Bill would make the popular mailed ballots policy permanent for all general elections in Vermont The Vermont Senate gave approval last week to legislation that will make permanent the policy that was put in place as an emergency measure in 2020 to mail all active registered voters a ballot for the general election. In addition…

Over $1.9 million will soon be available from the Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC)’s Green Schools Initiative to reduce stormwater runoff and pollution entering Lake Champlain via public school grounds. The Green Schools Initiative offers funding and technical assistance to help public schools and state colleges meet the three-acre general permit stormwater regulation. “In…

  By Lola Duffort/VTDigger The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines for distancing in K-12 schools on Friday, March 19, likely paving the way for much more full-time, in-person instruction in Vermont. For now, the state recommends that schools keep children in K-5 grades 3 feet apart, and older students…

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…