By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger Gov. Phil Scott reiterated Thursday, Jan. 11, he plans to sign the bill legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in Vermont, but said he’s still undecided about whether to have a public signing for H.511 and did not say when the signing (public or private) would happen. The bill, H.511, cleared the…

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has arranged for a shipment of 25 surplus computers to five Vermont Schools through the U.S. Senate’s Computers for Schools programs.  Overseen by the Senate’s Sergeant At Arms, the program was established to offer surplus computers to classrooms across the country. Leahy worked with Vermont Agency of Education officials to identify…

U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and Governor Phil Scott have recommended Essex Police Chief Brad LaRose to President Trump to become Vermont’s next U.S. Marshal. If nominated and confirmed, LaRose would oversee all U.S. Marshals Service operations in Vermont. With offices in Burlington, Rutland, and Brattleboro, the Marshals Service is responsible for apprehending fugitives and sex…

Killington Resort welcomes the National Ski Patrol for a meet and greet with guests on Jan. 13, 14, 27, and 28, to promote snow sports safety for National Safety Awareness Month. Plus, guests who purchase a helmet at any Killington Sports location on-site or online at killingtonsports.com Jan. 12-21 will receive a free lift ticket valid any day Jan. 22 through…

Governor Phil Scott today announced that President Donald Trump has signed a Public Assistance declaration for Addison, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Washington, and Windham counties. Those counties suffered substantial damage during wind and rain storms on Oct. 29-30, 2017. A Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)…

By Alan Keays/VTDigger The Vermont House passed a bill Thursday, Jan. 4, to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, defeating a host of amendments, including one that likely would have cost the governor’s support. The House vote came on the same day that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded a policy that shielded states with…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger The state has investigated 52 claims of sexual harassment reported by state employees since 2014, according to the Vermont Department of Human Resources. Disciplinary action was taken in two cases in 2016 and two cases in 2017. (Penalties can range from a reprimand to dismissal.) The number of complaints spiked in…

On Dec. 20, U.S. border patrol agents assigned to the Champlain Station arrested an Albanian man identified as Sandra Hiraj, 20, during his failed attempt to illegally enter the U. S. Record checks revealed that Hiraj is wanted by the government of Albania for murdering a police officer. The arrest occurred after a resident called…

The Vermont Ski Areas Association (VSAA) board of directors has named Molly Mahar as the new president of the nonprofit trade group representing 20 Alpine areas and 30 cross country centers. She will be joining the Ski Vermont team on Jan. 8. Mahar is currently the vice president of marketing and sales at Loon Mountain…

By Michelle Monroe, St. Albans Messenger State officials used Governor Phil Scott’s Education Summit last week to drive home the point that school mergers have saved significant amounts of money and enabled merged districts to improve educational opportunities for students. Two panel discussions at the summit featured administrators and school board members from merged districts.…

State officials reported that nearly 23,000 Vermonters have confirmed a 2018 health plan and qualified for financial help to make the plan more affordable. Total enrollment in qualified health plans is expected to surpass 80,000. This year’s earlier deadline means fewer members will experience gaps in coverage. In past years, nearly 2,000 members missed out…

By Secretary of State Jim Condos As Vermont’s chief election official, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of our elections is one of my highest priorities. In a world of constantly changing technology we must stay ahead of those who seek to undermine the integrity of our elections. We must ensure that our elections are secure…

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Thursday that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) economic development investments in the Vermont now total more than $222 million during fiscal year 2017. Federal funds supported a broad range of activities in thirteen Vermont counties, including business development, housing construction and purchases, municipal investments in infrastructure and awards to academic institutions…

By Michelle Monroe, St. Albans Messenger NORTHFIELD, Vt. — How to provide Vermont’s students with a quality education at an affordable cost as the number of students across the state continues to decline? That is the question the state has been trying to answer for at least a decade. It’s a question that is taking…

By Alan Keays, VTDigger Prosecutors have cleared five state police troopers of criminal wrongdoing in a fatal shooting that followed a lengthy standoff in Poultney. A big factor in that decision, according to the prosecutors, was the misleading appearance of a weapon Michael Battles pointed down at troopers from a second-floor window of his home.…