healthy living in their…

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says bear hunting season starts in September and reminds hunters about the bear hunting regulations. Vermont has two bear hunting seasons. The early season, which requires a special bear tag, starts Sept. 1, and continues through Nov. 11 with one exception. Nonresident hunters using dogs cannot start bear hunting…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger Over the next five years, Vermont will be eligible to receive $37 million in federal funding for transportation projects that would make the state’s infrastructure more resilient to a changing climate, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Friday. The new program is designed to “help communities protect their transportation infrastructure from extreme…

By Lia Chen/VTDigger A national survey has ranked Vermont fifth in the nation for overall child well-being, but indicates there’s been a decline in key child mental health indicators in the state. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a national nonprofit focused on improving child welfare, announced Monday the 2022 KIDS COUNT, an annual 50-state report…