Gov. Scott issues proclamation recognizing Jan. 24-30 as Vt. School Choice Week In the midst of a school year like no other, Vermont families and educators are gearing up to safely spotlight education options during School Choice Week 2021. Vermont community members are hosting 69 virtual or at-home celebrations during the week. Taking place annually…

A group of Vermont parents are suing the state and local school districts over unequal access to education under the state’s 150-year-old town tuitioning system. The parents say the program violates the state constitution by allowing children residing in certain school districts to attend the school of their choice and denying the same right to…

The Vermont Lodging Coalition, formed during the pandemic, and the Vermont Inn and Bed & Breakfast Association, with 11 years of advocacy history in the state, together announce the formation of one collaborative organization named the Vermont Lodging Association (VLA). The lodging industry in Vermont, which represents $600 million in annual revenue, is the backbone of…

By Rep. Jim Harrison “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. In this time of dissension and uncertainty in our country, let us all take a moment to reflect on the words of Martin Luther King, Jr, and how to best come…

Bill prevents health insurance companies from price fixing, collusion Legislation led in the Senate by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) that promotes lower health insurance costs to consumers by increasing transparency and enhancing consumer protections in the health insurance industry was signed into law Wednesday by the president. The Competitive Health Insurance…

By Eesha Williams A new Vermont group is working to stop logging on publicly-owned land in the state — including in the Green Mountain National Forest near Rochester. The group, Standing Trees Vermont supports banning logging on publicly owned land and, instead, encourages logging companies to buy their own land. If the companies want to…

Approximately 100 Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers will support operations in Washington D.C. ahead of the Presidential Inauguration. The Vermont Soldiers are predominantly from 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain). “We swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America,” said Maj. Gen. Greg Knight,…

Vermont businesses team with state to save Vermonters money and cut carbon Vermont’s Statehouse is first in the nation to have clean backup power stored in batteries  —using a GMP program to help lower costs for all Vermonters. State officials, and leaders from Northern Reliability, Dynapower, Virtual Peaker and Green Mountain Power (GMP) were joined…

By Emma Cotton and Katie Jickling/VTDigger Ski patrols count as health care workers. The state is currently distributing the Covid-19 vaccine to “health care workers likely to be exposed/treat Covid-19 patients” and “long-term care facility residents and staff who have patient contact,” as part of group 1a, according to state guidelines. But who qualifies under that definition has evolved,…

By Rep. Jim Harrison On Jan. 6, the Vermont Legislature convened for the start of the 2021-22 biennium. Normally the first week has its share of tradition, as well as some pomp and circumstance, with the swearing in of all 180 lawmakers along with the State’s constitutional officers and the Governor’s Inaugural address, which are…

By Rep. Alison Clarkson Last Wednesday, Jan. 6, we saw a sharp contrast between legislative life in Vermont and in the Congress in Washington, D.C. This contrast couldn’t have been more stark — one: unusually quiet, orderly and historic but subdued, and the other: noisy, chaotic and shockingly violent. One affirming and one rocking our…

Applications due March 31, 2021 USDA Rural Development (RD) is seeking applications for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP). Applications are accepted on a quarterly basis, with the next deadline being the close of business on March 31, 2021. State information on the program and application materials are available at rd.usda.gov. The RMAP program provides loans…

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced Jan. 8 that the Paycheck Protection Program will re-open the week of Jan. 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday,…

On Jan. 7, the Vermont State Police (VSP) received a report of personal, off duty, social media posts by Lucas Hall of the Shaftsbury barracks. The posts appear to support the criminal insurgency that occurred Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol and to advocate for such insurgency to continue. “God Bless America!!!!” Luke Hall, allegedly…

Whereas, on January 6, 2021, President Donald J. Trump addressed thousands of supporters, urging them to go to the U.S. Capitol in support of his false claim that he won the 2020 presidential election, and Whereas, the President’s supporters marched to the Capitol and violently stormed the building, attacking police officers, ransacking offices, terrorizing the…