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This commentary is written by Rep. Anne Donahue (R) of Northfield and Rep. Katherine Sims (D) of Craftsbury.  Last year the Vermont House passed a pro-farmer, pro-logger, pro-market, pro-commonsense piece of legislation with a wide 137-2 margin, with yes votes coming from Republicans, Democrats, Progressives, Independents and even the House’s sole Libertarian. That bill is…

A new bill, H.626, was referred to the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs last week that would create a Division of Animal Welfare under the Department of Public Safety. Photo by Francesco Ungaro via Pexels For months, maybe even years, people had raised concerns about two horses in Randolph who looked like…

This commentary is by Jordan Larose of South Burlington. In the heart of our bustling city, Burlington, a silent crisis persists — the plight of the homeless and hungry. As we navigate our daily lives, it’s easy to overlook those who lack the basic necessities many of us take for granted. The escalating issue of…

This commentary is by Kathy Fox, a professor of sociology at the University of Vermont. Criminologists talk a lot about the pendulum swing between “tough on crime” strategies and those that rely more on human services than punishment. These swings are evident in legislation, and other policy measures. We are seeing it now at the…

Max Abraham, left, speaks as Ashley Smith waits for his turn during a public hearing as the Burlington City Council considers withdrawing a ballot initiative from the March 5th ballot at City Hall in Burlington on Monday, January 22, 2024. Abraham spoke against the resolution while Smith spoke in favor of the measure. The ballot…

This commentary is by Greg Lesch, executive director of the Brattleboro Chamber of Commerce. The Commons recently reported that due to an aging population, a shortage of workers and a tight housing market, southern Vermont faces a severe labor shortage, with 18,000-20,000 jobs unfilled at any given time. Several weeks before that, VTDigger reported that…

This commentary is by Mary Sullivan, a former Democratic legislator from Burlington’s South End. When Gov. Phil Scott talks about his “Affordability Agenda” and the “Affordability Crisis,” he’s not really talking about affordability at all. He’s talking about austerity. These are two radically different terms. Austerity, which basically means drastic cuts in government spending, has…

“Winter Water,” by Geri Kayingo. Young Writers Project is a creative online community of teen writers, photographers and artists, which has been based in Vermont since 2006. Each week, VTDigger features the writing and art of young Vermonters who publish their work on youngwritersproject.org, a free, interactive website for 12- to 18-year-olds. To find out…

America has had troubled elections before. In 1861, Lincoln was forced to elude would-be assassins by sneaking into Washington, D.C., for his inauguration. In 1876, electoral disputes yielded an unsavory deal leading to the end of Reconstruction and the resurgence of racist terror in the South. In 1968, the leading Democratic candidate, Robert Kennedy, was…

Students on a retreat at Grout Pond in the Green Mountain National Forest. Photo courtesy Vermont Huts Association Alissa Frame is a reporter with Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program. For RJ Thompson, the seed of outdoor recreation started sprouting early on. He grew up camping with…

Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison, speaks as the Senate debates Gov. Scott’s veto of a professional regulation bill during a veto session of the Legislature the Statehouse in Montpelier on June 20. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger MONTPELIER — A discussion about whether online-only public meetings should continue is heating up under the Golden Dome, as…

Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Cambridge. Photo by Sophie Acker Charlotte Oliver is a reporter with Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program. The parents of the 3-year-old who drowned at Smugglers’ Notch Resort last summer are prepared to sue “potentially liable parties,” says their lawyer, including the manufacturer…

Irene Wrenner makes custom crossword puzzles. Photo illustration by Natalie Williams/VTDigger Welcome back to Power Lunch, a semi-regular edition of Final Reading where I, your intrepid reporter, set out to chat with Statehouse movers and groovers about anything but politics. (ICYMI, check out our inaugural Power Lunch here with Phil “Swiftie” Baruth. A must-read, if…

Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro, left, speaks with Rep. Logan Nicoll, D-Ludlow, at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger In a letter directed toward school boards and superintendents on Friday, two leaders of legislative tax committees warned of the “unintended consequences” of the state’s newest education finance law, which,…

This commentary is by Sunny Eappen, president and CEO of the University of Vermont Health Network. He has more than three decades of experience in health care, including clinical, leadership and academic positions. As we begin a new year, and as I embark on my second year as CEO of the University of Vermont Health…

There is a lot of public outcry in Vermont about the overuse of its correctional facilities for housing people better suited for a less restrictive environment, and justice-involved youths are one of the most prominent examples of that. However, when it comes to the litany of solutions the state has attempted since Woodside closed, it’s…

This commentary is by Kathy Beyer of Hinesburg. She is senior vice president of real estate development for Evernorth, a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing and community investments in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The raised ranch home is ubiquitous in our neighborhoods around Vermont, and for many it’s what they think about when…

This commentary is by Rep. Sara Coffey (D-Guilford), chair of Vermont’s House Transportation Committee. What does it mean to be fiscally responsible? When it comes to Vermont transportation, it means being clear about where the rubber meets the road. Like other states, in Vermont we pay for our transportation program using a mix of funding…

This commentary is by Mike Pieciak, Vermont State Treasurer, and Erick Russell, Connecticut State Treasurer. Government exists to solve problems, and as state treasurers, our offices are committed to supporting economic well-being for all.  Despite the opportunities in our states, we know our economies do not work for everyone. According to 2019 American Community Survey…

Flower-stemmed pens and pandemic-safety supplies await voters at Brattleboro’s Municipal Center. Photo by Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger For the first time in four years, none of Vermont’s 247 municipalities have publicly announced plans to cancel in-person March Town Meetings due to Covid-19 concerns, according to a VTDigger survey, although many are permanently adopting such supplemental pandemic protocols…

Since the 2020 closing of Woodside, Vermont’s only juvenile detention center, the state has struggled to find beds for justice-involved youths. Plans for new placements have been proposed, changed, or gone through lengthy legal battles with local communities. In some cases, juveniles have been placed in adult prisons. Now, the state Department for Children and…

Legalizing online gambling is not a joke — it’s a mistake that will hurt Vermont. You can see the signs in the ads. I work in marketing, and I can tell you that based on the promotions DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbook are offering (up to $1250 in bonus bets as of Jan. 12), one…