Some Vermont students will soon be able to include a new honor recognition on their high school resumes and transcripts. On Wednesday, May 2, the Vermont Legislature approved a resolution in support of the Seal of Biliteracy, an award given in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages…

The Department of Buildings and General Services will be auctioning a large assortment of state vehicles and equipment to the public beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, 2018. It is expected to be very well attended.“This is an ABSOLUTE auction with no reserves. All vehicles will be sold to the highest bidder rain…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington & Mendon Will the 2018 legislative session wrap up this week, is the $58 million question? History tells us when there are deadlines, compromises are made at the eleventh hour and adjournment happens. While we hope that is what happens this coming weekend, I am not so sure…

By Senator Alison Clarkson, Windsor-5 Vermont’s Legislature is in its final stages of our 2017-18 Biennium.  If bills are to make it into law they need to be acted on by both the House and the Senate by the “fall of the gavel,” which is anticipated to be in the next two weeks. Needless to…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington & Mendon With the legislative session scheduled to end by May 12, it remains a bit of a mystery as to how it will all come together. The veto of S.103, a chemical bill, could be a signal that the governor will stand firm on other bills that…

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) issued its annual solicitation for new bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects on April 30. Last year, this grant program invested nearly $4 million throughout the state to build sidewalks, shared use paths, crossing improvements, and bike lanes. With the growing popularity of walking and bicycling for transportation and recreation,…

By Anne Galloway, VTDigger Jack Sawyer, the 18-year-old accused of plotting to kill students at Fair Haven Union High School, was released into the custody of his father on Friday morning, April 27. He checked into a mental health facility on Friday evening, according to the Fair Haven police chief. Sawyer’s bail was reduced Wednesday, April 25, by…

In a razor-thin finish, Vermont has beaten out Montana in a beard competition to benefit the Make-A-Wish chapters of their respective states. After learning of the annual Vermont Beardies, a competition to find the best beard in Vermont, Make-A-Wish Montana’s CEO challenged Vermont that Montanans could grow better beards, and put a case of  bison…

MONTPELIER – Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced April 23 that Vermont has received $58.9 million from tobacco companies; $29 million of the total amount is the result of a recent settlement with tobacco companies. This $29 million is on top of the annual payment Vermont receives each April from these companies related to the 1998…

Federal and state tax credits worth $4 million are being made available to support the development of 251 apartments in eight communities across the state over the next several years. On Monday, April 16 the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) board of commissioners committed federal housing tax credits and Vermont affordable housing credits to construct…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington and Mendon It’s generally about this time of the session with a scheduled two or three weeks remaining, that we wonder how it will get all done. As of last Friday, 136 bills were passed by the House and 99 by the Senate this year. With only 43…

By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger.org RUTLAND — Rutland County State’s Attorney Rose Kennedy has dropped four felony charges, including three attempted murder counts, brought against Jack Sawyer, who police said had threatened to shoot up Fair Haven Union School.The filing by Kennedy comes on the heels of a Vermont Supreme Court decision earlier this month…

A statewide safety assessment of 422 schools conducted by local, county, and state law enforcement in partnership with Vermont schools shows that 96 percent of Vermont schools take part in emergency preparedness activities. The Department of Public Safety and Agency of Education have submitted a report summarizing the results of the assessment and recommendations to…

By Anne Galloway, VTDigger The Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and four other plaintiffs are suing the state over a ban on large capacity gun magazines. The federation, a gun association, several sporting goods stores and a woman from Bethel allege that a new law putting a cap on magazines violates the rights of gun owners under…

Submitted (Left-right) M.D., SVMC OB/GYN’s Kimberley Sampson, MD, U.S. Congressman Peter Welch, Alison Lutz, MD, and Malcolm Paine, MD.