Recent Canada lynx sightings point to success in Vermont’s conservation efforts 

A Canada lynx spotted in Addison County. Courtesy of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Six years had passed without a confirmed sighting of a Canada lynx in Vermont. That all changed Aug. 17. Over the summer, several Rutland County residents spotted what the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department confirmed was a juvenile male Canada…

Vermont-born Kaci O’Rourke makes history as the first female to win national reining championship

Photo submitted by Kaci O’Rourke Kaci O’Rourke tried reining — the western style equestrian sport where riders guide horses through a series of precise movements like circles, spins and stops — for the first time when she was 10 years old at her parents’ family-run farm Pond Hill Ranch in Castleton. Two decades later, she…

Special Brattleboro Town Meeting rescinds new public conduct rules

A sign at downtown Brattleboro’s Transportation Center lists prohibited behaviors. Photo by Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger BRATTLEBORO — In a 76-55 vote Thursday night, a citizen-petitioned special Town Meeting rescinded new municipal rules that supporters said would help rehabilitate offenders through civil rather than criminal penalties for such acts as illegal drug use and dealing, physical threats…

Lamoille Health Partners turns to Copley amid financial crisis

This story by Aaron Calvin was first published in the News & Citizen on Dec. 12. Lamoille Health Partners is facing a financial crisis, and the health care provider is turning to Copley Hospital for help. In early October, the board of directors for the nonprofit that provides primary care, pediatric care, mental health care,…

Kathy Sollien: The sounds of warmth 

Coming in from the cold and snowy outside, the sound of my furnace kicking on is such a comforting sound, one I am probably not conscious of most of the time. A turn of the thermostat starts the progression of heat with a tiny click, then a low roar before the blower begins to turn…

Ivy Enoch: Vermont eases access to food program for community college students

This commentary is by Ivy Enoch of Richmond, SNAP policy and training lead at Hunger Free Vermont. Earning a college degree is challenging, especially for Vermont students who balance school, jobs and family while working to put food on the table. Fortunately, a new policy change now makes it easier for Vermont’s community college students…

Dan Smith: Send a message by working together

This commentary is by Dan Smith of Burlington, president and CEO of the Vermont Community Foundation. People are tired of politics. Mistrust and polarization have that effect. Trust is the connective tissue of civic structures, and the trend is to trust leaders and each other less. As elections increase in intensity, we should reassess what…

Alice M. Bennett

Birth May 22, 1935 Rutland, VT Death Nov. 16, 2024 Colchester, VT Details of service A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Shelburne, on Friday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. A burial will be held in the spring at the Shelburne Town Cemetery. Alice Anne (Miglis)…

Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity: CVOEO calls for further state protections for asylum seekers and refugees 

This commentary was submitted by the CVOEO team of Virginie Diambou, Paul Dragon, Jess Hyman, Sandrine Kibuey and Lindsay Wenkouni Reid.  For more than two centuries, America has been a beacon of hope for people around the world fleeing hardship and persecution in search of freedom and a more prosperous life for themselves and their…

Rep. Josie Leavitt: Rep. Laura Sibilia should be the next speaker of the House

This commentary is by Josie Leavitt, the outgoing Democratic representative for the Grand Isle-Chittenden district in the Vermont House of Representatives. I am one of the 15 incumbent Democrats who lost their seat in the November election. I am, and will always be, a Democrat. But, one of the things that saddens me the most…

Vermont loosened Act 250 rules for housing. Here’s where developers are responding

Developer Peter Kahn is using temporary adjustments to Act 250 to build workforce housing in Vergennes. Seen on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public. When 10 apartments at the new Armory House building…

Antonio Golán, Evelyn Huffine and Jonathan Shaffer: The next UVM president must protect our history of protest and social justice

This commentary is by three members of the UVM Palestine Solidarity Caucus. Antonio Golán is a lecturer in community development and applied economics, Evelyn Huffine is an undergraduate student, and Jonathan Shaffer is an assistant professor of sociology. The current search for the next president of University of Vermont comes at a moment of grave…

Dr. Sunny Eappen: Sharing the facts on UVM Health Network’s budget actions

This commentary is by Dr. Sunny Eappen, president and CEO of the University of Vermont Health Network. As an anesthesiologist who largely practiced in reproductive health, I know firsthand how vital it is for patients to have access to the medical expertise they need, whether for a planned appointment or procedure, or during an unforeseen…

Vermont Construction Company cited for housing workers in ‘grossly hazardous and unsafe’ living conditions

The town of Colchester has issued several violations against the Vermont Construction Company for housing company workers in “grossly hazardous and unsafe” spaces. The company was issued an emergency order to vacate a portion of its office space at Hegeman Avenue last week. Part of the building was being used to house an estimated 17…

Maryellen Griffin: Follow the veterans to end homelessness in Vermont

This commentary is by Maryellen Griffin of Danville. She is a staff attorney at Vermont Legal Aid. Homelessness in Vermont has tripled since 2020. By contrast, veterans’ homelessness has been cut in half across the country since 2010, through a consistent, strategic effort led by the Department of Veterans Affairs. I regularly hear people say…

Larry Lyford: A rebuttal to Lt. Gov Zuckerman’s commentary on property taxes

This commentary is by Larry Lyford of Lyndonville. He is a lifelong Northeast Kingdom resident, Navy vet, concerned taxpayer and citizen. Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman’s commentary on property taxes presents a stark depiction of Vermont’s tax landscape. However, his arguments often veer into oversimplifications and misplaced blame, failing to provide constructive solutions to the challenges…

Rollie Kielman: Care for your bats this holiday season

This commentary is by Rollie Kielman of Burlington. Chances are, if you mention “dark basement” and “bats” in the same sentence, you’re bound to get a wide-eyed glance in return. This is how my December started: A simple text from my wife: “Yoooooo, we have bats!!!” As the first snow swept through the Champlain Valley,…

UVM lab spotlights gadgets that make independent living safer and easier

A student in the occupational therapy program practices an exercise with a client at the University of Vermont. Photo courtesy of UVM. BURLINGTON — Do you ever feel anxious wondering if you left the oven on or whether you closed the door?  At an open house at the University of Vermont, visitors explored a recreated…

Stowe water worries bubble up as demand increases

Because of the large service area — all the way from Stowe village up to Mountain Road to, and inclusive of Stowe Mountain Resort — and the mountainous terrain, water from Village Green passes through five pumping stations and three water storage tanks to reach the most remote customers. Map courtesy of the Town of…

Vermont House Democrats back Speaker Jill Krowinski after defeating an outsider’s bid for consideration

House Democrats vote on whether to allow non-caucus members to receive leadership nominations at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Dec. 7, 2024. By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger Vermont House Democrats nominated their leaders at a caucus meeting Saturday morning, but not without debate over who should hold the body’s most powerful position.  A move to nominate Rep.…

From a scooter to statewide impact: Why I came back to VTDigger

Alicia Freese, deputy managing editor at VTDigger. Photo by Natalie Williams Dear reader, Although not technically true, I like to introduce myself as the longest-tenured staffer at VTDigger. As we enter our 15th year and continue our year-end drive, I’m asking for your support. While the reporting we provide is free to access, producing it…

Philip A. Ades

Birth April 2, 1951 Brooklyn, NY Death Nov. 27, 2024 Burlington, VT Details of service Donations to his memory may be made to his Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and to Home Health and Hospice. Both sites can be located on the UVMMC website.  A Memorial Service to honor Phil will be held at UVM in mid-January.…

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