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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.
 

Spending package extending emergency housing becomes law without Scott’s signature

By Lola Duffort

Mar 20 2023, 7:15 PMMarch 20, 2023

The bill sets almost $19 million aside to keep those currently in hotels there until May 31. After that, eligibility will narrow.


Senate panel advances $190 million child care and parental leave bill

By Lola Duffort

Mar 17 2023March 17, 2023

An analyst with the Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Office told lawmakers on Friday that preliminary estimates pegged the combined annual cost of paid leave and child care subsidies at about $190 million in 2025, which would be the first full year of operation.


New Senate housing bill amendments draw opposition from Vermont League of Cities and Towns

By Lola Duffort

Mar 15 2023March 15, 2023

A fragile coalition backing the Senate’s omnibus housing bill is beginning to fracture after a panel made new amendments Wednesday that would reduce the scope of proposed exemptions to Act 250.


Sen. Jane Kitchel proposes parental leave and child care deal, sets up showdown with Vermont House

By Lola Duffort

Mar 14 2023March 14, 2023

The senator said her amendment would offer 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents, apply to all genders and be available in the case of both births and adoptions.


Vermont Senate Democrats poised to punt full-day pre-K to study

By Lola Duffort

Mar 13 2023March 13, 2023

“One of the things that we heard in testimony is how if we took all the 4-year-olds out categorically right away, it would devastate child care facilities,” said Sen. Ginny Lyons, one of the bill’s sponsors.


In housing program, motels named their price. What did Vermont’s most vulnerable get in exchange?

By Lola Duffort

Mar 13 2023March 13, 2023

With nowhere else to go — and even fewer rights than a typical renter — Vermonters relying on a state-run program for shelter have had little recourse when they’ve run into poor treatment or conditions.


Lobbying PAC hosts ‘meet and greet’ for Balint campaign

By Lola Duffort

Mar 8 2023March 8, 2023

Balint’s campaign manager did not respond to a list of questions sent by VTDigger, except to insist that the event was “not a fundraiser.”


‘Just cause’ eviction proposals pass in Essex and Winooski, fail in Brattleboro

By Lola Duffort

Mar 7 2023March 7, 2023

Tenants and activists have argued that “just cause” rights are necessary protections against profit-driven or retaliatory evictions in a white-hot housing market. Some landlords have argued that troublesome tenants are already too difficult to evict.


Final Reading: ‘Fusion’ candidates are in, ‘sore losers’ are out in bill advanced by House

By Lola Duffort

Mar 2 2023March 2, 2023

The bill would prohibit someone from running in the general election as an independent if they’d lost a primary that election cycle.


House, Senate negotiators strike emergency housing deal, restricting eligibility after May 31

By Lola Duffort

Feb 28 2023February 28, 2023

Discussions about what to do in the short term about Vermont’s emergency housing program in hotels have been underway as part of the Legislature’s annual budget adjustment bill, or H.145, a spending plan passed early during each session to true-up the current fiscal year’s budget.


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Obituaries

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Spending package extending emergency housing becomes law without Scott’s signature

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Mar 20 2023, 7:15 PMMarch 20, 2023

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Press Releases

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Jason Struthers to run for Essex Junction City Council

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Commentary

Meaghan Emery: A municipal leader’s response to the omnibus housing bill

Ron Pulcer: Old and new candidates, same old electoral finance laws

Julie Silverman: It’s time to ban toxic dock foam

Tom McKone: Whose free speech is threatened?

Letter to the editor: Tradition is no justification for trapping to continue

Letter to the editor: Affordable Heat Act will hurt working class, low-income

Letter to the editor: William Brattle was a prominent slaveholder

Letter to the editor: More about the snow geese hunt

Jeremy Rathbun: Ideas for easing the impact of S.5 on the working class 

Campbell & Fairbanks: Independent schools with a public mission 

More commentary

Politics

Spending package extending emergency housing becomes law without Scott’s signature

By Lola Duffort

Mar 20 2023, 7:15 PMMarch 20, 2023

Hartford Selectboard seeks more collaborative approach after tiff at meeting

By Valley News

Mar 20 2023, 12:25 PMMarch 20, 2023

New generation takes over Morristown board

By News and Citizen

Mar 19 2023March 19, 2023

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News in Pursuit of Truth

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