Hunters are gearing up for the start of Vermont’s traditionally popular 16-day regular deer season that begins Saturday, Nov. 16 and ends Sunday, Dec. 1.  A hunter may take one legal buck during this season if they did not already take one during the archery deer season. “The greatest numbers of deer continue to be…

Analysis plunged state’s healthcare system into anxiety, uncertainty By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger Last month, a consultant released a sweeping report recommending significant changes for Vermont’s healthcare system, including “major restructuring” at four community hospitals. The 144-page state-commissioned document details a series of steps that Vermont’s hospitals should take to stay afloat, including repurposing inpatient units and downgrading emergency departments…

Attorney General Charity Clark announced that Amazon has agreed to pay $400,000 to the State of Vermont to settle a dispute regarding violations of the state’s delivery sales ban, which prohibits the direct shipping of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vaping products, to Vermont consumers. The settlement resolves allegations that third-party sellers on Amazon’s platform…

By Shaun Robinson/VTDigger In Vermont’s race for lieutenant governor a single label has been front and center. Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, a Progressive/Democrat and produce farmer from Hinesburg, is facing a challenge from John Rodgers of Glover, a former state lawmaker who owns a stone excavation business and also runs a hemp and cannabis business, who…

By Curt Peterson Drivers on Route 4 in Quechee have been calling the bridge over the gorge “Grumble Strip.” During busy times and tourist season, it can take several minutes to negotiate the way through the traffic signal and the single lane to the other end. Grumblers have a lot of company in their misery…

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation (USDOT) announced Tuesday, Oct. 29, that it has invested more than $19.5 million in new rail grant funding in Vermont. Nationally, more than $2.4 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding is being invested in 122 rail improvement projects in 41 states and Washington, D.C. These projects…

By James Kent Dry weather, high winds, and leaves on the ground are three conditions that pose the greatest threat of wildfires here in Vermont.  Over the weekend, two incidents locally illustrated the dangers of wildfires in such conditions to spread rapidly. On Saturday, Oct. 26, a brush fire in Ludlow burned through 16 acres,…

People listen during a press conference held by Downstream Vermonters, a coalition of people opposed to higher taxes and more regulations coming from the state government, at the State House in Montpelier on Thursday, May 9. By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger On the campaign trail, state legislative candidates say affordability dominates conversations with constituents. Property taxes — and…

Vermont’s regulated land and water trapping seasons will open on Oct. 26, 2024, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. The season will allow trappers to set traps for various species, including fisher, coyote, and raccoon, on land through Dec. 2024 and for beaver, muskrat, and otter in water or under ice through March…

By Carly Berlin/VTDigger This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public. Some service providers and municipal leaders are suggesting that the Gov. Phil Scott administration’s plan to assemble three family shelters in state-owned buildings amounts to too little, too late.  For weeks, local officials, lawmakers, and service providers have been…

By Polly Mikula The Agency of Education (AoE) announced Oct. 15 the next phase of its 2024 Listen and Learn Tour, which now invites the public to participate in community conversations to inform how the Agency delivers services and supports to Vermont’s education system.  The first stop on this new public engagement phase of the…

By Angelo Lynn Editor’s note: Angelo Lynn is the editor and publisher of the Addison Independent in Middlebury, a sister paper to the Mountain Times.  Vermont Republicans running for election to the House or Senate have two ready-made campaign issues — inflation and high property taxes — and many are using it to their full…

Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark announced on Oct. 9 that a coalition of 50 attorneys general has reached a settlement with Marriott International, Inc. after an investigation into a large multi-year data breach of one of Marriott’s Starwood guest reservation databases. Under the settlement, Marriott has agreed to strengthen its data security practices using a…

By Shaun Robinson/VTDigger Vermont’s leading candidates for governor agreed at a VTDigger debate Thursday evening that Vermont is worse off today than it has been in the recent past. But they disagreed, in many ways, on who exactly was to blame.  For incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who is seeking his fifth term in the state’s highest office,…

On Oct. 2, Treasurer Mike Pieciak announced his office will distribute $1.7 million to the University of Vermont (UVM), the Vermont State Colleges (VSC), and the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) to support Vermonters seeking a higher education degree. The funds come from investment earnings on the state’s Higher Education Trust Fund, which is managed…