News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
Guy Page 
Senator Bernie Sanders says America has a student debt crisis. He’s right about that. Forty-three million Americans owe student loans. About 76,000 Vermonters have them. Many borrowers are struggling, and some face higher monthly payments starting tomorrow, July 1, as changes to federal repayment programs take effect. Sanders recently held a Senate roundtable featuring borrowers … Read more
Mid Vermont Christian School in Quechee has asked a federal appeals court to overturn Vermont’s Act 73 exclusion of religious schools from the state’s tuition and other public education benefit programs, arguing the policy violates the First Amendment, according to a statement by Alliance Defending Freedom. Attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom filed an opening brief … Read more
Four Washington County legislators are being taken to task on the Rural Vermont Rising Facebook group for what a poster says is their negative characterization of the grassroots organization’s successful efforts this year to repeal Act 181 and promote legislation protecting property rights. The criticism follows a post-session legislative forum on Wednesday, June 24, in … Read more
…punishes the press. What a difference a lake makes. In Vermont, on Lake Champlain’s eastern shore, any alignment with President Donald Trump is considered a kiss of death for any candidates, barring perhaps those running in a small handful of ‘red’ districts on the electoral map. But across Lake Champlain in upstate New York, President … Read more
The former treasurer of the Board of Directors of EcoHealth Alliance, the now-defunct research group associated with coronavirus research in Wuhan, China, is a Vermont veterinarian. EcoHealth Alliance re-emerged into the COVID-19 media coverage this weekend after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released documents that revealed U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases chief Anthony Fauci’s … Read more
An immigration judge has ordered Mohsen Mahdawi, the Fairlee resident and Columbia University anti-Israel activist, deported, the ACLU of Vermont reported June 10. However, Mahdawi may remain in the U.S. pending the outcome of his appeal of a separate federal court case. Mahdawi, a green-card holder, became a cause celebre among Vermont’s anti-Trump resistance movement last … Read more
Artificial intelligence has arrived in Vermont politics, and whether you laughed at the latest video or found it offensive, it raises questions that aren’t going away. An AI-generated cartoon making fun of Congresswoman Becca Balint is making the rounds online. In the video, an artificial version of Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont) says things she never actually said, … Read more
A South Burlington woman has been charged following an investigation into her conduct during a March 11 law-enforcement operation and protest on Dorset Street, according to the Vermont State Police. Police said Connie Anania, 53, of South Burlington, was cited Thursday, May 28, on charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct and grossly negligent operation of … Read more
One of Vermont’s beloved local daily newspapers will soon be only offering print newspapers three days per week. The Newport Daily Express, serving Orleans County and the surrounding towns, has announced a series of changes to its news service with the expressed goal of better serving its readers. The changes include a new three editions … Read more
With the help of dozens of Republicans and the grudging acceptance of progressive Democrats, the House on Thursday removed ICE from the police-masking bill (S.208). Of course, ‘requiring’ ICE to unmask was the point of the whole bill as sponsored by Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky (D/P Chittenden Central) and others. The Senate dedicated repeated hearings and … Read more
Don’t look now, but repeal of Act 181, the 2024 Act 250 expansion bill enacted over Gov. Phil Scott’s veto in 2024, isn’t the only ongoing citizen rebellion. Repeal of Act 181’s Tier Two and Tier Three is scheduled to go to the House floor tomorrow. The House changes to bill S.325 would eliminate the road … Read more
A New Hampshire casino company plans to build a new casino and entertainment venue just across the Connecticut River from Vermont in Littleton, NH. Littleton is on the state line and accessible by both freeway and state highways to St. Johnsbury in about a 20-minute drive. If constructed as plan, the casino would be the closest to … Read more
Police are asking for help identifying three individuals involved in a brazen retail theft at Kohl’s in the Berlin Mall on Sunday afternoon. According to the Berlin Police Department, the incident occurred at about 3 PM on April 12, when three individuals entered the store, filled shopping carts with merchandise, and then exited without attempting … Read more
…For high taxes, low affordability Democrats are pointing the finger at Vermont Governor Phil Scott for the state’s climbing tax, housing, health care and affordability problems. At a recent press conference, he said the Legislature’s majority party should look at the three fingers pointed right back at them. In an exchange with Vermont Public reporter … Read more
One Big Beautiful Bill gives scholarship donors $1700 federal tax credit – but Dem majority doesn’t want it Vermonters will not be allowed to take a federal tax credit for contributing to a private/independent school scholarship program, if a House Ways & Means Committee miscellaneous tax bill introduced yesterday becomes law. H.933, titled “miscellaneous administrative … Read more
An anti-Israel group will rally the day after Town Meeting to celebrate what it hopes will be Town Meeting referendum victories. The referendum asks voters to approve several initiatives, including withdrawal of Vermont Air National Guard F-35’s from the strike force now aimed at further military action against Iran. The Vermont Coalition for Palestinian Liberation … Read more
A Wells man has been arrested on child sexual abuse material charges as part of a multi-state investigation that began in New Hampshire, authorities said. According to a statement published on the Newport, New Hampshire Police Department Facebook page, investigators identified Alexander Henry of Wells as an additional suspect while examining suspected online sexual exploitation … Read more
A Vermont couple has regained their foster care license following a legal dispute with state officials over required LGBTQ-related training, according to a report by Fox News. Melinda Antonucci, 45, and her husband, Casey Mathieu, 43, reached a settlement with the Vermont Department for Children and Families after their foster care license was revoked amid disagreements … Read more
A proposed amendment to Act 73, Vermont’s sweeping education reform law, would create a single, unified statewide school district in which parents would allocate tuition dollars to any public school. The proposal was introduced by sponsor Steve Heffernan (R-Addison) on Wednesday afternoon in Senate Education. The amendment would move Vermont toward a Unified School System designed to … Read more
For better or worse, the Vermont Legislature has not yet passed any bills into law this year. The Senate last week passed two controversial anti-ICE bills. Both bills passed by a 27-2 roll call vote with only Sens. Russ Ingalls (R-Essex) and Terry Williams (R-Rutland) voting no. Both bills now move over to the Vermont … Read more