'Good Sam Law' protects from criminal prosecution Vermont law enforcement and public health leaders joined together March 31 to urge Vermonters to call 9-1-1 if an overdose occurs, to save people’s lives. Vermont’s "Good Samaritan Law" provides protections from criminal liability for those who call for help from the scene of an overdose. A recent report from…

State leaders hype free app during financial literary month This past year dealing with Covid has emphasized the importance of financial wellbeing. April’s Financial Literacy Month highlights that everyone benefits from financial education, as research demonstrates: Two in three families lack an emergency fund. Three in five families don’t keep a budget. Fewer than one…

Vermont nets second most in nation Staff report From the beginning of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, to civil unrest and catastrophic wildfires in the summer, to election drama in the fall, 2020 was historically difficult… and yet, statistically fascinating. Data shows that by several accounts, 2020 has somehow been a year of…

Funding is now available through the Samara Fund, a community-directed fund that helps to ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) Vermonters are connected, healthy, appreciated, safe, and empowered. The Samara Fund will accept applications for projects or organizations that serve Vermont’s LGBTQ+ communities or support HIV/AIDS services or prevention for LGBTQ+ Vermonters. Organizations…

Vermont Land Trust is accepting applications for 2021 Farmers are encouraged to apply for the 2021 Eric Rozendaal Memorial Award, the Vermont Land Trust announced today. Now in its third year, the $5,000 award will be granted to a farmer who exemplifies service to community, land stewardship, and innovation. A special focus this year will…

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced Thursday, March 25 that the state’s 11 federally qualified health centers will receive $33.37 million to expand access to vaccines, provide for ongoing testing and treatment, and ensure Vermonters are getting the care they need. This funding will be provided to health centers as a result of the American…

By Rep. Jim Harrison If it was easy, the pension dilemma would have been solved. There is no hitting the Staple’s “Easy” button to solve this one. The unfunded pension liability for teachers and state employees has grown from $1.0 billion to approximately $5.7 billion in the past 13 years. This is despite an extended…

Governor Phil Scott, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) and the Agency of Commerce & Community Development (ACCD) today announced that $262,500 has been awarded to the towns of Bethel, Lyndon and Poultney through the Better Connections Grant Program, which seeks to help cities and towns build stronger communities that are more livable and walkable. “Vermont’s…

On March 25, the Vermont State Police became the first statewide law-enforcement agency in the country to sign on to the 30x30 Pledge — a series of low- and no-cost actions that police agencies can take to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement. The actions will help policing agencies assess the…

Governor Phil Scott announced March 30 that he has appointed James Pepper of Montpelier, Julie Hulburd of Colchester and Kyle Harris of Montpelier to the Cannabis Control Board (CCB). “The Board will play a critical role in ensuring public safety, equity and fairness while implementing this new market,” said Governor Phil Scott. “James, Julie and…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington & Mendon Last Friday a vaccine rollout plan for all Vermonters over 16 was detailed that Governor Scott believes can help the state re-open this summer. He even suggested that life in Vermont hopefully could return to normal by the Fourth of July. However, the ticket to that…

Over 4 out of 5 also want it updated to cover more containers Vermont’s bottle bill is not only one of the state’s most successful environmental programs, having recycling more than 10 billion containers since 1972, it also may be the most popular. The Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) released new statewide polling data…

The deadline for Vermont personal income tax filings for tax year 2020 has been extended from April 15 to May 17 in alignment with the federal due date change announced by the IRS last week. This extension means taxpayers can file their 2020 Vermont personal income tax, and pay any tax owed, by May 17 without penalties…

By Amanda Gokee/VTDigger With health concerns mounting about PFAS chemicals, the Legislature is moving to restrict the sale of consumer products that contain that class of chemical. The Senate voted Friday to approve that step; now, the House will consider the measure. S.20 would restrict PFAS — perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl — in consumer products sold…

“The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes,” a new report released March 18, by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), finds a national shortage of nearly 7 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income (ELI) renter households, those with incomes at or below the poverty level or 30% of their Area Median…