NBRC grant enables work on end-to-end mountain biking trail, hut network The Velomont Trail Collective and Vermont Huts Association announced on Nov. 14 that they are the beneficiaries of a Northern Border Regional Commission grant to continue work on the Velomont Trail and Vermont Huts network, bringing the concept of an end-to-end, hut-to-hut mountain biking…

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is asking hunters for help in a statewide initiative to gather more biological data on the state’s deer population.  Hunters who get a deer during the Nov. 14-29 regular deer season are asked to provide an incisor tooth from their deer. Biologists are collecting one middle incisor tooth from…

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) announced the winners of the highway safety message contest on Nov. 5. Cheryl Murray, 57, of Benson, submitted the winning entry in the fall round of the contest. Murray's message was:  “Don’t take the bait. That text can wait.” “I thought about writing one of these messages because we…

By Anne Wallace Allen/VTDigger The Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Committee has steered an additional $75 million into grants intended to help Vermont’s hospitality businesses survive the winter. The committee, meeting Saturday, Nov. 14, approved many of the items on a proposal the Scott administration issued earlier this month to reallocate some of the state’s $1.25 billion share of the…

By Katy Savage Rep. Charlie Kimbell, D-Woodstock, is campaigning to be the next speaker of the House after Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero, lost her bid for reelection on Nov. 3. Kimbell is a ranking member of the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee and represents Woodstock, Reading and Plymouth, which make up Winsor-5. He was…

By Anne Wallace Allen/VTDigger Home prices rose sharply this summer as out-of-staters moved into Vermont and market conditions deterred the construction of new houses, tightening the supply. The median sales price paid in September hit $348,000 — 23% more than the median sales price of $281,335 in September 2019, the Vermont Association of Realtors said…

All employers must apply for grants by Friday Staff report Walmart has come under fire for failing to apply for the state of Vermont’s frontline employees hazard grant pay, a program which provides grants of $1,200 and $2,000 to workers who put themselves at risk, particularly in the early days of the pandemic. Many Walmart…

During the pandemic, Vermont has ensured every child has access to free meals daily As a result of Covid-19 and waivers granted at the federal level, for the first time ever, all Vermont schools are currently providing universal school meals to their students and will through the end of the 2020/21 school year. Universal meals…

Dept. of Justice funding will expand reach in rural communities Senator Patrick Leahy announced on Oct. 30 Vermont’s DREAM program will receive a three-year, $1.25 million grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to support peer mentoring for elementary-aged youths in rural communities whose lives have been affected by the opioid epidemic. This is the…

No out-of-state travel; spectators limited for indoor events; social events discouraged Due to rising Covid-19 case counts throughout the Northeast, and the decisions of Massachusetts and New Hampshire officials to suspend ice rink activities due to numerous outbreaks, the state of Vermont has announced updated policies to reduce risk. Vermont-based youth and adult recreational sports…

As of the end of data collection for the 2020 Census, 99.9% of housing units and addresses were accounted for in Vermont, according to the U.S. Census Bureau at an operational press briefing last week. Vermont had lagged behind in early efforts. The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. The…

Eligible Vermonters can sign up for coverage or change their health insurance plans with Vermont Health Connect from Nov. 1 - Dec. 15, 2020. The Office of the Health Care Advocate’s (HCA) helpline is available to provide free  advice to Vermonters trying to figure out their  options for health coverage for 2021. Contact the HCA…

The calendar is filled with stunning photos of Vermont wildlife, including white-tailed deer, moose, a bald eagle, gray tree frog, spruce grouse, swallowtail butterfly, pumpkinseed, peregrine falcon, woodcock, bobcat, and scenic Lake Willoughby.  It includes photos by many well-known Vermont photographers including Roger Irwin, Tony Smith, Tyler Pockette, Daniel Berna, Kurt Budliger, Ian Clark, Chris…

Vermont aims to understand how Covid-19 has affected the use and need for telecommunications services for telehealth, telework, and remote learning across the state The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed and exacerbated gaps  in Vermont’s broadband infrastructure that have left too many Vermonters vulnerable during the public health emergency.  “This status quo is simply unacceptable,” said…

On Oct. 21, Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos encouraged Vermont voters to make their early voting plan, and to return their voted ballot using the safe, secure early voting option of their choice. “While voting during the Covid-19 health crisis may feel different from how many of us are used to voting, we have…