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Author: James Finn

James is a senior at Middlebury College majoring in history and Spanish. He is currently editor at large at the Middlebury Campus, having previously served as managing editor, news editor and in several other roles there. James was a reporter this summer at the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting and earlier was an intern at the Addison County Independent.
 

A year into Covid-19, Labor Department issues stall Vermonters’ efforts to collect unemployment

By James Finn

May 9 2021May 9, 2021

Vermonters who lost their jobs during the pandemic have faced one challenge after another. Trying to get financial support from the state government is one of them.


House panel decides to strike dependent benefit from unemployment bill

By James Finn

May 5 2021May 5, 2021

The House committee on Commerce and Economic Development voted Wednesday to remove bigger benefit checks for laid-off Vermonters who have children from a Senate bill.


Labor Department has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent claims

By James Finn

May 3 2021May 4, 2021

Vermont’s cost of unemployment insurance fraud during the pandemic “will be in the millions by the time this is all said and done,” Labor Commissioner Michael Harrington said.


Vermont’s rural fire districts hope federal cash will stabilize ailing water systems

By James Finn

May 3 2021May 3, 2021

As discussions build in Vermont about how to spend an influx of federal money, water access advocates hope to direct the money to underfunded rural water systems.


House panel considers striking benefits for dependents from unemployment bill

By James Finn

May 2 2021May 2, 2021

Michael Marcotte

Rep. Mike Marcotte, R-Coventry, the House commerce committee chair, is not sure the bill is the right time or place to enact a dependent benefit, he said in an interview Friday.


Labor Department suspends online claims system to curb surge of fraud

By James Finn

Apr 30 2021April 30, 2021

The department said Friday that 90% of recent initial benefit claims had been fraudulent, prompting the department to shut down the online filing system earlier in the week.


Feds ask Vermont to re-process thousands of pandemic benefit claims

By James Finn

Apr 28 2021April 28, 2021

Michael Harrington

Vermont’s labor commissioner said the federal directive could place Vermonters “in a significant overpayment status,” and called the request “unconscionable.”


GlobalFoundries wants its Essex Junction plant to procure its own energy

By James Finn

Apr 28 2021April 28, 2021

GlobalFoundries exterior

The plan would offer the company financial breathing room and lessen the burden on Vermonters’ electricity bills, according to executives.


Work-search requirement reinstated for people seeking unemployment benefits

By James Finn

Apr 27 2021April 28, 2021

Michael Harrington and Phil Scott

A growing number of people getting Covid-19 vaccinations “means more opportunities for Vermonters to return to work,” said Labor Commissioner Michael Harrington at Gov. Phil Scott’s Tuesday press conference.


Patrick Leahy unveils plan to return earmarks to the Senate

By James Finn

Apr 26 2021April 26, 2021

The Senate Appropriations Committee chair’s announcement follows a decision by leaders of the U.S. House earlier this year to restore earmarks, which were banned in 2011.


Conservation groups ask court to revoke Lake Champlain ferry-sinking permit

By James Finn

Apr 23 2021April 24, 2021

The Vermont Natural Resources Council and the Lake Champlain Committee are asking a court to revoke a state-granted permit that would allow a 100-year-old ferry to be sunk in Lake Champlain.


‘Tesla bill’ would allow electric car giant to open direct-to-consumer shops in Vermont

By James Finn

Apr 22 2021April 23, 2021

Tesla maintains that its high-end electric cars must be sold directly by the company rather than through third-party dealers, the way most cars are sold in the U.S.


Final Reading: Sinking boats in Vermont

By Kit Norton and James Finn

Apr 22 2021April 23, 2021

After determining there is little they can do to stall the scuttling of a century-old ferry on Lake Champlain, lawmakers are drafting legislation that would set parameters for sinking other vessels in future.


Vermont to open vaccine eligibility for out-of-state college students, temporary residents

By James Finn

Apr 21 2021April 21, 2021

The Vermont Department of Health said Wednesday that college students who live in other states, and other part-time Vermont residents, may register to schedule vaccine appointments beginning April 29.


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Obituaries

Charles Vallee, soccer player and civilian employee of the year Stephen Hooper Gelatt, former minister, farmer, great-grandfather Bradley Alan Pascoe, guitarist, two-wheeler, father Brad Benedict community man, people lover, grandfather

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Phil Scott seeks 4th term as Vermont governor

By Sarah Mearhoff

May 17 2022, 7:38 AMMay 17, 2022

More than half of Vermont House committee chairs will not return to the Legislature next year

By Riley Robinson

May 16 2022, 6:58 PMMay 16, 2022

With 3 more departures, more than a 3rd of Vermont’s state senators plan to vacate their seats

By Sarah Mearhoff

May 16 2022, 5:52 PMMay 17, 2022

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