Vermont House votes to partially repeal Act 181
Lawmakers learned that the conservation measures they enacted in Act 181 “were alienating rural landowners and were not the right tool for the job,” said Rep. Amy Sheldon, D-Middlebury.
VELCO project will strengthen power flow between Vermont and New York
Substation upgrades in Milton will allow the company to better manage increased electric demand.
Vermont lawmakers grapple with giving farmers exemptions to local zoning
Also in Final Reading: Road salt veto and ed reform’s slow progress.
In food shelf visit, Sen. Welch backs nutrition assistance amid rising prices for Vermonters
“This is all about the affordability crisis,” Vermont’s Democratic senator said. “If you’re working hard, you should be able to pay your bills.”
Vermont Conversation: Shepherd, farmer and award-winning author Helen Whybrow on life, death and belonging
The Fayston author discusses the history of Vermont’s hill farms as one of struggle and subsistence, and how life as a shepherd helped her deal with the grief of losing her mother.
Editors’ Picks
Our best stories, investigations, podcasts and more, as recommended to you by VTDigger editors.
A Vermont landlord pursues debts from tenants. His wife now helps write eviction law.
For years, Rep. Debbie Dolgin and her husband brought cases before an assistant judge who issued arrest warrants to collect unpaid debts from their tenants. As a major landlord-tenant bill is actively debated, Dolgin says she sees no conflict in her roles.
Vermont and Quebec ramp up rabies vaccination efforts with cases rising among wildlife
Cases have increased over the past five years and spread north into Canada. Vaccines dropped from planes and helicopters and distributed by car and on foot are an effort to control the spread.
Vermont Conversation: What happens when law enforcement is lawless?
Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George has called for an independent review of the law enforcement response to protesters during an immigration operation in South Burlington and referred three of those arrested to a restorative justice program.
A major Vermont employer supplies helmets used by ICE
“It’s not my role to tell Galvion who they should or shouldn’t be selling their equipment to,” said Newport Mayor Rick Ufford-Chase, underlining the need for jobs in the Northeast Kingdom.
Perrigo to lay off 161 as company heads toward Vermont site closure
The maker of infant formula has operated the Georgia site since 2010 but told VTDigger last year that the current situation there was “not cost-effective.”
Experienced Vermont media leader Brendan Kinney named CEO of Vermont Journalism Trust and VTDigger
“As CEO, Brendan will strengthen not just VTDigger’s service to its readers, but also the broader news ecosystem of Vermont,” said the organization’s president. He is currently the chief operating officer at Vermont Public.
Opinion
Commentaries and letters to the editor written by community members and regular contributors.
When veterans fear asking for help, everyone loses
If seeking help in a mental health crisis can lead to domestic terrorism charges, veterans may choose to suffer alone instead.
Vermont’s loggers are struggling. A sales tax exemption could help.
Vermont’s logging and forest trucking sector generates $140 million and supports 1,300 jobs. But the industry is on the edge, and the Legislature has only a small window to act.
Vermont’s care crisis is hiding in plain sight
One in four Vermont adults is already providing unpaid care to an aging family member. Federal cuts are coming, resources are shrinking, and the state has a narrow window to…
Q-Day is coming. What does it mean for Vermont elections?
Quantum computing could crack the encryption securing most digital systems. Vermont’s paper backups may be its best defense.
Former Northfield police chief sues town, alleging racial discrimination
Pierre Gomez’s lawsuit accuses town officials of failing to protect him from racial harassment by town employees and residents.
Scalpers, beware: Vermont Legislature pursues ticket resale price cap
Also in Final Reading: Immigration arrests and abortion access.
From the 1970s to today, mapping Vermont for land use sets off fierce opposition
Opponents argued that a land-use plan in the 1970s was “Satan’s work, Communist propaganda, and a wishy-washy bureaucratic nightmare,” according to one news report from the time.
UVM opens Lyndon weather station hoping to fill gaps in flood prediction
Currently, weather events like thunderstorms, flash flooding and localized snow squalls can appear in pockets out of view of the National Weather Service, making early response difficult.
Obituaries
Death notices and celebrations of life.
Former Rutland police sergeant who shot two men in 2023 is sentenced to probation
Andrew Plemmons resigned from the police force last week, after about a year and a half on paid leave.
