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  17. <description>News in pursuit of truth</description>
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  34. <title>Lamoille rail trail quietly reopened in year since historic flooding</title>
  35. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/lamoille-rail-trail-quietly-reopened-in-year-since-historic-flooding/</link>
  37. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Stowe Reporter]]></dc:creator>
  38. <pubDate>Sun, 16 Jun 2024 15:32:00 +0000</pubDate>
  39. <category><![CDATA[Life & Culture]]></category>
  40. <category><![CDATA[Lamoille Valley Rail Trail]]></category>
  41. <category><![CDATA[Vermont Agency of Transportation]]></category>
  42. <category><![CDATA[Vermont State Parks]]></category>
  43. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584155</guid>
  44.  
  45. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="684" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-1024x684.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A person on a bicycle stands on a bridge over a small, rocky stream surrounded by lush greenery and some debris." decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-768x513.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-706x471.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584151" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/lamoile-valley/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley.jpg" data-orig-size="1200,801" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Lamoile Valley" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A section of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail that was heavily damaged by floodwaters. Photo by Gordon Miller/Stowe Reporter&lt;/p&gt;
  46. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A section of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail that was heavily damaged by floodwaters. Photo by Gordon Miller/Stowe Reporter&lt;/p&gt;
  47. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley.jpg" /></figure>
  48. <p>According to the transportation agency’s rail trail website, railtrails.vermont.gov, the only two spots where the trail is still closed are both in the East Hardwick area.</p>
  49. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/lamoille-rail-trail-quietly-reopened-in-year-since-historic-flooding/">Lamoille rail trail quietly reopened in year since historic flooding</a>.</p>
  50. ]]></description>
  51. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="684" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-1024x684.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A person on a bicycle stands on a bridge over a small, rocky stream surrounded by lush greenery and some debris." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-768x513.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-706x471.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584151" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/lamoile-valley/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley.jpg" data-orig-size="1200,801" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Lamoile Valley" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A section of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail that was heavily damaged by floodwaters. Photo by Gordon Miller/Stowe Reporter&lt;/p&gt;
  52. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A section of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail that was heavily damaged by floodwaters. Photo by Gordon Miller/Stowe Reporter&lt;/p&gt;
  53. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley.jpg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  54. <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="801" data-attachment-id="584151" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/lamoile-valley/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley.jpg" data-orig-size="1200,801" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Lamoile Valley" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A section of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail that was heavily damaged by floodwaters. Photo by Gordon Miller/Stowe Reporter&lt;/p&gt;
  55. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A section of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail that was heavily damaged by floodwaters. Photo by Gordon Miller/Stowe Reporter&lt;/p&gt;
  56. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley.jpg" alt="A person on a bicycle stands on a bridge over a small, rocky stream surrounded by lush greenery and some debris." class="wp-image-584151" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-768x513.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lamoile-Valley-706x471.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A section of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail that was heavily damaged by floodwaters. Photo by Gordon Miller/Stowe Reporter</figcaption></figure></div>
  57.  
  58.  
  59. <p><em>This story by Tommy Gardner </em><a href="https://www.vtcng.com/stowetoday/vermont_made/rail-trail-quietly-re-opened-in-year-since-historic-flooding/article_072b685a-2996-11ef-9012-f35611a72177.html"><em>was first published</em></a><em> in the Stowe Reporter on June 13.</em></p>
  60.  
  61.  
  62.  
  63. <p>The long-awaited Lamoille Valley Rail Trail <a href="https://www.vtcng.com/tncms/asset/editorial/067df418-1c18-11ee-a6c8-ff78270205ec/">never had its grand opening party last year</a>, when planned celebrations were thwarted by <a href="https://www.vtcng.com/tncms/asset/editorial/4f146f12-2187-11ee-97b3-036d83e61659/">historic July flooding</a> that also wreaked havoc at many spots along the 93-mile cross-state byway.</p>
  64.  
  65.  
  66.  
  67. <p>Who said you need a baby shower to have a first birthday?</p>
  68.  
  69.  
  70.  
  71. <p>A year later, the trail is almost entirely open, and officials with the Vermont Agency of Transportation say it will likely be back to new by the end of the summer.</p>
  72.  
  73.  
  74.  
  75. <p>According to the transportation agency’s rail trail website, <a href="http://railtrails.vermont.gov/">railtrails.vermont.gov</a>, as of this week, the only two spots where the trail is still closed are both in the East Hardwick area.</p>
  76.  
  77.  
  78.  
  79. <p>“We are working to reroute traffic along local low-volume roads,” Jackie Cassino, the agency’s rail trails program manager, said earlier this spring.</p>
  80.  
  81.  
  82.  
  83. <p>Those two spots include a three-mile stretch between Stannard Mountain Road and Ward Hill Road, which effectively cuts twice as much of the trail out with a 1.2-mile detour along a dirt road.</p>
  84.  
  85.  
  86.  
  87. <p>The other spot is right along the Lamoille River at the intersections of U.S. Routes 15 and 16. That’s not far from one of the most striking sites of sheer destruction from around the state — a riverside hotel that was partly swept away by the flooding.</p>
  88.  
  89.  
  90.  
  91. <p>Shortly after last summer’s flooding, which primarily happened July 10-11, the state transportation agency, which manages the 93-mile trail, told people to stay off until the damage could be assessed.</p>
  92.  
  93.  
  94.  
  95. <p>Gov. Phil Scott had planned an end-to-end ride of the rail trail with Sen. Bernie Sanders for the Saturday after the flood, but they were forced to cancel the trip. A midway celebration was supposed to happen in Morrisville’s Oxbow Riverfront Park, but that location resembled the surface of the moon more than a popular green space.</p>
  96.  
  97.  
  98.  
  99. <p>A local electric bike rental company that had just purchased a passenger van to offer shuttle service temporarily <a href="https://www.vtcng.com/tncms/asset/editorial/f1ee6d3a-427c-11ee-8786-2372789fec98/">pivoted to offering cannabis farm tours</a> instead.</p>
  100.  
  101.  
  102.  
  103. <p>However, little by little, people started using the trail, first in small stages, then for larger stretches.</p>
  104.  
  105.  
  106. <div class="wp-block-image">
  107. <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="750" height="500" data-attachment-id="584152" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/64bad35604b6d-image/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/64bad35604b6d.image_.jpg" data-orig-size="750,500" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="64bad35604b6d.image" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Two cyclists ride along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Photo by Gordon Miller/Stowe Reporter&lt;/p&gt;
  108. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Two cyclists ride along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Photo by Gordon Miller/Stowe Reporter&lt;/p&gt;
  109. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/64bad35604b6d.image_-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/64bad35604b6d.image_.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/64bad35604b6d.image_.jpg" alt="Two people ride bicycles on a sunlit, tree-lined path." class="wp-image-584152" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/64bad35604b6d.image_.jpg 750w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/64bad35604b6d.image_-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/64bad35604b6d.image_-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/64bad35604b6d.image_-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/64bad35604b6d.image_-706x471.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Two cyclists ride along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Photo by Gordon Miller/Stowe Reporter</figcaption></figure></div>
  110.  
  111.  
  112. <p>Amy Tatko, director of communications for the agency, said no big events are planned for this year.</p>
  113.  
  114.  
  115.  
  116. <p>The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is the longest of its kind in New England.</p>
  117.  
  118.  
  119.  
  120. <p>The 93-mile trail follows the route of the Lamoille Valley Railroad, which was founded in 1877 and shut down in 1994. It was a scenic train ride, dubbed “The Covered Bridge Line,” and leaf-peeper excursions for fall foliage viewing ran into the The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers acquired the right of way and was responsible for converting the railway into a trail.</p>
  121.  
  122.  
  123.  
  124. <p>&nbsp;In 2020, the state took over responsibility for building — and funding — the rest. While the rail trail is closed to most motorized vehicles, snowmobiles are still allowed, a nod to the decades of work done by VAST.</p>
  125.  
  126.  
  127.  
  128. <p>All in all, the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail features five tunnels, 53 bridges, 96 crossings, and 525 culverts. It passes through five counties, 18 communities, and 36 total miles of it are adjacent to the Lamoille River.</p>
  129. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/lamoille-rail-trail-quietly-reopened-in-year-since-historic-flooding/">Lamoille rail trail quietly reopened in year since historic flooding</a>.</p>
  130. ]]></content:encoded>
  134. <dc:modified>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 23:17:08 +0000</dc:modified>
  135. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584155</post-id> </item>
  136. <item>
  137. <title>How 2 Vermont professional opera companies happened by accident</title>
  138. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/how-two-vermont-professional-opera-companies-happened-by-accident/</link>
  140. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Theo Wells-Spackman]]></dc:creator>
  141. <pubDate>Sun, 16 Jun 2024 13:52:00 +0000</pubDate>
  142. <category><![CDATA[Life & Culture]]></category>
  143. <category><![CDATA[Brandon]]></category>
  144. <category><![CDATA[Middlebury]]></category>
  145. <category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
  146. <category><![CDATA[performing arts]]></category>
  147. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584149</guid>
  148.  
  149. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A grand piano on a dimly-lit stage inside a rustic, wooden theater with rows of seats on either side of a central aisle." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1568x1045.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-706x471.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584146" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/barnopera/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="barn-opera" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;The Barn Opera House, courtesy of Joshua Collier/Barn Opera&lt;/p&gt;
  150. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;The Barn Opera House, courtesy of Joshua Collier/Barn Opera&lt;/p&gt;
  151. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1200x800.jpg" /></figure>
  152. <p>The Opera Company of Middlebury and Barn Opera in nearby Brandon both emerged unexpectedly but have found a devoted following.</p>
  153. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/how-two-vermont-professional-opera-companies-happened-by-accident/">How 2 Vermont professional opera companies happened by accident</a>.</p>
  154. ]]></description>
  155. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A grand piano on a dimly-lit stage inside a rustic, wooden theater with rows of seats on either side of a central aisle." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1568x1045.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-706x471.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584146" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/barnopera/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="barn-opera" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;The Barn Opera House, courtesy of Joshua Collier/Barn Opera&lt;/p&gt;
  156. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;The Barn Opera House, courtesy of Joshua Collier/Barn Opera&lt;/p&gt;
  157. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1200x800.jpg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  158. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" data-attachment-id="584146" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/barnopera/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="barn-opera" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;The Barn Opera House, courtesy of Joshua Collier/Barn Opera&lt;/p&gt;
  159. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;The Barn Opera House, courtesy of Joshua Collier/Barn Opera&lt;/p&gt;
  160. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1200x800.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1200x800.jpg" alt="A grand piano on a dimly-lit stage inside a rustic, wooden theater with rows of seats on either side of a central aisle." class="wp-image-584146" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-1568x1045.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/barnopera-706x471.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Barn Opera House, courtesy of Joshua Collier/Barn Opera</figcaption></figure></div>
  161.  
  162.  
  163. <p>“On paper,” said Doug Anderson, artistic director and co-founder of the <a href="https://www.ocmvermont.org/">Opera Company of Middlebury</a>, “it’s fairly impossible that we exist.”</p>
  164.  
  165.  
  166.  
  167. <p>Anderson just finished the sold-out run of Donizetti&#8217;s “La Fille du Régiment” on June 8th, in the company’s 20th season. <a href="https://www.timesargus.com/features/vermont_arts/opera-review-la-fille-du-r-giment-a-perfect-mix-of-silly-fun-and-spectacular/article_795fa13b-4750-5d7f-8efc-b5d27d6c6bd0.html">Jim Lowe’s review</a> in the Times-Argus called it “absolutely delightful” and “virtuosic.”</p>
  168.  
  169.  
  170.  
  171. <p>In the company’s entire history, “virtually every performance has been sold out,” Anderson said. “It just shows how much the community is supporting what we&#8217;re doing.”</p>
  172.  
  173.  
  174.  
  175. <p>Established in 2017, the nearby <a href="https://www.barnopera.com/">Barn Opera</a> in Brandon is a relative newcomer to the state’s scene. But audiences have already flocked to the opera house where Joshua Collier is the artistic director. Having been first brought to the area by Anderson in Middlebury, Collier was named one of Vermont Public Radio’s <a href="https://www.barnopera.com/in-the-press/joshua-collier-named-one-of-vprs-40-artists-under-40">40 artists under 40 in 2019</a>.&nbsp;</p>
  176.  
  177.  
  178.  
  179. <p>For both directors, the intimacy of their productions is crucial: The Town Hall Theater in Middlebury seats 232, and the Barn Opera House just 110.</p>
  180.  
  181.  
  182.  
  183. <p>“I love the size of our house,” Anderson said of the <a href="https://townhalltheater.org/about/history/">historic Middlebury theater</a>. “Suddenly, the drama, the narrative story, can (be) told in subtle and very effective ways.”</p>
  184.  
  185.  
  186.  
  187. <p>He fell in love with Vermont during a stint teaching at Middlebury College. Despite the fact that the job was temporary, he built a house in East Middlebury.</p>
  188.  
  189.  
  190.  
  191. <p>“In a sense, it was foolhardy,” he said. “I didn&#8217;t know I was gonna run a theater and run an opera company.” After his 3-year teaching contract expired, he would otherwise have been jobless.</p>
  192.  
  193.  
  194.  
  195. <p>But in 1997, Anderson walked into what would become the Town Hall Theater and fell in love. Then, while the newly purchased theater was still a construction site, he made another leap of faith. Working with a team of local artists, he produced the company’s first opera: Bizet’s “Carmen.”</p>
  196.  
  197.  
  198.  
  199. <p>“There was sawdust in the corners,” Anderson said of that early renovation period. “Ten thousand bats flying around.”&nbsp;</p>
  200.  
  201.  
  202.  
  203. <p>The production felt like a risk, but it turned out to be a huge success, with budding operatic talent impressing all comers.</p>
  204.  
  205.  
  206.  
  207. <p>“Before we knew it, we had sort of committed ourselves … let&#8217;s turn this into an ongoing thing,” he recalled.</p>
  208.  
  209.  
  210. <div class="wp-block-image">
  211. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="1064" data-attachment-id="584147" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/the-sofa-and-marie-1/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,2269" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;6.3&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 7_2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1716926023&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;120&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.011111111111111&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="The-sofa-and-Marie (1)" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Soprano Sara LeMesh as &#8220;Marie&#8221; in La Fille du Régiment with the Opera Company of Middlebury. Courtesy of Doug Anderson/Opera Company of Middlebury.&lt;/p&gt;
  212. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Soprano Sara LeMesh as &#8220;Marie&#8221; in La Fille du Régiment with the Opera Company of Middlebury. Courtesy of Doug Anderson/Opera Company of Middlebury.&lt;/p&gt;
  213. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-300x266.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-1200x1064.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-1200x1064.jpg" alt="A woman in a Victorian-style dress is reclining on an ornate chaise longue on stage, with an orchestra playing in the foreground." class="wp-image-584147" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-1200x1064.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-300x266.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-125x111.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-768x681.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-1536x1362.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-2048x1815.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-1024x908.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-1568x1390.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-2000x1773.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-400x355.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-sofa-and-Marie-1-706x626.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Soprano Sara LeMesh as &#8220;Marie&#8221; in La Fille du Régiment with the Opera Company of Middlebury. Courtesy of Doug Anderson/Opera Company of Middlebury.</figcaption></figure></div>
  214.  
  215.  
  216. <p>In 2015, Anderson hired Collier, who sang in Puccini’s “Turandot.” Though the production only lasted a month, the experience of Vermont lingered in Collier’s mind as he returned to Boston.</p>
  217.  
  218.  
  219.  
  220. <p>Two years later, on a video call with his 1-year-old daughter, he hit a wall. He had been away performing 10 months out of the year, he said, on far-flung regional gigs with companies from New Hampshire to North Carolina.</p>
  221.  
  222.  
  223.  
  224. <p>“She looked behind the iPad, and she couldn&#8217;t find me, and she started to cry,” he said. “I said: ‘Something’s gotta give.’”</p>
  225.  
  226.  
  227.  
  228. <p>And through serendipity, he said, “I found this beautiful place and this wonderful community.”</p>
  229.  
  230.  
  231.  
  232. <p>He arrived back in Vermont in 2017, expecting to become “the hermit opera singer,” far from the urban centers and their packed concert halls. He joined the board of a struggling nonprofit, at the time called Brandon Music. He told the board members he could produce an opera on the company’s home stage — which happened to be a barn.</p>
  233.  
  234.  
  235.  
  236. <p>“I was told it&#8217;ll never work,” he remembered. “You&#8217;re gonna get 30 people.”</p>
  237.  
  238.  
  239.  
  240. <p>The 50-seat barn sold out immediately.</p>
  241.  
  242.  
  243.  
  244. <p>Two years later, he had successfully raised half a million dollars and bought a bigger barn. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he created six live recordings of socially distanced opera casts.</p>
  245.  
  246.  
  247.  
  248. <p>But the limited geographic reach and expense of his productions continued to trouble him.</p>
  249.  
  250.  
  251.  
  252. <p>His mission to “take a sledgehammer” to the socioeconomic exclusivity often associated with opera has fueled significant expansion. He’s founding another company, Opera Vermont, which will be associated with Barn Opera but will focus on reaching new audiences.</p>
  253.  
  254.  
  255.  
  256. <p>“Vermonters don&#8217;t want to be told that an art form is above them,” Collier stated. “They want to be moved by the power of the music.”</p>
  257.  
  258.  
  259.  
  260. <p>(His barn opera house gives out free local beer before every performance. Jeans and T-shirts are encouraged.)</p>
  261.  
  262.  
  263.  
  264. <p>The new project will see Collier’s productions move throughout the state to other participating venues, including the <a href="https://www.svac.org/">Southern Vermont Arts Center</a> in Manchester and the <a href="https://highlandartsvt.org/">Highland Center for the Arts</a> in Greensboro.</p>
  265.  
  266.  
  267.  
  268. <p>“A state opera company doesn&#8217;t have to be something where people go to it,” he said. “It can be a company or an organization where we go to the people.”</p>
  269.  
  270.  
  271.  
  272. <p>The Opera Company of Middlebury recently merged with the Youth Opera Company of Vermont to broaden accessibility and develop local talent. It also offers a program that offers free show tickets to audience members under 26.</p>
  273.  
  274.  
  275.  
  276. <p>One thing both directors stressed is that their work never stops being risky.</p>
  277.  
  278.  
  279.  
  280. <p>“Every year, it&#8217;s a major struggle to get to the next year,” Anderson said, adding that ticket sales cover just 30% of the cost of the production. Barn Opera also relies heavily on private donations.&nbsp;</p>
  281.  
  282.  
  283.  
  284. <p>“We have to think about what the scale of philanthropy means,” Collier said.&nbsp;</p>
  285.  
  286.  
  287.  
  288. <p>While $100,000 is a drop in the bucket for some major companies, Collier said, for Barn Opera, it can cover two years of programming.</p>
  289.  
  290.  
  291.  
  292. <p>The success of the local opera companies hasn’t been lost on the <a href="https://www.vermontartscouncil.org/">Vermont Arts Council</a>, which works to promote the state’s “creative economy” as a critical financial engine. A <a href="https://www.vermontartscouncil.org/programs/aep6/">recent study</a> showed that the arts are responsible for significant tourism and other sources of growth, according to Amy Cunningham, the council’s deputy director.<br><br>“In a very small state, we&#8217;re lucky to have two really dynamic opera organizations,” Cunningham said, noting that a third company, Opera North, based in Lebanon, N.H., is also accessible for Vermonters on the eastern side of the state.<br><br>“Just across the river!” she said.</p>
  293.  
  294.  
  295.  
  296. <p>According to Maria Laskaris, Opera North’s development director, Vermonters make up 30% of the company’s audience. She called the Upper Valley, regardless of state lines, “a community that is eager to see the arts and support the arts.”</p>
  297.  
  298.  
  299.  
  300. <p>In a relatively rural area where arts aren’t always widely accessible, Cunningham lauded the opera companies’ commitment to community and educational outreach.<br><br>In the post-Covid era, full theaters in any context is good news, she said.</p>
  301.  
  302.  
  303.  
  304. <p>This fall, Barn Opera will present the world premiere of <a href="https://www.operavermont.com/trumanandnancy">“Truman and Nancy”</a> by William Zeffiro. <a href="https://www.ocmvermont.org/202425">The Opera Company of Middlebury</a> will also premiere a new work by local composer Jorge Martín before its feature presentation of Derrick Wang’s “Scalia/Ginsburg.”</p>
  305.  
  306.  
  307.  
  308. <p>Opera North’s summer festival will kick off in July with “Orpheus in the Underworld” and “Rigoletto.”</p>
  309. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/how-two-vermont-professional-opera-companies-happened-by-accident/">How 2 Vermont professional opera companies happened by accident</a>.</p>
  310. ]]></content:encoded>
  314. <dc:modified>Sun, 16 Jun 2024 21:44:39 +0000</dc:modified>
  315. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584149</post-id> </item>
  316. <item>
  317. <title>Eden residents hear from experts ahead of herbicide use in lake</title>
  318. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/eden-residents-hear-from-experts-ahead-of-herbicide-use-in-lake/</link>
  320. <dc:creator><![CDATA[News & Citizen]]></dc:creator>
  321. <pubDate>Sun, 16 Jun 2024 12:03:00 +0000</pubDate>
  322. <category><![CDATA[Central Vermont]]></category>
  323. <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
  324. <category><![CDATA[Lamoille County]]></category>
  325. <category><![CDATA[Regional]]></category>
  326. <category><![CDATA[Eden]]></category>
  327. <category><![CDATA[herbicide]]></category>
  328. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584160</guid>
  329.  
  330. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="678" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-1024x678.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A man stands and speaks during a meeting in a school gym. Two panelists are seated at a table in the background, and several people are seated and listening. The wall reads &quot;Eden Central School." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-300x199.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-768x508.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-400x265.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-706x467.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584158" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/eden-town-discussion/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion.jpg" data-orig-size="1200,794" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Eden-town-discussion" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;An Eden resident concerned about the risks of applying ProcellaCOR herbicide to combat Lake Eden&#8217;s Eurasian milfoil problem raises questions to a panel of experts convened by the Lake Eden Association on Saturday. Photo by Aaron Calvin/News &#038; Citizen&lt;/p&gt;
  331. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;An Eden resident concerned about the risks of applying ProcellaCOR herbicide to combat Lake Eden&#8217;s Eurasian milfoil problem raises questions to a panel of experts convened by the Lake Eden Association on Saturday. Photo by Aaron Calvin/News &#038; Citizen&lt;/p&gt;
  332. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-300x199.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion.jpg" /></figure>
  333. <p>ProcellaCOR was first approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2018. It’s currently the only “actively permitted herbicide in Vermont,” according to information presented by one expert.</p>
  334. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/eden-residents-hear-from-experts-ahead-of-herbicide-use-in-lake/">Eden residents hear from experts ahead of herbicide use in lake</a>.</p>
  335. ]]></description>
  336. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="678" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-1024x678.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A man stands and speaks during a meeting in a school gym. Two panelists are seated at a table in the background, and several people are seated and listening. The wall reads &quot;Eden Central School." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-300x199.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-768x508.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-400x265.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-706x467.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584158" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/eden-town-discussion/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion.jpg" data-orig-size="1200,794" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Eden-town-discussion" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;An Eden resident concerned about the risks of applying ProcellaCOR herbicide to combat Lake Eden&#8217;s Eurasian milfoil problem raises questions to a panel of experts convened by the Lake Eden Association on Saturday. Photo by Aaron Calvin/News &#038; Citizen&lt;/p&gt;
  337. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;An Eden resident concerned about the risks of applying ProcellaCOR herbicide to combat Lake Eden&#8217;s Eurasian milfoil problem raises questions to a panel of experts convened by the Lake Eden Association on Saturday. Photo by Aaron Calvin/News &#038; Citizen&lt;/p&gt;
  338. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-300x199.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion.jpg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  339. <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="794" data-attachment-id="584158" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/eden-town-discussion/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion.jpg" data-orig-size="1200,794" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Eden-town-discussion" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;An Eden resident concerned about the risks of applying ProcellaCOR herbicide to combat Lake Eden&#8217;s Eurasian milfoil problem raises questions to a panel of experts convened by the Lake Eden Association on Saturday. Photo by Aaron Calvin/News &#038; Citizen&lt;/p&gt;
  340. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;An Eden resident concerned about the risks of applying ProcellaCOR herbicide to combat Lake Eden&#8217;s Eurasian milfoil problem raises questions to a panel of experts convened by the Lake Eden Association on Saturday. Photo by Aaron Calvin/News &#038; Citizen&lt;/p&gt;
  341. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-300x199.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion.jpg" alt="A man stands and speaks during a meeting in a school gym. Two panelists are seated at a table in the background, and several people are seated and listening. The wall reads &quot;Eden Central School." class="wp-image-584158" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-300x199.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-768x508.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-400x265.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eden-town-discussion-706x467.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An Eden resident concerned about the risks of applying ProcellaCOR herbicide to combat Lake Eden&#8217;s Eurasian milfoil problem raises questions to a panel of experts convened by the Lake Eden Association on Saturday. Photo by Aaron Calvin/News &#038; Citizen</figcaption></figure></div>
  342.  
  343.  
  344. <p><em>This story by Aaron Calvin was </em><a href="https://www.vtcng.com/news_and_citizen/news/local_news/eden-residents-hear-from-experts-ahead-of-herbicide-use-in-lake/article_28a07062-29c2-11ef-826f-4fb35b33213b.html"><em>first published</em></a><em> by the News &amp; Citizen on June 13.</em></p>
  345.  
  346.  
  347.  
  348. <p>Should the herbicide ProcellaCOR be deployed to fight the milfoil infestation in Lake Eden?</p>
  349.  
  350.  
  351.  
  352. <p>That was the question in the Eden Central School gymnasium on Saturday as a crowd of lake residents and others gathered to ask four experts questions about the weed’s effect on Eden’s premier recreation site.</p>
  353.  
  354.  
  355.  
  356. <p>A panel organized by the Lake Eden Association brought together experts on the substance, application and permitting of the herbicide. They extolled its upsides and outlined potential safety risks while soliciting the public’s questions.</p>
  357.  
  358.  
  359.  
  360. <p>In the summer of 2022, the association discovered the presence of milfoil, a tenaciously invasive aquatic plant in Lake Eden. They sounded the alarm ahead of Town Meeting Day the next year about the seriousness of the issue and the importance of an early response.</p>
  361.  
  362.  
  363.  
  364. <p>Left on its own, milfoil quickly grows across the surface of a waterbody while it chokes out other vegetation and provides no shelter or nutrients for local aquatic life. Association members called the lake the “economic heart of Eden” and said lakeside housing generated 21% of the town’s property tax revenue.</p>
  365.  
  366.  
  367.  
  368. <p>The town approved spending $15,000 in both 2023 and 2024 to pull the milfoil by hand, employ vegetation-suffocating blankets and use divers to vacuum it up, with a lot of help from volunteers. The lake’s robust greeter program also monitors boat traffic in and out of the lake and ensures milfoil isn’t slipping through on vessels.</p>
  369.  
  370.  
  371.  
  372. <p>Still, milfoil, a plant that fragments into small pieces that can easily take root and grow quickly, has remained difficult to bring under control.</p>
  373.  
  374.  
  375.  
  376. <p>“Despite these very aggressive efforts to eradicate this milfoil, using all available non-herbicide methods, we find that we are just slowing the process,” said Colleen Brennan, a lake association member who moderated the event.</p>
  377.  
  378.  
  379.  
  380. <p>Now the dedicated volunteers on the lake association are investigating whether to deploy ProcellaCOR — an herbicide that specifically attacks milfoil and is the only one legally permitted by the state — in shallow, difficult to treat areas of the lake.</p>
  381.  
  382.  
  383.  
  384. <p>The assembled panel included Pat Suozzi, president of the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds; Michael Lew-Smith, a botanist and partner at Arrowwood Environmental retained to study the milfoil problem on Lake Eden; Brendan McCarthy, a consultant at a lake management company with experience applying the herbicide; and Olin Reed, an aquatic biologist with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation with local roots in the Eden area.</p>
  385.  
  386.  
  387.  
  388. <p>Each one was of one mind about the use of the relatively new ProcellaCOR: The herbicide is effective, has a minimal impact on the water and surrounding ecosystem and, though available data is limited, doesn’t appear to have any long-term consequences.</p>
  389.  
  390.  
  391.  
  392. <p>Suozzi attested to its effective use in combating milfoil epidemics on Lake Iroquois in Hinesburg and in Addison County’s Lake Dunmore.</p>
  393.  
  394.  
  395.  
  396. <p>She also argued that use of the herbicide was more cost-effective than treatment without it, and reduced pressure on volunteer efforts to manage milfoil, though other mitigation efforts would still be required, and warned that “misinformation” spread about the herbicide threatened effective action.</p>
  397.  
  398.  
  399.  
  400. <p>In their discussions of the use of ProcellaCOR, Suozzi, Lew-Smith and McCarthy all talked about how any browning or adverse effects caused to other lake vegetation by the herbicide seemed to be temporary, and they said that the chemical treatment had no long-term effect on animal life or water quality.</p>
  401.  
  402.  
  403.  
  404. <p>Lew-Smith, in particular, said that while he “hadn’t seen enough data to know everything about” the herbicide, its effect seemed limited from what he’d observed.</p>
  405.  
  406.  
  407.  
  408. <p>ProcellaCOR was first approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2018. It’s currently the only “actively permitted herbicide in Vermont,” according to information presented by Reed, and has been used 25 times since 2019 and in small areas of 11 lakes across the state.</p>
  409.  
  410.  
  411.  
  412. <p>McCarthy discussed the success his company has had applying it in New Hampshire and Vermont, and though he reiterated that it’s too new of a chemical to gauge long-term effects, he mostly focused on its efficacy.</p>
  413.  
  414.  
  415.  
  416. <p>Reed explained Vermont’s stringent rules for the application of herbicides in any body of water, which only allow it if there’s no non-chemical alternative available, an acceptable level of risk to the environment, a clear public benefit and a long-term management plan is developed.</p>
  417.  
  418.  
  419.  
  420. <p>Other divisions within the Agency of Natural Resources weigh in on the application process, which includes a public notice period before a final permit is issued.</p>
  421.  
  422.  
  423.  
  424. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Risk assessment</h2>
  425.  
  426.  
  427.  
  428. <p>An internal 2022 memo published by an Agency of Natural Resources environmental scientist said that, according to its analysis of ProcellaCOR, “the potential for acute and chronic risks to fish, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians and other aquatic animals is considered low.”</p>
  429.  
  430.  
  431.  
  432. <p>But this April, the state permanently denied a permit to apply ProcellaCOR in Lake Bomoseen after a “great deal of public opposition” and united opposition on the town’s selectboard, according to the Rutland Herald.</p>
  433.  
  434.  
  435.  
  436. <p>Cynthia Moulton, a Vermont State University-Castleton professor of toxicology and ecology who formerly worked for the EPA’s pesticides division, published an editorial when the permit was first filed in 2022 claiming that ProcellaCOR “posed unacceptable risk and adverse effects to the nontarget organisms” and that “significant ecological risks alone should be enough to legally negate the permit request.”</p>
  437.  
  438.  
  439.  
  440. <p>The decision was appealed in May to the Vermont Superior Court Environmental Division, not by its original applicant, the Lake Bomoseen Association, but by an environmental engineer in Fairhaven who wanted to ensure the herbicides could continue to be used to battle invasive species in Vermont.</p>
  441.  
  442.  
  443.  
  444. <p>ProcellaCOR will be applied in Lake George in New York, but only after a May appellate court undid a New York Supreme Court decision that found the state had violated regulations regarding holding public processes when approving the permit.</p>
  445.  
  446.  
  447.  
  448. <p>The Lake George Association issued a scathing rebuke of the Lake George Park Commission, arguing the “risks of ProcellaCOR are too great to experiment with it in Lake George.”</p>
  449.  
  450.  
  451.  
  452. <p>During a question-and-answer period of the meeting, one Eden resident expressed concern about ProcellaCOR’s own admission of its environmental risks on its label. But Suozzi said that such a small amount of the herbicide is used that its effect on plants and animals will be entirely non-lethal.</p>
  453.  
  454.  
  455.  
  456. <p>Among anxiety about the potential risks of such a new herbicide was concern about what would happen to the lake if the milfoil wasn’t brought under control. Suozzi presented before and after images to demonstrate ProcellaCOR’s efficacy — a sickly green surface covered in milfoil paired with another showing nothing but clear blue water.</p>
  457.  
  458.  
  459.  
  460. <p>There was also the matter of eventual burnout among those currently devoting their time to fighting the milfoil battle without chemicals.</p>
  461. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/eden-residents-hear-from-experts-ahead-of-herbicide-use-in-lake/">Eden residents hear from experts ahead of herbicide use in lake</a>.</p>
  462. ]]></content:encoded>
  466. <dc:modified>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 23:36:20 +0000</dc:modified>
  467. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584160</post-id> </item>
  468. <item>
  469. <title>More than 4 million skiers braved Vermont’s weird, wet winter</title>
  470. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/more-than-4-million-skiers-braved-vermonts-weird-wet-winter/</link>
  472. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Graham Krewinghaus]]></dc:creator>
  473. <pubDate>Sun, 16 Jun 2024 11:57:00 +0000</pubDate>
  474. <category><![CDATA[Life & Culture]]></category>
  475. <category><![CDATA[Bolton Valley]]></category>
  476. <category><![CDATA[Ski Vermont]]></category>
  477. <category><![CDATA[skiing]]></category>
  478. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584143</guid>
  479.  
  480. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="681" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-1568x1044.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="537494" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1331" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;A snowmaking gun operates at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.  Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1673437245&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;70&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;mad-river-glen-ski-5 20230111&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="mad-river-glen-ski-5 20230111" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;slug: ski resorts&lt;/p&gt;
  481. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A snowmaking gun operates at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.  Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  482. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-1200x799.jpg" /></figure>
  483. <p>Though the statewide numbers were surprisingly good, Vermont’s ski areas had wildly different seasons, from a warm, wet start to a late season snow dump and an eclipse.</p>
  484. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/more-than-4-million-skiers-braved-vermonts-weird-wet-winter/">More than 4 million skiers braved Vermont’s weird, wet winter</a>.</p>
  485. ]]></description>
  486. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="681" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-1568x1044.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="537494" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1331" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;A snowmaking gun operates at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.  Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1673437245&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;70&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;mad-river-glen-ski-5 20230111&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="mad-river-glen-ski-5 20230111" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;slug: ski resorts&lt;/p&gt;
  487. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A snowmaking gun operates at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.  Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  488. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-5-20230111-1200x799.jpg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  489. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="799" data-attachment-id="537495" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/mad-river-glen-ski-4-20230111/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-4-20230111.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1331" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D750&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Skiers head under snow from a snowmaking gun at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.  Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1673455972&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;20&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;mad-river-glen-ski-4 20230111&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="mad-river-glen-ski-4 20230111" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;slug: ski resorts&lt;/p&gt;
  490. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Skiers head under snow from a snowmaking gun at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.  Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  491. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-4-20230111-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-4-20230111-1200x799.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-4-20230111-1200x799.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-537495" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-4-20230111-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-4-20230111-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-4-20230111-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-4-20230111-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-4-20230111-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-4-20230111-1568x1044.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-4-20230111-400x266.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-4-20230111.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Skiers head under snow from a snowmaking gun at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Jan. 11, 2023.  File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger</figcaption></figure></div>
  492.  
  493.  
  494. <p>Vermont ski areas saw just a slight decrease in total visitors this past winter, a surprise after a challenging first half to the season.&nbsp;</p>
  495.  
  496.  
  497.  
  498. <p>Statewide industry association Ski Vermont announced last week that alpine ski areas reported 4.1 million skier and rider visits, down 0.5% from the prior year, a smaller dip than the rest of the Northeast region and the country.</p>
  499.  
  500.  
  501.  
  502. <p>But inconsistencies in the November and December weather contributed to significant differences in snow conditions among mountains. For example, one got enough snow to open early — and another was delayed when the same storm fell as rain.&nbsp;</p>
  503.  
  504.  
  505.  
  506. <p>Cross-country ski areas struggled nearly across the board, disadvantaged by the lack of snowmaking as a stopgap measure.</p>
  507.  
  508.  
  509.  
  510. <p>Nonetheless, Ski Vermont president Molly Mahar considered the season to be successful, all things considered, with a late-season boost aided by Vermont’s total solar eclipse in April.</p>
  511.  
  512.  
  513.  
  514. <p>She said in an interview that she was glad the decrease wasn’t worse, given the chaotic weather and the more than 6% drops in visits experienced across the region and country.</p>
  515.  
  516.  
  517.  
  518. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">In roller-coaster winter, latitude made the difference</h2>
  519.  
  520.  
  521.  
  522. <p>While statewide numbers reflected a relative success, many remember last season far from fondly.</p>
  523.  
  524.  
  525.  
  526. <p>“Why do you have to bring me back to last year? God…,” said Geoff Hatheway, president of Magic Mountain in Londonderry, when asked about the challenges of the winter.</p>
  527.  
  528.  
  529.  
  530. <p>Magic Mountain was hit harder than many resorts further north by early-season hiccups — namely, it kept getting too warm. Its staff updated skiers frequently on Facebook throughout November and December, reporting temperatures too high for most of the day to make enough snow.&nbsp;</p>
  531.  
  532.  
  533. <div class="wp-block-image">
  534. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="799" data-attachment-id="537496" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/mad-river-glen-ski-3-20230111/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-3-20230111.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1331" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D750&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Skiers get off the Practice Slope chair with snowmaking nearby at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.  Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1673437643&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;20&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;mad-river-glen-ski-3 20230111&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="mad-river-glen-ski-3 20230111" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;slug: ski resorts&lt;/p&gt;
  535. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Skiers get off the Practice Slope chair with snowmaking nearby at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.  Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  536. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-3-20230111-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-3-20230111-1200x799.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-3-20230111-1200x799.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-537496" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-3-20230111-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-3-20230111-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-3-20230111-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-3-20230111-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-3-20230111-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-3-20230111-1568x1044.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-3-20230111-400x266.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-3-20230111.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Skiers get off the Practice Slope chair with snowmaking nearby at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Jan. 11, 2023.  File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger</figcaption></figure></div>
  537.  
  538.  
  539. <p>Several rainstorms, including one just before Christmas, set back the mountain’s snowmaking progress and delayed its opening date, but Hatheway said staff were able to open some trails between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Still, effectively missing out on the December crowds and seeing low snowfall through Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend meant that Magic Mountain underperformed on two of the three biggest ski weekends of the year.</p>
  540.  
  541.  
  542.  
  543. <p>Elsewhere in Vermont, the story was completely different: Further north, Bolton Valley president Lindsay DesLauriers said Bolton was able to hit its opening day target of Thanksgiving weekend with some help from the very same weather that was hurting Magic Mountain.</p>
  544.  
  545.  
  546.  
  547. <p>“A lot of the rain was snow for us,” she said, thanks in part to Bolton Valley’s elevation.</p>
  548.  
  549.  
  550.  
  551. <p>She added that snowmaking upgrades also helped — so despite perception of a bad winter, Bolton Valley’s metrics were strong this year. In terms of total operating days, in fact, it had its best year in the last six.&nbsp;</p>
  552.  
  553.  
  554.  
  555. <p>Mad River Glen marketing/events manager Ry Young said the mountain actually opened its lifts earlier than initially planned because of the heavy snowfall because people had started <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/05/05/up-up-and-away-stowe-skier-aims-to-log-3-million-vertical-feet/">hiking up the mountain</a> to ski its trails.</p>
  556.  
  557.  
  558.  
  559. <p>“We couldn’t stop people from skinning, so we decided just to open and make some money,” Young said.</p>
  560.  
  561.  
  562.  
  563. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">An April eclipse assist</h2>
  564.  
  565.  
  566.  
  567. <p>At Magic Mountain, snowfall woes continued until the start of March, when it had seen only half its forecasted total, according to Hatheway. Fortunately, he said, with two big snowstorms in March and early April, it was able to finish the season on a high note, closing April 7 with 100% of its trails open.</p>
  568.  
  569.  
  570.  
  571. <p>“If we can just move that back a few months next year, that would be great,” Hatheway said, laughing.</p>
  572.  
  573.  
  574.  
  575. <p>A similar pattern held across Vermont, as storms in March and April brought in large late-season crowds and buoyed a season that started off slow.</p>
  576.  
  577.  
  578.  
  579. <p>“I honestly thought we were going to be off by more than this,” Mahar said of how the statewide numbers looked mid-spring.</p>
  580.  
  581.  
  582.  
  583. <p>The second of the two auspicious late snowstorms was followed a week later by an even rarer event: the total solar eclipse that cast northern Vermont in darkness and brought crowds from all over on Monday, April 8.</p>
  584.  
  585.  
  586.  
  587. <p>According to Mahar, many of those eclipse tourists got some skiing in while they were here, making a long weekend out of the spectacle.</p>
  588.  
  589.  
  590.  
  591. <p>“That supercharged the early April business,” Mahar said.</p>
  592.  
  593.  
  594.  
  595. <p>At Bolton Valley, in the path of totality, DesLauriers said many skiers set up lawn chairs for the three minutes of darkness, during which time Bolton had to close the lifts to ensure safety.</p>
  596.  
  597.  
  598.  
  599. <p>She said that Bolton Valley restricted the number of lift tickets sold for that day, thinking many of its season pass holders would visit and wanting to leave enough room for everyone. Though that didn’t occur as much as executives were expecting — DesLauriers theorized that pass holders, more likely to be local, largely watched the eclipse from home — she said it was still a busy day, the cherry on top of a strong end to the season.</p>
  600.  
  601.  
  602.  
  603. <p>“It was a really fun scene,” DesLauriers said. “And great for business, it’s typically slow on Mondays, but it was like a regular weekend day.”</p>
  604.  
  605.  
  606.  
  607. <p>Again, though, not everybody reaped the same benefits from the eclipse: Magic Mountain, in Windham County well south of the path of totality, had shut down its lifts for the season the day before.</p>
  608.  
  609.  
  610.  
  611. <p>Mahar said it was hard to quantify exactly how much the eclipse helped the season’s strong finish overall, but ski areas in the path of totality reported full occupancy that day, according to Ski Vermont.</p>
  612.  
  613.  
  614. <div class="wp-block-image">
  615. <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="799" data-attachment-id="537493" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/mad-river-glen-ski-6-20230111/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-6-20230111.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1331" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Skiers ride the Practice Slope chair at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.  Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1673437901&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0015625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;mad-river-glen-ski-6 20230111&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="mad-river-glen-ski-6 20230111" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;slug: ski resorts&lt;/p&gt;
  616. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Skiers ride the Practice Slope chair at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.  Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  617. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-6-20230111-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-6-20230111-1200x799.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-6-20230111-1200x799.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-537493" style="width:810px;height:auto" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-6-20230111-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-6-20230111-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-6-20230111-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-6-20230111-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-6-20230111-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-6-20230111-1568x1044.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-6-20230111-400x266.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mad-river-glen-ski-6-20230111.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Skiers ride the Practice Slope chair at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on Jan. 11, 2023.  File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger</figcaption></figure></div>
  618.  
  619.  
  620. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">At cross-country ski areas, Mother Nature wins</h2>
  621.  
  622.  
  623.  
  624. <p>Mahar credited improved snowmaking technology as one big reason for the relatively strong season. But she said that the challenging weather had a particularly damaging impact on ski areas that do not make artificial snow — notably, almost all of Vermont’s cross-country skiing areas.</p>
  625.  
  626.  
  627.  
  628. <p>Cross-country skiing visits were down 49.6% from last year, according to Ski Vermont.</p>
  629.  
  630.  
  631.  
  632. <p>“We can’t control the weather, and it’s a very weather-dependent business,” said George Robinson, owner of Blueberry Lake Cross Country Center in Warren.</p>
  633.  
  634.  
  635.  
  636. <p>Robinson said business was down around 30% from last year at Blueberry Lake. The biggest hit was when rain came through in mid-December and the ski center didn’t have any skiable snow on the ground all the way until mid January, forcing it to miss the big holidays entirely.</p>
  637.  
  638.  
  639.  
  640. <p>Most downhill areas, and recently some cross-country areas, make their own snow to have more of a safeguard against fluctuations in weather patterns. But Robinson said he is not considering doing so at Blueberry Lake.</p>
  641.  
  642.  
  643.  
  644. <p>“I’m completely against it,” Robinson said, citing concerns about climate change. “I do not think it’s right for us to be putting energy into making snow when that energy is what created the problem for us in the first place.”</p>
  645.  
  646.  
  647.  
  648. <p>Snowmaking has gotten more energy-efficient with recent technology, Mahar said, but it remains rare in cross-country areas because of the practicality of making enough snow to cover a more sprawling area.&nbsp;</p>
  649.  
  650.  
  651.  
  652. <p>Craftsbury Outdoor Center, which does make snow, uses it only on a couple of the smaller, central trails in its network. But communications director Sheldon Miller said it helped the organization to perform fairly well this winter — specifically because of the unique way in which it uses the technology.</p>
  653.  
  654.  
  655.  
  656. <p>Faculty and students from UVM help Craftsbury do what they call “snow storage” over the summer months, a practice Miller said isn’t entirely new but much more common in Europe. Storing snow entails making a large pile of artificial snow in January, when it’s most efficient to make snow and they often already have enough for the trails, Miller said. That pile then gets covered with several feet of wood chips to stay cold through the summer. Then right around Thanksgiving, the snow is extracted and blown out onto a short loop.</p>
  657.  
  658.  
  659.  
  660. <p>Craftsbury is the only cross-country area to practice snow storage not only in Vermont, but in the contiguous 48 states, according to <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/~snowstor/elsewhere.html">UVM</a>.</p>
  661.  
  662.  
  663.  
  664. <p>“Two kilometers isn’t the zenith of everybody’s nordic skiing experience,” Miller said. “But it’s nice just to get back on the snow.”</p>
  665.  
  666.  
  667.  
  668. <p>It’s also a nice buffer for their early season, Miller said, especially in a year like this where heavy snow only came on the later side. Unfortunately, he added, Craftsbury closed for the season before the two big storms in March and April came through, so it missed the late boom.</p>
  669.  
  670.  
  671.  
  672. <p>It hasn’t gone completely perfectly, though. Miller said that the season before last, after staff laid out all the stored snow and two days later the weather warmed back up, Craftsbury somewhat bitterly named the early season route “Mother Nature Always Wins.”</p>
  673.  
  674.  
  675.  
  676. <p>Though all of Vermont’s ski areas are looking to adapt in one way or another, they tend to agree on this fact. DesLauriers was careful to admit Bolton Valley’s limitations in its own efforts to weatherproof the ski season.</p>
  677.  
  678.  
  679.  
  680. <p>“I won’t say regardless of what Mother Nature throws at us, because she’s more powerful than anything,” she said. “But we’re definitely putting safeguards in place.”</p>
  681. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/more-than-4-million-skiers-braved-vermonts-weird-wet-winter/">More than 4 million skiers braved Vermont’s weird, wet winter</a>.</p>
  682. ]]></content:encoded>
  686. <dc:modified>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 22:13:18 +0000</dc:modified>
  687. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584143</post-id> </item>
  688. <item>
  689. <title>Then Again: Larry Gardner, from Enosburg Falls to Red Sox fame</title>
  690. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/then-again-larry-gardner-from-enosburg-falls-to-red-sox-fame/</link>
  692. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mark Bushnell]]></dc:creator>
  693. <pubDate>Sun, 16 Jun 2024 11:01:00 +0000</pubDate>
  694. <category><![CDATA[Life & Culture]]></category>
  695. <category><![CDATA[Then Again]]></category>
  696. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584166</guid>
  697.  
  698. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="764" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1024x764.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A black and white photograph of a man wearing a cap and a buttoned shirt, looking at the camera with a neutral expression." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1024x764.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-300x224.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1200x895.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-125x93.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-768x573.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1536x1146.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-2048x1527.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1568x1169.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-2000x1492.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-400x298.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-706x527.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584092" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/gardner-portrait-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait.jpg" data-orig-size="2199,1640" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="Gardner portrait" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Larry Gardner was known for his sweet disposition and keen intellect. Photo from the Library of Congress&lt;/p&gt;
  699. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Larry Gardner was known for his sweet disposition and keen intellect. Photo from the Library of Congress&lt;/p&gt;
  700. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-300x224.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1200x895.jpg" /></figure>
  701. <p>Little-remembered today, the Vermonter anchored the Red Sox in the years before Babe Ruth’s arrival. </p>
  702. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/then-again-larry-gardner-from-enosburg-falls-to-red-sox-fame/">Then Again: Larry Gardner, from Enosburg Falls to Red Sox fame</a>.</p>
  703. ]]></description>
  704. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="764" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1024x764.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A black and white photograph of a man wearing a cap and a buttoned shirt, looking at the camera with a neutral expression." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1024x764.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-300x224.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1200x895.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-125x93.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-768x573.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1536x1146.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-2048x1527.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1568x1169.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-2000x1492.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-400x298.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-706x527.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584092" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/gardner-portrait-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait.jpg" data-orig-size="2199,1640" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="Gardner portrait" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Larry Gardner was known for his sweet disposition and keen intellect. Photo from the Library of Congress&lt;/p&gt;
  705. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Larry Gardner was known for his sweet disposition and keen intellect. Photo from the Library of Congress&lt;/p&gt;
  706. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-300x224.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1200x895.jpg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  707. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="895" data-attachment-id="584092" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/gardner-portrait-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait.jpg" data-orig-size="2199,1640" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="Gardner portrait" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Larry Gardner was known for his sweet disposition and keen intellect. Photo from the Library of Congress&lt;/p&gt;
  708. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Larry Gardner was known for his sweet disposition and keen intellect. Photo from the Library of Congress&lt;/p&gt;
  709. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-300x224.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1200x895.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1200x895.jpg" alt="A black and white photograph of a man wearing a cap and a buttoned shirt, looking at the camera with a neutral expression." class="wp-image-584092" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1200x895.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-300x224.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-125x93.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-768x573.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1536x1146.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-2048x1527.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1024x764.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1568x1169.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-2000x1492.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-400x298.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-706x527.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Larry Gardner was known for his sweet disposition and keen intellect. Photo from the Library of Congress</figcaption></figure></div>
  710.  
  711.  
  712. <p><a href="https://vtdigger.org/2017/07/30/then-again-from-enosburg-falls-to-red-sox-fame/"><em>This column originally ran July 30, 2017.</em></a></p>
  713.  
  714.  
  715.  
  716. <p>For close to a century, the Curse of the Bambino seemed quite real. By selling the immensely talented Babe Ruth, “the Bambino,” to the New York Yankees in 1919, the Boston Red Sox had seemingly jinxed themselves. What else could explain how the most dominant team in baseball — the Sox won World Series in 1912, 1915, 1916 and 1918 — suddenly lost its mojo and failed to become champions again for the rest of the 20th century?</p>
  717.  
  718.  
  719.  
  720. <p>But Red Sox fans who were paying attention at the time actually started worrying about the team’s direction two years before the cash strapped owner sold their best player. They fretted after the 1917 season when team management traded away sturdy third baseman Larry Gardner.&nbsp;</p>
  721.  
  722.  
  723.  
  724. <p>Little-remembered today, the Vermonter anchored the Red Sox in the years before Ruth’s arrival. Gardner helped the Sox win three World Series championships in just five seasons.</p>
  725.  
  726.  
  727.  
  728. <p>Gardner had put in his usual solid performance during the 1917 season. But he had turned 31 that year, so perhaps Sox management thought his play would decline quickly. If that was their thinking, they were wrong. Like Ruth, who went on to enjoy a storied career, Gardner didn&#8217;t suffer from being traded. He took his good play and good luck with him and soon helped the Cleveland Indians win the Series.</p>
  729.  
  730.  
  731.  
  732. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
  733.  
  734.  
  735. <div class="wp-block-image">
  736. <figure class="alignright size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="913" data-attachment-id="584093" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/screenshot-28/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team.jpg" data-orig-size="2346,1784" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Screenshot&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Screenshot&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="Larry-Gardner-high-school-team" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Larry Gardner, at left in first row, helped lead the Enosburg Falls High School team to an unofficial state championship in 1905. Photo from the Enosburg Historical Society&lt;/p&gt;
  737. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Larry Gardner, at left in first row, helped lead the Enosburg Falls High School team to an unofficial state championship in 1905. Photo from the Enosburg Historical Society&lt;/p&gt;
  738. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-300x228.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-1200x913.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-1200x913.jpg" alt="Black and white photo of a sports team labeled &quot;EFHS 05 Champions Vermont.&quot; Ten men, wearing uniforms with initials and numbers, pose around a banner in two rows, with one holding a baseball bat." class="wp-image-584093" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-1200x913.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-300x228.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-125x95.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-768x584.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-1536x1168.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-2048x1557.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-1024x779.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-1568x1192.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-2000x1521.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-400x304.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Enosburg-HS-team-706x537.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Larry Gardner, at left in first row, helped lead the Enosburg Falls High School team to an unofficial state championship in 1905. Photo from the Enosburg Historical Society</figcaption></figure></div>
  739.  
  740.  
  741. <p>Growing up in a different time or town, Larry Gardner might have been an ice hockey star. He was, after all, captain of his high school’s hockey team. But Enosburg Falls was a baseball town.</p>
  742.  
  743.  
  744.  
  745. <p>In 1905, Gardner’s pitching helped lead Enosburg Falls High School to an unofficial state championship. In the team photo from that year, Gardner looks out of place. Around him are skinny kids dressed in turtlenecks. Gardner, with muscular arms and a thick neck, looks like the college athlete he would soon become.</p>
  746.  
  747.  
  748.  
  749. <p>After high school, Gardner spent the summer playing semi-pro ball in the newly formed Franklin County League, which was peppered with college players playing under assumed names to protect their amateur status. Good baseball and decent money were the draw for these players.</p>
  750.  
  751.  
  752.  
  753. <p>The teams were known officially only by the towns they represented, but local newspapers gave them nicknames as colorful as many of the players. Newspapers were full of accounts of games played by the Enosburg Falls Spavin Curers or the Liniment Makers, named after a local horse salve manufacturer; the Swanton team was known as the Fish Hatchers, because of the local fish hatchery, or the Bullpouts, as locals called a type of catfish; and the Richford team was called the Chinese Spies, an unfortunate moniker related to the town’s U.S. Customs office that sometimes detained undocumented immigrants.</p>
  754.  
  755.  
  756. <div class="wp-block-image">
  757. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="895" data-attachment-id="584092" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/gardner-portrait-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait.jpg" data-orig-size="2199,1640" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="Gardner portrait" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Larry Gardner was known for his sweet disposition and keen intellect. Photo from the Library of Congress&lt;/p&gt;
  758. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Larry Gardner was known for his sweet disposition and keen intellect. Photo from the Library of Congress&lt;/p&gt;
  759. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-300x224.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1200x895.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1200x895.jpg" alt="A black and white photograph of a man wearing a cap and a buttoned shirt, looking at the camera with a neutral expression." class="wp-image-584092" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1200x895.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-300x224.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-125x93.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-768x573.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1536x1146.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-2048x1527.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1024x764.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-1568x1169.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-2000x1492.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-400x298.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-portrait-706x527.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Larry Gardner was known for his sweet disposition and keen intellect. Photo from the Library of Congress</figcaption></figure></div>
  760.  
  761.  
  762. <p>Gardner impressed many with his play that summer, so much so that University of Vermont players in the league persuaded him to attend UVM in the fall and play ball there. Gardner would go on to become arguably the school&#8217;s greatest baseball player.</p>
  763.  
  764.  
  765.  
  766. <p>After his first college season, UVM Coach Tom Hays picked Gardner to play on Burlington’s team in the competitive Northern League — UVM was liberal in its interpretation of “amateur status.” In a league full of past and future major-leaguers, Gardner started in right field, batted an impressive .296 and helped Burlington win the pennant.</p>
  767.  
  768.  
  769.  
  770. <p>His second college season was cut short by injury when he broke his collarbone colliding with a teammate. UVM’s student newspaper, the Cynic, bemoaned his loss: “He was strong at the bat and wonderful at base running, his fielding was well nigh errorless, while his throwing was swift and sure as fate.” Gardner recovered in time to play in two leagues that summer, which had him playing in games across northern New England.</p>
  771.  
  772.  
  773.  
  774. <p>Major League scouts took notice and pro teams began trying to lure him away from UVM. Connie Mack, manager of the Philadelphia Athletics offered to pay Gardner $300 a month, with an extra month’s pay as a signing bonus. If Gardner was worried about not being allowed to finish his college season, Mack wrote, “it will not be necessary for anyone but you and I to know that you have signed.”</p>
  775.  
  776.  
  777.  
  778. <p>But Gardner rejected the offer. He kept playing for UVM and turning down repeated offers that were now coming from Boston. When UVM’s 1908 season ended, he finally relented and signed with the Red Sox.</p>
  779.  
  780.  
  781. <div class="wp-block-image">
  782. <figure class="alignright size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="971" data-attachment-id="584091" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/boarding-train/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,2071" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="Boarding train" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Boston Red Sox third baseman Larry Gardner, second from left, boards a train with some of his teammates in 1912 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where the team held its spring training. Photo from the Boston Public Library&lt;/p&gt;
  783. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Boston Red Sox third baseman Larry Gardner, second from left, boards a train with some of his teammates in 1912 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where the team held its spring training. Photo from the Boston Public Library&lt;/p&gt;
  784. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-300x243.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-1200x971.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-1200x971.jpg" alt="Five men in suits and bowler hats stand beside and on the steps of a train car. The image includes handwritten signatures and notes at the bottom." class="wp-image-584091" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-1200x971.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-300x243.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-125x101.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-768x621.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-1536x1243.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-2048x1657.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-1024x828.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-1568x1269.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-2000x1618.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-400x324.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Boarding-train-706x571.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Boston Red Sox third baseman Larry Gardner, second from left, boards a train with some of his teammates in 1912 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where the team held its spring training. Photo from the Boston Public Library</figcaption></figure></div>
  785.  
  786.  
  787. <p>Gardner’s professional career started auspiciously. In his first at-bat for the team, in an exhibition game, he homered. He entered his first official Major League game during extra innings and, in his first at-bat, smacked a game-winning double.</p>
  788.  
  789.  
  790.  
  791. <p>But Boston was stocked with veterans and Gardner didn’t win a starting job until 1910, when the regular second baseman was injured. He’d never played the position before, but by season’s end he was “one of the best second basemen in the country,” in one baseball writer’s estimation. The next year, Gardner was shifted to third base, causing legendary sportswriter Ring Lardner to comment: “He was certainly a success as a second sacker, but right now it would be hard to convince the uninformed observer that he hadn’t been playing third for years.”</p>
  792.  
  793.  
  794.  
  795. <p>The Red Sox proved unstoppable in 1912, and so did Gardner. He hit .315 and led the team with 18 triples. Boston won the American League pennant and faced the New York Giants in the World Series.&nbsp;</p>
  796.  
  797.  
  798.  
  799. <p>Each team had won three games when they met at Boston’s Fenway Park to decide the Series. The game went to extra innings. In the 10th, with the bases loaded and one out, it was Gardner’s turn to bat against the great Christy Mathewson. Gardner, who had driven in a run earlier in the game, knew that Mathewson wanted him to hit a ground ball so the Giants could turn a double play and get out of the inning. But Gardner managed to lift an inside pitch deep into right field for a game-winning sacrifice fly. When he saw the winning run score, Gardner said, “I realized it meant $4,024.68 (in World Series winnings), just about double my earnings for the year.”</p>
  800.  
  801.  
  802.  
  803. <p>The Red Sox rewarded Gardner by signing him to a three-year deal. Fame and relative fortune didn’t spoil him. Boston Globe baseball writer Tim Murnane described Gardner as having “a disposition as sweet as the wild flowers that grow on the mountains of Vermont.” If Gardner was known for anything other than his kindness and good play, it was his intellect. While other players might talk about baseball, he would rather curl up with a book on Shakespeare.</p>
  804.  
  805.  
  806.  
  807. <p>The Sox returned to the World Series in 1915 and beat the Athletics. The following year, Gardner finished the season fifth in batting average in the American League, behind such immortals as Ty Cobb and Shoeless Joe Jackson. He had also helped Boston return to the Series, this time to face the Brooklyn Dodgers.</p>
  808.  
  809.  
  810. <div class="wp-block-image">
  811. <figure class="alignleft size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="1647" data-attachment-id="584090" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/gardner-throwing-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="1865,2560" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="Gardner Throwing" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Larry Gardner was a gifted fielder, even after being shifted to a new position, second base, when a Red Sox teammate was injured. Photo from the Library of Congress&lt;/p&gt;
  812. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Larry Gardner was a gifted fielder, even after being shifted to a new position, second base, when a Red Sox teammate was injured. Photo from the Library of Congress&lt;/p&gt;
  813. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-219x300.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-1200x1647.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-1200x1647.jpg" alt="A baseball player in a vintage uniform and cap throws a pitch on a grass field." class="wp-image-584090" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-1200x1647.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-219x300.jpg 219w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-91x125.jpg 91w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-768x1054.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-1119x1536.jpg 1119w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-1492x2048.jpg 1492w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-746x1024.jpg 746w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-1568x2152.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-2000x2745.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-400x549.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-706x969.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gardner-Throwing-scaled.jpg 1865w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Larry Gardner was a gifted fielder, even after being shifted to a new position, second base, when a Red Sox teammate was injured. Photo from the Library of Congress</figcaption></figure></div>
  814.  
  815.  
  816. <p>Gardner hit poorly in the first two games. It seemed his slump was continuing in the third game. During one at-bat he took a swing at what seemed to be a bad pitch. “I even had my eyes closed,” he later recall. “When I opened them, I saw the ball going over the wall. Can you believe that — hitting a homerun with your eyes closed?!”</p>
  817.  
  818.  
  819.  
  820. <p>The next game, he hit a three-run, inside-the-park homerun. The hit prompted sports writer Grantland Rice to write: “That one blow, delivered deep into the barren lands of center field, broke (Giants pitcher Rube) Marquard’s heart, shattered Brooklyn&#8217;s wavering defense, and practically closed out the series.” The Sox won the next game to clinch the Series, its third championship in five years.</p>
  821.  
  822.  
  823.  
  824. <p>After the 1917 season, Boston management apparently believed it was time to cash in a valuable asset that was sure to decline, so they traded the 31-year-old Gardner to the Philadelphia Athletics. A Boston Post writer predicted that “the going of Gardner, one of the most powerful hitters on the team for years, one of its most dependable members and a model player in every way, will be severely felt.”</p>
  825.  
  826.  
  827.  
  828. <p>Indeed, Gardner put in four excellent seasons after leaving Boston. By one popular baseball statistical metric, “wins above replacement,” Gardner was a more valuable player between the ages of 32 and 35 than a more recent Red Sox great, David Ortiz, was at that age.</p>
  829.  
  830.  
  831.  
  832. <p>The Sox, behind the strong pitching of Ruth, won the World Series the year after trading Gardner. Then Ruth was packed off too, and the Sox went nearly nine decades without winning another Series.</p>
  833.  
  834.  
  835.  
  836. <p>Ruth helped the Yankees win four of the seven Series in which he played. And Gardner? His teams fared even better in the World Series, winning all four he appeared in — three with Boston and one later with the Indians after Philadelphia traded him to Cleveland.</p>
  837.  
  838.  
  839.  
  840. <p>When his skills inevitably faded, Gardner left the Major Leagues and returned to UVM, where he became a much-loved baseball coach for two decades, capping a career as probably the greatest baseball player Vermont has produced, so far.</p>
  841. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/then-again-larry-gardner-from-enosburg-falls-to-red-sox-fame/">Then Again: Larry Gardner, from Enosburg Falls to Red Sox fame</a>.</p>
  842. ]]></content:encoded>
  846. <dc:modified>Sat, 15 Jun 2024 00:35:03 +0000</dc:modified>
  847. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584166</post-id> </item>
  848. <item>
  849. <title>Young Writers Project: ‘Perfumed lilacs and high-fiving trees’’</title>
  850. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/young-writers-project-perfumed-lilacs-and-high-fiving-trees/</link>
  852. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Young Writers Project]]></dc:creator>
  853. <pubDate>Sun, 16 Jun 2024 10:59:00 +0000</pubDate>
  854. <category><![CDATA[Life & Culture]]></category>
  855. <category><![CDATA[Young Writers Project]]></category>
  856. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584163</guid>
  857.  
  858. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="731" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1024x731.jpeg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Close-up of green leaves reflecting in clear, rippling water, giving a mirrored and slightly blurred effect." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1024x731.jpeg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-300x214.jpeg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1200x857.jpeg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-125x89.jpeg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-768x548.jpeg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1536x1097.jpeg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1568x1120.jpeg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-400x286.jpeg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-706x504.jpeg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24.jpeg 1808w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584080" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/ywp-digger-6-17-24/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24.jpeg" data-orig-size="1808,1291" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="ywp-Digger-6.17.24" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;“Spring Pool,” by Amelia Van Driesche, 17, of Burlington.&lt;/p&gt;
  859. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;“Spring Pool,” by Amelia Van Driesche, 17, of Burlington.&lt;/p&gt;
  860. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-300x214.jpeg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1200x857.jpeg" /></figure>
  861. <p>This week’s Young Writers Project entry is “Perfumed lilacs and high-fiving trees,” by Sela Morgenstein Fuerst, 11, of South Burlington. Artwork is “Spring Pool,” by Amelia Van Driesche, 17, of Burlington.</p>
  862. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/young-writers-project-perfumed-lilacs-and-high-fiving-trees/">Young Writers Project: ‘Perfumed lilacs and high-fiving trees’’</a>.</p>
  863. ]]></description>
  864. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="731" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1024x731.jpeg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Close-up of green leaves reflecting in clear, rippling water, giving a mirrored and slightly blurred effect." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1024x731.jpeg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-300x214.jpeg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1200x857.jpeg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-125x89.jpeg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-768x548.jpeg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1536x1097.jpeg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1568x1120.jpeg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-400x286.jpeg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-706x504.jpeg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24.jpeg 1808w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584080" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/ywp-digger-6-17-24/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24.jpeg" data-orig-size="1808,1291" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="ywp-Digger-6.17.24" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;“Spring Pool,” by Amelia Van Driesche, 17, of Burlington.&lt;/p&gt;
  865. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;“Spring Pool,” by Amelia Van Driesche, 17, of Burlington.&lt;/p&gt;
  866. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-300x214.jpeg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1200x857.jpeg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  867. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="857" data-attachment-id="584080" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/ywp-digger-6-17-24/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24.jpeg" data-orig-size="1808,1291" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="ywp-Digger-6.17.24" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;“Spring Pool,” by Amelia Van Driesche, 17, of Burlington.&lt;/p&gt;
  868. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;“Spring Pool,” by Amelia Van Driesche, 17, of Burlington.&lt;/p&gt;
  869. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-300x214.jpeg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1200x857.jpeg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1200x857.jpeg" alt="Close-up of green leaves reflecting in clear, rippling water, giving a mirrored and slightly blurred effect." class="wp-image-584080" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1200x857.jpeg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-300x214.jpeg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-125x89.jpeg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-768x548.jpeg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1536x1097.jpeg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1024x731.jpeg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-1568x1120.jpeg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-400x286.jpeg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24-706x504.jpeg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ywp-Digger-6.17.24.jpeg 1808w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">“Spring Pool,” by Amelia Van Driesche, 17, of Burlington.</figcaption></figure></div>
  870.  
  871.  
  872. <p><em>Young Writers Project is a creative online community of teen writers, photographers and artists, which has been based in Vermont since 2006. Each week, VTDigger features the writing and art of young Vermonters who publish their work on&nbsp;<a href="https://youngwritersproject.org/">youngwritersproject.org</a>, a free, interactive website for 12- to 18-year-olds. To find out more, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://youngwritersproject.org/">youngwritersproject.org</a>,&nbsp;or contact Executive Director Susan Reid at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sreid@youngwritersproject.org">sreid@youngwritersproject.org</a> and 802-324-9538.</em></p>
  873.  
  874.  
  875. <div class="wp-block-image">
  876. <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://vtdigger.org/tag/young-writers-project/"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="261" data-attachment-id="552142" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/?attachment_id=552142" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ywp-logo-horizontal.png" data-orig-size="1500,326" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="ywp-logo-horizontal" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;young writers project logo ywp&lt;/p&gt;
  877. " data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ywp-logo-horizontal-300x65.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ywp-logo-horizontal-1200x261.png" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ywp-logo-horizontal-1200x261.png" alt="" class="wp-image-552142" style="width:600px;height:131px" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ywp-logo-horizontal-1200x261.png 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ywp-logo-horizontal-300x65.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ywp-logo-horizontal-125x27.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ywp-logo-horizontal-768x167.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ywp-logo-horizontal-400x87.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ywp-logo-horizontal.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> </figcaption></figure></div>
  878.  
  879.  
  880. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
  881.  
  882.  
  883.  
  884. <p><em>Summer’s almost here… and with it each day, the world awakens anew: Mornings whistle with the choruses of songbird and cicada as small children tumble over newly clover-covered lawns; the leaves of nascent flowerbeds stretch luxuriously toward the sun as it rises in a cerulean sky. With a laugh-laden fervor, this week’s featured writer, Sela Morgenstein Fuerst of South Burlington, reflects on an early-summer daybreak that brought light and delight.</em></p>
  885.  
  886.  
  887.  
  888. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Perfumed lilacs and high-fiving trees</h2>
  889.  
  890.  
  891.  
  892. <p>Sela Morgenstein Fuerst, 11, South Burlington</p>
  893.  
  894.  
  895.  
  896. <p>Today was the first time I’ve gone biking in the morning — the proper morning, when the sun is light on your shoulders and the neighborhood is waking up, bursting with birdsong and the not-so-harmonious orchestra of barking dogs — and it was wonderful. Actually, don’t take that word’s word for it; nothing can describe how <em>filled</em> I felt wandering the mostly empty streets, feeling as if I were flying. Everything delighted me. Everything made me throw my head back and laugh and breathe so deeply I could smell the earth, the glistening still-wet blades of grass. I pedaled along roads with emerald canopies of pine and oak and who knows what other kinds of trees, and whenever I spied a branch that was just <em>longing</em> to touch the ground, to kiss someone with that faint scent of candle wax and sap, I reached out and touched it, giving it a millisecond of love. I lost count of how many trees I did this to.</p>
  897.  
  898.  
  899.  
  900. <p>Also, the lilacs are in bloom now, and I think they’re making me delirious, because every time I passed a lilac bush or arch, which was every two seconds, because Vermonters love their lilacs, I gathered the cone-shaped delights in my fingertips and took a huge breath, trying to smell their heady perfume. <em>Summer’s almost here,</em> I kept thinking, with an emotional crash of terror and excitement. <em>Summer’s almost here.</em> Come July, I will be a puddle on the floor, too hot (melting actually) to bike in the morning, noon, or afternoon. For now, in May, I will delight in these numerous delights. I will smell the lilacs and delight. <em>Summer’s almost here.</em></p>
  901. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/young-writers-project-perfumed-lilacs-and-high-fiving-trees/">Young Writers Project: ‘Perfumed lilacs and high-fiving trees’’</a>.</p>
  902. ]]></content:encoded>
  906. <dc:modified>Sat, 15 Jun 2024 00:16:21 +0000</dc:modified>
  907. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584163</post-id> </item>
  908. <item>
  909. <title>Annette Smith: Announcing successful carbon capture in Vermont</title>
  910. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/annette-smith-announcing-successful-carbon-capture-in-vermont/</link>
  912. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Opinion]]></dc:creator>
  913. <pubDate>Sun, 16 Jun 2024 10:03:00 +0000</pubDate>
  914. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  915. <category><![CDATA[Annette Smith]]></category>
  916. <category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
  917. <category><![CDATA[environment]]></category>
  918. <category><![CDATA[Vermonters for a Clean Environment]]></category>
  919. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584171</guid>
  920.  
  921. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Commentaries: opinion pieces by community members." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-706x530.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="574028" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/commentaries_1200x900/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Commentaries_1200x900" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Commentaries logo for featured image&lt;/p&gt;
  922. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png" /></figure>
  923. <p>Welcome to the new world of Vermont environmentalism and our legislature, all of whom are now fully captured by carbon.</p>
  924. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/annette-smith-announcing-successful-carbon-capture-in-vermont/">Annette Smith: Announcing successful carbon capture in Vermont</a>.</p>
  925. ]]></description>
  926. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Commentaries: opinion pieces by community members." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-706x530.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="574028" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/commentaries_1200x900/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Commentaries_1200x900" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Commentaries logo for featured image&lt;/p&gt;
  927. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png" /></figure>
  928. <p><em>This commentary is by Annette Smith of Danby, executive director of Vermonters for a Clean Environment.</em></p>
  929.  
  930.  
  931. <div class="wp-block-image">
  932. <figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://vtdigger.org/tag/commentaries/"><img decoding="async" width="300" height="67" data-attachment-id="570577" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/?attachment_id=570577" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1.png" data-orig-size="512,114" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Commentaries_vtd" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-300x67.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1.png" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-300x67.png" alt="" class="wp-image-570577" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-300x67.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-125x28.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-400x89.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1.png 512w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
  933.  
  934.  
  935. <p>The concept of “carbon capture” has been in the news for years. Is it hype? Is it real? As with so much “news” these days, it is hard to tell.</p>
  936.  
  937.  
  938.  
  939. <p>What Vermonters can now bray far and wide is that this small state has achieved total success in the deployment of carbon capture.</p>
  940.  
  941.  
  942.  
  943. <p>No, it is not a technology. Nor is it something that results in reducing carbon emissions from the atmosphere.</p>
  944.  
  945.  
  946.  
  947. <p>Rather, it is a result of the long game played by Al Gore, with his “Inconvenient Truth” movie, and Vermont and New York’s Bill McKibben, with his endless writings about the end of the world, to turn environmentalists’ focus worldwide solely to carbon emissions. Their message to our children: “live in fear.”&nbsp;</p>
  948.  
  949.  
  950.  
  951. <p>Nothing matters anymore except global warming, climate change, climate emergency, rising CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. Forget about birds, bees, bats and bears. All public policy must be laser-focused on reducing carbon emissions, no matter the cost. It is our North Star, our moral imperative!</p>
  952.  
  953.  
  954.  
  955. <p>European policies led the way, with massive build-out of “renewable” energy, albeit reliant on coal-fired electricity to produce wind turbine components and polysilicon for solar panels. Europe is burning lots of trees exported from America’s southeast forests that meet the definition of “renewable” because it’s “biogenic CO<sub>2</sub>” — a nifty term to magically erase emissions that are worse than those from coal plants.</p>
  956.  
  957.  
  958.  
  959. <p>The United States is well on its way to assuring massive wind turbines and fields of glass-covered, aluminum-supported polysilicon arrays will cover the country’s rural landscape — to feed the electric vehicles resulting that will require fossil-fueled mineral extraction in remote, previously-intact ecosystems throughout the world.&nbsp;</p>
  960.  
  961.  
  962.  
  963. <p>No worries, Vermont is not being left behind. As everyone knows, Vermont must be a leader, and lead we will, with Vermont’s “environmental groups” banding together to teach our elected leaders what they must do and set an example for everyone to follow.&nbsp;</p>
  964.  
  965.  
  966.  
  967. <p>The Global Warming Solutions Act was the great achievement of the “environmental groups.” Vermont must now reduce its tiny emissions by unrealistic levels by specific deadlines, or anyone can sue the state to make it require the Agency of Natural Resources to enact rules to achieve the emissions reduction requirements.</p>
  968.  
  969.  
  970.  
  971. <p>While the GWSA gives lip service to nature, the only mandate is carbon emissions reduction.</p>
  972.  
  973.  
  974.  
  975. <p>Strap on your boots, we are now on the rough ride to assure the state achieves those unachievable mandates.</p>
  976.  
  977.  
  978.  
  979. <p>(Wait. Cue the attack dogs: “She is a climate change denier. Don’t listen to her.”)</p>
  980.  
  981.  
  982.  
  983. <p>The next achievement of the “environmental groups” that have aggressively lobbied Vermont’s legislators into submission with the passage of the GWSA is the creation of the Climate Council.&nbsp;</p>
  984.  
  985.  
  986.  
  987. <p>An elite body consisting primarily of <a href="https://climatechange.vermont.gov/readtheplan/climate-council-membership">people</a> with high salaries or personal wealth living in the I-89 to I-91 corridor, a/k/a the “<a href="https://vtdigger.org/2023/02/22/annette-smith-true-believers-are-driving-vermonts-climate-plans/">Burlington/Montpelier Bubble</a>,” they set to work to meet the GWSA’s unrealistic one-year deadline to draft a <a href="https://climatechange.vermont.gov/readtheplan">Climate Action Plan</a> that was thrown together and released the night before the deadline, assuring that few on the Climate Council read it before voting on it. And vote to approve, they did.</p>
  988.  
  989.  
  990.  
  991. <p>One of the elements in the Climate Action Plan is the Clean Heat Standard, the next achievement of the “environmental groups”-led legislature who will do what they are told. Though barely discussed by the Climate Council because it was developed by a <a href="http://vtce.org/Clean%20Heat%20Standard%20Meeting%20Notes%20with%20TOC.pdf">private working group</a> from Vermont Gas Systems, Regulatory Assistance Project and Energy Action Network, it was in the Plan, so the legislature had to act. It is a moral imperative, remember?</p>
  992.  
  993.  
  994.  
  995. <p>The Clean Heat Standard takes aim at the evil fuel dealers, and makes them change their business models from selling liquid fossil fuels to installing technology or weatherizing homes. Or they can pay for credits. The Public Utility Commission is currently struggling with the impossibly-complicated task handed to them by the legislature.</p>
  996.  
  997.  
  998.  
  999. <p>Now comes the Renewable Energy Standard, “modernized” to assure that more of Vermont’s <a href="https://storymaps.com/stories/d1603e0b29924697a12db7eb3b6e2a84">forests are cut and fields are covered</a> with technologies manufactured using coal energy in China. Fully captured by the carbon-reduction mantra, Vermont’s legislators praise the bill, H.289, as the result of a <a href="https://ljfo.vermont.gov/committees-and-studies/renewable-energy-standard-working-group">collaborative process</a> between the utilities, the “environmental groups” and more.</p>
  1000.  
  1001.  
  1002.  
  1003. <p>Except there were interests missing from the discussions, namely: those of rural communities and the people who live here, as well as the interests of real environmentalists who focus on water, wildlife, forests, soils, toxins and the beauty of Vermont. During all those collaborative meetings, the environmental groups on the panel — Vermont Natural Resources Council, Conservation Law Foundation, Sierra Club, Vermont Public Interest Research Group — focused on carbon emissions and not the land use impacts of an estimated tripling of the acreage necessary for the in-state renewable energy development enabled by the RES.</p>
  1004.  
  1005.  
  1006.  
  1007. <p>Welcome to the new world of Vermont environmentalism and our legislature, all of whom are now fully captured by carbon.&nbsp;</p>
  1008. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/16/annette-smith-announcing-successful-carbon-capture-in-vermont/">Annette Smith: Announcing successful carbon capture in Vermont</a>.</p>
  1009. ]]></content:encoded>
  1013. <dc:modified>Sat, 15 Jun 2024 00:42:31 +0000</dc:modified>
  1014. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584171</post-id> </item>
  1015. <item>
  1016. <title>Last year’s veto session set a single-day record for override votes. On Monday, legislators could break it.</title>
  1017. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/last-years-veto-session-set-a-single-day-record-for-override-votes-on-monday-legislators-could-break-it/</link>
  1019. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Mearhoff]]></dc:creator>
  1020. <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:29:17 +0000</pubDate>
  1021. <category><![CDATA[Government & Politics]]></category>
  1022. <category><![CDATA[Jill Krowinski]]></category>
  1023. <category><![CDATA[Phil Baruth]]></category>
  1024. <category><![CDATA[Phil Scott]]></category>
  1025. <category><![CDATA[Vermont Legislature]]></category>
  1026. <category><![CDATA[veto session]]></category>
  1027. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584139</guid>
  1028.  
  1029. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="682" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1024x682.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Three people are pictured speaking in different settings. The left individual is gesturing with a finger, the middle person is looking to the right, and the right person appears to be making a point." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1024x682.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-300x200.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1200x800.png 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-125x83.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-768x512.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1568x1045.png 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-400x267.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-706x471.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584137" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/3-person-composite-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2.png" data-orig-size="2000,1333" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Scott-Krowinski-Baruth-Composite-2" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1030. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1031. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-300x200.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1200x800.png" /></figure>
  1032. <p>Legislators will return to the Statehouse to attempt to override seven of Gov. Phil Scott’s vetoes.</p>
  1033. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/last-years-veto-session-set-a-single-day-record-for-override-votes-on-monday-legislators-could-break-it/">Last year’s veto session set a single-day record for override votes. On Monday, legislators could break it.</a>.</p>
  1034. ]]></description>
  1035. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="682" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1024x682.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Three people are pictured speaking in different settings. The left individual is gesturing with a finger, the middle person is looking to the right, and the right person appears to be making a point." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1024x682.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-300x200.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1200x800.png 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-125x83.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-768x512.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1568x1045.png 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-400x267.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-706x471.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584137" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/3-person-composite-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2.png" data-orig-size="2000,1333" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Scott-Krowinski-Baruth-Composite-2" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1036. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1037. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-300x200.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1200x800.png" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  1038. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" data-attachment-id="584137" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/3-person-composite-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2.png" data-orig-size="2000,1333" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Scott-Krowinski-Baruth-Composite-2" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1039. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1040. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-300x200.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1200x800.png" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1200x800.png" alt="Three people are pictured speaking in different settings. The left individual is gesturing with a finger, the middle person is looking to the right, and the right person appears to be making a point." class="wp-image-584137" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1200x800.png 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-300x200.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-125x83.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-768x512.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1024x682.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-1568x1045.png 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-400x267.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2-706x471.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-2.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger</figcaption></figure></div>
  1041.  
  1042.  
  1043. <p>Last June, the Vermont Legislature’s Democratic supermajority conducted a record number of veto override votes in a single day, <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/05/28/vermonts-2024-legislative-session-was-marked-by-deep-rifts-between-gov-phil-scott-and-the-legislature/">marking a turning point</a> in Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s relationship with the House and Senate leadership.</p>
  1044.  
  1045.  
  1046.  
  1047. <p>Come Monday, they’ll have an opportunity to set a new record.</p>
  1048.  
  1049.  
  1050.  
  1051. <p>Having adjourned the 2024 legislative session last month, lawmakers will return to Montpelier on Monday for what they call a “veto session” —&nbsp;a one- or two-day mini session during which they can override Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s vetoes. To override a gubernatorial veto requires a two-thirds supermajority vote of lawmakers present.</p>
  1052.  
  1053.  
  1054.  
  1055. <p>This year’s veto session calendar is stacked. Since lawmakers adjourned on May 10, Scott has <a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/vetoed/2024?">issued seven vetoes</a>. As of Friday afternoon, the House and Senate calendars for Monday show override votes scheduled for all seven of the vetoed bills.</p>
  1056.  
  1057.  
  1058.  
  1059. <p>Legislators are also slated to take up <a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.55">H.55</a>, a bill which contains a “<a href="https://vtdigger.org/2023/12/19/treasurer-mike-pieciak-promotes-baby-bonds-legislation/">baby bonds</a>” provision pushed by state Treasurer Mike Pieciak to establish a state-managed trust fund for every Vermont child born on Medicaid. And in the Senate, <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/05/21/gov-phil-scott-appoints-andy-julow-to-former-sen-dick-mazzas-seat/">Andy Julow, a Democrat appointed to fill the Grand Isle district</a> seat, will take his oath of office.</p>
  1060.  
  1061.  
  1062.  
  1063. <p>Perhaps the highest profile of all of the veto override attempts will be that of <a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.887">H.887</a>, this year’s yield bill, which sets statewide property tax rates to fund public education. Last week, <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/06/phil-scott-vetoes-property-tax-bill-unsettling-next-years-school-funding/">Scott vetoed the bill</a> within an hour of its arrival on his desk, citing its projected 13.8% statewide average increase on property tax bills. (Local rates would still vary widely.)</p>
  1064.  
  1065.  
  1066.  
  1067. <p>“There was no real decision to make from my standpoint,” Scott <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GovPhilScott/videos/1693112564766760/">told reporters</a> of his swift veto shortly thereafter — the double-digit tax increase being, for him, a nonstarter.</p>
  1068.  
  1069.  
  1070.  
  1071. <p>This week, Scott cabinet officials —&nbsp;but not the governor himself —&nbsp;<a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/12/prospects-dim-for-property-tax-compromise-after-sour-meeting-between-administration-and-lawmakers/">met with House and Senate leadership</a> to pitch an alternative yield bill, which the administration estimated would bring down the average property tax increases to somewhere between 4% and 6%. House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, quickly swatted down the plan, deeming it “fiscally irresponsible.”</p>
  1072.  
  1073.  
  1074.  
  1075. <p>The yield bill is must-pass legislation in order to fund school budgets normally next year, so all eyes will be on the House and Senate next week as legislators attempt to override the governor’s veto. The bill passed the House 93-44 and the Senate 18-8 — numbers which indicate a narrow path to a successful two-thirds override vote.</p>
  1076.  
  1077.  
  1078.  
  1079. <p>Another highly anticipated veto override attempt will be that of <a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.687">H.687</a>, this year’s bill aimed at reforming Act 250, Vermont’s 50-year-old land use and conservation law. <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/phil-scott-vetoes-bill-that-would-make-sweeping-changes-to-act-250/">Scott vetoed the bill</a> on Thursday evening, writing in a letter to lawmakers that the bill did not go far enough to “address Vermont’s housing affordability crisis.”</p>
  1080.  
  1081.  
  1082.  
  1083. <p>Since Scott issued his veto, both the speaker and pro tempore’s offices pledged to attempt an override, signaling a disinterest in the governor’s post-session plea in his veto message to find a “responsible compromise” with his office to pass “a replacement bill.”</p>
  1084.  
  1085.  
  1086.  
  1087. <p>There are five more bills on lawmakers’ agendas to attempt to override come Monday: <a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.121">H.121</a>, a sweeping <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/despite-broad-support-in-the-legislature-phil-scott-vetoes-data-privacy-legislation/">data privacy</a> bill; <a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.645">H.645</a>, a <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/05/phil-scott-vetoes-a-restorative-justice-bill-drawing-attorney-general-charity-clarks-rebuke/">restorative justice</a> bill; <a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.72">H.72</a>, which would greenlight the opening of an <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/05/30/gov-phil-scott-vetoes-overdose-prevention-center-bill/">overdose prevention site</a> in Burlington; <a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.289">H.289</a>, the Legislature’s <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/05/23/phil-scott-vetoes-vermont-lawmakers-priority-energy-bill/">“renewable energy standard”</a> bill; and <a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.706">H.706</a>, which would prohibit the use of <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/05/20/scott-vetoes-bill-that-would-ban-some-uses-of-pollinator-harming-pesticides/">toxic neonicotinoid pesticides</a> in farming.</p>
  1088.  
  1089.  
  1090.  
  1091. <p>Scott holds the record for issuing the greatest number of <a href="https://sos.vermont.gov/vsara/learn/general-assembly/vetoes/messages/">gubernatorial vetoes</a> by a single governor in state history: 52 during his seven years in office. The second runner-up, former Gov. Howard Dean, previously held the record at 21 vetoes issued during roughly his 12 years in office.</p>
  1092. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/last-years-veto-session-set-a-single-day-record-for-override-votes-on-monday-legislators-could-break-it/">Last year’s veto session set a single-day record for override votes. On Monday, legislators could break it.</a>.</p>
  1093. ]]></content:encoded>
  1097. <dc:modified>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:30:19 +0000</dc:modified>
  1098. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584139</post-id> </item>
  1099. <item>
  1100. <title>Vermont’s bump stock ban stands despite US Supreme Court ruling throwing out federal prohibition</title>
  1101. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/vermonts-bump-stock-ban-stands-despite-us-supreme-court-ruling-throwing-out-federal-prohibition/</link>
  1103. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Alan J. Keays]]></dc:creator>
  1104. <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:12:35 +0000</pubDate>
  1105. <category><![CDATA[Government & Politics]]></category>
  1106. <category><![CDATA[bump stocks]]></category>
  1107. <category><![CDATA[gun control laws]]></category>
  1108. <category><![CDATA[Peter Teachout]]></category>
  1109. <category><![CDATA[U.S. Supreme Court]]></category>
  1110. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584131</guid>
  1111.  
  1112. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="705" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM.png 1188w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-125x86.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-300x207.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-768x529.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-610x420.png 610w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="509924" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2018/09/17/police-accepting-bump-stocks-ban-two-weeks-away/screen-shot-2018-09-17-at-3-30-22-pm/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM.png" data-orig-size="1188,818" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="bump stock" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Bump stocks allow a rifle to be modified to fire as an automatic weapon. Creative Commons photo&lt;/p&gt;
  1113. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-300x207.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-610x420.png" /></figure>
  1114. <p>The ruling Friday by the nation’s highest court overturns a Trump-era restriction on the devices that allow semi-automatic rifles to fire more quickly.</p>
  1115. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/vermonts-bump-stock-ban-stands-despite-us-supreme-court-ruling-throwing-out-federal-prohibition/">Vermont’s bump stock ban stands despite US Supreme Court ruling throwing out federal prohibition</a>.</p>
  1116. ]]></description>
  1117. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="705" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM.png 1188w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-125x86.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-300x207.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-768x529.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-610x420.png 610w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="509924" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2018/09/17/police-accepting-bump-stocks-ban-two-weeks-away/screen-shot-2018-09-17-at-3-30-22-pm/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM.png" data-orig-size="1188,818" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="bump stock" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Bump stocks allow a rifle to be modified to fire as an automatic weapon. Creative Commons photo&lt;/p&gt;
  1118. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-300x207.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-610x420.png" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  1119. <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="610" height="420" data-attachment-id="509924" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2018/09/17/police-accepting-bump-stocks-ban-two-weeks-away/screen-shot-2018-09-17-at-3-30-22-pm/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM.png" data-orig-size="1188,818" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="bump stock" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Bump stocks allow a rifle to be modified to fire as an automatic weapon. Creative Commons photo&lt;/p&gt;
  1120. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-300x207.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-610x420.png" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-610x420.png" alt="" class="wp-image-509924" style="width:610px;height:auto" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-610x420.png 610w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-125x86.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-300x207.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM-768x529.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-17-at-3.30.22-PM.png 1188w" sizes="(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bump stocks allow a rifle to be modified to fire as an automatic weapon.  File photo courtesy of Creative Commons</figcaption></figure></div>
  1121.  
  1122.  
  1123. <p>A Vermont legal scholar and the state’s top prosecutor said a ruling Friday by the U.S. Supreme Court overturning a federal ban on bump stocks won’t result in throwing out a separate state ban in Vermont on the devices that allow semi-automatic rifles to fire more rapidly.&nbsp;</p>
  1124.  
  1125.  
  1126.  
  1127. <p>The 6-3 decision by the nation’s highest court struck down the bump stock ban enacted by the Trump administration after the <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/las-vegas-shooting">2017 deadly mass shooting</a> at a country music concert in Las Vegas in which a shooter used firearms with bump stocks, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/14/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-gun-bump-stocks.html#:~:text=The%20Supreme%20Court%20on%20Friday,3%2C%20split%20along%20ideological%20lines.">The New York Times reported Friday</a>.</p>
  1128.  
  1129.  
  1130.  
  1131. <p>Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in the majority opinion that the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had overstepped its authority when it <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/us/politics/trump-bump-stocks-ban.html">prohibited the device</a> and issued a rule that classified bump stocks as machine guns, The Times reported.</p>
  1132.  
  1133.  
  1134.  
  1135. <p>“We hold that a semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock is not a ‘machine gun’ because it cannot fire more than one shot ‘by a single function of the trigger,’” Thomas wrote, according to The Times report.&nbsp;</p>
  1136.  
  1137.  
  1138.  
  1139. <p>Vermont Law and Graduate School Professor Peter Teachout, who specializes in constitutional law, said Friday that the U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down the federal bump stock ban will not also overturn a separate state law prohibiting bump stocks in Vermont.&nbsp;</p>
  1140.  
  1141.  
  1142.  
  1143. <p>“It was not based on the Constitution&#8217;s Second Amendment,” Teachout said of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision. “It was based on the interpretation of a federal statute that was adopted about 100 years ago making it a federal crime under federal law to possess and use machine guns.”</p>
  1144.  
  1145.  
  1146.  
  1147. <p>The holding of the high court’s ruling, Teachout said, was that “guns modified with these bump stocks do not constitute machine guns within the meaning of the federal statute.”&nbsp;</p>
  1148.  
  1149.  
  1150.  
  1151. <p>As a result, he said, it limits the ability of the federal government to use that federal statute to ban bump stocks.</p>
  1152.  
  1153.  
  1154.  
  1155. <p>“Since it’s not based on constitutional grounds,” Teachout said of the high court’s decision, “it has no impact at all on Vermont’s regulation of firearms.”</p>
  1156.  
  1157.  
  1158.  
  1159. <p>It would have been a different matter had the U.S. Supreme Court decision struck down the ban based on Second Amendment grounds, according to Teachout, since the U.S Constitution applies to states as well as the federal government.</p>
  1160.  
  1161.  
  1162.  
  1163. <p>“I’m not saying it’s not open to challenge,” Teachout said of Vermont’s bump stock ban. “I’m just saying this Supreme Court decision only applies to the enforcement of federal statutes, not the state statutes.”&nbsp;</p>
  1164.  
  1165.  
  1166.  
  1167. <p>Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark said in a statement Friday that her office had filed a brief in support of the federal bump stock ban and called the U.S. Supreme Court ruling “unfortunate.”&nbsp;</p>
  1168.  
  1169.  
  1170.  
  1171. <p>“I want to reassure Vermonters that this decision does not have an impact on our state’s — or a couple of our neighboring states’ — own ban on bump stocks,” Clark said in the statement. “The decision also does not prevent Congress from implementing a new ban on these devices.”</p>
  1172.  
  1173.  
  1174. <div class="wp-block-image">
  1175. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="900" data-attachment-id="584135" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/us_supreme_court/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-scaled.jpeg" data-orig-size="2560,1920" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot A620&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1173392920&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;7.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="US_Supreme_Court" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;The U.S. Supreme Court building. File photo from Wikimedia Commons&lt;/p&gt;
  1176. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;The U.S. Supreme Court building. File photo from Wikimedia Commons&lt;/p&gt;
  1177. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-300x225.jpeg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-1200x900.jpeg?crop=1" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-1200x900.jpeg?crop=1" alt="The image shows the front exterior of the United States Supreme Court building, featuring its grand steps and classical columns under a clear blue sky." class="wp-image-584135" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-1200x900.jpeg?crop=1 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-125x94.jpeg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-800x600.jpeg?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-600x450.jpeg?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-400x300.jpeg?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-200x150.jpeg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-1568x1176.jpeg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-2000x1500.jpeg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US_Supreme_Court-706x530.jpeg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The U.S. Supreme Court building. File photo from Wikimedia Commons</figcaption></figure></div>
  1178.  
  1179.  
  1180. <p>The law banning bump stocks in Vermont was part of a series of gun reform measures <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2018/04/11/gun-rights-activists-yell-traitor-scott-signs-sweeping-gun-legislation-law/">enacted in 2018</a>. It was passed by lawmakers and signed into law by Gov. Phil Scott two months after an <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2018/02/16/teenager-denies-school-shooting-plot-governor-says-allegations-jolted/">alleged school shooting plot</a> was uncovered in Fair Haven.&nbsp;</p>
  1181.  
  1182.  
  1183.  
  1184. <p>The Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2023/12/18/gun-rights-groups-sue-vermont-over-two-firearms-laws/">is currently challenging in federal court</a> in Vermont two firearms laws enacted in the state: a 72-hour waiting period for firearms purchases and a ban on high-capacity magazines.</p>
  1185.  
  1186.  
  1187.  
  1188. <p>Chris Bradley, the federation’s president, said Friday it was too soon to say if the U.S. Supreme Court ruling would lead his organization to mount a legal challenge to the bump stock ban in Vermont as well.&nbsp;</p>
  1189.  
  1190.  
  1191.  
  1192. <p>“It’s premature at this point, and it’s not the federation according to Chris Bradley. It’s the federation according to the board of directors,” he said.</p>
  1193.  
  1194.  
  1195.  
  1196. <p>Bradley added that his organization is “midstream in a very expensive case” that is at the trial court level and likely to include extensive appellate litigation.</p>
  1197.  
  1198.  
  1199.  
  1200. <p>“We’re going to do one thing at a time,” he said.&nbsp;</p>
  1201.  
  1202.  
  1203.  
  1204. <p>As to his reaction to Friday’s ruling, Bradley replied, “I think the Supreme Court got it right, certainly ATF overstepped their bounds, and they’ve been spanked for it.”</p>
  1205.  
  1206.  
  1207.  
  1208. <p>Conor Casey, executive director of GunSense Vermont, a gun control advocacy group, said Friday he was disappointed with the U.S. Supreme Court decision.</p>
  1209.  
  1210.  
  1211.  
  1212. <p>“It’s a despicable decision,” said Casey, who is also a state representative.&nbsp; “I really believe that to celebrate this decision is to celebrate the countless deaths of Americans going forward here.”&nbsp;</p>
  1213.  
  1214.  
  1215.  
  1216. <p>U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson in dissenting to the majority opinion, according to the NewYork Times.</p>
  1217.  
  1218.  
  1219.  
  1220. <p>“When I see a bird that walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck,” Sotomayor wrote. “A bump stock-equipped semiautomatic rifle fires ‘automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.’ Because I, like Congress, call that a machine gun, I respectfully dissent.”</p>
  1221.  
  1222.  
  1223.  
  1224. <p><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rules-gun-bump-stocks-ban-unlawful-rcna154651">NBC News reported Friday</a> that even with the federal ban no longer in place, bump stocks would still not become readily available nationwide as 18 states have enacted legislation banning them, citing Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit gun-control group.</p>
  1225. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/vermonts-bump-stock-ban-stands-despite-us-supreme-court-ruling-throwing-out-federal-prohibition/">Vermont’s bump stock ban stands despite US Supreme Court ruling throwing out federal prohibition</a>.</p>
  1226. ]]></content:encoded>
  1230. <dc:modified>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:20:58 +0000</dc:modified>
  1231. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584131</post-id> </item>
  1232. <item>
  1233. <title>Berlin takes owner of manufactured home park to court over floodplain construction</title>
  1234. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/berlin-takes-owner-of-manufactured-home-park-to-court-over-floodplain-construction/</link>
  1236. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Carly Berlin]]></dc:creator>
  1237. <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 20:59:41 +0000</pubDate>
  1238. <category><![CDATA[Central Vermont]]></category>
  1239. <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
  1240. <category><![CDATA[Regional]]></category>
  1241. <category><![CDATA[Washington County]]></category>
  1242. <category><![CDATA[2023 July Flooding]]></category>
  1243. <category><![CDATA[Berlin Mobile Home Park]]></category>
  1244. <category><![CDATA[Randy Rouleau]]></category>
  1245. <category><![CDATA[Ture Nelson]]></category>
  1246. <category><![CDATA[Winooski River]]></category>
  1247. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584128</guid>
  1248.  
  1249. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1024x768.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A gravel and concrete driveway surrounded by grassy fields and trees, leading to a residential trailer, under a partly cloudy sky." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-300x225.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1200x900.jpg?crop=1 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-125x94.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-768x576.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1568x1176.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-706x530.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584002" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/img_3434/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1920" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="IMG_3434" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A new concrete pad appeared to have been recently poured near the entrance to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  1250. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A new concrete pad appeared to have been recently poured near the entrance to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  1251. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-300x225.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1200x900.jpg?crop=1" /></figure>
  1252. <p>The unpermitted work could both endanger the lives of future park residents, the town argues, and jeopardize flood insurance eligibility for people living in Berlin.</p>
  1253. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/berlin-takes-owner-of-manufactured-home-park-to-court-over-floodplain-construction/">Berlin takes owner of manufactured home park to court over floodplain construction</a>.</p>
  1254. ]]></description>
  1255. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1024x768.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A gravel and concrete driveway surrounded by grassy fields and trees, leading to a residential trailer, under a partly cloudy sky." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-300x225.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1200x900.jpg?crop=1 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-125x94.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-768x576.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1568x1176.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-706x530.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584002" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/img_3434/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1920" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="IMG_3434" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A new concrete pad appeared to have been recently poured near the entrance to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  1256. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A new concrete pad appeared to have been recently poured near the entrance to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  1257. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-300x225.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1200x900.jpg?crop=1" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  1258. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="900" data-attachment-id="584002" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/img_3434/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1920" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="IMG_3434" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A new concrete pad appeared to have been recently poured near the entrance to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  1259. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A new concrete pad appeared to have been recently poured near the entrance to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  1260. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-300x225.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1200x900.jpg?crop=1" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1200x900.jpg?crop=1" alt="A gravel and concrete driveway surrounded by grassy fields and trees, leading to a residential trailer, under a partly cloudy sky." class="wp-image-584002" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1200x900.jpg?crop=1 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-300x225.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-125x94.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-768x576.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1568x1176.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-706x530.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A new concrete pad appeared to have been recently poured near the entrance to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public</figcaption></figure></div>
  1261.  
  1262.  
  1263. <p><em>This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.</em></p>
  1264.  
  1265.  
  1266.  
  1267. <p></p>
  1268.  
  1269.  
  1270.  
  1271. <p>The town of Berlin has taken legal action against the owner of a manufactured home park hit by catastrophic flooding last summer, asking a judge to <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/officials-alarmed-by-apparent-rebuilding-of-manufactured-home-park-in-floodplain/">halt construction currently underway</a> at the property.&nbsp;</p>
  1272.  
  1273.  
  1274.  
  1275. <p>In a <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24762409-24-env-00049-complaint-filed?responsive=1&amp;title=1">complaint</a> filed in state environmental court on June 11, the town alleges that redevelopment work at the Berlin Mobile Home Park, which sits alongside the Stevens Branch of the Winooski River, flouts the town’s rules for building in a floodplain. The unpermitted work could both endanger the lives of future park residents, the town argues, and jeopardize flood insurance eligibility for people living in Berlin.</p>
  1276.  
  1277.  
  1278.  
  1279. <p>Dozens of residents were displaced from the park after floodwaters ripped through last July. The site has remained uninhabited since then, but redevelopment work has recently begun. The town included photos of a new concrete pad getting poured near the entrance of the park on June 6 with its complaint.</p>
  1280.  
  1281.  
  1282.  
  1283. <p>Earlier this week, Ture Nelson, the acting town administrator, declined to confirm with VTDigger/Vermont Public whether he had been speaking with state officials about taking legal action against the park owner. But he noted that he had witnessed construction at the park that seemed to fly in the face of the town’s zoning.</p>
  1284.  
  1285.  
  1286.  
  1287. <p>“I have observed work at the park that I don’t feel is in compliance with floodway regulations,” Nelson said on Wednesday.</p>
  1288.  
  1289.  
  1290.  
  1291. <p>The owner of the company that runs the park, Randy Rouleau, has not responded to repeated interview requests.</p>
  1292.  
  1293.  
  1294.  
  1295. <p>The town is <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24762408-24-env-00049-motion-miscellaneous-1?responsive=1&amp;title=1">asking the court to stop further construction</a> at the property before a hearing takes place, and to prohibit future construction of new manufactured homes and other related infrastructure in the “regulated floodway.” It is also calling for the removal of “all new structures already illegally built on the property,” and is seeking damages resulting from the park owner’s violations of the town’s zoning rules.</p>
  1296.  
  1297.  
  1298.  
  1299. <p>An initial hearing in the case has been scheduled for June 21.</p>
  1300. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/berlin-takes-owner-of-manufactured-home-park-to-court-over-floodplain-construction/">Berlin takes owner of manufactured home park to court over floodplain construction</a>.</p>
  1301. ]]></content:encoded>
  1305. <dc:modified>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:41:55 +0000</dc:modified>
  1306. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584128</post-id> </item>
  1307. <item>
  1308. <title>It’s getting hot in here: $70K Statehouse cooling bill surprises speaker ahead of veto session</title>
  1309. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/its-getting-hot-in-here-70k-statehouse-cooling-bill-surprises-speaker-ahead-of-veto-session/</link>
  1311. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Shaun Robinson]]></dc:creator>
  1312. <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 20:36:37 +0000</pubDate>
  1313. <category><![CDATA[Government & Politics]]></category>
  1314. <category><![CDATA[Jennifer Fitch]]></category>
  1315. <category><![CDATA[Jill Krowinski]]></category>
  1316. <category><![CDATA[Vermont Legislature]]></category>
  1317. <category><![CDATA[Vermont Statehouse]]></category>
  1318. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584125</guid>
  1319.  
  1320. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1024x683.jpeg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A large building with multiple columns is under construction. Equipment and machinery are present, and the area is fenced off." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1200x800.jpeg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-125x83.jpeg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1568x1045.jpeg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-706x471.jpeg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584123" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-scaled.jpeg" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="statehouse air conditioning construction 3" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A temporary air conditioning system is installed at the Vermont Statehouse on Thursday, June 13 ahead of next week&#8217;s veto session. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1321. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A temporary air conditioning system is installed at the Vermont Statehouse on Thursday, June 13 ahead of next week&#8217;s veto session. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1322. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-300x200.jpeg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1200x800.jpeg" /></figure>
  1323. <p>A temporary air conditioning system being installed just for next week’s proceedings is set to cost the state $70,000, a price tag that "stunned" House Speaker Jill Krowinski when she learned about it this week.</p>
  1324. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/its-getting-hot-in-here-70k-statehouse-cooling-bill-surprises-speaker-ahead-of-veto-session/">It’s getting hot in here: $70K Statehouse cooling bill surprises speaker ahead of veto session</a>.</p>
  1325. ]]></description>
  1326. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1024x683.jpeg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A large building with multiple columns is under construction. Equipment and machinery are present, and the area is fenced off." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1200x800.jpeg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-125x83.jpeg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1568x1045.jpeg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-706x471.jpeg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584123" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-scaled.jpeg" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="statehouse air conditioning construction 3" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A temporary air conditioning system is installed at the Vermont Statehouse on Thursday, June 13 ahead of next week&#8217;s veto session. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1327. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A temporary air conditioning system is installed at the Vermont Statehouse on Thursday, June 13 ahead of next week&#8217;s veto session. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1328. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-300x200.jpeg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1200x800.jpeg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  1329. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" data-attachment-id="584123" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-scaled.jpeg" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="statehouse air conditioning construction 3" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A temporary air conditioning system is installed at the Vermont Statehouse on Thursday, June 13 ahead of next week&#8217;s veto session. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1330. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A temporary air conditioning system is installed at the Vermont Statehouse on Thursday, June 13 ahead of next week&#8217;s veto session. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1331. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-300x200.jpeg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1200x800.jpeg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1200x800.jpeg" alt="A large building with multiple columns is under construction. Equipment and machinery are present, and the area is fenced off." class="wp-image-584123" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1200x800.jpeg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-125x83.jpeg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-1568x1045.jpeg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/statehouse-air-conditioning-construction-3-706x471.jpeg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A temporary air conditioning system is installed at the Vermont Statehouse on Thursday, June 13 ahead of next week&#8217;s veto session. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDigger</figcaption></figure></div>
  1332.  
  1333.  
  1334. <p>When Vermont lawmakers come back to the Statehouse next week for a marathon special session to attempt to override some, if not all, of <a href="https://governor.vermont.gov/governor-scotts-blog/action-taken-governor-scott-bills-during-2024-legislative-session">Gov. Phil Scott’s recent vetoes</a>, they’ll find a building that — at least from the front — looks like a construction site.</p>
  1335.  
  1336.  
  1337.  
  1338. <p>That’s because it is: Crews are in the process of replacing three aging air handlers that help cool the House and Senate chambers by circulating conditioned air, according to Jennifer Fitch, commissioner of the state’s Department of Buildings and General Services. The air handlers have already been dismantled, department officials said, effectively leaving both chambers without any central cooling system.</p>
  1339.  
  1340.  
  1341.  
  1342. <p>As a result, Fitch said her department decided to install a temporary air conditioning system for the duration of the veto session, which is expected to last no longer than two days after it starts on Monday morning.</p>
  1343.  
  1344.  
  1345.  
  1346. <p>But the cooling system’s projected $70,000 price tag — and the fact it was even being installed in the first place — came as a surprise to at least one legislative leader.</p>
  1347.  
  1348.  
  1349.  
  1350. <p>House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, was “stunned” by the cost, said Conor Kennedy, her chief of staff, in an interview Thursday. “I think the speaker&#8217;s first response, kind of cheeky, was, ‘couldn&#8217;t we just bring in fans and/or open up the windows?’”</p>
  1351.  
  1352.  
  1353.  
  1354. <p>Kennedy said the speaker’s office learned on Wednesday that the air conditioning was being installed, though according to Fitch, plans for it have been in the works since mid-May.&nbsp;</p>
  1355.  
  1356.  
  1357.  
  1358. <p>Ashley Moore, chief of staff for Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, said in an interview Friday that she wasn’t aware the temporary system was being installed.</p>
  1359.  
  1360.  
  1361. <div class="wp-block-image">
  1362. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="799" data-attachment-id="552663" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/flood-buildings-1-20230726/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/flood-buildings-1-20230726.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1331" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6_2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Jennifer Fitch, commissioner of Buildings and General Services, shows the high water mark near the auditorium of the Pavillion office building as she inspects recovery efforts in Montpelier on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. More than six feet of water flooded the basement of the building.&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1690404041&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;20&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;25600&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.004&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;flood-buildings-1 20230726&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="flood-buildings-1 20230726" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;slug: flood building&lt;/p&gt;
  1363. &lt;p&gt;Jennifer Fitch, commissioner of Buildings and General Services, shows the high water mark near the auditorium of the Pavillion office building as she inspects recovery efforts in Montpelier on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. More than six feet of water flooded the basement of the building.&lt;/p&gt;
  1364. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Jennifer Fitch, commissioner of Buildings and General Services, shows the high water mark near the auditorium of the Pavillion office building as she inspects recovery efforts in Montpelier on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. More than six feet of water flooded the basement of the building. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1365. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/flood-buildings-1-20230726-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/flood-buildings-1-20230726-1200x799.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/flood-buildings-1-20230726-1200x799.jpg" alt="A woman is standing in front of a brick wall." class="wp-image-552663" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/flood-buildings-1-20230726-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/flood-buildings-1-20230726-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/flood-buildings-1-20230726-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/flood-buildings-1-20230726-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/flood-buildings-1-20230726-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/flood-buildings-1-20230726-1568x1044.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/flood-buildings-1-20230726-400x266.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/flood-buildings-1-20230726.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jennifer Fitch, commissioner of Buildings and General Services, shows the high water mark near the auditorium of the Pavillion office building as she inspects recovery efforts in Montpelier on July 26, 2023. More than six feet of water flooded the basement of the building. File Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger</figcaption></figure></div>
  1366.  
  1367.  
  1368. <p>Fitch said in an interview Thursday that her department previously communicated about the temporary air conditioning system with Statehouse Sergeant-at-Arms Agatha Kessler’s office. Kessler declined to comment for this story.</p>
  1369.  
  1370.  
  1371.  
  1372. <p>Fitch added that her department could not wait to start replacing the air handlers serving both legislative chambers until after the veto session. Had crews waited, she said, the project may not have finished before preparations get underway for the 2025 legislative session.</p>
  1373.  
  1374.  
  1375.  
  1376. <p>Once the buildings and general services department felt confident a veto session was going to take place, “that&#8217;s when we looked at what options may be available,” Fitch said. “And we made the decision in the executive branch to put in temporary AC, understanding that in this time of the year, right, it can be cold — or it can be really, really hot.”&nbsp;</p>
  1377.  
  1378.  
  1379.  
  1380. <p>Indeed, temperatures are expected to surpass 90 degrees in Montpelier early next week as <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/extreme-heat-and-rising-humidity-headed-to-vermont-early-next-week/">a wave of extreme heat</a> and rising humidity blankets the state.&nbsp;</p>
  1381.  
  1382.  
  1383.  
  1384. <p>Fitch said the temporary air conditioning and HVAC replacement work is being managed by the Barre contracting firm E.F. Wall &amp; Associates. Contracts for the work were selected through a competitive bidding process, the commissioner said.&nbsp;</p>
  1385.  
  1386.  
  1387.  
  1388. <p>“We&#8217;re getting the best, (most) competitive price that we possibly can,” she said. She said the cost includes setting up, running and then taking down the system — adding that the condensed timeline of the temporary project made it more expensive.&nbsp;</p>
  1389.  
  1390.  
  1391.  
  1392. <p>According to Fitch, the administration expects to be able to cover the $70,000 cost with funding that lawmakers have already appropriated for the HVAC replacement project. If not, she said the department could need to request additional money for the work from the Legislature, though emphasized that wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for a state construction project.&nbsp;</p>
  1393.  
  1394.  
  1395.  
  1396. <p>This summer’s air handler replacement is the second of three phases of work being done to modernize and improve the air delivery systems around the Statehouse, Fitch said.&nbsp;</p>
  1397.  
  1398.  
  1399.  
  1400. <p>Last summer, crews replaced the air handler serving Senate committee rooms on the first floor of the building. Next summer, plans are to replace two more air handlers that serve other parts of the building, including House committee rooms.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  1401.  
  1402.  
  1403.  
  1404. <p>Fitch said the existing air handlers date back to the 1970s and ’80s, so they’re well past their recommended two-decade lifespan. And she said the old systems also weren’t designed to accommodate the number of people who use the Statehouse today — so the new systems will help the state meet established modern airflow standards.</p>
  1405.  
  1406.  
  1407.  
  1408. <p>Overall, the air handler replacement project is expected to cost $12.3 million.&nbsp;</p>
  1409.  
  1410.  
  1411.  
  1412. <p>The replacement project is also tied to broader plans to build an expansion onto the Statehouse, including additional legislative committee rooms. That project is still only in the planning phase, though, Fitch said on Thursday.</p>
  1413. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/its-getting-hot-in-here-70k-statehouse-cooling-bill-surprises-speaker-ahead-of-veto-session/">It’s getting hot in here: $70K Statehouse cooling bill surprises speaker ahead of veto session</a>.</p>
  1414. ]]></content:encoded>
  1418. <dc:modified>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 20:36:43 +0000</dc:modified>
  1419. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584125</post-id> </item>
  1420. <item>
  1421. <title>Vermont Supreme Court says ‘fried chicken’ comment did not merit termination of prison supervisor</title>
  1422. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/vermont-supreme-court-says-fried-chicken-comment-did-not-merit-termination-of-prison-supervisor/</link>
  1424. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ethan Weinstein]]></dc:creator>
  1425. <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 19:47:53 +0000</pubDate>
  1426. <category><![CDATA[Public Safety]]></category>
  1427. <category><![CDATA[Department of Corrections]]></category>
  1428. <category><![CDATA[Vermont Labor Relations Board]]></category>
  1429. <category><![CDATA[Vermont Supreme Court]]></category>
  1430. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584114</guid>
  1431.  
  1432. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-610x407.jpg 610w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-150x100.jpg 150w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-600x400.jpg 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-800x534.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="497730" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2017/01/29/medical-licenses-jeopardy-inmates-death/crcf5/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,683" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS REBEL T5i&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1452748077&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;37&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.002&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. Photo by Cory Dawson/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1433. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. Photo by Cory Dawson/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1434. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-610x407.jpg" /></figure>
  1435. <p>The split ruling affirmed a Vermont Labor Relations Board decision that the comment did not constitute racial discrimination. Two justices endorsed a dissenting opinion, arguing the impact of the comments, not their intent, was key. </p>
  1436. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/vermont-supreme-court-says-fried-chicken-comment-did-not-merit-termination-of-prison-supervisor/">Vermont Supreme Court says ‘fried chicken’ comment did not merit termination of prison supervisor</a>.</p>
  1437. ]]></description>
  1438. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-610x407.jpg 610w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-150x100.jpg 150w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-600x400.jpg 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-800x534.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="497730" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2017/01/29/medical-licenses-jeopardy-inmates-death/crcf5/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,683" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS REBEL T5i&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1452748077&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;37&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.002&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. Photo by Cory Dawson/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1439. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. Photo by Cory Dawson/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1440. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-610x407.jpg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  1441. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="610" height="407" data-attachment-id="497730" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2017/01/29/medical-licenses-jeopardy-inmates-death/crcf5/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,683" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS REBEL T5i&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1452748077&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;37&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.002&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. Photo by Cory Dawson/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1442. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. Photo by Cory Dawson/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1443. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-610x407.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-610x407.jpg" alt="Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility" class="wp-image-497730" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-610x407.jpg 610w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-150x100.jpg 150w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-600x400.jpg 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5-800x534.jpg 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/crcf5.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. File Photo by Cory Dawson/VTDigger</figcaption></figure></div>
  1444.  
  1445.  
  1446. <p>The Vermont Supreme Court affirmed a state labor relations board decision that a supervisor at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility should not have been fired for making a comment perceived as racist.&nbsp;</p>
  1447.  
  1448.  
  1449.  
  1450. <p>But two justices, including Chief Justice Paul Reiber, dissented from three of their colleagues. Reiber and Associate Justice Nancy Waples argued the impact — not the intent — made the comments discriminatory and severe enough to merit termination.&nbsp;</p>
  1451.  
  1452.  
  1453.  
  1454. <p>While a Black colleague he supervised heated up his lunch at the South Burlington facility in late 2020, Michael Miller asked if the food in the microwave was fried chicken, according to employee accounts cited by the court. When the employee informed Miller his meal was in fact seafood, Miller again said it smelled like fried chicken, the documents showed.&nbsp;</p>
  1455.  
  1456.  
  1457.  
  1458. <p>The colleague told the Vermont State Employees’ Association and prison leadership that he found Miller’s comments “very racist,” and an investigation ensued.&nbsp;</p>
  1459.  
  1460.  
  1461.  
  1462. <p>The state fired Miller for his actions, arguing he’d “engaged in discriminatory and unprofessional behavior” and lied during the investigation. Miller denied that his comments were racially motivated, documents show.&nbsp;</p>
  1463.  
  1464.  
  1465.  
  1466. <p>Miller, with the help of the state employees’ union, appealed his termination to Vermont’s Labor Relations Board.&nbsp;</p>
  1467.  
  1468.  
  1469.  
  1470. <p>After reviewing the case, the labor board called the comment an “isolated incident,” documents show, determining “there was no evidence of racial discrimination because grievant’s fried chicken comment did not alter the material conditions of coworker’s employment.”</p>
  1471.  
  1472.  
  1473.  
  1474. <p>The board ultimately upheld three of nine claims the state made against Miller, deciding to subject him to a 20-day suspension rather than termination. The state then appealed the decision.</p>
  1475.  
  1476.  
  1477.  
  1478. <p>In affirming the labor board’s action, the high court’s majority cited multiple federal cases involving claims of employment discrimination based on fried chicken-related comments. Judges in those decisions determined that such comments, while “deplorable,” “offensive” and “inappropriate,” did not rise to the level of racial discrimination under federal law.&nbsp;</p>
  1479.  
  1480.  
  1481.  
  1482. <p>Associate Justice Waples authored a dissenting opinion, cosigned by Reiber, arguing that the state was right in firing Miller, and that “the consequences of the majority’s holding would be to hamstring the State from taking action to correct behavior that is even more vulgar and racially charged than that at issue here.”</p>
  1483.  
  1484.  
  1485.  
  1486. <p>“The resulting consequences will be to hinder the recent progress this State has made in encouraging a more diverse workforce—one that looks like and shares the experiences of the communities it serves,” Waples wrote.&nbsp;</p>
  1487.  
  1488.  
  1489.  
  1490. <p>The state’s employment policies do not require “intent” when making a harassment and discrimination claim, the dissenting justices suggested.</p>
  1491.  
  1492.  
  1493.  
  1494. <p>“Requiring intent precludes discipline for a wide array of racially insensitive conduct, such as microaggressions, and thus places such behavior outside the protections of the (employees union’s collective bargaining agreement),” Waples wrote. “The impact of the action, not the intent of the actor, is key.”<br><a href="https://vtdigger.org/2022/12/01/vermont-judiciary-to-hold-public-forums-on-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-court-system/">Reiber and Waples co-chair</a> the court’s commission on diversity, equity and inclusion.</p>
  1495. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/vermont-supreme-court-says-fried-chicken-comment-did-not-merit-termination-of-prison-supervisor/">Vermont Supreme Court says ‘fried chicken’ comment did not merit termination of prison supervisor</a>.</p>
  1496. ]]></content:encoded>
  1500. <dc:modified>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 19:47:59 +0000</dc:modified>
  1501. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584114</post-id> </item>
  1502. <item>
  1503. <title>Vermont organizations: DCF was right to update policy to prohibit discrimination against queer youth</title>
  1504. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/vermont-organizations-dcf-was-right-to-update-policy-to-prohibit-discrimination-against-queer-youth/</link>
  1506. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Opinion]]></dc:creator>
  1507. <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 16:23:40 +0000</pubDate>
  1508. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  1509. <category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
  1510. <category><![CDATA[foster care]]></category>
  1511. <category><![CDATA[LGBTQ+]]></category>
  1512. <category><![CDATA[Vermont Department for Children and Families]]></category>
  1513. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584084</guid>
  1514.  
  1515. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Commentaries: opinion pieces by community members." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-706x530.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="574028" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/commentaries_1200x900/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Commentaries_1200x900" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Commentaries logo for featured image&lt;/p&gt;
  1516. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png" /></figure>
  1517. <p>Youth do best when their caregivers and parents show them that they are loved and accepted for who they are at every stage of their development.</p>
  1518. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/vermont-organizations-dcf-was-right-to-update-policy-to-prohibit-discrimination-against-queer-youth/">Vermont organizations: DCF was right to update policy to prohibit discrimination against queer youth</a>.</p>
  1519. ]]></description>
  1520. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Commentaries: opinion pieces by community members." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-706x530.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="574028" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/commentaries_1200x900/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Commentaries_1200x900" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Commentaries logo for featured image&lt;/p&gt;
  1521. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png" /></figure>
  1522. <p><em>This commentary is by a group of Vermont organizations. They are listed at the end of the commentary.</em></p>
  1523.  
  1524.  
  1525. <div class="wp-block-image">
  1526. <figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://vtdigger.org/tag/commentaries/"><img decoding="async" width="300" height="67" data-attachment-id="570577" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/?attachment_id=570577" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1.png" data-orig-size="512,114" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Commentaries_vtd" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-300x67.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1.png" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-300x67.png" alt="" class="wp-image-570577" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-300x67.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-125x28.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-400x89.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1.png 512w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
  1527.  
  1528.  
  1529. <p>As organizations working with or on behalf of children and youth in Vermont, we wholeheartedly support the<a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/04/families-sue-vermont-dcf-over-lgbtq-foster-care-requirements/"> decision by The Vermont Department of Children and Families (DCF) to update Policy 76</a> to “prohibit licensed foster parents from discriminating against foster children based on sexual orientation or gender identity, as well as other personal characteristics.” When children come into state care, they require homes that are safe, supportive, and affirming. Foster homes that are not explicitly supportive of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Plus (LGBTQIA+) children and youth are not safe and therefore should not be licensed.</p>
  1530.  
  1531.  
  1532.  
  1533. <p>This lawsuit, filed at the start of Pride Month by a legal advocacy group opposed to marriage equality and LGBTQIA+ rights, reinforces a dangerous narrative that affirming LGBTQIA+ youth is optional for foster parents contracted by the state. The claim that DCF’s policy is discriminatory against Christians, or that homophobia is a principle of Christianity is inaccurate. The existence of this lawsuit, which undermines the safety and responsive care that all youth deserve and reinforces a dangerous climate for all LGBTQIA+ children during a time of escalating attacks, creates profound harm.</p>
  1534.  
  1535.  
  1536.  
  1537. <p>It is essential that we stand united against attempts to weaken or dismantle LGBTQIA+ rights and autonomy, and create a supportive framework for our engagement with youth as they name (or choose not to name) their identities.</p>
  1538.  
  1539.  
  1540.  
  1541. <p>The child welfare system reflects significant hardship for LGBTQIA+ youth, who represent <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0145213418301133">10-30% (or more) of youth under state care</a>. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01488376.2018.1441097">A recent study indicated</a> that 44% of LGBTQIA+ youth in state custody were removed, ran away, or were thrown out of their home for reasons directly related to their identity.</p>
  1542.  
  1543.  
  1544.  
  1545. <p>Requests for removal have been shown to occur with twice as much frequency for LGBTQIA+-identifying youth, as opposed to the number of requests for those who are not. The climate of oppression that LGBTQIA+ youth are forced to navigate is both empirically clear and pervasive, and necessitated the decisive action taken by the Department as a critical step toward responding to a much larger issue.&nbsp;</p>
  1546.  
  1547.  
  1548.  
  1549. <p><a href="https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/document/hsi-yrbs-2021-full-report.pdf">Vermont’s own 2021 youth risk behavior survey</a> illustrated the implications of this climate on youth mental health outcomes. 42% of LGBTQIA + youth in middle school said they had experienced poor mental health (stress, anxiety and depression) compared to 22% in that age group overall. In high school, 59% of LGBTQ+ youth reported these experiences.</p>
  1550.  
  1551.  
  1552.  
  1553. <p>We have both the power and responsibility to do our part to change the story in Vermont. Supportive home environments can play an important role in uplifting trans or queer-identified youth. LGBTQIA+ young people who experience high levels of acceptance from their families <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21073595/">are less likely</a> to struggle with substance use, less likely to be depressed, three times less likely to attempt suicide, and report better overall health and higher self-esteem. Youth do best when their caregivers and parents show them that they are loved and accepted for who they are at every stage of their development.</p>
  1554.  
  1555.  
  1556.  
  1557. <p>The Vermont Human Rights Commission recently shared a powerful quote from Kristopher Sharp, an LQBTQIA+ identifying former foster youth from Texas, who spent eight years in foster care: “I was told that foster families didn’t want a gay kid in their home, so I grew up in group homes and residential centers where I was abused sexually, physically and emotionally.” It is critical that DCF listens and responds to those most impacted by their policy choices.</p>
  1558.  
  1559.  
  1560.  
  1561. <p>Our decision whether or not to affirm youth can literally be a matter of life and death. As organizations, we are collectively committed to supporting our agencies as they move toward ongoing improvements for LGBTQIA+ youth and other impacted communities in Vermont, and to supporting the ability of queer youth in our state to lead the joyful, fulfilling, empowered lives they deserve.</p>
  1562.  
  1563.  
  1564.  
  1565. <p>​​American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter</p>
  1566.  
  1567.  
  1568.  
  1569. <p>Education Justice Coalition of Vermont</p>
  1570.  
  1571.  
  1572.  
  1573. <p>Gedakina</p>
  1574.  
  1575.  
  1576.  
  1577. <p>KidSafe Collaborative</p>
  1578.  
  1579.  
  1580.  
  1581. <p>King Street Center</p>
  1582.  
  1583.  
  1584.  
  1585. <p>Migrant Justice/Justicia Migrante Vermont</p>
  1586.  
  1587.  
  1588.  
  1589. <p>Mosaic Vermont</p>
  1590.  
  1591.  
  1592.  
  1593. <p>Outright Vermont</p>
  1594.  
  1595.  
  1596.  
  1597. <p>Planned Parenthood Vermont Action Fund</p>
  1598.  
  1599.  
  1600.  
  1601. <p>Prevent Child Abuse Vermont</p>
  1602.  
  1603.  
  1604.  
  1605. <p>Richard Kemp Center&nbsp;</p>
  1606.  
  1607.  
  1608.  
  1609. <p>Spectrum Youth &amp; Family Services</p>
  1610.  
  1611.  
  1612.  
  1613. <p>The Root Social Justice Center</p>
  1614.  
  1615.  
  1616.  
  1617. <p>Vermont Academy of Family Physicians</p>
  1618.  
  1619.  
  1620.  
  1621. <p>Vermont Afterschool</p>
  1622.  
  1623.  
  1624.  
  1625. <p>Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services</p>
  1626.  
  1627.  
  1628.  
  1629. <p>Vermont Citizens Advisory Board to DCF</p>
  1630.  
  1631.  
  1632.  
  1633. <p>Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence</p>
  1634.  
  1635.  
  1636.  
  1637. <p>Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network</p>
  1638.  
  1639.  
  1640.  
  1641. <p>Voices for Vermont’s Children</p>
  1642.  
  1643.  
  1644.  
  1645. <p>Youth Development Program &amp; Elevate Youth Services</p>
  1646. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/vermont-organizations-dcf-was-right-to-update-policy-to-prohibit-discrimination-against-queer-youth/">Vermont organizations: DCF was right to update policy to prohibit discrimination against queer youth</a>.</p>
  1647. ]]></content:encoded>
  1651. <dc:modified>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 16:24:01 +0000</dc:modified>
  1652. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584084</post-id> </item>
  1653. <item>
  1654. <title>Extreme heat and rising humidity headed to Vermont early next week</title>
  1655. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/extreme-heat-and-rising-humidity-headed-to-vermont-early-next-week/</link>
  1657. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Juan Vega de Soto]]></dc:creator>
  1658. <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 11:03:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1659. <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
  1660. <category><![CDATA[environment]]></category>
  1661. <category><![CDATA[heat wave]]></category>
  1662. <category><![CDATA[National Weather Service]]></category>
  1663. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584029</guid>
  1664.  
  1665. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-1024x683.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A map of Vermont and part of New York with yellow, orange, and red noting excessive heat risk in the region." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-1024x683.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-300x200.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-1200x801.png 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-125x83.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-768x512.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-400x267.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-706x471.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2.png 1286w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584027" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/national-weather-service-heat-map-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2.png" data-orig-size="1286,858" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Image via National Weather Service&lt;/p&gt;
  1666. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Image via National Weather Service&lt;/p&gt;
  1667. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-300x200.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-1200x801.png" /></figure>
  1668. <p>Parts of the Champlain Valley could reach temperatures of 95 degrees, with heat advisories likely, according to the National Weather Service.</p>
  1669. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/extreme-heat-and-rising-humidity-headed-to-vermont-early-next-week/">Extreme heat and rising humidity headed to Vermont early next week</a>.</p>
  1670. ]]></description>
  1671. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-1024x683.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A map of Vermont and part of New York with yellow, orange, and red noting excessive heat risk in the region." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-1024x683.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-300x200.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-1200x801.png 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-125x83.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-768x512.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-400x267.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-706x471.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2.png 1286w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584027" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/national-weather-service-heat-map-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2.png" data-orig-size="1286,858" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Image via National Weather Service&lt;/p&gt;
  1672. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Image via National Weather Service&lt;/p&gt;
  1673. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-300x200.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-1200x801.png" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  1674. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="801" data-attachment-id="584027" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/national-weather-service-heat-map-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2.png" data-orig-size="1286,858" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Image via National Weather Service&lt;/p&gt;
  1675. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Image via National Weather Service&lt;/p&gt;
  1676. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-300x200.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-1200x801.png" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-1200x801.png" alt="" class="wp-image-584027" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-1200x801.png 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-300x200.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-125x83.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-768x512.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-1024x683.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-400x267.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2-706x471.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/National-Weather-Service-Heat-Map-2.png 1286w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A map of extreme heat expected to hit Vermont. Image via National Weather Service</figcaption></figure></div>
  1677.  
  1678.  
  1679. <p>A warm, humid air mass from the Gulf of Mexico is moving north across the country — and is aimed squarely at Vermont, according to Eric Myskowski, a meteorologist from the Burlington branch of the National Weather Service.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  1680.  
  1681.  
  1682.  
  1683. <p>Starting Tuesday, maximum temperatures are expected to surpass 90 degrees in most of the state, <a href="https://x.com/NWSBurlington/status/1800991441189314849/photo/1">according to the NWS</a>, with rising humidity making temperatures feel even warmer.&nbsp;</p>
  1684.  
  1685.  
  1686.  
  1687. <p>“We expect temperatures to stay close to 70 at night,” said Myskowski, explaining that high humidity limits the air’s cooling after sundown.&nbsp;</p>
  1688.  
  1689.  
  1690.  
  1691. <p>Such high heat is uncommon, but not unheard of, in Vermont in mid-June. If temperatures remain at 95 degrees or higher for two consecutive hours in a given region, the NWS will issue a heat advisory — a criteria which Myskowski expects will be met in a few places.</p>
  1692.  
  1693.  
  1694.  
  1695. <p>“It will be likely that we do (issue a heat advisory) in the Champlain Valley during this time,” said Myskowski.&nbsp;</p>
  1696.  
  1697.  
  1698.  
  1699. <p>Unlike earlier in the year, however, valley residents looking to cool off in Lake Champlain need not fear hypothermia from icy waters. The lake’s temperature currently sits at a safe 67 degrees, <a href="https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/04294500/#parameterCode=00010&amp;period=P7D&amp;showMedian=true">according to data from the United States Geological Survey.&nbsp;</a></p>
  1700.  
  1701.  
  1702.  
  1703. <p>Residents of the Connecticut River Valley are expected to experience the highest temperatures of anywhere in the state. Towns like Springfield and Bradford along the river are both forecast to hit 96 degrees on Wednesday.</p>
  1704.  
  1705.  
  1706.  
  1707. <p>During periods of extreme heat, Myskowski recommends limiting strenuous activity, staying hydrated, and keeping the house cool by opening windows and turning on fans. <a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/cbf6875974554a74823232f84f563253?src=%E2%80%B9%20Consumption%20%20%20%20%20%20Residential%20Energy%20Consumption%20Survey%20(RECS)-b1">According to U.S Energy Department survey data</a>, about one third of Vermont households do not use any air conditioning equipment.&nbsp;</p>
  1708.  
  1709.  
  1710.  
  1711. <p>“You really want to be limiting time outside,” said Myskowski.&nbsp;</p>
  1712.  
  1713.  
  1714.  
  1715. <p>Not all Vermonters have access to somewhere cool and away from the sun, however. People experiencing homelessness, by nature of their living situation, often spend most of their day outdoors.&nbsp;</p>
  1716.  
  1717.  
  1718.  
  1719. <p>“The heat — there’s really no way around it,” Steve Kozikowski said on Thursday morning. He was sitting in the front room of Another Way, a Montpelier nonprofit that provides a daytime sanctuary, including food, water and showers, for unhoused people.</p>
  1720.  
  1721.  
  1722.  
  1723. <p>Kozikowski, 43, described himself as homeless on-and-off since he was 16. He is currently camping in East Montpelier, a 3.5-mile walk from Another Way. Without his recently acquired bicycle, he said, his hygiene would have been the first thing to suffer with the rising heat.&nbsp;</p>
  1724.  
  1725.  
  1726.  
  1727. <p>“It’s too hot to be walking one hour and fifteen minutes just to take a shower and turn around again,” said Kozikowski.&nbsp;</p>
  1728.  
  1729.  
  1730.  
  1731. <p>But the immediate worry for people who are living on the street, according to Kozikowski, is access to drinkable water. When temperatures rise, dehydration can set in quickly and make it difficult to move — which Kozikowski said makes people desperate enough to fill up water bottles from rivers and creeks.&nbsp;</p>
  1732.  
  1733.  
  1734.  
  1735. <p>Untreated water from the state’s rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds is not safe to drink, <a href="https://www.healthvermont.gov/environment/drinking-water/private-drinking-water#:~:text=Untreated%20surface%20water%20from%20rivers,water%20can%20easily%20become%20contaminated.">according to Vermont’s Department of Health</a>. Floods further raise <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2023/07/12/statewide-flooding-puts-drinking-water-quality-at-risk/">the possibility of water contamination</a>.&nbsp;</p>
  1736.  
  1737.  
  1738.  
  1739. <p>“If you’re drinking the water with no filtration system, you’re playing Russian roulette,” said Kozikowski.</p>
  1740. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/extreme-heat-and-rising-humidity-headed-to-vermont-early-next-week/">Extreme heat and rising humidity headed to Vermont early next week</a>.</p>
  1741. ]]></content:encoded>
  1745. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 21:35:52 +0000</dc:modified>
  1746. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584029</post-id> </item>
  1747. <item>
  1748. <title>Rev. Elissa Johnk: Overdose prevention centers save lives; they must be tried</title>
  1749. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/rev-elissa-johnk-overdose-prevention-centers-save-lives-they-must-be-tried/</link>
  1751. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Opinion]]></dc:creator>
  1752. <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 09:58:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1753. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  1754. <category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
  1755. <category><![CDATA[overdose prevention center]]></category>
  1756. <category><![CDATA[substance abuse]]></category>
  1757. <category><![CDATA[substance abuse treatment]]></category>
  1758. <category><![CDATA[Vermont Legislature]]></category>
  1759. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584016</guid>
  1760.  
  1761. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Commentaries: opinion pieces by community members." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-706x530.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="574028" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/commentaries_1200x900/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Commentaries_1200x900" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Commentaries logo for featured image&lt;/p&gt;
  1762. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png" /></figure>
  1763. <p>We have followed our fear long enough. Let us follow the evidence.</p>
  1764. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/rev-elissa-johnk-overdose-prevention-centers-save-lives-they-must-be-tried/">Rev. Elissa Johnk: Overdose prevention centers save lives; they must be tried</a>.</p>
  1765. ]]></description>
  1766. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Commentaries: opinion pieces by community members." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-706x530.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="574028" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/commentaries_1200x900/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Commentaries_1200x900" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Commentaries logo for featured image&lt;/p&gt;
  1767. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commentaries_1200x900.png" /></figure>
  1768. <p><em>This commentary is by Rev. Elissa Johnk. She is lead minister at First Congregational Church in Burlington.</em></p>
  1769.  
  1770.  
  1771. <div class="wp-block-image">
  1772. <figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://vtdigger.org/tag/commentaries/"><img decoding="async" width="300" height="67" data-attachment-id="570577" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/?attachment_id=570577" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1.png" data-orig-size="512,114" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Commentaries_vtd" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-300x67.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1.png" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-300x67.png" alt="" class="wp-image-570577" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-300x67.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-125x28.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1-400x89.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commentaries_vtd-1.png 512w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
  1773.  
  1774.  
  1775. <p>I currently serve as minister in a beautiful spot in downtown Burlington. Our front doors open to a view of Lake Champlain that is breathtaking, and speaks of the charm of this historic town. Yet it is not uncommon for me to arrive at work to find blood trickling down the front steps. To see folks sleeping open-mouthed, with wounds that are purple and oozing from their bandages. </p>
  1776.  
  1777.  
  1778.  
  1779. <p>I often go out to ask folks to inject drugs elsewhere, and end up drawn into conversation, even if they never meet my eye. I have lost track of the number of times I’ve been told, “I don’t want to do this.” When I ask about treatment, they’ve been – seven, eight times. But 14 days is never long enough — if they can even get that.</p>
  1780.  
  1781.  
  1782.  
  1783. <p>The church staff go out multiple times a day to check on folks who are impossible to rouse.  We stock antibiotic ointment, fresh gauze and sterile solution. I have seen dressings fall away to expose wounds that go all the way to the bone. &nbsp;</p>
  1784.  
  1785.  
  1786.  
  1787. <p>While substance use disorder and homelessness have long been problems in the state, this past year has made the crisis the preeminent matter of moral — humanitarian — concern for my congregation and our communities.</p>
  1788.  
  1789.  
  1790.  
  1791. <p>But here’s the thing you might not expect: I am just as worried about those of us who do not suffer from substance use disorders as I am worried for those who do. It is increasingly clear to me what fear and anxiety do to the human soul.</p>
  1792.  
  1793.  
  1794.  
  1795. <p>When there is nowhere for folks to go to get the care they need, our empathy wanes. The conversations I overhear (or see boldly proclaimed on Reddit) have become gradually darker, sliding more frequently into dehumanization. If we can’t fix it, the thinking goes, it must be because “these people” (dogs, I have seen folks write) are to blame. It makes sense — the moral dissonance of such widespread substance use disorder without any hope of treatment — that’s hard to wrap our brains around.</p>
  1796.  
  1797.  
  1798.  
  1799. <p>Yet, in the face of this dehumanization, almost every single one of us knows someone who has struggled, or even died, from a substance disorder. I have buried parents who have overdosed, with their children looking on. I have buried children who have overdosed, with their parents looking on. Bright lights, all of them, who struggled — hard — before their deaths to overcome the disorder that claimed their lives. They are not the exception, but the rule.</p>
  1800.  
  1801.  
  1802.  
  1803. <p>We don’t have to just let this happen. We don’t have to let folks die as we beef up economic, treatment and social-safety nets. We don’t have to let our downtowns succumb to the despair we are currently experiencing. Research is clear that overdose prevention centers can save lives, help people get into treatment, prevent wounds and infectious disease and reduce public drug use in the communities that host them. They must be tried.</p>
  1804.  
  1805.  
  1806.  
  1807. <p>Our neighbors need a place to be. A place that is safe. A place where they can have access to resources and relationships that open the door to valid, sustainable treatment. Of course, OPCs are not a silver bullet to solving the crisis; they are only one part of a robust social service and treatment net, but they save lives. To think we would deny someone access to a life-saving option, simply because of the nature of their disease, is unconscionable.</p>
  1808.  
  1809.  
  1810.  
  1811. <p>The need for an OPC is beyond clear — not just for those suffering individuals themselves, but also for the overworked first responders, for the business owners and for those whose hearts break every day watching their neighbors waste away with no safe options in sight. The absence of this resource means that we are asking community members like me, my office manager and security staff to serve as unofficial OPCs without any of the necessary training or resources.</p>
  1812.  
  1813.  
  1814.  
  1815. <p>We are asking store clerks, clergy, librarians, shoppers and shop owners to be counselors, medics and cleaners. The burden on our emergency teams, our businesses and our cities is too heavy to bear. Not having overdose prevention centers puts the burden on all of us. And we are not able to hold it. It doesn’t work. For anyone.&nbsp;</p>
  1816.  
  1817.  
  1818.  
  1819. <p>In the face of all of this, I am so proud of the communities that have been working together to step up and to support our neighbors struggling with substance use disorders. While they have been failed by our current systems of care and accountability, it is heartening to see how many folks are invested in actual solutions. I’m so proud of our Vermont legislators for recognizing this is not a political issue, but a humanitarian one. I am proud they have listened not just to the research, but also to their own moral compass. We have followed our fear long enough. Let us follow the evidence. The time is now.&nbsp;</p>
  1820. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/14/rev-elissa-johnk-overdose-prevention-centers-save-lives-they-must-be-tried/">Rev. Elissa Johnk: Overdose prevention centers save lives; they must be tried</a>.</p>
  1821. ]]></content:encoded>
  1825. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:55:40 +0000</dc:modified>
  1826. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584016</post-id> </item>
  1827. <item>
  1828. <title>A lawmaker was caught on tape dumping water into her colleague’s bag. He says it’s part of a yearslong pattern of bullying.</title>
  1829. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/a-lawmaker-was-caught-on-tape-dumping-water-into-her-colleagues-bag-he-says-its-part-of-a-yearslong-pattern-of-bullying/</link>
  1831. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Mearhoff]]></dc:creator>
  1832. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 23:54:15 +0000</pubDate>
  1833. <category><![CDATA[Government & Politics]]></category>
  1834. <category><![CDATA[Jim Carroll]]></category>
  1835. <category><![CDATA[Mary Morrissey]]></category>
  1836. <category><![CDATA[Vermont Legislature]]></category>
  1837. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584052</guid>
  1838.  
  1839. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A person with light-colored hair reaches into a tote bag hanging on a wall rack with clothes, viewed through a partially obstructed angle." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1568x1045.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-706x471.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="583985" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/mary-morrissey-game-camera-1/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1.jpg" data-orig-size="2210,1473" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A game camera set up by state Rep. Jim Carroll in a Statehouse corridor repeatedly caught fellow Bennington Rep. Mary Morrissey in the act of pouring water from a cup into his bag of personal belongings, from April 2024. Screenshot from a video Carroll released to media this week.&lt;/p&gt;
  1840. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A game camera set up by state Rep. Jim Carroll in a Statehouse corridor repeatedly caught fellow Bennington Rep. Mary Morrissey in the act of pouring water from a cup into his bag of personal belongings, from April 2024. Screenshot from a video Carroll released to media this week.&lt;/p&gt;
  1841. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1200x800.jpg" /></figure>
  1842. <p>Rep. Jim Carroll, D-Bennington, said his district-mate, Rep. Mary Morrissey, R-Bennington, has taunted him for years with verbal harassment.</p>
  1843. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/a-lawmaker-was-caught-on-tape-dumping-water-into-her-colleagues-bag-he-says-its-part-of-a-yearslong-pattern-of-bullying/">A lawmaker was caught on tape dumping water into her colleague’s bag. He says it’s part of a yearslong pattern of bullying.</a>.</p>
  1844. ]]></description>
  1845. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A person with light-colored hair reaches into a tote bag hanging on a wall rack with clothes, viewed through a partially obstructed angle." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1568x1045.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-706x471.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="583985" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/mary-morrissey-game-camera-1/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1.jpg" data-orig-size="2210,1473" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A game camera set up by state Rep. Jim Carroll in a Statehouse corridor repeatedly caught fellow Bennington Rep. Mary Morrissey in the act of pouring water from a cup into his bag of personal belongings, from April 2024. Screenshot from a video Carroll released to media this week.&lt;/p&gt;
  1846. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A game camera set up by state Rep. Jim Carroll in a Statehouse corridor repeatedly caught fellow Bennington Rep. Mary Morrissey in the act of pouring water from a cup into his bag of personal belongings, from April 2024. Screenshot from a video Carroll released to media this week.&lt;/p&gt;
  1847. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1200x800.jpg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  1848. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" data-attachment-id="583985" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/mary-morrissey-game-camera-1/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1.jpg" data-orig-size="2210,1473" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A game camera set up by state Rep. Jim Carroll in a Statehouse corridor repeatedly caught fellow Bennington Rep. Mary Morrissey in the act of pouring water from a cup into his bag of personal belongings, from April 2024. Screenshot from a video Carroll released to media this week.&lt;/p&gt;
  1849. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A game camera set up by state Rep. Jim Carroll in a Statehouse corridor repeatedly caught fellow Bennington Rep. Mary Morrissey in the act of pouring water from a cup into his bag of personal belongings, from April 2024. Screenshot from a video Carroll released to media this week.&lt;/p&gt;
  1850. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1200x800.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1200x800.jpg" alt="A person with light-colored hair reaches into a tote bag hanging on a wall rack with clothes, viewed through a partially obstructed angle." class="wp-image-583985" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-1568x1045.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mary-Morrissey-Game-Camera-1-706x471.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A game camera set up by state Rep. Jim Carroll in a Statehouse corridor repeatedly caught fellow Bennington Rep. Mary Morrissey in the act of pouring water from a cup into his bag of personal belongings, from April 2024. Screenshot from a video Carroll released to media this week.</figcaption></figure></div>
  1851.  
  1852.  
  1853. <p>A Vermont lawmaker who has admitted to and apologized for repeatedly dumping water into a colleague’s bag at the Statehouse described her behavior as “out of character,” while the targeted legislator said the episode followed years of verbal taunting.</p>
  1854.  
  1855.  
  1856.  
  1857. <p>State Rep. Mary Morrissey, R-Bennington, was twice caught on video pouring water into the bag of her district-mate, Rep. Jim Carroll, D-Bennington, in April. Carroll has said his bag was soaked almost daily at certain points in the recently concluded legislative session.</p>
  1858.  
  1859.  
  1860.  
  1861. <p>Carroll, who recorded the incidents with a video camera after seeking the Capitol Police’s assistance in identifying the culprit, released the footage publicly on Tuesday after an account of the scheme was <a href="https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/a-lawmakers-bag-was-repeatedly-drenched-and-now-a-colleague-faces-a-probe-41081134">first published by Seven Days</a> last week.&nbsp;</p>
  1862.  
  1863.  
  1864.  
  1865. <p>Morrissey confirmed to VTDigger on Wednesday that she faces an internal investigation by the House Ethics Panel —&nbsp;a legislative committee that investigates allegations of bad behavior by House members within the Statehouse.</p>
  1866.  
  1867.  
  1868.  
  1869. <p>Neither Carroll nor Morrissey responded to Seven Days’ initial requests for comment, the newspaper reported. But three days after its first story on the subject was published, Carroll sent a late-night email to <a href="https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/lawmaker-releases-spy-cam-video-of-a-rival-dumping-water-in-his-bag-41112387">several Vermont reporters</a> announcing his “reluctant” release of the video footage.&nbsp;</p>
  1870.  
  1871.  
  1872.  
  1873. <p>With the story out in the open, Carroll said then, “I believe it is only right that I release the video to be fully transparent to my constituents and all Vermonters.”</p>
  1874.  
  1875.  
  1876.  
  1877. <p>Attached to the email were two surveillance-style video clips —&nbsp;one dated April 23 and another April 26. Both videos depict a person walking up to Carroll’s white and green tote bag, looking over their shoulder, then pouring water from a plastic cup into the bag before leaving.</p>
  1878.  
  1879.  
  1880.  
  1881. <p>In the April 26 video, the culprit appears mere seconds after Carroll retrieved something from the bag, which was hanging on a coat rack in the Statehouse.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  1882.  
  1883.  
  1884.  
  1885. <p>The culprit’s face is obscured in both videos, with only the back of their head visible. But the person’s hair matches Morrissey’s, and the culprit’s outfit in the April 26 video matches what Morrissey was seen wearing during <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hl8ep6lJgM&amp;t=13s">a recorded committee hearing the same day</a>. Confronted with the video evidence, Morrissey admitted to reporters and House leadership that it was her.</p>
  1886.  
  1887.  
  1888.  
  1889. <figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  1890. <iframe class="youtube-player" width="780" height="439" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GBaTgtgexHw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe>
  1891. </div></figure>
  1892.  
  1893.  
  1894.  
  1895. <p>Reading aloud from a prepared statement during a phone call with VTDigger on Wednesday, Morrissey said, “I just want to say how very, very sorry I am for my actions of pouring water into Jim Carroll&#8217;s tote bag.”</p>
  1896.  
  1897.  
  1898.  
  1899. <p>“Quite honestly, I don&#8217;t know why I did it,” Morrissey continued. “I was not meaning to hurt him. It is something very out of character for me, and I am truly ashamed.”</p>
  1900.  
  1901.  
  1902.  
  1903. <p>But in an extensive interview with VTDigger Tuesday afternoon, Carroll rejected Morrissey’s argument that the episodes were “out of character.”</p>
  1904.  
  1905.  
  1906.  
  1907. <p>“One or two times, I&#8217;d say, ‘Well, it&#8217;s just a joke,’” Carroll said. “But no, this went on unabated from January until May, when she got caught.”</p>
  1908.  
  1909.  
  1910.  
  1911. <p>The water incidents did not happen in a vacuum, according to Carroll. The relationship between the two district-mates was sour long before this year.</p>
  1912.  
  1913.  
  1914.  
  1915. <p>Carroll and Morrissey knew one another decades before they began representing the same House district in Montpelier.&nbsp;</p>
  1916.  
  1917.  
  1918.  
  1919. <p>Morrissey told VTDigger that she knew Carroll’s parents “very well.” Carroll delivered the Morrisseys’ newspapers, he told VTDigger, and the two families attended the same Catholic church.</p>
  1920.  
  1921.  
  1922.  
  1923. <p>“Socially, they didn&#8217;t intermingle,” Carroll said. “But, you know, there was no rivalry of any kind.”</p>
  1924.  
  1925.  
  1926.  
  1927. <p>Since they both began serving in Montpelier, one particular incident between the two representatives stands out to Carroll. He recounted to VTDigger his memory of a 2019 public hearing on Proposal 5, a constitutional amendment codifying the right to an abortion in the Vermont Constitution. Carroll supported the measure, which was ultimately enacted; Morrissey did not.</p>
  1928.  
  1929.  
  1930.  
  1931. <p>According to Carroll, he heard Morrissey say his name from several rows behind him. When he approached, he recalled that Morrissey said that she had a letter from Carroll’s parents from two decades prior, “expressing their feelings about abortion.”</p>
  1932.  
  1933.  
  1934.  
  1935. <p>“She said, ‘I just want you to know that I think your parents would be so ashamed of you if you voted in favor of codification,’ or words to that effect,” Carroll recounted. “I was stunned, absolutely stunned, that she would drag my dead parents from the grave.”</p>
  1936.  
  1937.  
  1938. <div class="wp-block-image">
  1939. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="610" height="406" data-attachment-id="519430" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/james-carroll-1-20200107/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-carroll-1-20200107.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1331" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;GLENN RUSSELL&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Rep. James Carroll, D-Bennington, listens as the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development considers a bill that deals with anti-compete employment contracts at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Monday, January 7, 2020.  Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1578392507&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;GLENN RUSSELL&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;50&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;james-carroll-1 20200107&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="james-carroll-1 20200107" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Rep. Jim Carroll, D-Bennington, listens as the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development considers a bill that deals with anti-compete employment contracts at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.  Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  1940. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-carroll-1-20200107-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-carroll-1-20200107-610x406.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-carroll-1-20200107-610x406.jpg" alt="A man in a suit sitting at a table with other people." class="wp-image-519430" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-carroll-1-20200107-610x406.jpg 610w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-carroll-1-20200107-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-carroll-1-20200107-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-carroll-1-20200107-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-carroll-1-20200107-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-carroll-1-20200107.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rep. Jim Carroll, D-Bennington, listens as the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development considers a bill that deals with anti-compete employment contracts at the Statehouse in Montpelier on January 7, 2020.  File Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger</figcaption></figure></div>
  1941.  
  1942.  
  1943. <p>Asked about Carroll’s recollection of the hearing, Morrissey said she couldn’t remember.</p>
  1944.  
  1945.  
  1946.  
  1947. <p>“I, you know, 2019, you know, I, really, you know, as I said, I can&#8217;t think, I&#8217;m not thinking back that far,” Morrissey replied. “I&#8217;m not trying to avoid the question. I just can&#8217;t recall it.”</p>
  1948.  
  1949.  
  1950.  
  1951. <p>The incidents accumulated over the years, Carroll said. Morrissey was “just miserable toward me,” he said.</p>
  1952.  
  1953.  
  1954.  
  1955. <p>“Her favorite was, she&#8217;d be in proximity to me —&nbsp;either near the elevator, or in the lunch line, or at one of the ice cream socials —&nbsp;and she&#8217;d say, ‘What is that smell?’ and she&#8217;d recoil from me,” Carroll said. “She would say it in front of other legislators, and it was humiliating.”<br></p>
  1956.  
  1957.  
  1958.  
  1959. <p>Morrissey declined to answer questions about her feelings toward or relationship with Carroll, nor his descriptions of their interactions. “I gave my statement the other day. I&#8217;m not going to get into any of this. We have a process we&#8217;re going through and that is where I stand,” she said, referring to the ethics panel probe.</p>
  1960.  
  1961.  
  1962.  
  1963. <p>Fast-forward to this legislative session. Carroll told VTDigger that he brought one particularly concerning episode, in which he said Morrissey walked by and verbally taunted him on April 4, to House leadership and Capitol Police.</p>
  1964.  
  1965.  
  1966.  
  1967. <p>“We locked eyes, and she got about two feet, two steps, beyond me, and she said, ‘Fuck you,’” Carroll said. “I kept walking and I said, ‘I heard that,’ and then I just laughed.”</p>
  1968.  
  1969.  
  1970.  
  1971. <p>Morrissey denied that the interaction ever took place.</p>
  1972.  
  1973.  
  1974.  
  1975. <p>“Absolutely not,” she said when asked about the account. “We very rarely spoke. When I&#8217;d go by him, I&#8217;d go, ‘Jim,’ you know, kind of nod my head. But we really didn&#8217;t have an exchange.”</p>
  1976.  
  1977.  
  1978.  
  1979. <p>It was the water-dumping scheme, though, that Carroll said tormented him most. In January, Carroll began noticing that his tote bag was repeatedly soaked. At first, he thought maybe snow fell into his bag and melted, or that he accidentally set it down in a puddle. Or perhaps someone accidentally tripped and spilled something into his bag, he thought.</p>
  1980.  
  1981.  
  1982.  
  1983. <p>“Then it started to happen just about every day,” Carroll said. “I said to myself, ‘This is not an accident.’”</p>
  1984.  
  1985.  
  1986.  
  1987. <p>For weeks, he said, he kept his suspicions to himself, fearing that he would sound paranoid if he told anyone. Eventually, he confided in a handful of legislative colleagues, then House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, and Capitol Police. By April, Carroll said he began going to Capitol Police daily to log whether his bag was wet or dry.</p>
  1988.  
  1989.  
  1990.  
  1991. <p>One day, according to Carroll, he told Capitol Police Chief John Poleway that he suspected Morrissey was the culprit.</p>
  1992.  
  1993.  
  1994.  
  1995. <p>According to Carroll, Poleway said he needed “two pieces of direct evidence” implicating Morrissey, such as an eyewitness, a photo or a video. Carroll hatched a plan with his brother. They ordered a small camera online.</p>
  1996.  
  1997.  
  1998.  
  1999. <p>“I taped the camera to the collar of the coat, and I had a black wool scarf, and I hung my coat on the opposite wall of my committee room and aimed it on my canvas bag,” Carroll explained. “You’d walk by my coat and look right at it, and you never would have seen it.”</p>
  2000.  
  2001.  
  2002.  
  2003. <p>Armed with video evidence, Carroll presented it to Krowinski, who then held a May 3 meeting with Morrissey and House Minority Leader Pattie McCoy, R-Poultney. McCoy did not respond to VTDigger’s requests for comment this week.</p>
  2004.  
  2005.  
  2006.  
  2007. <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="610" height="458" data-attachment-id="501750" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2017/01/30/bennington-county-lawmakers-go-distance-serve/mary-morrissey/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mary-Morrissey.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,768" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot SX260 HS&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1483480908&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;22.525&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1600&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.05&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="mary morrissey" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Rep. Mary Morrissey, R-Bennington, prior to the start of the 2017 legislative session at the Statehouse. Photo by Jim Therrien/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2008. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Rep. Mary Morrissey, R-Bennington, prior to the start of the 2017 legislative session at the Statehouse. Photo by Jim Therrien/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2009. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mary-Morrissey-300x225.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mary-Morrissey-610x458.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mary-Morrissey-610x458.jpg" alt="mary morrissey" class="wp-image-501750" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mary-Morrissey-610x458.jpg 610w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mary-Morrissey-125x94.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mary-Morrissey-300x225.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mary-Morrissey-768x576.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mary-Morrissey-150x113.jpg 150w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mary-Morrissey.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rep. Mary Morrissey, R-Bennington, prior to the start of the 2017 legislative session at the Statehouse. Photo by Jim Therrien/VTDigger
  2010. </figcaption></figure>
  2011.  
  2012.  
  2013.  
  2014. <p>In a written statement released Tuesday afternoon, Krowinski said that as a result of Morrissey’s behavior, she opted not to appoint Morrissey to conference committees to negotiate with the Senate in the final few weeks of the legislative session.</p>
  2015.  
  2016.  
  2017.  
  2018. <p>“This is a truly disturbing situation that is at odds with our legislative practices,” Krowinski said in her statement. “The integrity and decorum of our legislative proceedings and of legislators are of paramount importance, and any actions or behaviors that compromise these values will be thoroughly investigated and addressed. I want to assure everyone that the matter is being taken seriously.”</p>
  2019.  
  2020.  
  2021.  
  2022. <p>For Carroll, Morrissey’s apology felt shallow after months of being made to feel paranoid and embarrassed.</p>
  2023.  
  2024.  
  2025.  
  2026. <p>“There were weeks where I didn&#8217;t know who it was,” Carroll said. “It was a miserable time for me, really miserable. I was paranoid, thinking, ‘Why? Why? What could I have possibly done to anyone to deserve this? Was it inadvertent? Did I say something on the floor that pissed somebody off or I hurt them?’”</p>
  2027.  
  2028.  
  2029.  
  2030. <p>“I would spend hours turning it over in my head,” he added.</p>
  2031.  
  2032.  
  2033.  
  2034. <p>It wasn’t Carroll’s only challenge this legislative session. After he was charged with a DUI outside the Statehouse in February, Carroll checked himself into rehab to seek help for substance use disorder. (Morrissey denies that the prank had anything to do with Carroll’s DUI charge.)</p>
  2035.  
  2036.  
  2037.  
  2038. <p>He’s been sober since then, he told VTDigger, but it’s been difficult — especially this legislative session.</p>
  2039.  
  2040.  
  2041.  
  2042. <p>“It didn&#8217;t make staying sober easier,” Carroll said. “This past weekend, when the story broke out of Seven Days, it was about 10 minutes where I thought, ‘Man, I&#8217;d really like a beer.’ But, you know, I just redirected myself, ​​and that&#8217;s what I&#8217;ve done all along.”</p>
  2043. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/a-lawmaker-was-caught-on-tape-dumping-water-into-her-colleagues-bag-he-says-its-part-of-a-yearslong-pattern-of-bullying/">A lawmaker was caught on tape dumping water into her colleague’s bag. He says it’s part of a yearslong pattern of bullying.</a>.</p>
  2044. ]]></content:encoded>
  2048. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 23:54:22 +0000</dc:modified>
  2049. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584052</post-id> </item>
  2050. <item>
  2051. <title>Despite broad support in the Legislature, Phil Scott vetoes data privacy legislation</title>
  2052. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/despite-broad-support-in-the-legislature-phil-scott-vetoes-data-privacy-legislation/</link>
  2054. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Mearhoff]]></dc:creator>
  2055. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 23:32:58 +0000</pubDate>
  2056. <category><![CDATA[Government & Politics]]></category>
  2057. <category><![CDATA[data]]></category>
  2058. <category><![CDATA[Phil Scott]]></category>
  2059. <category><![CDATA[Vermont Legislature]]></category>
  2060. <category><![CDATA[veto]]></category>
  2061. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584048</guid>
  2062.  
  2063. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="681" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1024x681.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A busy legislative assembly chamber with members engaged in session, surrounded by opulent decor and chandeliers." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1200x798.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-2048x1362.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1568x1043.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-2000x1330.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-400x266.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-706x470.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="581540" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/house-representatives-1-20240510/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510.jpg" data-orig-size="2500,1663" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6_2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Members of the House of Representatives work on legislation at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, May 10, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1715364662&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;20&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;house-representatives-1 20240510&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="house-representatives-1 20240510" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Members of the House of Representatives work on legislation at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, May 10, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2064. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1200x798.jpg" /></figure>
  2065. <p>Supporters of the bill suggested that tech industry lobbyists had spread misinformation to scuttle it. </p>
  2066. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/despite-broad-support-in-the-legislature-phil-scott-vetoes-data-privacy-legislation/">Despite broad support in the Legislature, Phil Scott vetoes data privacy legislation</a>.</p>
  2067. ]]></description>
  2068. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="681" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1024x681.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A busy legislative assembly chamber with members engaged in session, surrounded by opulent decor and chandeliers." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1200x798.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-2048x1362.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1568x1043.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-2000x1330.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-400x266.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-706x470.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="581540" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/house-representatives-1-20240510/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510.jpg" data-orig-size="2500,1663" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6_2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Members of the House of Representatives work on legislation at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, May 10, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1715364662&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;20&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;house-representatives-1 20240510&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="house-representatives-1 20240510" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Members of the House of Representatives work on legislation at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, May 10, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2069. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1200x798.jpg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  2070. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="798" data-attachment-id="581540" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/house-representatives-1-20240510/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510.jpg" data-orig-size="2500,1663" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6_2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Members of the House of Representatives work on legislation at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, May 10, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1715364662&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;20&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;house-representatives-1 20240510&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="house-representatives-1 20240510" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Members of the House of Representatives work on legislation at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, May 10, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2071. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1200x798.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1200x798.jpg" alt="A busy legislative assembly chamber with members engaged in session, surrounded by opulent decor and chandeliers." class="wp-image-581540" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1200x798.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-2048x1362.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-1568x1043.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-2000x1330.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-400x266.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/house-representatives-1-20240510-706x470.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Members of the House of Representatives work on legislation at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, May 10, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger</figcaption></figure></div>
  2072.  
  2073.  
  2074. <p>Gov. Phil Scott on Thursday vetoed a sweeping data privacy bill that won broad support this year in the Vermont Legislature.&nbsp;</p>
  2075.  
  2076.  
  2077.  
  2078. <p>The bill, <a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.121">H.121</a>, was <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/04/17/disagreement-and-lobbying-threaten-passage-of-vermonts-landmark-data-privacy-bill/">a subject of fierce debate</a> throughout the legislative session. The final deal struck between House and Senate negotiators marked a compromise between those who wanted to see strict limitations on the use and sale of Vermonters’ digital data and those who feared such restrictions would place an undue burden on businesses.</p>
  2079.  
  2080.  
  2081.  
  2082. <p>In a veto message delivered to lawmakers Thursday, the Republican governor appeared sympathetic to the latter concerns.&nbsp;</p>
  2083.  
  2084.  
  2085.  
  2086. <p>He wrote that the bill’s roadmap to a private right of action — allowing Vermonters to sue those in violation of the law —&nbsp;“would make Vermont a national outlier, and more hostile than any other state to many businesses and non-profits – a reputation we already hold in a number of other areas.”</p>
  2087.  
  2088.  
  2089.  
  2090. <p>“I appreciate this provision is narrow in its impact, but it will still negatively impact mid-sized employers, and is generating significant fear and concern among many small businesses,” Scott wrote.</p>
  2091.  
  2092.  
  2093.  
  2094. <p>The bill also included provisions to compel large social media companies such as Meta and TikTok to alter their addictive algorithms for users under 18 years old.</p>
  2095.  
  2096.  
  2097.  
  2098. <p>In his veto message, Scott called for a more cautious approach to that part of the bill.</p>
  2099.  
  2100.  
  2101.  
  2102. <p>“While this is an important goal we can all support, similar legislation in California has already been stopped by the courts for likely First Amendment violations,” Scott wrote. “We should await the decision in that case to craft a bill that addresses known legal pitfalls before charging ahead with policy likely to trigger high risk and expensive lawsuits.”</p>
  2103.  
  2104.  
  2105.  
  2106. <p>In a press release Thursday, House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, criticized Scott’s veto, noting that a version of the bill passed the House by a vote of 139-3. She called Scott’s decision “disappointing, especially in light of all his discussions around bi-partisan, collaborative work.”&nbsp;</p>
  2107.  
  2108.  
  2109.  
  2110. <p>The goal of the legislation, Krowinski said, was “to ensure the security and dignity of every Vermonter in the digital age while also making sure that businesses do not face frivolous lawsuits from bad actors.”</p>
  2111.  
  2112.  
  2113.  
  2114. <p>The speaker suggested that industry lobbying had played a role in Scott’s veto. “It is unfortunate that so much misinformation has been spread about this bill, but we know that Big Tech and their deep pockets are fearful of no longer having unrestricted access to Vermonters’ personal information.”</p>
  2115.  
  2116.  
  2117.  
  2118. <p>Joining Krowinski in her press release Thursday was a top House Republican, Rep. Mike Marcotte, R-Coventry. He chairs the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, which debated and advanced the legislation.&nbsp;</p>
  2119.  
  2120.  
  2121.  
  2122. <p>“I am very disappointed that Governor Scott couldn&#8217;t get past the misinformation that national tech-supported business associations, with support from Vermont business associations, used to spread fear among our Vermont business community,” Marcotte wrote, adding, “Vermont citizens are the losers today.”</p>
  2123.  
  2124.  
  2125.  
  2126. <p>The Vermont Kids Code Coalition, which advocated for the provisions intended to protect young people, issued its own statement expressing disappointment with Scott’s veto.&nbsp;</p>
  2127.  
  2128.  
  2129.  
  2130. <p>“After months of working closely with legal, medical, and technology experts we are confident that legislators understand and appreciate the urgent need for sound legislation that protects children and teens by design and default and spurs innovation to put such protections in place,” the coalition wrote.&nbsp;</p>
  2131.  
  2132.  
  2133.  
  2134. <p>Scott’s vetoes on Thursday of H.121 and <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/phil-scott-vetoes-bill-that-would-make-sweeping-changes-to-act-250/">H.687, a land use reform and housing bill</a>, marked Scott’s seventh and eighth vetoes this year —&nbsp;and his 51st and 52nd vetoes since he took office, by far a record in Vermont history, according to <a href="https://sos.vermont.gov/vsara/learn/general-assembly/vetoes/messages/">data compiled by the Secretary of State’s Office</a>.&nbsp;</p>
  2135.  
  2136.  
  2137.  
  2138. <p>Lawmakers will have a chance to override each of these vetoes — with two-thirds majorities in both chambers —&nbsp;next week when they reconvene at the Statehouse for a veto session.</p>
  2139. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/despite-broad-support-in-the-legislature-phil-scott-vetoes-data-privacy-legislation/">Despite broad support in the Legislature, Phil Scott vetoes data privacy legislation</a>.</p>
  2140. ]]></content:encoded>
  2144. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 23:35:03 +0000</dc:modified>
  2145. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584048</post-id> </item>
  2146. <item>
  2147. <title>Tanya June Tarshis</title>
  2148. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/tanya-june-tarshis/</link>
  2150. <dc:creator><![CDATA[VTD Obituaries]]></dc:creator>
  2151. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:13:10 +0000</pubDate>
  2152. <category><![CDATA[Obituaries]]></category>
  2153. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584045</guid>
  2154.  
  2155. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="682" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-1024x682.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-1568x1045.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-706x471.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1.jpg 1613w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584042" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/tanya-june-tarshis-1/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1.jpg" data-orig-size="1613,1075" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Tanya June Tarshis.1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-1200x800.jpg" /></figure>
  2156. <p>Born July 18, 1956 Stanford, California Died May 29, 2024 Toronto, Ontario Details of services There will be a committal service at Robinson Cemetery in Calais at a later date Tanya June Tarshis, 67, of Toronto Ontario, died at Toronto General Hospital on Monday, May 27, 2024 after years of deteriorating health.&#160;&#160;She was the daughter of Inga [&#8230;]</p>
  2157. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/tanya-june-tarshis/">Tanya June Tarshis</a>.</p>
  2158. ]]></description>
  2159. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="682" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-1024x682.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-1568x1045.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-706x471.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1.jpg 1613w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584042" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/tanya-june-tarshis-1/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1.jpg" data-orig-size="1613,1075" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Tanya June Tarshis.1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis.1-1200x800.jpg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  2160. <figure class="alignright size-medium"><img decoding="async" width="252" height="300" data-attachment-id="584043" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/tanya-june-tarshis/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-scaled.jpeg" data-orig-size="2151,2560" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 15 Pro&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1718298625&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;2.2200000286119&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;320&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.01123595505618&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="Tanya June Tarshis" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-252x300.jpeg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-1200x1428.jpeg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-252x300.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-584043" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-252x300.jpeg 252w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-1200x1428.jpeg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-105x125.jpeg 105w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-768x914.jpeg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-1291x1536.jpeg 1291w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-1721x2048.jpeg 1721w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-860x1024.jpeg 860w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-1568x1866.jpeg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-2000x2380.jpeg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-400x476.jpeg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tanya-June-Tarshis-706x840.jpeg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px" /></figure></div>
  2161.  
  2162.  
  2163. <p><strong>Born</strong> July 18, 1956</p>
  2164.  
  2165.  
  2166.  
  2167. <p>Stanford, California</p>
  2168.  
  2169.  
  2170.  
  2171. <p><strong>Died </strong>May 29, 2024</p>
  2172.  
  2173.  
  2174.  
  2175. <p>Toronto, Ontario</p>
  2176.  
  2177.  
  2178.  
  2179. <p><strong>Details of service</strong>s</p>
  2180.  
  2181.  
  2182.  
  2183. <p>There will be a committal service at Robinson Cemetery in Calais at a later date</p>
  2184.  
  2185.  
  2186.  
  2187. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
  2188.  
  2189.  
  2190.  
  2191. <p>Tanya June Tarshis, 67, of Toronto Ontario, died at Toronto General Hospital on Monday, May 27, 2024 after years of deteriorating health.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was the daughter of Inga Rappaport Tarshis and Lorie Tarshis, both of whom predeceased her.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  2192.  
  2193.  
  2194.  
  2195. <p>Tanya grew up in California and moved to Toronto in the 1980s.&nbsp;&nbsp;She received an undergraduate degree in marine biology and later received her medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1985.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  2196.  
  2197.  
  2198.  
  2199. <p>Tanya was bright and funny and sharp-witted, as well as a gifted artist.&nbsp;&nbsp;Her cats Carma and Nelly were a special joy for her and her commitment to care for them gave her focus in her last years.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was also a caregiver for her mother for many years before her mother’s death at the age of 105.&nbsp;</p>
  2200.  
  2201.  
  2202.  
  2203. <p>Tanya leaves her sisters Susan Tarshis of Montpelier Vermont and Janet Ancel of Calais Vermont.&nbsp;&nbsp;She also leaves cousins Ella Bernhard, Sue Bernhard and Barb Bernhard of Toronto Ontario and several nieces and nephews and cousins.&nbsp;&nbsp;Her brother Andrew Tarshis died in 2005.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  2204.  
  2205.  
  2206.  
  2207. <p>The family is grateful to all who provided assistance and care to Tanya in her last years.&nbsp;</p>
  2208. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/tanya-june-tarshis/">Tanya June Tarshis</a>.</p>
  2209. ]]></content:encoded>
  2213. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:13:17 +0000</dc:modified>
  2214. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584045</post-id> </item>
  2215. <item>
  2216. <title>Phil Scott vetoes bill that would make sweeping changes to Act 250</title>
  2217. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/phil-scott-vetoes-bill-that-would-make-sweeping-changes-to-act-250/</link>
  2219. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Carly Berlin]]></dc:creator>
  2220. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:07:14 +0000</pubDate>
  2221. <category><![CDATA[Government & Politics]]></category>
  2222. <category><![CDATA[Act 250]]></category>
  2223. <category><![CDATA[H.687]]></category>
  2224. <category><![CDATA[Jill Krowinski]]></category>
  2225. <category><![CDATA[legislature 2024]]></category>
  2226. <category><![CDATA[Phil Scott]]></category>
  2227. <category><![CDATA[Vermont Legislature]]></category>
  2228. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584031</guid>
  2229.  
  2230. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="681" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1024x681.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A man in a suit speaks at a podium labeled &quot;CVCC&quot; with two people standing behind him. There are microphones from different media outlets on the podium." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1568x1044.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-400x266.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-706x470.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="583807" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/phil-scott-2-20240611/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1331" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6_2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Gov. Phil Scott speaks during his weekly press conference on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. He spoke at the Central Vermont Career Center in Barre with a focus on students working on the repair of flood-damaged mobile homes. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1718119735&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;phil-scott-2 20240611&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="phil-scott-2 20240611" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Gov. Phil Scott speaks during his weekly press conference on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. He spoke at the Central Vermont Career Center in Barre with a focus on students working on the repair of flood-damaged mobile homes. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2231. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1200x799.jpg" /></figure>
  2232. <p>It’s unclear whether the Democrat-led Legislature will have the votes to override the Republican governor’s veto. </p>
  2233. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/phil-scott-vetoes-bill-that-would-make-sweeping-changes-to-act-250/">Phil Scott vetoes bill that would make sweeping changes to Act 250</a>.</p>
  2234. ]]></description>
  2235. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="681" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1024x681.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A man in a suit speaks at a podium labeled &quot;CVCC&quot; with two people standing behind him. There are microphones from different media outlets on the podium." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1568x1044.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-400x266.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-706x470.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="583807" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/phil-scott-2-20240611/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1331" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6_2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Gov. Phil Scott speaks during his weekly press conference on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. He spoke at the Central Vermont Career Center in Barre with a focus on students working on the repair of flood-damaged mobile homes. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1718119735&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;phil-scott-2 20240611&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="phil-scott-2 20240611" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Gov. Phil Scott speaks during his weekly press conference on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. He spoke at the Central Vermont Career Center in Barre with a focus on students working on the repair of flood-damaged mobile homes. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2236. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1200x799.jpg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  2237. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="799" data-attachment-id="583807" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/phil-scott-2-20240611/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1331" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6_2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Gov. Phil Scott speaks during his weekly press conference on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. He spoke at the Central Vermont Career Center in Barre with a focus on students working on the repair of flood-damaged mobile homes. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1718119735&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;phil-scott-2 20240611&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="phil-scott-2 20240611" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Gov. Phil Scott speaks during his weekly press conference on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. He spoke at the Central Vermont Career Center in Barre with a focus on students working on the repair of flood-damaged mobile homes. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2238. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1200x799.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1200x799.jpg" alt="A man in a suit speaks at a podium labeled &quot;CVCC&quot; with two people standing behind him. There are microphones from different media outlets on the podium." class="wp-image-583807" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-1568x1044.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-400x266.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611-706x470.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/phil-scott-2-20240611.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gov. Phil Scott speaks during his weekly press conference on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger</figcaption></figure></div>
  2239.  
  2240.  
  2241. <p><em>This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.</em></p>
  2242.  
  2243.  
  2244.  
  2245. <p>Gov. Phil Scott <a href="https://governor.vermont.gov/press-release/action-taken-governor-phil-scott-legislation-june-13-2024">has vetoed a major housing and land-use bill</a> that would make sweeping reforms to Act 250, a law that has governed and guided development in Vermont for over half a century.</p>
  2246.  
  2247.  
  2248.  
  2249. <p>One of lawmakers’ landmark pieces of legislation this year, and a subject of lengthy debate over balancing housing growth and environmental conservation, <a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.687">H.687</a> cleared its last hurdle <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/05/11/at-the-11th-hour-lawmakers-strike-compromise-on-act-250-reform/">in the final hours of the 2024 legislative session</a> last month.</p>
  2250.  
  2251.  
  2252.  
  2253. <p>But Scott signaled on Thursday that, from his perspective, lawmakers’ Act 250 compromise focuses too much on conservation efforts and not enough on encouraging housing development.</p>
  2254.  
  2255.  
  2256.  
  2257. <p>“Despite almost universal consensus, I don’t believe we’ve done nearly enough to address Vermont’s housing affordability crisis,” the Republican governor wrote in a letter to lawmakers.</p>
  2258.  
  2259.  
  2260.  
  2261. <p>For years, state leaders have attempted — and failed — to find compromise on Act 250’s future. Housing proponents have long argued the land use review law adds cost, time and risk to the development process, stifling housing growth. Environmentalists, meanwhile, have contended that climate change and habitat loss caused by development should require builders to think even more carefully about their projects.</p>
  2262.  
  2263.  
  2264.  
  2265. <p><a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.687">H.687</a> represents something of a <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2023/12/11/report-calls-for-major-changes-to-act-250-to-boost-housing-safeguard-habitats/">grand bargain</a> between those interests. It would relax Act 250’s reach in existing development centers, a move proponents hope will clear red tape and encourage compact housing development amid <a href="https://vhfa.org/news/blog/why-vermont-needs-30000-40000-more-homes">an acute housing shortage</a>. It also lays the groundwork for extending Act 250’s protections over to-be-determined ecologically sensitive areas.&nbsp;</p>
  2266.  
  2267.  
  2268.  
  2269. <p>But throughout the 2024 legislative session, the Republican governor <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/04/18/senate-panel-advances-act-250-reform-bill-while-phil-scott-signals-potential-veto/">repeatedly voiced criticism </a>of the bill as it wound its way through the Statehouse, at times calling it a “conservation bill” and arguing that it does not go far enough to promote housing development, particularly in rural areas.&nbsp;</p>
  2270.  
  2271.  
  2272.  
  2273. <p>In his veto letter, Scott claims that H.687 would in fact expand Act 250 regulation “at a pace that will slow down current housing efforts.”</p>
  2274.  
  2275.  
  2276.  
  2277. <p>The governor pointed to a new “road rule” as one “significant expansion of Act 250 that will make it harder to build.” The rule would trigger Act 250 review for larger-scale private road construction, a measure <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2023/12/11/report-calls-for-major-changes-to-act-250-to-boost-housing-safeguard-habitats/">meant to deter forest fragmentation</a>.&nbsp;</p>
  2278.  
  2279.  
  2280.  
  2281. <p>Stating that he was “committed to a responsible compromise,” Scott asked lawmakers to work with him to pass “a replacement bill.”</p>
  2282.  
  2283.  
  2284.  
  2285. <p>Among his requested changes are an extension and an expansion of interim exemptions to Act 250 that would remain in effect during a years-long mapping and rulemaking process.</p>
  2286.  
  2287.  
  2288.  
  2289. <p>Scott also asked lawmakers to revive a measure to limit appeals of housing projects in areas designated for growth, a policy <a href="https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2024-01-29/lawmakers-look-to-limit-drawn-out-legal-battles-over-new-housing-developments">left on the cutting room floor</a> during the session.</p>
  2290.  
  2291.  
  2292.  
  2293. <p>Lawmakers plan to reconvene for a veto session on Monday. Final versions of H.687 passed largely along party lines in both the House and Senate, with Democrats generally voting in favor and Republicans against. At the end of the regular session, it was unclear whether both chambers would be able to muster the two-thirds majority required to override a veto.</p>
  2294.  
  2295.  
  2296.  
  2297. <p>In a statement Thursday House Speaker Jill Krowinski confirmed the House will hold an override vote. “The Governor has stated that the bill focuses too much on conservation, but let me be absolutely clear – this bill is a balanced approach to be pro-environment and pro-development,” Krowinski said. “I’m disappointed that the Governor has chosen to stop showing up at the table and is instead choosing to lead via veto,” she added.</p>
  2298.  
  2299.  
  2300.  
  2301. <p>The sprawling bill carries far more than just Act 250 changes. It also includes broad reforms to the <a href="https://accd.vermont.gov/community-development/designation-programs">state’s designation incentives program</a>, a <a href="https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2024-05-17/vermont-moves-toward-new-tax-on-second-home-buyers">new tax on second-home buyers</a>, funding for <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/05/20/tenant-protections-failed-to-gain-traction-in-the-statehouse/">eviction prevention programs</a>, <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/05/14/lawmakers-pass-flood-disclosure-requirements-for-home-sellers-landlords/">flood disclosure requirements</a> for home sellers and landlords, and more.</p>
  2302. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/phil-scott-vetoes-bill-that-would-make-sweeping-changes-to-act-250/">Phil Scott vetoes bill that would make sweeping changes to Act 250</a>.</p>
  2303. ]]></content:encoded>
  2307. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:07:21 +0000</dc:modified>
  2308. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584031</post-id> </item>
  2309. <item>
  2310. <title>After Vermont bear video goes viral, officials warn that such encounters aren’t harmless </title>
  2311. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/after-vermont-bear-video-goes-viral-officials-warn-that-such-encounters-arent-harmless/</link>
  2313. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Emma Cotton]]></dc:creator>
  2314. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 21:45:20 +0000</pubDate>
  2315. <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
  2316. <category><![CDATA[bears]]></category>
  2317. <category><![CDATA[environment]]></category>
  2318. <category><![CDATA[Fish & Wildlife Department]]></category>
  2319. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584033</guid>
  2320.  
  2321. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="682" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-1024x682.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A bear sitting in a hammock surrounded by grass and ferns." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-1568x1045.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-706x470.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584025" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/bear-hammock-video/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video.jpg" data-orig-size="1600,1066" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Bear-Hammock-Video" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A still image from a video capturing a bear sits in a Hammock in a Vermont family&#8217;s hammock. Screenshot&lt;/p&gt;
  2322. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A still image from a video capturing a bear sits in a Hammock in a Vermont family&#8217;s hammock. Screenshot&lt;/p&gt;
  2323. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-1200x800.jpg" /></figure>
  2324. <p>The video is an example of increasingly common human-bear encounters in the state, which can turn dangerous for both bears and people, an official with the Vermont Fish &#038; Wildlife Department said.</p>
  2325. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/after-vermont-bear-video-goes-viral-officials-warn-that-such-encounters-arent-harmless/">After Vermont bear video goes viral, officials warn that such encounters aren’t harmless </a>.</p>
  2326. ]]></description>
  2327. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="682" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-1024x682.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A bear sitting in a hammock surrounded by grass and ferns." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-1568x1045.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-400x267.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-706x470.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584025" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/bear-hammock-video/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video.jpg" data-orig-size="1600,1066" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Bear-Hammock-Video" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A still image from a video capturing a bear sits in a Hammock in a Vermont family&#8217;s hammock. Screenshot&lt;/p&gt;
  2328. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A still image from a video capturing a bear sits in a Hammock in a Vermont family&#8217;s hammock. Screenshot&lt;/p&gt;
  2329. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bear-Hammock-Video-1200x800.jpg" /></figure>
  2330. <figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  2331. <iframe title="Bear sits on hammock in Waitsfield, Vermont, yard" width="780" height="439" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VHcXZ_G_SeM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
  2332. </div></figure>
  2333.  
  2334.  
  2335.  
  2336. <p>Officials from the Vermont Department of Fish &amp; Wildlife are warning that a viral video showing two black bears in a Waitsfield backyard — one of which appears to be relaxing on a hammock — isn’t as cute as it looks.&nbsp;</p>
  2337.  
  2338.  
  2339.  
  2340. <p>Instead, it’s an example of increasingly common human-bear encounters in Vermont, which can turn dangerous for both bears and people. In May, a game warden <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/05/31/bear-euthanized-in-underhill-displayed-exceptionally-rare-predatory-behavior/">euthanized a bear</a> in Underhill after it repeatedly displayed aggressive behavior toward a person.&nbsp;</p>
  2341.  
  2342.  
  2343.  
  2344. <p>Noah Dweck, the videographer and homeowner, told VTDigger that he was sitting in his home office on Tuesday when he heard the chains of his hammock jingling in the backyard, and he knew immediately that it was “the bears.”&nbsp;</p>
  2345.  
  2346.  
  2347.  
  2348. <p>With his home situated in a mountainous section of the Mad River Valley, Dweck and his wife, Kristen, are aware that they live in bear country. They have taken a number of measures to keep bears away — a piece of context viewers wouldn’t know from the video, which the Associated Press published on Wednesday. Bears have tried to get into their dumpsters, which are secured with bear bars, Dweck said, and they’ve climbed into their truck bed.</p>
  2349.  
  2350.  
  2351.  
  2352. <p>Dweck said the couple keeps the garbage and recycling secure, does not use bird feeders, and takes care not to leave food in cars or outdoor areas.&nbsp;</p>
  2353.  
  2354.  
  2355.  
  2356. <p>“We definitely make sure that we don&#8217;t have anything that&#8217;s attracting them,” he said. “They’re just around.”</p>
  2357.  
  2358.  
  2359.  
  2360. <p>David Sausville, who leads the department’s wildlife restoration management and research section, said he was particularly concerned to see the Waitsfield bears’ apparent lack of fear when Dweck approached them and yelled at them to leave. Dweck said he was concerned by this behavior, too.&nbsp;</p>
  2361.  
  2362.  
  2363.  
  2364. <p>“I came out, and was like, ‘Hey!’ and they just kind of stared at me, which is what they like to do, because they&#8217;re so used to us,” he said.&nbsp;</p>
  2365.  
  2366.  
  2367.  
  2368. <p>After catching a video of the bear swinging in the hammock, Dweck said he used an air horn, which he keeps handy, to scare the bears away.&nbsp;</p>
  2369.  
  2370.  
  2371.  
  2372. <p>Sausville said the Fish &amp; Wildlife Department has logged more than 400 human-bear encounters already this year, and he expects this year’s number to exceed last year’s 880 recorded encounters.&nbsp;</p>
  2373.  
  2374.  
  2375.  
  2376. <p>Department officials recently told VTDigger that, up until 2016, members of the department anticipated roughly 130 reports of bear encounters each year. In 2020, there were 1,700 reports, and in 2022, there were 1,400.&nbsp;</p>
  2377.  
  2378.  
  2379.  
  2380. <p>“There&#8217;s a lot of cubs that have been brought up, through the years, with these females that know where the food is, and now they&#8217;re out on their own,” Sausville said. “So we&#8217;ve got a whole generation of bears that have learned, ‘humans mean food,’ and that&#8217;s not a good situation.”</p>
  2381.  
  2382.  
  2383.  
  2384. <p>Sausville said bears are commonly attracted most by garbage and recycling left unsecured, bird feeders left up in the summer, grills and food residue outside and compost that isn’t handled properly and creates smells.&nbsp;</p>
  2385.  
  2386.  
  2387.  
  2388. <p>Although seeing a bear can be exciting, scaring the bear away and making it uncomfortable near humans will help to keep the animal safer, he said. He recommends using an air horn, yelling or banging pots and pans to scare the animals.&nbsp;</p>
  2389.  
  2390.  
  2391.  
  2392. <p>“There have been cases out west where they&#8217;ve shown, when those communities come together, everybody — the homeowners, the restaurants with their dumpsters, the trash haulers — they&#8217;ve actually reduced substantially the number of bear incidents,” he said.&nbsp;</p>
  2393.  
  2394.  
  2395.  
  2396. <p>Most of that success comes from small behavioral changes on the part of humans, he said. </p>
  2397.  
  2398.  
  2399.  
  2400. <p>People can report bear encounters and learn more about preventing bear-human encounters at the Vermont Fish &amp; Wildlife Department’s <a href="https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/living-with-wildlife/living-with-black-bears">website</a>.</p>
  2401. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/after-vermont-bear-video-goes-viral-officials-warn-that-such-encounters-arent-harmless/">After Vermont bear video goes viral, officials warn that such encounters aren’t harmless </a>.</p>
  2402. ]]></content:encoded>
  2406. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 21:45:27 +0000</dc:modified>
  2407. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584033</post-id> </item>
  2408. <item>
  2409. <title>Emerson Warner Shedd</title>
  2410. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/emerson-warner-shedd/</link>
  2412. <dc:creator><![CDATA[VTD Obituaries]]></dc:creator>
  2413. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:07:59 +0000</pubDate>
  2414. <category><![CDATA[Obituaries]]></category>
  2415. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584011</guid>
  2416.  
  2417. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-1024x683.jpeg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-1200x800.jpeg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-125x83.jpeg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-706x471.jpeg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg.jpeg 1368w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584009" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/emerson-warner-shedd-obit-1jpg/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg.jpeg" data-orig-size="1368,912" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-300x200.jpeg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-1200x800.jpeg" /></figure>
  2418. <p>Born March 11, 1934 North Ferrisburgh, VT Died June 9, 2024 Berlin, VT Details of services No memorial services are planned at this time. Memorial contributions may be made to Palliative Care at CVMC, PO Box 547, Barre, VT 05641. Emerson Warner Shedd, “Warner” to all who knew and loved him, died peacefully on June 9th. He [&#8230;]</p>
  2419. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/emerson-warner-shedd/">Emerson Warner Shedd</a>.</p>
  2420. ]]></description>
  2421. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-1024x683.jpeg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-1200x800.jpeg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-125x83.jpeg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-706x471.jpeg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg.jpeg 1368w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584009" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/emerson-warner-shedd-obit-1jpg/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg.jpeg" data-orig-size="1368,912" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-300x200.jpeg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.1jpg-1200x800.jpeg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  2422. <figure class="alignright size-medium"><img decoding="async" width="300" height="300" data-attachment-id="584008" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/emerson-warner-shedd-obit/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.jpeg" data-orig-size="1368,1368" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 12 Pro Max&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1647022724&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;5.1&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1000&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.033333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-300x300.jpeg?crop=1" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-1200x1200.jpeg?crop=1" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-300x300.jpeg?crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-584008" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-300x300.jpeg?crop=1 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-1200x1200.jpeg?crop=1 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-125x125.jpeg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-800x800.jpeg?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-600x600.jpeg?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-400x400.jpeg?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-200x200.jpeg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-706x706.jpeg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit-100x100.jpeg?crop=1 100w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerson-Warner-Shedd-obit.jpeg 1368w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></figure></div>
  2423.  
  2424.  
  2425. <p><strong>Born</strong> March 11, 1934</p>
  2426.  
  2427.  
  2428.  
  2429. <p>North Ferrisburgh, VT</p>
  2430.  
  2431.  
  2432.  
  2433. <p><strong>Died </strong>June 9, 2024</p>
  2434.  
  2435.  
  2436.  
  2437. <p>Berlin, VT</p>
  2438.  
  2439.  
  2440.  
  2441. <p><strong>Details of service</strong>s</p>
  2442.  
  2443.  
  2444.  
  2445. <p>No memorial services are planned at this time. Memorial contributions may be made to Palliative Care at CVMC, PO Box 547, Barre, VT 05641.</p>
  2446.  
  2447.  
  2448.  
  2449. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
  2450.  
  2451.  
  2452.  
  2453. <p>Emerson Warner Shedd, “Warner” to all who knew and loved him, died peacefully on June 9th. He was 90 years old. He was born on March 11, 1934, to Emerson and Eleanor Shedd of North Ferrisburgh, and spent his early years on the family farm, where he learned to hunt, fish, and explore the wilderness – a passion that he shared with later generations. Due to his father’s employment, the family spent his 8th grade year in West Sumner, ME, a place he remembered with great fondness. He graduated from Spaulding High School in Barre, where he lettered in baseball. Warner had a passion for learning. He received his formal education at the University of Maine, Orono, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and obtained an MS in plant dendrology. In 1956, he married Edith Wheeler of Barre. They spent the first two years of their marriage living in a 9-foot-wide trailer in Veazie, ME. When they returned to Vermont, he began a career as an environmentalist, working as a forester for the state of Vermont, an Area Resource Development Specialist for the UVM Extension Service, and as the Northeastern Regional Executive for the National Wildlife Federation. He was an active proponent of scientific management of the state’s deer herd, and was very involved with the Vermont Natural Resources Council and the Vermont Alliance of Conservation Voters. For many years, he raised beefalo, pigs, and made maple syrup on the land in East Calais. Warner wrote many articles, and a column called, “Think Deer!” for the NH Wildlife Federation’s newsletter. He wrote two books: The Kids’ Wildlife Book, and Owls Aren’t Wise and Bats Aren’t Blind, which is still being sold at national parks. He also had considerable artistic talent. Warner had a wide range of deep interests, including the Civil War, North Ferrisburgh history, baseball, food and wine, classical music and opera, and gardening. He and Edie moved to East Calais in 1964, and were very active in Calais affairs, including helping to found the Calais Community Recreation Association and being leaders in the movement to build the Calais Elementary School. They were also enthusiastic supporters of building U-32. He helped coach little league teams, and was a hard-working volunteer with the U-32 baseball team. His greatest interest, though, was always his family. His kindness, generosity, wit, horrible dad jokes, storytelling, editing skills (Oxford comma, yes; comma splices, absolutely not) will truly be missed. In addition to his wife of nearly 68 years, Edie, he leaves his children, Suzy (Bob Purvis), Mark (Ellen), David (Dena Wheeler) and his grandchildren Julia Shedd (Tim Morse), David Shedd (Jessica), and Olivia Flewelling. He was predeceased by his parents and his sisters, Eleanor Shedd Whitehouse and Polly Ann Shedd Smith. Our family wishes to thank his health care providers, who did so much to support him and us: the Health Center in Plainfield, first responders from Woodbury and East Montpelier, and the Emergency Department, ICU, and Palliative Care at CVMC. We are deeply grateful for their kindness and skill.</p>
  2454. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/emerson-warner-shedd/">Emerson Warner Shedd</a>.</p>
  2455. ]]></content:encoded>
  2459. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:08:06 +0000</dc:modified>
  2460. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584011</post-id> </item>
  2461. <item>
  2462. <title>Officials alarmed by apparent rebuilding of manufactured home park in floodplain</title>
  2463. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/officials-alarmed-by-apparent-rebuilding-of-manufactured-home-park-in-floodplain/</link>
  2465. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Carly Berlin]]></dc:creator>
  2466. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 19:45:41 +0000</pubDate>
  2467. <category><![CDATA[Central Vermont]]></category>
  2468. <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
  2469. <category><![CDATA[Regional]]></category>
  2470. <category><![CDATA[Washington County]]></category>
  2471. <category><![CDATA[2023 July Flooding]]></category>
  2472. <category><![CDATA[Berlin Mobile Home Park]]></category>
  2473. <category><![CDATA[Doug Farnham]]></category>
  2474. <category><![CDATA[Federal Emergency Management Agency]]></category>
  2475. <category><![CDATA[Randy Rouleau]]></category>
  2476. <category><![CDATA[Ture Nelson]]></category>
  2477. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=584004</guid>
  2478.  
  2479. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1024x768.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Three manufactured homes are staged outdoors on a gravel lot, wrapped in protective material. One home has a covered porch. The sky is cloudy, and trees are visible in the background." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-300x225.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1200x900.jpg?crop=1 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-125x94.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-768x576.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1568x1176.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-706x530.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584003" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/img_3445/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1920" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="IMG_3445" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Several new-looking manufactured home units were staged in a parking lot next to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  2480. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Several new-looking manufactured home units were staged in a parking lot next to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  2481. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-300x225.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1200x900.jpg?crop=1" /></figure>
  2482. <p>Asked if he saw the owner’s work at the Berlin Mobile Home Park as illegal, the state’s chief recovery officer said, “I believe so.”</p>
  2483. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/officials-alarmed-by-apparent-rebuilding-of-manufactured-home-park-in-floodplain/">Officials alarmed by apparent rebuilding of manufactured home park in floodplain</a>.</p>
  2484. ]]></description>
  2485. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1024x768.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Three manufactured homes are staged outdoors on a gravel lot, wrapped in protective material. One home has a covered porch. The sky is cloudy, and trees are visible in the background." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-300x225.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1200x900.jpg?crop=1 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-125x94.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-768x576.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1568x1176.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-706x530.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="584003" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/img_3445/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1920" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="IMG_3445" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Several new-looking manufactured home units were staged in a parking lot next to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  2486. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Several new-looking manufactured home units were staged in a parking lot next to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  2487. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-300x225.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1200x900.jpg?crop=1" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  2488. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="900" data-attachment-id="584003" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/img_3445/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1920" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="IMG_3445" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Several new-looking manufactured home units were staged in a parking lot next to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  2489. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Several new-looking manufactured home units were staged in a parking lot next to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  2490. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-300x225.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1200x900.jpg?crop=1" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1200x900.jpg?crop=1" alt="Three manufactured homes are staged outdoors on a gravel lot, wrapped in protective material. One home has a covered porch. The sky is cloudy, and trees are visible in the background." class="wp-image-584003" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1200x900.jpg?crop=1 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-300x225.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-125x94.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-768x576.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-1568x1176.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3445-706x530.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Several new-looking manufactured home units were staged in a parking lot next to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public</figcaption></figure></div>
  2491.  
  2492.  
  2493. <p><em>This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.</em></p>
  2494.  
  2495.  
  2496.  
  2497. <p>Construction activity at a manufactured home park in Berlin that <a href="https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2023-07-14/vermont-manufactured-home-mobile-home-residents-return-to-destruction-flooding">flooded catastrophically last summer</a> is raising alarm bells among state and town officials, who have hinted at possible legal action to stop the work.</p>
  2498.  
  2499.  
  2500.  
  2501. <p>The Berlin Mobile Home Park is located on a narrow stretch of land off the Barre-Montpelier Road, right alongside the Stevens Branch of the Winooski River.&nbsp;</p>
  2502.  
  2503.  
  2504.  
  2505. <p>After floodwaters swept through the park last July, dozens of residents were displaced.&nbsp;</p>
  2506.  
  2507.  
  2508.  
  2509. <p>Since then, the park has sat uninhabited, with numerous flooded-out homes still onsite as of earlier this week. On Tuesday, a construction crew could be seen rehabilitating a home at the back of the park. Closer to the entrance, a new concrete pad appeared to have been recently poured. Several new-looking manufactured home units were staged in a nearby parking lot.</p>
  2510.  
  2511.  
  2512.  
  2513. <p>Officials are concerned about the construction.</p>
  2514.  
  2515.  
  2516.  
  2517. <p>“I have observed work at the park that I don’t feel is in compliance with floodway regulations,” said Ture Nelson, acting town administrator for Berlin, via phone on Wednesday.</p>
  2518.  
  2519.  
  2520.  
  2521. <p>Last August, several weeks after the flooding, Nelson sent a letter to the park’s owner, Randy Rouleau, outlining the steps Rouleau would need to take in order to redevelop the Berlin Mobile Home Park and another, smaller park his company owns nearby called River Run.</p>
  2522.  
  2523.  
  2524.  
  2525. <p>Nearly all the land in the 32-unit Berlin Mobile Home Park sits inside the “floodway” of the river, the highest risk designation given by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to a 2023 analysis by the University of Vermont.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  2526.  
  2527.  
  2528.  
  2529. <p>Redevelopment of the two flooded parks would need to comply with town zoning and utility rules, including flood planning regulations that govern building in FEMA’s highest-risk zones. Those rules require raising homes to a specific height, limiting the use of fill in the floodway without an engineer’s sign-off that the development won’t increase flood risks nearby, among other rules.</p>
  2530.  
  2531.  
  2532.  
  2533. <p>Work at the parks would require permitting through the town’s development review board, Nelson wrote in his letter. The parks would also need to be connected to municipal water and wastewater infrastructure. Nelson urged Rouleau to meet with town staff to discuss how to move forward.</p>
  2534.  
  2535.  
  2536.  
  2537. <p>That meeting never happened, according to Nelson. The town’s zoning administrator, Thomas Badowski, confirmed Wednesday that the park owner had not submitted the relevant permit applications for work at the parks.</p>
  2538.  
  2539.  
  2540.  
  2541. <p>Rouleau has not responded to repeated interview requests.</p>
  2542.  
  2543.  
  2544. <div class="wp-block-image">
  2545. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="900" data-attachment-id="584002" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/img_3434/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1920" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="IMG_3434" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;A new concrete pad appeared to have been recently poured near the entrance to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  2546. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;A new concrete pad appeared to have been recently poured near the entrance to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public&lt;/p&gt;
  2547. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-300x225.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1200x900.jpg?crop=1" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1200x900.jpg?crop=1" alt="A gravel and concrete driveway surrounded by grassy fields and trees, leading to a residential trailer, under a partly cloudy sky." class="wp-image-584002" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1200x900.jpg?crop=1 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-300x225.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-125x94.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-768x576.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-1568x1176.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3434-706x530.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A new concrete pad appeared to have been recently poured near the entrance to the Berlin Mobile Home Park on June 11, 2024. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public</figcaption></figure></div>
  2548.  
  2549.  
  2550. <p>When it comes to floodway regulations generally, Nelson said, the stakes go beyond the bureaucratic step of securing a permit for construction.</p>
  2551.  
  2552.  
  2553.  
  2554. <p>“As terrible as it was for all the residents at the park last July, we were in fact lucky that nobody lost their life,” Nelson said. “That’s what we’re trying to protect here, you know, with the permitting and the floodway designations.”&nbsp;</p>
  2555.  
  2556.  
  2557.  
  2558. <p>The River Run park appeared largely abandoned on Tuesday, a stark contrast to the signs of redevelopment at the Berlin Mobile Home Park down the road.</p>
  2559.  
  2560.  
  2561.  
  2562. <p>Asked Wednesday if he saw the owner’s work at the Berlin Mobile Home Park as illegal, Doug Farnham, chief recovery officer for the state, said, “I believe so.”</p>
  2563.  
  2564.  
  2565.  
  2566. <p>In recent days, state officials have been in touch with the town about possible legal action, Farnham said.&nbsp;</p>
  2567.  
  2568.  
  2569.  
  2570. <p>“The state has been in contact with the town of Berlin about whether or not an injunction should be issued, and what that would look like,” Farnham said.</p>
  2571.  
  2572.  
  2573.  
  2574. <p>Nelson declined to confirm whether he has been speaking with state officials about taking legal action against the park owner.</p>
  2575.  
  2576.  
  2577.  
  2578. <p>But Ned Swanberg, a Vermont regional floodplain manager for Washington and Orange counties, confirmed Wednesday that conversations have been underway about legal action against the park owner.</p>
  2579.  
  2580.  
  2581.  
  2582. <p>Beyond potentially placing future inhabitants of the manufactured home park at risk, flouting floodplain regulations could also jeopardize the town of Berlin’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, Swanberg said.</p>
  2583.  
  2584.  
  2585.  
  2586. <p>Berlin takes part in a <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_crs-brochure_032023.pdf">special incentive program</a> that provides residents with a discount on flood insurance premiums, Swanberg said. When towns adopt higher regulatory standards for building in the floodplain, along with boosting public information about flooding to residents and developing detailed flood response plans, they can get lower flood insurance costs in return. Berlin has one of the strongest rankings in the state, Swanberg said, earning residents a 15% discount on premiums.</p>
  2587.  
  2588.  
  2589.  
  2590. <p>If the town is negligent about development that flouts floodplain rules, it could compromise that discount for the entire town, Swanberg said. And if an egregious problem persisted, the town could be placed on probation, he added, limiting residents’ ability to get flood insurance from the federal government altogether.&nbsp;</p>
  2591.  
  2592.  
  2593.  
  2594. <p>“That’s not really what we’re looking at here,” Swanberg said, noting that the town has been attentive to the concerns raised at the park. “But that’s why the community is being conscientious.”</p>
  2595.  
  2596.  
  2597.  
  2598. <p>Farnham, the chief recovery officer, said the site of the Berlin Mobile Home Park would be difficult to mitigate against future flooding. The park is across a bridge over the river from the main road, making it easily separated from emergency services during a flood, he said. If homes are elevated on stilts, they could still get swept away by fast-moving floodwaters.</p>
  2599.  
  2600.  
  2601.  
  2602. <p>In his eyes, both the Berlin Mobile Home Park and nearby River Run would be good candidates for buyouts: an option he said officials plan to encourage the owner “to strongly consider.”</p>
  2603. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/officials-alarmed-by-apparent-rebuilding-of-manufactured-home-park-in-floodplain/">Officials alarmed by apparent rebuilding of manufactured home park in floodplain</a>.</p>
  2604. ]]></content:encoded>
  2608. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 19:45:48 +0000</dc:modified>
  2609. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">584004</post-id> </item>
  2610. <item>
  2611. <title>Experience Pendeza, a Swahili name for “beautiful”</title>
  2612. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/experience-pendeza-a-swahili-name-for-beautiful/</link>
  2614. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sponsor Spotlight]]></dc:creator>
  2615. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 17:21:22 +0000</pubDate>
  2616. <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
  2617. <category><![CDATA[Sponsor Spotlight]]></category>
  2618. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=583990</guid>
  2619.  
  2620. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-1024x768.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-125x94.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-706x530.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="583993" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/experience-pendeza-a-swahili-name-for-beautiful/pendeza_ss-061724-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2.jpg" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Pendeza_SS-061724-2" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-300x225.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2.jpg" /></figure>
  2621. <p>Our mission is to introduce the beauty, vibrancy, and unique designs of Kenyan jewelry to new communities. Every purchase supports sustainable employment and education for Maasai children in Kenya.</p>
  2622. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/experience-pendeza-a-swahili-name-for-beautiful/">Experience Pendeza, a Swahili name for “beautiful”</a>.</p>
  2623. ]]></description>
  2624. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-1024x768.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-125x94.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-706x530.jpg 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="583993" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/experience-pendeza-a-swahili-name-for-beautiful/pendeza_ss-061724-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2.jpg" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Pendeza_SS-061724-2" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-300x225.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2.jpg" /></figure>
  2625. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="900" data-attachment-id="583993" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/experience-pendeza-a-swahili-name-for-beautiful/pendeza_ss-061724-2/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2.jpg" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Pendeza_SS-061724-2" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-300x225.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-583993" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-125x94.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-2-706x530.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>
  2626.  
  2627.  
  2628.  
  2629. <p><a href="https://www.pendezajeweleryaccessories.com/store">Pendeza</a> is a new online boutique specializing in jewelry handcrafted by Maasai artisans in Kenya. Owned and operated by Burlington resident Tony Tukai and his business partner Peggy Nderi in Kenya, the spirit of Pendeza is grounded in cultural appreciation, sustainability and empowerment.&nbsp;</p>
  2630.  
  2631.  
  2632.  
  2633. <p>Choose from our gorgeous collection of handmade bracelets, earrings and necklaces and we’ll ship your selection straight to your doorstep. Every purchase supports women artisans and their children’s education.&nbsp;</p>
  2634.  
  2635.  
  2636.  
  2637. <p>We invite you to embrace the rich cultural heritage of Kenya, and value the diversity and craftsmanship inherent in the jewelry. From sourcing materials to manufacturing, the production of Pendeza jewelry supports environmental responsibility and social well-being.</p>
  2638.  
  2639.  
  2640.  
  2641. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="900" data-attachment-id="583992" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/experience-pendeza-a-swahili-name-for-beautiful/pendeza_ss-061724-3/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3.jpg" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Pendeza_SS-061724-3" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3-300x225.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-583992" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3-300x225.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3-125x94.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3-768x576.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3-800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3-600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3-400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3-200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pendeza_SS-061724-3-706x530.jpg 706w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>
  2642.  
  2643.  
  2644.  
  2645. <p>“I identify as a Maasai who grew up in the southern part of Kenya four hours’ drive from the capital city of Nairobi,” says Tony. “Having been someone who has had lots of exposure and received great education I am working to make a better life for my people back in the village.”&nbsp;</p>
  2646.  
  2647.  
  2648.  
  2649. <p>When Tony was a youth, his father made sure that he learned the traditional ways of herding cattle and goats, even as he was also privileged to attend school in Nairobi. As a result, Tony gained a deep appreciation and understanding of his Maasai heritage.&nbsp;</p>
  2650.  
  2651.  
  2652.  
  2653. <p>“Many of the Maasai in my village live under great poverty, surviving on less than $2 per day.  Grazing lands have become scarce of late. Population growth and rapid urban development have pressured the Maasai community to change their lifestyles,” Tony reflects. “I really appreciate my Maasai people and understand their struggles. I want to make life better for my people.”</p>
  2654.  
  2655.  
  2656.  
  2657. <p>“Our dream at Pendeza is to help the women start their own small businesses that will help support families and pay school fees for their children to go to school.&nbsp;We are hoping that Pendeza business will empower both Maasai women and school-aged children.”&nbsp;</p>
  2658.  
  2659.  
  2660.  
  2661. <p>Learn more about Tony and Peggy and shop all jewelry and accessories online at <a href="http://pendezajeweleryaccessories.com">pendezajeweleryaccessories.com</a></p>
  2662. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/experience-pendeza-a-swahili-name-for-beautiful/">Experience Pendeza, a Swahili name for “beautiful”</a>.</p>
  2663. ]]></content:encoded>
  2667. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 17:21:29 +0000</dc:modified>
  2668. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">583990</post-id> </item>
  2669. <item>
  2670. <title>Barre man drowns in Moretown while carrying child on his back</title>
  2671. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/barre-man-drowns-in-moretown-while-carrying-child-on-his-back/</link>
  2673. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Theo Wells-Spackman]]></dc:creator>
  2674. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 16:16:15 +0000</pubDate>
  2675. <category><![CDATA[Central Vermont]]></category>
  2676. <category><![CDATA[Public Safety]]></category>
  2677. <category><![CDATA[Washington County]]></category>
  2678. <category><![CDATA[Anthondy Goddard]]></category>
  2679. <category><![CDATA[Anthony Goddard]]></category>
  2680. <category><![CDATA[Mad River]]></category>
  2681. <category><![CDATA[Vermont State Police]]></category>
  2682. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=583986</guid>
  2683.  
  2684. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="556151" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/news-in-brief-featured-image-2023/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="News in Brief Featured Image 2023" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023.png" /></figure>
  2685. <p>Witnesses told police the man began to struggle while attempting to swim across the Mad River at the Big Rock swimming hole on Wednesday evening.</p>
  2686. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/barre-man-drowns-in-moretown-while-carrying-child-on-his-back/">Barre man drowns in Moretown while carrying child on his back</a>.</p>
  2687. ]]></description>
  2688. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="556151" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/news-in-brief-featured-image-2023/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="News in Brief Featured Image 2023" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023.png" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  2689. <figure class="alignright size-full"><a href="https://vtdigger.org/tag/news-in-brief/"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="245" data-attachment-id="556152" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/news-in-brief_pattern-block-only-2023/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023.png" data-orig-size="1200,245" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="News in Brief_Pattern block only 2023" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023-300x61.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023.png" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023.png" alt="" class="wp-image-556152" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023.png 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023-300x61.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023-125x26.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023-768x157.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023-1024x209.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023-400x82.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a></figure></div>
  2690.  
  2691.  
  2692. <p>A 34-year old Barre man drowned Wednesday evening at the <a href="https://www.vtcng.com/big-rock/collection_cdb9851a-8e75-11e7-abc8-13622d55a8c7.html">Big Rock</a> swimming hole in Moretown, according to Vermont State Police.</p>
  2693.  
  2694.  
  2695.  
  2696. <p>Witnesses told police that the man, later identified as Anthony Goddard, was swimming in the Mad River around 5:25 p.m.Wednesday with his young daughter on his back. As he attempted to cross the river, he began to struggle before eventually going underwater, police said in a press release.</p>
  2697.  
  2698.  
  2699.  
  2700. <p>Onlookers entered the water and were able to rescue the child, but were unable to find Goddard, according to the release.</p>
  2701.  
  2702.  
  2703.  
  2704. <p>State police troopers arrived within minutes, and one trooper was able to locate Goddard and&nbsp; bring him to shore, according to police. However, life-saving techniques on the shore were unsuccessful and the man was pronounced dead.</p>
  2705.  
  2706.  
  2707.  
  2708. <p>A preliminary investigation concluded that there was no indication of foul play, according to police, noting that an autopsy would confirm the cause and manner of death.<br></p>
  2709. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/barre-man-drowns-in-moretown-while-carrying-child-on-his-back/">Barre man drowns in Moretown while carrying child on his back</a>.</p>
  2710. ]]></content:encoded>
  2714. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 16:16:20 +0000</dc:modified>
  2715. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">583986</post-id> </item>
  2716. <item>
  2717. <title>Michael A. Powers: Independent schools are not responsible for out-of-control education costs</title>
  2718. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/michael-a-powers-independent-schools-are-not-responsible-for-out-of-control-education-costs/</link>
  2720. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Opinion]]></dc:creator>
  2721. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 15:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
  2722. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  2723. <category><![CDATA[independent schools]]></category>
  2724. <category><![CDATA[Letters to the editor]]></category>
  2725. <category><![CDATA[Rebecca Holcombe]]></category>
  2726. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=583982</guid>
  2727.  
  2728. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Letters to the editor." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-706x530.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="574030" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/letters-to-the-editor_1200x900/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Letters to the editor_1200x900" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Letters to the editor logo for featured image&lt;/p&gt;
  2729. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900.png" /></figure>
  2730. <p>Many of the independent schools in Vermont are financially supported by contributions and donations. If it ain’t broke, leave it alone.</p>
  2731. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/michael-a-powers-independent-schools-are-not-responsible-for-out-of-control-education-costs/">Michael A. Powers: Independent schools are not responsible for out-of-control education costs</a>.</p>
  2732. ]]></description>
  2733. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Letters to the editor." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-706x530.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="574030" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/letters-to-the-editor_1200x900/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Letters to the editor_1200x900" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Letters to the editor logo for featured image&lt;/p&gt;
  2734. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900.png" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  2735. <figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://vtdigger.org/tag/letters-to-the-editor/"><img decoding="async" width="300" height="60" data-attachment-id="570581" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/?attachment_id=570581" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd.png" data-orig-size="572,114" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Letters to the editor_vtd" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd-300x60.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd.png" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd-300x60.png" alt="" class="wp-image-570581" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd-300x60.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd-125x25.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd-400x80.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd.png 572w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
  2736.  
  2737.  
  2738. <p>Dear Editor,</p>
  2739.  
  2740.  
  2741.  
  2742. <p>In her commentary, <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/11/rep-rebecca-holcombe-vermonters-deserve-affordability-but-gov-scott-has-no-grand-plan/">“Vermonters deserve affordability, but Gov. Scott has no ‘grand plan’,”</a> Rep. Rebecca Holcombe repeats her claim that independent schools are one of the culprits in the huge deficit in financing education in Vermont.</p>
  2743.  
  2744.  
  2745.  
  2746. <p>This is a false premise for which she offers no proof. The approximately 3,500 students served by independent schools are not responsible for the out-of-control cost of education in Vermont.&nbsp;</p>
  2747.  
  2748.  
  2749.  
  2750. <p>It would appear that Rep. Holcombe is beating on independent schools to detract attention from the real cause of the education financial crisis, that we have failed to adjust to the decrease in students while at the same time increasing educational staff and the bureaucracy that supervises professional staff.</p>
  2751.  
  2752.  
  2753.  
  2754. <p>Many of the independent schools in Vermont are financially supported by contributions and donations. If it ain’t broke, leave it alone.</p>
  2755.  
  2756.  
  2757.  
  2758. <p>Michael A. Powers</p>
  2759.  
  2760.  
  2761.  
  2762. <p>Manchester Center</p>
  2763.  
  2764.  
  2765.  
  2766. <p><em>Michael Powers graduated from Burr &amp; Burton Academy in 1960 and is now a trustee.</em></p>
  2767. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/michael-a-powers-independent-schools-are-not-responsible-for-out-of-control-education-costs/">Michael A. Powers: Independent schools are not responsible for out-of-control education costs</a>.</p>
  2768. ]]></content:encoded>
  2772. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 15:00:18 +0000</dc:modified>
  2773. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">583982</post-id> </item>
  2774. <item>
  2775. <title>State police say struggle over shotgun preceded fatal police shooting in Orange</title>
  2776. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/state-police-say-struggle-over-shotgun-preceded-fatal-police-shooting-in-orange/</link>
  2778. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Alan J. Keays and Habib Sabet]]></dc:creator>
  2779. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 14:26:32 +0000</pubDate>
  2780. <category><![CDATA[Central Vermont]]></category>
  2781. <category><![CDATA[Orange County]]></category>
  2782. <category><![CDATA[Public Safety]]></category>
  2783. <category><![CDATA[Regional]]></category>
  2784. <category><![CDATA[Orange]]></category>
  2785. <category><![CDATA[Vermont State Police]]></category>
  2786. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=583976</guid>
  2787.  
  2788. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="720" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Vermont State Police" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police.jpg 1470w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-125x88.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-300x211.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-768x540.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-610x429.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="516071" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2019/07/15/east-haven-man-faces-9-charges-after-rampage-at-barton-saloon/vermont-state-police-5/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police.jpg" data-orig-size="1470,1033" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="vermont state police" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;stock&lt;/p&gt;
  2789. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Photo courtesy of Vermont State Police&lt;/p&gt;
  2790. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-300x211.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-610x429.jpg" /></figure>
  2791. <p>The struggle ensued Wednesday afternoon when Trooper Adam Roaldi attempted to secure a sawed-off shotgun from Jason Lowery’s vehicle, according to state police.</p>
  2792. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/state-police-say-struggle-over-shotgun-preceded-fatal-police-shooting-in-orange/">State police say struggle over shotgun preceded fatal police shooting in Orange</a>.</p>
  2793. ]]></description>
  2794. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="720" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Vermont State Police" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police.jpg 1470w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-125x88.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-300x211.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-768x540.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-610x429.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="516071" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2019/07/15/east-haven-man-faces-9-charges-after-rampage-at-barton-saloon/vermont-state-police-5/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police.jpg" data-orig-size="1470,1033" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="vermont state police" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;stock&lt;/p&gt;
  2795. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Photo courtesy of Vermont State Police&lt;/p&gt;
  2796. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-300x211.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-610x429.jpg" /></figure>
  2797. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="610" height="429" data-attachment-id="516071" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/2019/07/15/east-haven-man-faces-9-charges-after-rampage-at-barton-saloon/vermont-state-police-5/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police.jpg" data-orig-size="1470,1033" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="vermont state police" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;stock&lt;/p&gt;
  2798. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Photo courtesy of Vermont State Police&lt;/p&gt;
  2799. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-300x211.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-610x429.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-610x429.jpg" alt="Vermont State Police" class="wp-image-516071" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-610x429.jpg 610w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-125x88.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-300x211.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police-768x540.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vermont-state-police.jpg 1470w" sizes="(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A Vermont State Police cruiser. Photo courtesy of Vermont State Police<br></figcaption></figure>
  2800.  
  2801.  
  2802.  
  2803. <p><em>Updated at 8:38 p.m.</em></p>
  2804.  
  2805.  
  2806.  
  2807. <p>Vermont State Police said the trooper who <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/12/authorities-probe-death-of-man-shot-and-killed-by-state-police-trooper-in-orange/">shot and killed a man in Orange</a> on Wednesday afternoon was in a struggle with the man to secure a sawed-off shotgun.</p>
  2808.  
  2809.  
  2810.  
  2811. <p>Police on Thursday identified the victim of the shooting as Jason Lowery, 41, who lived in various locations in central Vermont. An autopsy completed that day determined that Lowery died from gunshot wounds to the neck and torso, according to a state police press release, and the death was ruled a homicide. </p>
  2812.  
  2813.  
  2814.  
  2815. <p>An initial investigation by state police found that Adam Roaldi, a state trooper based at the Berlin barracks, had been called on to conduct a welfare check on “a matter related to a juvenile” at a residence on Spencer Road in Orange. When Roaldi arrived, he spoke with people at the residence. “After dealing with the primary call,” Roaldi saw an unconscious man who was later identified as Lowery in the driver’s seat of a vehicle, the release stated. </p>
  2816.  
  2817.  
  2818.  
  2819. <p>Roaldi alerted dispatch to the situation and called for medical professionals to respond to a possible overdose. The trooper then tried to speak to Lowery, who had regained consciousness, the release said, and “noticed a sawed-off shotgun near (Lowery) and repeatedly ordered him to exit the vehicle.”</p>
  2820.  
  2821.  
  2822.  
  2823. <p>“The struggle over possession of the shotgun and the subsequent shooting by Trooper Roaldi were captured on his body-worn camera,” the release said.</p>
  2824.  
  2825.  
  2826.  
  2827. <p>Roaldi has been placed on paid leave, police said, per standard procedure following such a shooting.</p>
  2828.  
  2829.  
  2830.  
  2831. <p>Police said that Lowery had been subject to an active warrant on a charge relating to fentanyl trafficking. </p>
  2832.  
  2833.  
  2834.  
  2835. <p>When the state police investigation into the shooting is complete, the case will be turned over to the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the Orange County State’s Attorney’s Office for independent reviews of the use of lethal force, according to the release.</p>
  2836.  
  2837.  
  2838.  
  2839. <p></p>
  2840.  
  2841.  
  2842.  
  2843. <p><em>Correction: Due to inaccurate information provided by Vermont State Police, an earlier version of this story misspelled Jason Lowery’s name.</em></p>
  2844. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/state-police-say-struggle-over-shotgun-preceded-fatal-police-shooting-in-orange/">State police say struggle over shotgun preceded fatal police shooting in Orange</a>.</p>
  2845. ]]></content:encoded>
  2849. <dc:modified>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 01:49:45 +0000</dc:modified>
  2850. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">583976</post-id> </item>
  2851. <item>
  2852. <title>Matthew LeFluer: Override the veto of the Renewable Energy Standard</title>
  2853. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/matthew-lefluer-override-the-veto-of-the-renewable-energy-standard/</link>
  2855. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Opinion]]></dc:creator>
  2856. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 11:04:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2857. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  2858. <category><![CDATA[Letters to the editor]]></category>
  2859. <category><![CDATA[Phil Scott]]></category>
  2860. <category><![CDATA[renewable energy standard]]></category>
  2861. <category><![CDATA[Vermont Legislature]]></category>
  2862. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=583917</guid>
  2863.  
  2864. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Letters to the editor." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-706x530.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="574030" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/letters-to-the-editor_1200x900/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Letters to the editor_1200x900" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Letters to the editor logo for featured image&lt;/p&gt;
  2865. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900.png" /></figure>
  2866. <p>We need to act now to make sure Vermont’s electricity is clean, reliable and affordable.</p>
  2867. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/matthew-lefluer-override-the-veto-of-the-renewable-energy-standard/">Matthew LeFluer: Override the veto of the Renewable Energy Standard</a>.</p>
  2868. ]]></description>
  2869. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Letters to the editor." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-706x530.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="574030" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/letters-to-the-editor_1200x900/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Letters to the editor_1200x900" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Letters to the editor logo for featured image&lt;/p&gt;
  2870. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Letters-to-the-editor_1200x900.png" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  2871. <figure class="alignright size-medium"><a href="https://vtdigger.org/tag/letters-to-the-editor/"><img decoding="async" width="300" height="60" data-attachment-id="570581" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/?attachment_id=570581" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd.png" data-orig-size="572,114" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Letters to the editor_vtd" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd-300x60.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd.png" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd-300x60.png" alt="" class="wp-image-570581" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd-300x60.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd-125x25.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd-400x80.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Letters-to-the-editor_vtd.png 572w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
  2872.  
  2873.  
  2874. <p>The Vermont State Legislature should override Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of <a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.289">H.289,</a> the Renewable Energy Standard.&nbsp;</p>
  2875.  
  2876.  
  2877.  
  2878. <p>We need to act now to make sure Vermont’s electricity is clean, reliable and affordable.&nbsp;</p>
  2879.  
  2880.  
  2881.  
  2882. <p>Investing in local renewable energy makes sense for our state economy and for generations of future Vermonters.&nbsp;</p>
  2883.  
  2884.  
  2885.  
  2886. <p>The effects of climate change are already costing our state millions of dollars (for example, in flood cleanup). It is irresponsible not to do what we can to reduce air pollution and ecosystem damage from our power supply.&nbsp;</p>
  2887.  
  2888.  
  2889.  
  2890. <p>We can’t afford to delay this important action.&nbsp;</p>
  2891.  
  2892.  
  2893.  
  2894. <p>Matthew LeFluer&nbsp;</p>
  2895.  
  2896.  
  2897.  
  2898. <p>Alburgh</p>
  2899. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/matthew-lefluer-override-the-veto-of-the-renewable-energy-standard/">Matthew LeFluer: Override the veto of the Renewable Energy Standard</a>.</p>
  2900. ]]></content:encoded>
  2904. <dc:modified>Wed, 12 Jun 2024 20:02:08 +0000</dc:modified>
  2905. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">583917</post-id> </item>
  2906. <item>
  2907. <title>UVM plans to nearly double its graduate student population as it nears ‘top-tier’ research designation</title>
  2908. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/uvm-plans-to-nearly-double-its-graduate-student-population-as-it-nears-top-tier-research-designation/</link>
  2910. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Corey McDonald]]></dc:creator>
  2911. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 10:57:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2912. <category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
  2913. <category><![CDATA[Burlington]]></category>
  2914. <category><![CDATA[enrollment]]></category>
  2915. <category><![CDATA[University of Vermont]]></category>
  2916. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=583920</guid>
  2917.  
  2918. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="681" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1024x681.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A clock tower on a campus with trees in the background." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1568x1044.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-400x266.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="557365" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/uvm-campus-10-20230920/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1331" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6_2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Ira Allen Chapel on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1695202537&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;70&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0004&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;uvm-campus-10 20230920&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="uvm-campus-10 20230920" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Ira Allen Chapel on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2919. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Ira Allen Chapel on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2920. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1200x799.jpg" /></figure>
  2921. <p>The university hopes to bolster its graduate and Ph.D. offerings, but Burlington officials have warned that the region’s tight housing market remains an obstacle for the school’s goals.</p>
  2922. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/uvm-plans-to-nearly-double-its-graduate-student-population-as-it-nears-top-tier-research-designation/">UVM plans to nearly double its graduate student population as it nears ‘top-tier’ research designation</a>.</p>
  2923. ]]></description>
  2924. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="681" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1024x681.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A clock tower on a campus with trees in the background." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1568x1044.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-400x266.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="557365" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/uvm-campus-10-20230920/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1331" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6_2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Ira Allen Chapel on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1695202537&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;70&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0004&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;uvm-campus-10 20230920&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="uvm-campus-10 20230920" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Ira Allen Chapel on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2925. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Ira Allen Chapel on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2926. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1200x799.jpg" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  2927. <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="799" data-attachment-id="557365" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/uvm-campus-10-20230920/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1331" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 6_2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Ira Allen Chapel on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1695202537&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Glenn Russell&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;70&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0004&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;uvm-campus-10 20230920&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="uvm-campus-10 20230920" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Ira Allen Chapel on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2928. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Ira Allen Chapel on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  2929. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1200x799.jpg" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1200x799.jpg" alt="A clock tower on a campus with trees in the background." class="wp-image-557365" style="width:810px;height:auto" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-125x83.jpg 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-768x511.jpg 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-1568x1044.jpg 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920-400x266.jpg 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uvm-campus-10-20230920.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ira Allen Chapel on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington on Sept. 20, 2023. File Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger</figcaption></figure></div>
  2930.  
  2931.  
  2932. <p>Holger Hoock admits his most recent job change was a &#8220;slightly unusual&#8221; move. Leaving the University of Pittsburgh, a school with the highest level of research classification and a member of the American Association of Universities, he <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/news/story/uvm-appoints-holger-hoock-dean-graduate-college">joined</a> the University of Vermont as its first full-time graduate college dean in June 2023.</p>
  2933.  
  2934.  
  2935.  
  2936. <p>Vermont&#8217;s flagship public research university, then and now, has fewer than 1,700 graduate students enrolled, <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/oir/enrollment">according to university data</a>, and remains an R2 institution — much less lauded than the top-tier R1, or &#8220;Research 1&#8221; designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.</p>
  2937.  
  2938.  
  2939.  
  2940. <p>But Hoock, in an interview with VTDigger, said the move was an opportunity &#8220;to actually relaunch and build&#8221; a graduate school that, coupled with an ever-growing amount of research funding, could soon compete with peer institutions.</p>
  2941.  
  2942.  
  2943.  
  2944. <p>Some would argue the university already competes. UVM is expected to attain R1 status later this year, university officials said, putting it in the same category as schools such as Tufts University, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Michigan.</p>
  2945.  
  2946.  
  2947.  
  2948. <p>Starting later this summer, Hoock expects to unveil the graduate college’s first-ever strategic plan. The initiative is part of UVM’s larger goal to increase the ratio of graduate students to undergraduate students, which would mean increasing its graduate student population to 3,000 students in five years.</p>
  2949.  
  2950.  
  2951.  
  2952. <p>It marks a continued push by the university to strengthen its research funding, while concurrently enhancing their focus on graduate and Ph.D. offerings. School officials argue that shift will provide a direct benefit to the region — meeting its land grant mission to provide economic and workforce development.</p>
  2953.  
  2954.  
  2955.  
  2956. <p>&#8220;We have an opportunity, and we think responsibility, to provide relevant advanced degrees &#8230; to meet the educational aspirations and workforce needs in the state and beyond,&#8221; Hoock said.</p>
  2957.  
  2958.  
  2959.  
  2960. <p>But while the university turns its focus toward graduate education, the region’s tight housing market remains an obstacle. The housing crisis, and the strain that UVM&#8217;s student population has on the local housing supply, has <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2023/03/05/housing-debate-reveals-signs-of-strain-in-uvm-burlington-relationship/">led to clashes</a> between the university and the city of Burlington over on-campus student housing for undergraduates.</p>
  2961.  
  2962.  
  2963.  
  2964. <p>The school&#8217;s undergraduate population, city officials have said previously, occupies much of the city&#8217;s short supply of housing stock. An increase in graduate students in the region could exacerbate those tensions.</p>
  2965.  
  2966.  
  2967.  
  2968. <p>“The chronic shortage of housing has serious impacts on so many issues facing both Burlington and UVM: rents, housing quality, home ownership and economic development,&#8221; Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak said. &#8220;Our center city neighborhoods are strained by these conditions and families are being pushed out of our community as a result.&#8221;</p>
  2969.  
  2970.  
  2971.  
  2972. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">‘It&#8217;s worth noting just how small we have been until now’</h2>
  2973.  
  2974.  
  2975.  
  2976. <p>Under the strategic plan, the university would nearly double its current graduate student enrollment numbers — which increased modestly over the last three decades — while keeping undergraduate enrollment at its current level. That would bring its ratio of graduate students to undergrads more in line with its peer research institutions, university officials said.</p>
  2977.  
  2978.  
  2979.  
  2980. <p>Enrollment numbers from the last 20 years show UVM’s undergraduate enrollment increasing steadily, while the number of graduates has not. There were 1,232 graduate students in the spring 2004 semester and 1,592 in spring 2024. In that same period, undergraduates increased from 7,427 to 10,925.&nbsp;</p>
  2981.  
  2982.  
  2983.  
  2984. <p>Recently, the trend has accelerated. Since spring 2020, the school&#8217;s undergraduate population has grown by nearly 900 students, while the number of graduate students has remained stagnant.</p>
  2985.  
  2986.  
  2987.  
  2988. <p>&#8220;It&#8217;s worth noting just how small we have been until now, compared to many — most, I would say — of our peer institutions,&#8221; Hoock said, &#8220;both in the absolute number of graduate students and, if you look at the ratios, the proportions of the overall student population that are graduate and professional students.&#8221;</p>
  2989.  
  2990.  
  2991.  
  2992. <p>He pointed to the University of Connecticut as an example, which this year enrolled about 30,000 undergraduate students and 8,000 graduate students.&nbsp;</p>
  2993.  
  2994.  
  2995.  
  2996. <p>&#8220;That is more commonly the proportion,&#8221; Hoock said. &#8220;You really expect a quarter to a third of overall enrollment (to be graduate students). We&#8217;re aiming at this point to get to 20%, which seems to me the right target at this point.&#8221;</p>
  2997.  
  2998.  
  2999.  
  3000. <p>Frank Cioffi, a member of UVM&#8217;s board of trustees, considers the university&#8217;s goal &#8220;fantastic news,” but cautioned that efforts to build housing should be tied to the school’s growth path.</p>
  3001.  
  3002.  
  3003.  
  3004. <p>&#8220;This could be incredible for the university long term, for the economy, for everyone,&#8221; Cioffi said. But, he cautioned, &#8220;if UVM is going to grow, then now is the time when housing needs to be growing right along with those plans. This should be a very synchronized plan of student growth and of housing growth for students.&#8221;</p>
  3005.  
  3006.  
  3007.  
  3008. <p><a href="https://vtdigger.org/2023/12/18/burlington-mayor-uvm-announce-new-housing-agreement/">A draft agreement</a> between the university and the city that was presented to the Burlington City Council in December would have committed the school to increasing on-campus housing if it enrolls more undergraduate students. But the measure wasn’t taken up by the council at the time and has yet to be taken up by the new council and new mayoral administration, which took office in April.</p>
  3009.  
  3010.  
  3011.  
  3012. <p>&#8220;Students are a huge part of making Burlington a vibrant place,&#8221; said Council President Ben Traverse. &#8220;They need housing though, and both the city and the university have a responsibility to address that need. To be continued.&#8221;</p>
  3013.  
  3014.  
  3015.  
  3016. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8221;It&#8217;s a recognition of what&#8217;s already happening&#8217;</h2>
  3017.  
  3018.  
  3019.  
  3020. <p>UVM should have been made an R1 institution a decade ago, according to Kirk Dombrowski, UVM&#8217;s vice president for research and development. The only reason it wasn’t, he said, was because of the Carnegie Foundation&#8217;s &#8220;peculiar&#8221; classification system.</p>
  3021.  
  3022.  
  3023.  
  3024. <p>Because UVM has not offered doctoral programs in the humanities and social sciences, the school has remained an R2 institution. (Carnegie’s lowest classification is R3.)</p>
  3025.  
  3026.  
  3027.  
  3028. <p>That will likely change soon. In the fall of 2023, the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation <a href="https://www.acenet.edu/News-Room/Pages/Carnegie-Classifications-to-Make-Major-Changes.aspx">announced</a> a &#8220;more transparent&#8221; methodology for R1 designations. Under the new thresholds, schools with $50 million in total research spending and 70 research doctorate offerings will be classified R1.</p>
  3029.  
  3030.  
  3031.  
  3032. <p>UVM cleared those requirements, and now draws in over $230 million a year in research expenditures.</p>
  3033.  
  3034.  
  3035.  
  3036. <p>Much of that progress is attributed to Dombrowski, who was first hired for the new position in April 2020 and has been credited with turning UVM into a &#8220;research powerhouse,&#8221; <a href="https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/kirk-dombrowski-aims-to-make-uvm-a-research-powerhouse-34068404">as Seven Days reported in 2021.</a></p>
  3037.  
  3038.  
  3039.  
  3040. <p>Even before Dombrowski&#8217;s arrival, the university drew in $181.7 million in sponsored research funding from governmental sources in fiscal year 2020, which surpassed the previous year’s amount by $37.4 million.</p>
  3041.  
  3042.  
  3043.  
  3044. <p>Seventy percent of the research expenditures on campus, meanwhile, were in the school&#8217;s College of Medicine, Dombrowski said. That college now maintains about 35% of the research enterprise on campus, with the bulk of the growth in research expenditures coming from the other colleges, he said.&nbsp;</p>
  3045.  
  3046.  
  3047.  
  3048. <p>The College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, he said, now raises $26 million a year in research funding — up from $8 million in previous years.</p>
  3049.  
  3050.  
  3051.  
  3052. <p>&#8220;A lot of what we&#8217;ve done is get the research going across the rest of the campus,&#8221; Dombrowski said. &#8220;There were a whole bunch of really talented, excited faculty members who were looking to do this kind of work and just didn&#8217;t have the same support system that they might have at a bigger university. So, when we put that support system in place, it just unleashed a whole bunch of talent and ambition.&#8221;</p>
  3053.  
  3054.  
  3055.  
  3056. <p>UVM’s recent increase in research expenditures has already had an impact on the broader region. Dombrowski pointed to GlobalFoundries and UVM being jointly <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/news/story/consortium-uvm-globalfoundries-wins-recognition-tech-hub">designated</a> as one of 31 “tech hubs” by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, which unlocked millions in federal grant research for semiconductor technology.</p>
  3057.  
  3058.  
  3059.  
  3060. <p>Dombrowski said the Carnegie Foundation will conduct R1 assessments in the fall, while official announcements are expected by the end of the year. University officials will certainly celebrate, he said, but he noted that it is &#8220;a recognition of what&#8217;s already happening.&#8221;</p>
  3061.  
  3062.  
  3063.  
  3064. <p>What an R1 designation says to potential faculty and students, Dombrowski said, is that &#8220;this is a top-flight research ecosystem.&#8221;</p>
  3065.  
  3066.  
  3067.  
  3068. <p>&#8220;In certain ways, it&#8217;s only announcing what you&#8217;ve already done,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It is a recognition that you&#8217;re a top-tier research university, and that opens up opportunities for larger efforts.&#8221;</p>
  3069.  
  3070.  
  3071.  
  3072. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8216;Our futures are linked&#8217;</h2>
  3073.  
  3074.  
  3075.  
  3076. <p>Now, the goal is to both draw in students seeking opportunities at large research institutions, while figuring out &#8220;how we continue to make this research an opportunity for the undergraduates who are here,&#8221; Dombrowski said.</p>
  3077.  
  3078.  
  3079.  
  3080. <p>Hoock, the dean of the university&#8217;s graduate college, said that while the university has seen a dramatic increase in its research enterprise, it’s “very unusual” that the university&#8217;s Ph.D. and graduate enrollment has remained flat.</p>
  3081.  
  3082.  
  3083.  
  3084. <p>&#8220;And so we&#8217;re essentially backfilling, patching up on that critical tier of the research enterprise,&#8221; he said.</p>
  3085.  
  3086.  
  3087.  
  3088. <p>Much of the work in the graduate college&#8217;s strategic planning process will involve growing its Ph.D. programs and professional master&#8217;s degrees, while creating new programs where there is a societal need, Hoock said.</p>
  3089.  
  3090.  
  3091.  
  3092. <p>Hoock did not disclose what new programs could be created, but pointed to examples already in place, like the accelerated pathway into a master’s of science in nursing, where undergraduates can work into a graduate program. Another example is creating a certificate in computer science education for students in the College of Education and Social Services to become specialized in teaching computer sciences.</p>
  3093.  
  3094.  
  3095.  
  3096. <p>&#8220;We are now a research powerhouse, and as a premier research university, we must grow our Ph.D. programs,&#8221; Hoock said. &#8220;They are integral. &#8230; We want to meet our responsibility to train the next generation of researchers, scientists and innovators.&#8221;</p>
  3097.  
  3098.  
  3099.  
  3100. <p>Officials say the plan to double the graduate student population may not necessarily translate to a one-to-one increase in overall in-person enrollment. Current undergraduate students may transfer into an accelerated master&#8217;s program, they said, while students from out of state may take advantage of online classes that the university hopes to create.</p>
  3101.  
  3102.  
  3103.  
  3104. <p>University officials say they are working to address any impact this increase could have on the local housing market. They pointed to <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2022/09/06/university-of-vermont-to-create-nearly-500-beds-of-housing-in-south-burlington/">Catamount Run</a>, a new housing project in South Burlington&#8217;s City Center that will include 620 beds of housing specifically to accommodate the school&#8217;s growth in graduate and professional programs.</p>
  3105.  
  3106.  
  3107.  
  3108. <p>But city officials continue to have concerns about the school’s student population<strong>. </strong>Last month university leaders <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/05/20/uvm-halts-plans-to-build-housing-near-centennial-woods/">halted a more recent project,</a> called Catamount Woods, that would have accommodated about 540 undergraduate students.They cited soaring construction costs and a lack of available labor.</p>
  3109.  
  3110.  
  3111.  
  3112. <p>With a vacancy rate for the area hovering around a meager 1%, the housing crunch limits the ability of employers — including UVM — to recruit and retain staff.</p>
  3113.  
  3114.  
  3115.  
  3116. <p>&#8220;This has negative consequences on our local economy and prevents young people from setting down roots in our community,&#8221; Mulvaney-Stanak said in an emailed response to questions.</p>
  3117.  
  3118.  
  3119.  
  3120. <p>Traverse, the city council president, and Mulvaney-Stanak said the university has not shared its specific goal of increasing its graduate school enrollment with them. Adam White, a spokesperson for the university, told VTDigger the opposite — that the city “is aware of our plan” to grow graduate enrollment.</p>
  3121.  
  3122.  
  3123.  
  3124. <p>The mayor, now two months in office, said the city has not yet taken up the draft agreement with the university but plans to in the future. The memorandum of understanding at the time required UVM to provide 1.5 beds per every undergraduate student enrolled above the fall 2023 level, which was 11,614 students. In return, the city would pledge to work with UVM to alter the zoning on three parcels where the school wants to build new housing.</p>
  3125.  
  3126.  
  3127.  
  3128. <p>“Our futures are linked, and it is my intention to resume conversations with the university regarding the MOUs with the city,&#8221; Mulvaney-Stanak said. &#8220;I&#8217;m confident that we can find common ground in a way that benefits both the city and the university, with tangible steps to address the housing crisis in our community.&#8221;</p>
  3129.  
  3130.  
  3131.  
  3132. <p>Dombrowski said he considers the housing shortage &#8220;a very serious consideration for our ability to attract graduate students.&#8221;</p>
  3133.  
  3134.  
  3135.  
  3136. <p>&#8220;The point is to change the ratio and to grow the graduate population and shrink the undergraduate population,&#8221; Dombrowski said. &#8220;To do that we have to be financially solvent and savvy. We have to offer an on-campus living experience that&#8217;s competitive with our peers. I think that everyone&#8217;s interests are in exactly the same place on this.&#8221;</p>
  3137. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/13/uvm-plans-to-nearly-double-its-graduate-student-population-as-it-nears-top-tier-research-designation/">UVM plans to nearly double its graduate student population as it nears ‘top-tier’ research designation</a>.</p>
  3138. ]]></content:encoded>
  3142. <dc:modified>Wed, 12 Jun 2024 20:32:37 +0000</dc:modified>
  3143. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">583920</post-id> </item>
  3144. <item>
  3145. <title>Vermont State Police arrest suspect in Massachusetts fatal stabbing</title>
  3146. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/12/vermont-state-police-arrest-suspect-in-massachusetts-fatal-stabbing/</link>
  3148. <dc:creator><![CDATA[VTD Editor]]></dc:creator>
  3149. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:55:06 +0000</pubDate>
  3150. <category><![CDATA[Public Safety]]></category>
  3151. <category><![CDATA[News in Brief]]></category>
  3152. <category><![CDATA[public safety]]></category>
  3153. <category><![CDATA[Vermont State Police]]></category>
  3154. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=583961</guid>
  3155.  
  3156. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="556151" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/news-in-brief-featured-image-2023/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="News in Brief Featured Image 2023" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023.png" /></figure>
  3157. <p>Authorities found Kevin Digregorio sleeping in a vehicle on U.S. Route 2 in Lunenberg, Vermont, according to a Massachusetts prosecutor.</p>
  3158. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/12/vermont-state-police-arrest-suspect-in-massachusetts-fatal-stabbing/">Vermont State Police arrest suspect in Massachusetts fatal stabbing</a>.</p>
  3159. ]]></description>
  3160. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-1024x768.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-1024x768.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-300x225.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-125x94.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-768x576.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-800x600.png?crop=1 800w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-600x450.png?crop=1 600w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-400x300.png?crop=1 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-200x150.png?crop=1 200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="556151" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/news-in-brief-featured-image-2023/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023.png" data-orig-size="1200,900" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="News in Brief Featured Image 2023" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023-300x225.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief-Featured-Image-2023.png" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  3161. <figure class="alignright size-full"><a href="https://vtdigger.org/tag/news-in-brief/"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="245" data-attachment-id="556152" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/news-in-brief_pattern-block-only-2023/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023.png" data-orig-size="1200,245" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="News in Brief_Pattern block only 2023" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023-300x61.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023.png" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023.png" alt="" class="wp-image-556152" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023.png 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023-300x61.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023-125x26.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023-768x157.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023-1024x209.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/News-in-Brief_Pattern-block-only-2023-400x82.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a></figure></div>
  3162.  
  3163.  
  3164. <p>Vermont State Police say they have arrested a suspect wanted in Massachusetts on murder and other charges related to a stabbing that occurred there on Monday.&nbsp;</p>
  3165.  
  3166.  
  3167.  
  3168. <p>Police arrested Kevin Digregorio, 33, of Randolph, Massachusetts, on Wednesday morning in Lunenburg, Vermont, after being notified by Massachusetts State Police that Digregorio was thought to be in the area of Waterford, according to a press release issued by Vermont State Police.</p>
  3169.  
  3170.  
  3171.  
  3172. <p>Authorities found Digregorio sleeping in a vehicle on U.S. Route 2, according to <a href="https://x.com/PlymouthCtyDAO/status/1800952278171500830">a statement</a> by the district attorney in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.&nbsp;</p>
  3173.  
  3174.  
  3175.  
  3176. <p>Digregorio was wanted on charges of murder, assault to kill and others related to a double stabbing that occurred in Brockton, Massachusetts, in which he allegedly killed one man and injured another.</p>
  3177.  
  3178.  
  3179.  
  3180. <p>Digregorio was ordered held on bail as a fugitive from justice and was scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday in Guildhall, according to the Vermont State Police press release.</p>
  3181. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/12/vermont-state-police-arrest-suspect-in-massachusetts-fatal-stabbing/">Vermont State Police arrest suspect in Massachusetts fatal stabbing</a>.</p>
  3182. ]]></content:encoded>
  3186. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:55:11 +0000</dc:modified>
  3187. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">583961</post-id> </item>
  3188. <item>
  3189. <title>Prospects dim for property tax compromise after sour meeting between administration and lawmakers</title>
  3190. <link>https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/12/prospects-dim-for-property-tax-compromise-after-sour-meeting-between-administration-and-lawmakers/</link>
  3192. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ethan Weinstein]]></dc:creator>
  3193. <pubDate>Wed, 12 Jun 2024 23:31:49 +0000</pubDate>
  3194. <category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
  3195. <category><![CDATA[education spending]]></category>
  3196. <category><![CDATA[Jill Krowinski]]></category>
  3197. <category><![CDATA[Phil Baruth]]></category>
  3198. <category><![CDATA[Phil Scott]]></category>
  3199. <category><![CDATA[Vermont Legislature]]></category>
  3200. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://vtdigger.org/?p=583950</guid>
  3201.  
  3202. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="682" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1024x682.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Three individuals are shown in a photo collage. The man on the left is wearing a suit and tie, the woman in the middle has glasses and a black jacket, and the man on the right is speaking and gesturing." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1024x682.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-300x200.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1200x800.png 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-125x83.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-768x512.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1568x1045.png 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-400x267.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-706x471.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="583915" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/3-person-composite-1/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1.png" data-orig-size="2000,1333" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="3-Person Composite (1)" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  3203. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  3204. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-300x200.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1200x800.png" /></figure>
  3205. <p>To the frustration of legislative leaders, Gov. Phil Scott did not attend the meeting where his team unveiled proposals. But officials said he’d never planned to be there. </p>
  3206. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/12/prospects-dim-for-property-tax-compromise-after-sour-meeting-between-administration-and-lawmakers/">Prospects dim for property tax compromise after sour meeting between administration and lawmakers</a>.</p>
  3207. ]]></description>
  3208. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="682" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1024x682.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Three individuals are shown in a photo collage. The man on the left is wearing a suit and tie, the woman in the middle has glasses and a black jacket, and the man on the right is speaking and gesturing." decoding="async" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1024x682.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-300x200.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1200x800.png 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-125x83.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-768x512.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1568x1045.png 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-400x267.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-706x471.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="583915" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/3-person-composite-1/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1.png" data-orig-size="2000,1333" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="3-Person Composite (1)" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  3209. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  3210. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-300x200.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1200x800.png" /></figure><div class="wp-block-image">
  3211. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" data-attachment-id="583915" data-permalink="https://vtdigger.org/3-person-composite-1/" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1.png" data-orig-size="2000,1333" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="3-Person Composite (1)" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  3212. " data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger&lt;/p&gt;
  3213. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-300x200.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1200x800.png" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1200x800.png" alt="Three individuals are shown in a photo collage. The man on the left is wearing a suit and tie, the woman in the middle has glasses and a black jacket, and the man on the right is speaking and gesturing." class="wp-image-583915" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1200x800.png 1200w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-300x200.png 300w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-125x83.png 125w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-768x512.png 768w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1024x682.png 1024w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-1568x1045.png 1568w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-400x267.png 400w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1-706x471.png 706w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-Person-Composite-1.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">From left: Gov. Phil Scott, Rep. Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger</figcaption></figure></div>
  3214.  
  3215.  
  3216. <p>Negotiations between Gov. Phil Scott’s administration and legislative leadership soured after a Wednesday afternoon meeting to discuss the executive branch’s property tax and education finance proposal.&nbsp;</p>
  3217.  
  3218.  
  3219.  
  3220. <p>The meeting and subsequent fallout followed <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/06/phil-scott-vetoes-property-tax-bill-unsettling-next-years-school-funding/#:~:text=Gov.%20Phil%20Scott%20vetoed%20the,provide%20property%20tax%20relief%20now.">Scott’s veto of the annual property tax legislation</a> last week. If enacted, the legislation would increase the average education tax bill by 13.8%, driven by rising school spending.</p>
  3221.  
  3222.  
  3223.  
  3224. <p>For weeks, Scott has used press conferences to tease his plan. On Wednesday, his team unveiled a “menu” of ideas that, if taken all together, would bring down average property tax increases to 4% to 6%, according to the administration’s projections.</p>
  3225.  
  3226.  
  3227.  
  3228. <p>In the final days of the session, <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/05/11/vermont-lawmakers-reach-late-night-property-tax-deal-but-bill-looks-destined-for-a-veto/">lawmakers in both chambers passed the yield bill</a> with margins around the two-thirds needed to override a veto. Legislators now must consider whether to pursue any of the administrators’ proposals or attempt an override during a veto session next week.&nbsp;</p>
  3229.  
  3230.  
  3231.  
  3232. <p>The governor’s plan would “keep Vermonters from being crushed by a property tax increase this year,” Sarah Clark, interim administration secretary, said at a media briefing following Wednesday’s meeting with lawmakers.&nbsp;</p>
  3233.  
  3234.  
  3235.  
  3236. <p>Clark, alongside Tax Commissioner Craig Bolio and Interim Education Secretary Zoie Saunders, described a range of proposals that include injecting $124 million toward lowering rates this year and working to decrease school spending going forward.&nbsp;</p>
  3237.  
  3238.  
  3239.  
  3240. <p>For immediate relief, the administration suggested that surplus state revenues from May and June —&nbsp;perhaps $20 million — could go toward this year’s taxes.&nbsp;</p>
  3241.  
  3242.  
  3243.  
  3244. <p>“It’s not money that’s guaranteed until it comes in,” Clark cautioned.&nbsp;</p>
  3245.  
  3246.  
  3247.  
  3248. <p>Scott’s representatives also suggested nixing universal school meals, a $20 million program. And they proposed using the entirety of the education fund stabilization reserve —&nbsp;about $47 million —&nbsp;to further buy down rates. Taxpayers would then pay back 20% of the reserve each year for the next five years, according to Bolio, and education fund surpluses could go toward the repaying of the reserve.&nbsp;</p>
  3249.  
  3250.  
  3251.  
  3252. <p>Such significant one-time buy downs needed to be coupled with cost-containment, state officials argued.&nbsp;</p>
  3253.  
  3254.  
  3255.  
  3256. <p>To curb spending, the administration suggested placing more restrictive limits on how much school districts could increase spending in fiscal year 2026 before facing financial penalties. State leaders also proposed transitioning for fiscal year 2027 to a foundation formula, paying districts per student and allowing local voters to increase spending at a higher tax rate.&nbsp;</p>
  3257.  
  3258.  
  3259.  
  3260. <p>Ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, lawmakers and the administration had engaged in weeks of back and forth over when and how to meet. But when lawmakers finally heard the proposals they unleashed intense — and immediate —&nbsp;disapproval.&nbsp;</p>
  3261.  
  3262.  
  3263.  
  3264. <p>“We were led to believe that Governor Scott would be present and engaged at our meeting this afternoon and that he would offer details on a responsible plan to cut property tax rates,” Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D-Chittenden Central, said in the statement.<br><br>“Unfortunately, neither turned out to be true. The Governor was absent, and the ideas presented by his team are among the most fiscally irresponsible he and his Administration have ever proposed,” Baruth said.</p>
  3265.  
  3266.  
  3267.  
  3268. <p>Scott’s absence also displeased House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, who released a statement deriding the proposal as “nothing more than election year politics rather than a true commitment to collaboration.”</p>
  3269.  
  3270.  
  3271.  
  3272. <p>The Governor’s team rejected that he ever planned to attend the meeting.</p>
  3273.  
  3274.  
  3275.  
  3276. <p>“There was never a plan for the governor to be there for the initial discussion,” said Kendal Smith, the governor’s director of policy and legislative affairs, adding that Scott would have attended a later meeting if there was a “handshake” agreement to be had. </p>
  3277.  
  3278.  
  3279.  
  3280. <p>“The issue at hand is getting this rate down for Vermonters,” said Rebecca Kelley, Scott’s spokesperson, “not who’s at the meeting.”&nbsp;</p>
  3281.  
  3282.  
  3283.  
  3284. <p>A 13.8% tax increase would lead to people “not being able to afford rent, increasing our homeless population,” Kelley said, “pushing more people into poverty, causing more people to leave the state.”</p>
  3285.  
  3286.  
  3287.  
  3288. <p>(Another Scott spokesperson, Amanda Wheeler, said the governor was at an event in West Rutland celebrating music education “but was prepared to meet with lawmakers this afternoon if a deal could have been reached.”)</p>
  3289.  
  3290.  
  3291.  
  3292. <p>The proposals unveiled by Scott’s team on Wednesday included a mix of ideas — some new, some old and some that originated with lawmakers themselves this past year.&nbsp;</p>
  3293.  
  3294.  
  3295.  
  3296. <p>“If you don’t do it all as a package, the fiscal cliff it establishes will be extremely difficult to overcome,” Clark said. “Even with our proposal, it’s still very challenging. But doing nothing, from our perspective, is worse.”&nbsp;</p>
  3297.  
  3298.  
  3299.  
  3300. <p>In the yield bill as passed, lawmakers used more than $20 million to increase the property tax credit for Vermonters who qualify based on income. The administration suggested using that money to decrease rates for all taxpayers, rather than just those who are income-sensitized, as the other sources of money would bring down average rates far below current expectations.&nbsp;</p>
  3301.  
  3302.  
  3303.  
  3304. <p>School budgets have also ticked down about $4 million since the yield bill passed, according to officials, so a new bill could reflect those savings.&nbsp;</p>
  3305.  
  3306.  
  3307.  
  3308. <p>For fiscal year 2026, administration leaders’ short-term cost-containment proposal included imposing new, more restrictive limits on how much school districts could increase spending before facing financial penalties. The idea, referred to as “allowable growth rates” and first proposed in the House during the legislative session, would limit most districts to increasing budgets at the rate of inflation. Lower spending districts would be allowed to increase budgets up to 6.5%, according to Bolio.&nbsp;</p>
  3309.  
  3310.  
  3311.  
  3312. <p>Another <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/04/10/with-weeks-to-go-could-lawmakers-radically-reimagine-vermonts-education-finance-system/">short-lived House proposal</a> appeared on the administration’s menu: a foundation formula. A model used by most states to fund education, the idea involves determining what an “adequate” education costs in Vermont. Districts would then receive so-called educational opportunity payments based on that adequacy number and the number of students in the districts. If local voters decided to spend more, they could do so at an increased tax rate.</p>
  3313.  
  3314.  
  3315.  
  3316. <p>In discussing the administration’s proposal to use the $47 million education fund stabilization reserve to buy down tax rates, Bolio characterized it as “deferring” tax payments to future years.</p>
  3317.  
  3318.  
  3319.  
  3320. <p>“It is deferring a certain share of the property taxes this year,” Bolio said on Wednesday. Structural reform would shift some of the repayment to higher spending districts, he indicated.&nbsp;</p>
  3321.  
  3322.  
  3323.  
  3324. <p>The day prior, Scott had said at his weekly general press conference that his plan would not include a “deferment” concept, an idea that the administration <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/04/12/as-committee-scrambles-on-school-tax-plan-administration-pitches-curveball-idea/">first proposed during the legislative session</a>.&nbsp;</p>
  3325.  
  3326.  
  3327.  
  3328. <p>State Treasurer Mike Pieciak advised lawmakers against the deferment proposal that had been discussed last session, fearing it would impact Vermont’s bond rating. (The rating agencies have also said that spending outpacing revenue could affect the state’s bond rating, Scott’s team has noted.)</p>
  3329.  
  3330.  
  3331.  
  3332. <p>In response to a question on Wednesday, Bolio maintained the new proposal wasn’t a deferment, “because this isn’t going to be carried like debt by schools. It’s using actual reserve funds,” contrasting the idea with using “the general fund cash balances.”</p>
  3333.  
  3334.  
  3335.  
  3336. <p>Taxpayers, though, would still carry the burden to repay the education fund reserve.&nbsp;</p>
  3337.  
  3338.  
  3339.  
  3340. <p>On her way out of the afternoon meeting, Sen. Jane Kitchel, D-Caledonia, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, condemned the lack of “fiscal responsibility” in the administration’s plan.&nbsp;</p>
  3341.  
  3342.  
  3343.  
  3344. <p>“Obviously everybody would like to make the property tax increase as low as possible,” she said. “If the proposal is to go in and use the stabilization reserve to buy down the rate, that is a practice that we never ever had considered or would consider as fiscally responsible.”&nbsp;</p>
  3345.  
  3346.  
  3347.  
  3348. <p>Kitchel, who recently announced she would <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/05/17/after-a-career-in-public-service-jane-kitchel-to-retire-from-the-vermont-senate/">not seek reelection</a>, also challenged the administration’s notion that a $20 million surplus will materialize from increased revenues in May and June.&nbsp;</p>
  3349.  
  3350.  
  3351.  
  3352. <p>“That’s an unknown. You don’t set the yield based on unknowns,” she said.</p>
  3353.  
  3354.  
  3355.  
  3356. <p>As chair of appropriations, Kitchel guided the creation of the state budget for years, and is widely considered one of, if not the most powerful lawmakers in Montpelier.</p>
  3357.  
  3358.  
  3359.  
  3360. <p>“I have to tell you, as someone who&#8217;s dealt with budgets and short-term decisions that have huge long-term impacts, like the underfunding of pensions, it&#8217;s not a direction that I feel comfortable in going,” she said.</p>
  3361.  
  3362.  
  3363.  
  3364. <p><em>Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the first name of Gov. Phil Scott&#8217;s director of policy and legislative affairs.</em></p>
  3365. <p>Read the story on VTDigger here:  <a href="https://vtdigger.org/2024/06/12/prospects-dim-for-property-tax-compromise-after-sour-meeting-between-administration-and-lawmakers/">Prospects dim for property tax compromise after sour meeting between administration and lawmakers</a>.</p>
  3366. ]]></content:encoded>
  3370. <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 12:47:28 +0000</dc:modified>
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