The 100th anniversary of the Vermont Supreme Court Building is being commemorated with a special centennial celebration in Montpelier on Friday, May 18, 2018. The program, Celebrating the Bench and Bar and Their Role in Preserving the Rule of Law, will take place on the front steps of the Vermont Supreme Court Building at 111…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington & Mendon The regular session of the 2018 legislative session was gaveled down at 12:18 a.m. Sunday morning, the conclusion of the 18 weeks allocated in the current year budget. The last few days, especially Saturday, May 12, were at times intense and emotional. When lawmakers arrived back…

By Senator Alison Clarkson, Windsor-5 The 2018 Legislative session adjourned very late Saturday evening May 12. It always ends after about two weeks of intense negotiations between the House and the Senate resolving our policy differences in committees of conference. And, it is always a bit of a shock, after such focused work, to end…

By Tom Benton, St. Albans Messenger staff writer ST. ALBANS — Police transported Erika Guttilla, who allegedly murdered her Highgate family’s drug dealer, and Swanton resident Corey Cassani, her boyfriend accused of helping her get rid of the remains, to Franklin County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon, May 8. Public defenders Steve Dunham and Rory Malone…

By Tom Benton, St. Albans Messenger Staff Writer HIGHGATE — Carmen Guttilla, 60, of Charles Circle, pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder Monday afternoon, May 7. The state alleges that Guttilla helped her daughter Erika, 31, kill a man staying in the family’s home last November, 35-year-old Troy Ford, whose remains walkers…

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…