By Rep. Jim Harrison It’s important to have deadlines to help discipline the legislative process. Without them, the session would likely extend longer than it does. Deadlines mean that the House Appropriations Committee must not only finish its work on the budget, but also act on any bills sent to the committee from House policy…

By Jack Lyons/VTDigger A 30-year effort to reintroduce passenger rail service to Burlington is scheduled to succeed this summer. Rail travelers will be able to board in Rutland and travel to Burlington on the trail, and Burlington residents will be able to travel south — all the way to New York City and points beyond…

By Liz DiMarco Employers from Vermont to Vancouver are facing unforeseen difficulties in attracting qualified workers, but there are jobhunters over 55 who know all too well the challenges of finding meaningful employment. Ageism is more pervasive than ever, and harsh reality is difficult to deny. Accelerated technology, plus political and socioeconomic factors, tend to…

By Julia Purdy Just as Californians hail the return of the swallows to San Juan Capistrano, here in Vermont the return of the peregrine falcon to its breeding grounds is a cause for pride and excitement. This year, peregrine falcons have already returned to their nesting cliffs throughout the state. To protect nesting peregrine falcons…

By Liora Engel-Smith/VTDigger The state is moving away from third-party contact tracing as Omicron cases continue to drop in Vermont.  Last spring, the Vermont Department of Health outsourced the bulk of Covid-19 contact tracing to AM Trace, a contractor in Leesburg, Virginia. Vermont has paid the company — now called AM — almost $15 million since…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger Vermont’s seven-day Covid-19 average hit its lowest point since last fall, one of several indicators that the Omicron variant surge is trending down. Health department Commissioner Mark Levine said the numbers “continue to reinforce the improving picture of Covid-19 here in Vermont.”  Officials have cautioned that cases could be an unreliable indicator…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger   At least 20 Vermont communities have repealed their local mask mandates or allowed them to expire in recent weeks. Only a handful of communities — including Waitsfield, Williston and Winooski — still have mask mandates in effect, although they may not be in effect for much longer.  Waitsfield, for example, planned…

Hospitalizations and capacity now main factors, CDC focuses on preventing worst outcomes By Polly Mikula The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) rolled out new guidance qualifying nearly 70% of the nation to unmask, on Feb. 25. Prior to the changes, only about a third of the counties were assessed as low or medium…

By Polly Mikula “If we look back two years to March 13, when I signed the emergency declaration here in Vermont, I never expected that it would last two years, not just the state of emergency, but I didn’t think the pandemic was going to last two years,” Gov. Phil Scott said at a recent…

In continuation of Vermont’s efforts to support the Ukrainian people in response to the Russian invasion of peaceful Ukraine, Vermont law enforcement agencies are coordinating an effort to donate used and expired body-armor vests to military units in Ukraine. “As I’ve said, the bravery and resolve of the Ukrainian people is heroic and inspiring. This…

By Rep. Jim Harrison At the request of Governor Scott, the Legislature unanimously approved a contribution to Ukrainian humanitarian efforts equal to $1 for every Vermonter. I had the honor of reporting the legislation, H.717, on the House floor. In my remarks I said, “The plight of Ukrainians pulls at the heart of every one…

As the civilian toll in Ukraine grows, state lawmakers are fast-tracking legislation to send humanitarian aid to the besieged nation. Legislature suspended its rules last week to fast track the bill, H.717. The House passed it on Tuesday, March 8, the Senate on Thursday, March 10, and it was delivered to the governor’s desk, March…

Youth, advocates, legislators, and activists met March 10 to discuss their criminal justice legislative priorities during crossover week in Montpelier. Speakers included Addie Lentzner of the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network, Rep. Tanya Vyhovsky, Sen. Dick Sears, Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, DeRay McKesson and Cassie Ippaso of Campaign Zero, Mia Schultz of NAACP-Rutland, and Falko Schilling…

Vermont drops guidance for masking indoors, at school By Polly Mikula Starting Monday, March 14, it’s ok to for everyone to unmask in public, including indoors and in K-12 schools, the state announced Thursday, March 3. “As our statewide hospitalization rate is low, and hospitals are no longer facing the Covid-related strains of the recent…

Gov. Phil Scott kicked off the 2022 Vermont Maple Season by tapping the unofficial “first” maple tree at the University of Vermont Proctor Maple Research Center (PMRC) in Underhill March 7. While Vermont’s maple industry is celebrated for its world-renowned quality, taste and leading prodcution annually nationwide, the event also celebrated the important contributions of…