VTDigger

News in Pursuit of Truth

Support VTDigger

DONATE NEWSLETTER SHOP
  • Final Reading
  • Welch and Balint
  • Dairy farmers
  • Stowe parking
  • School meals
  • Ariel Quiros
  • Crime map
  • Business
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education
  • Energy & Environment
  • Health Care
  • Politics
  • People & Places
  • Obituaries
  • Covid-19 in VT
  • Press Releases

Author: Lola Duffort

Lola Duffort is a political reporter for VTDigger, covering Vermont state government, the congressional delegation and elections. She previously covered education for Digger, the Concord Monitor in New Hampshire and the Rutland Herald. She has also freelanced for the Miami Herald in Florida, where she grew up. She is a graduate of McGill University in Canada.
 

Gov. Phil Scott keeps new budget ‘lean’ despite historic revenues, bracing for tough times ahead

By Sarah Mearhoff and Lola Duffort

Jan 20 2023January 23, 2023

Scott and his administration acknowledged that Vermont has seen record revenues, “supercharged” in large part by an influx of federal cash to the state.


Child care overhaul would cost between $179 million and $279 million, new report estimates

By Lola Duffort

Jan 17 2023January 19, 2023

Consultants were given a two-fold mandate: Figure out how much it would cost to ensure that families receiving state help pay no more than 10% of their income toward child care — even as wages are raised to bring child care workers’ salaries in line with their peers in public education.


To tackle the housing crisis, Vermont lawmakers consider ending single-family zoning

By Lola Duffort

Jan 17 2023January 17, 2023

A growing coalition of lawmakers, planners, developers and housing experts argues the state will have to significantly pare back its local regulatory landscape if it hopes to meet its housing construction goals.


Shawn Nailor named secretary of Agency of Digital Services

By Lola Duffort

Jan 13 2023January 13, 2023

Nailor has held the post on an interim basis since September when his predecessor, John Quinn, departed for a private sector job. Denise Reilly-Hughes has been named deputy secretary.


Democratic bill would guarantee 12 weeks paid family and medical leave to all Vermont workers

By Lola Duffort

Jan 12 2023January 11, 2023

The proposal goes further than the voluntary program announced by Gov. Phil Scott last month. The governor has signaled that he would oppose any effort to fund a more expansive program through a payroll tax.


Final Reading: Waiting for the price tag on child care reform

By Lola Duffort, Sarah Mearhoff and Riley Robinson

Jan 11 2023January 11, 2023

Gov. Phil Scott has long called for additional investments in child care, but never on the scale that advocates have said will be necessary to make a real dent in the problem.


Sam Bankman-Fried and allies gave tens of thousands more to Becca Balint, Vermont Democratic Party than previously reported

By Lola Duffort and Sarah Mearhoff

Dec 19 2022December 19, 2022

Several affiliates of the now disgraced cryptocurrency mogul donated the maximum allowable sum to Democratic state Sen. Becca Balint’s successful congressional campaign, while Bankman-Fried and his brother gave directly to the state party.


Incoming attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer name their second-in-command

By Lola Duffort

Dec 18 2022December 26, 2022

Rob McDougall, Lauren Hibbert and Gavin Boyles are slated to serve as deputies to Vermont’s new statewide officeholders.


‘How long can I do it?’: Legislators with young children face realities of low pay and limited accommodations

By Lola Duffort

Dec 16 2022December 19, 2022

As Vermont’s policymakers grapple with debates about child care and paid leave, a handful of lawmakers next session will be living with the day-to-day circumstances of raising or bearing infants themselves.


Lawmakers greenlight administration’s ramp-down plan for emergency housing assistance

By Lola Duffort

Dec 14 2022December 15, 2022

Motel balcony with mountains behind

State officials have said they’ve identified $35 to $40 million in additional federal funding, but stressed that this would not be enough to continue benefits as they were during the height of the crisis.


Posts navigation

Older posts

Popular Stories

  • Caledonia sheriff gave himself and staff bonuses totaling $400,000 before stepping down
  • More than half of Orange County’s sheriff deputies will leave with the current sheriff next week
  • Frustrations over racial equity simmer on the Vermont Climate Council
  • State wants to sell Burlington office building, drawing criticism from state employees’ union
  • Windham County side judge accused of collecting pay for hours she allegedly never worked


Obituaries

Allan N. Mackey Lorraine Maybelle Walker Lorraine Maybelle Walker Gary Smith Elizabeth 'Libby' Stone Mills Tom Weakley William (Bill) Considine Carol Cochran Groom Elizabeth Edmunds Stempel Karin Hed Hubbard James Lasell Morse

More obituaries

Recent Stories

Vermont lawmakers take up landmark abortion ‘shield law,’ but protections could only go so far

By Sarah Mearhoff

Jan 29 2023, 3:06 PMJanuary 29, 2023

State wants to sell Burlington office building, drawing criticism from state employees’ union

By Patrick Crowley

Jan 29 2023, 12:11 PMJanuary 29, 2023

Castleton rallies behind Gilmore Home Center after devastating fire

By Taylor Slonaker

Jan 29 2023, 8:49 AMJanuary 29, 2023

Young Writers Project: January silence

By VTD Editor

Jan 29 2023January 29, 2023

The Deeper Dig: To go big, or go bigger, on child care

By Riley Robinson

Jan 29 2023January 27, 2023

Final Reading: Vermont Senate Democrats host ‘spirited’ fundraiser

By Sarah Mearhoff

Jan 27 2023January 28, 2023

Vermont’s largest health care union will almost double in size

By Kristen Fountain

Jan 27 2023January 27, 2023

Vermont Senate increases committee room limits in response to newsrooms’ concerns

By Shaun Robinson

Jan 27 2023January 27, 2023

Natural Resources secretary presents a 'really rough' estimate of the clean heat standard’s cost

By Emma Cotton

Jan 27 2023January 27, 2023

Frustrations over racial equity simmer on the Vermont Climate Council

By Peter D'Auria

Jan 27 2023January 27, 2023

Podcast

Related Story

All Podcasts


Related Story

Press Releases

Hundreds of advocates will rally for Mental Health Advocacy Day

Community Health tip - cervical cancer is preventable and curable

Fletcher Free Library to host vaccine clinics

Submit Press Release

Commentary

Bob Stannard: Vermont needs a moratorium on spraying toxic chemicals in our lakes

Robert Fireovid: I want our population to shrink. I pray for it every day.

Jonathan Lesser: Vermont has a windmill-tilting climate action plan

Steven Berbeco: United for mental health — community effort makes it work

Sadkin & Asselin: OneCare is a lifesaving measure for independent primary care 

Rama Schneider: Increased participation vs. increased decision-making

Katerina Brumer: It’s not just me who wants to see trapping banned

Darryl Benjamin: What it’s like to move to Florida as a liberal

Edward Scott: Schools need to go to the core of troubling issues

Justin Salisbury: The next step after bans: Recapture that racist apparel

More commentary

Politics

Vermont lawmakers take up landmark abortion ‘shield law,’ but protections could only go so far

By Sarah Mearhoff

Jan 29 2023, 3:06 PMJanuary 29, 2023

State wants to sell Burlington office building, drawing criticism from state employees’ union

By Patrick Crowley

Jan 29 2023, 12:11 PMJanuary 29, 2023

Final Reading: Vermont Senate Democrats host ‘spirited’ fundraiser

By Sarah Mearhoff

Jan 27 2023January 28, 2023

Vermont Senate increases committee room limits in response to newsrooms’ concerns

By Shaun Robinson

Jan 27 2023January 27, 2023

Burlington Progressives settle tie vote in South District council race

By Patrick Crowley

Jan 27 2023January 27, 2023

Final Reading: Rep. Kate Donnally to step down, calling legislating ‘an impossible juggling act’

By Sarah Mearhoff

Jan 26 2023January 26, 2023

Hartford names Rutland commander as permanent police chief

By Valley News

Jan 26 2023January 26, 2023

Peter Welch’s Senate committee assignments include Agriculture, Judiciary; Becca Balint lands House Oversight

By Sarah Mearhoff

Jan 26 2023January 27, 2023

Final Reading: Inside the unofficial Statehouse weather service

By Sarah Mearhoff

Jan 25 2023January 25, 2023

Maea Brandt will not seek reelection to Burlington City Council

By Patrick Crowley

Jan 25 2023January 25, 2023

More politics



Home

Back

Share

VTDigger

News in Pursuit of Truth

VTDigger

News in Pursuit of Truth

ABOUT

  • Our Story
  • Inside VTDigger
  • Contact Us
  • Underwriting
  • Site Policies
  • Newsletters
  • Careers
  • Obituaries
  • Submit Press Release
  • Send a News Tip
  • Shop VTD
  • Donate

NEWSROOM

  • Alan J. Keays
  • Alicia Freese
  • Anne Galloway
  • Auditi Guha
  • Diane Derby
  • Emma Cotton
  • Erin Petenko
  • Ethan Weinstein
  • Fred Thys
  • Glenn Russell
  • Jeralyn Darling
  • Jim Welch
  • Katherine Fiegenbaum
  • Kevin O'Connor
  • Kristen Fountain
  • Lola Duffort
  • Maggie Cassidy
  • Michael Dougherty
  • Natalie Williams
  • Patrick Crowley
  • Paul Heintz
  • Peter D'Auria
  • Riley Robinson
  • Sarah Mearhoff
  • Shaun Robinson
  • Tiffany Tan
  • Tom Kearney

BUSINESS STAFF

  • Dustin Byerly
  • Florencio Terra
  • Jim Lehnhoff
  • Kate Olney
  • Libbie Sparadeo
  • Marnie DeFreest
  • Nick Irvine
  • Taylor Haynes


INTERNS

  • Dominic Minadeo
  • Juliet Schulman-Hall
  • Kate O'Farrell
  • Maggie Reynolds
  • Taylor Slonaker

VTDIGGER


A project of Vermont Journalism Trust, Ltd.

26 State Street, Suite 8
Montpelier, VT 05602

contact@vtdigger.org
(802) 225-6224
www.vtdigger.org

MAILING LISTS

Special Topics
Trending headlines
Stories on these topics
VTDigger
  • VTDigger: News in pursuit of truth
  • Home
  • Make a Donation
  • NEWS
  • Business
    VTDigger publishes Vermont business and economic news. We also specialize in coverage of state finances and the impact of tax and budget policy on Vermonters.
  • Politics
    VTDigger regularly publishes stories about Vermont politics. We cover state elections, the Vermont Legislature, the governor’s office, state agencies and major political parties. Jasper Craven covers politics for VTDigger. He can be reached at jcraven@vtdigger.org.
  • Criminal Justice
    VTDigger covers criminal justice issues including Vermont legal issues, Vermont courts and the Vermont Department of Corrections. Elizabeth Hewitt covers the criminal justice system for VTDigger. She can be reached at ehewitt@vtdigger.org.
  • Health Care
    VTDigger publishes daily stories on health care. We cover the state’s hospitals, the state’s psychiatric care system, the Green Mountain Care Board, insurers, state health care policy, Medicaid and Medicare. Erin Mansfield is VTDigger’s health care reporter. She can be reached at emansfield@vtdigger.org.
  • Energy & Environment
    VTDigger publishes stories about Vermont environmental issues, including water quality, toxic waste, climate change and biodiversity. Our environmental reporter is Mike Polhamus. He can be reached at mpolhamus@vtdigger.org
  • Education
    VTDigger publishes a wide range of stories about Vermont’s educational system from early childhood education issues to public and private K-12 schools to higher education. Our education reporter is Tiffany Pache. She can be reached at tpache@vtdigger.org.
  • People & Places
  • Press Releases
  • Commentary
    Commentary policy VTDigger.org publishes 12 to 18 commentaries a week from a broad range of community sources. All commentaries must include the author’s first and last name, town of residence and a brief biography, including affiliations with political parties, lobbying or special interest groups. We have a minimum length of 400 words. We have found the ideal length is approximately 800 to 1,000 words. We provide some copyediting support, but we do not have the staff to fact-check commentaries. We reserve the right to reject opinions for matters of taste and accuracy. Commentaries are voices from the community and do not represent VTDigger in any way. Please send your commentary to Cate Chant, cchant@vtdigger.org and Anne Galloway, agalloway@vtdigger.org.
  • Obituaries
  • Letters to the Editor
  • ABOUT
  • About VTDigger
  • Underwriting
  • Send A Tip
  • Policies
  • FAQ
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • YouTube icon
  • RSS icon
SUBSCRIBE
DONATE
✕
VTDigger

FREE
VIEW