Will Rutland again be designated as a resettlement site? By Kit Norton/VTDigger Gov. Phil Scott is calling on the federal government to resettle more refugees in Vermont, describing it as integral to his plans to grow the state’s economy and workforce. Scott wrote to the U.S. Dept. of State on Monday, March 15, urging the…

The Vermont Dept. of Public Service announced two pre-draft public hearings on the 10-year telecommunications plan. The plan will provide an overview of statewide growth and development as it relates to future requirements for telecommunications services, including patterns of urban expansion, statewide and service area economic growth, shifts in transportation modes, economic development, technological advances,…

Attorney General T.J. Donovan and Secretary of State Jim Condos are warning Vermont businesses that a Florida-based company, Centurion Filing Services, LLC, calling itself VT Certificate Service, is mailing businesses a request for payment for a “certificate of good standing.” The mailing—which looks like a bill requesting a “fee” of $87.50—has the recipient’s information pre-printed…

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is asking Vermonters to report when lakes and ponds lose their ice cover, also known as the “ice-out date.” Once a lake or pond is completely free of ice from shore to shore, DEC scientists can begin their spring water quality sampling efforts. The ice-out data also helps scientists…

Bipartisan bill makes critical reforms and provides at least $250 million to support recreational trails U.S. Representatives Peter Welch (D-Vt) and John Curtis (R-Utah) reintroduced legislation that will more than double funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) on March 11.  Since 1991, the RTP has provided funding to states to develop and maintain outdoor…

Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) March 9  introduced legislation to connect every household in America with high-speed broadband service capable of supporting remote schooling, online businesses and remote work, telehealth appointments, and entertainment streaming. The most recent Federal Communications Commission Broadband Deployment Report indicates that 18 million people lack access to broadband service. The Vermont Dept.…

H.128, an act relating to limiting criminal defenses based on victim identity, colloquially referred to as “gay panic,” passed in the Vermont Statehouse 144-1 on March 11. The single "Nay" vote came from Rep. Rodney Graham (R-Orange-1), of Williamstown. The bill was introduced by Rep. Mari Codes and Rep. Taylor Small, and co-sponsored by 24…

By Xander Landen/VTDigger A federal coronavirus relief bill approved Wednesday, March 10, by the U.S. House would direct more than $2.7 billion to Vermont, according to Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. That includes nearly $1.3 billion in direct aid to the state and tens of millions of dollars to Vermont municipalities. “My top priority for this relief…

On March 15, Vermont Electric Co-op (VEC) and Green Mountain Power (GMP) each launched a broadband deployment program to help more Vermonters in some of the hardest-to-reach corners of Vermont get connected to broadband quickly and cost-effectively. The plans approved Friday by the Vermont Public Utility Commission lower the cost for broadband providers to connect…

By Rep. Jim Harrison The passage of the American Rescue Plan in Washington was welcome news to state leaders and many Vermonters. Thanks to small state minimums, Vermont will once again receive over a billion dollars in federal funds. Over $2 billion will come into the state when you include the $1,400 stimulus payments to…

In Vermont, Red Cross volunteers have helped nearly 350 people after home fires last year As people turn their clocks forward for daylight saving time this Sunday, the American Red Cross of Northern New England encourages everyone to also test their smoke alarms. In 2020, local Red Cross volunteers helped 347 people with urgent needs…

Said Covid Package Will Bring More Than $2.7 Billion To Vermonters Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, hailed House passage Wednesday of the American Rescue Plan, which will bring much-needed financial relief to Vermonters and help to Vermont communities.  The House passed the final version of the package that the Senate…

University of Vermont (UVM) Extension recently received a $68,438 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service to work with farmers interested in trying "solar corridors" in their corn silage fields. The project will be led by Dr. Heather Darby, a UVM Extension agronomist based in St. Albans and head of the…

By Sen. Alison Clarkson Town Meeting week certainly was different this year. While I missed the in-person visits, delicious food and touring around Windsor District, our virtual Zoom town informational meetings enabled me to participate in 10 gatherings. Without having to drive half an hour or 45 minutes between meetings, I was afforded the rare…

Is your home or business ready for a heating update in 2021? Ready to opt out of oil and do your part to help the state meet its goal of 90 percent renewable energy by 2050? Many rebates and incentives are available to Vermonters interested in switching to wood heat this year. Heating homes or…