MONTPELIER — In addition to protecting the general population, incarceration is meant to serve as a punishment to criminals in order to discourage the commitment of further crimes. However, recidivism is high for those who enter the prison system. 67.8 percent of the 404,638 state prisoners released ...
MIDDLEBURY — Deceptively beautiful, the Yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus), a vibrant yellow flower that looks like it could belong in a cheerful garden, is actually a dangerous invasive species that is classified by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture as a Class B Noxious Weed. According to the Connecticut ...
MONTPELIER — On Wednesday, Feb. 21, the ban on holding or participating in coyote-killing tournaments passed the Vermont House on a vote of 79–45. It now sits in the Senate Natural Resources Committee for further action. The ban was included as an amendment in a major bill on fish and wildlife ...
MONTPELIER — The state of Vermont has a history of being socially and politically progressive. Vermont was the first state to outlaw slavery in 1777. Montpelier is the only state capital without a McDonald’s restaurant. Vermont was the only state without a Wal-mart until 1996. More recently, Vermont ...
MONTPELIER — On Thursday, Feb. 15, the Vermont Senate passed a bill during a procedural vote to increase the hourly minimum wage from its current level of 10.50 to 15 dollars by 2024. The proposed bill would increase the wage gradually over the next six years with the first increase scheduled to take ...
MONTPELIER — As questions of campaign controversy continue to dominate the news in Washington, D.C., the Vermont state legislature has decided to take a deeper look at campaign finance closer to home. On Wednesday, Feb. 28, the Vermont Senate approved a ban (S.120) intended to keep corporate cash ...
In the wake of another school shooting, Dick’s Sporting Goods has taken steps to limit their sale of firearms. On Feb. 28, the company committed to no longer sell firearms to customers under the age of 21 and has eliminated their sale of assault style weapons. In 2012, following the Sandy Hook school ...
MONTPELIER – During his inaugural address, Republican Governor Phil Scott outlined his administration’s key priorities: growing the economy, making Vermont more affordable and, above all, protecting the most vulnerable in the state. Yet, Gov. Phil Scott’s budget proposal for the 2019 fiscal year ...
MIDDLEBURY — Lindsey Fuentes-George, a Middlebury human services worker, is entering the race for one of two available spots on the town select-board. She is running against two experienced candidates, incumbent Farhad Khan and former selectboard-member Gary Baker. The Middlebury Selectboard is a ...
MIDDLEBURY — For the past week, students at UVM have been engaged in a series of protests regarding racial justice and the administrators’ lack of support and sensitivity towards students of color on campus. The movement was largely spearheaded by a group of students who call themselves NoNames ...
MIDDLEBURY – The Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center welcomed The Maker’s Faire for the first time to their annual Open House last Thursday, Feb. 15. Students and community members gathered at the Center at 51 Charles Ave. in Middlebury to learn about future career pathways from the visual arts, ...
MIDDLEBURY – Until last week, Vermont had evaded the fear of school shootings that have swept the nation. The state was put to the test last Thursday after two separate tips reached Rutland County authorities regarding a teenager, 18, who was thought to pose a dire threat to the community. A young ...
MIDDLEBURY — With the opioid crisis continuing to erupt across the country, Vermont government officials seem to be breathing a collective sigh of relief for the first time in years. Identified in 2016 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a state with a significant increase in ...
MIDDLEBURY — Students may now dry their eyes because although chili fest will be missed, it is being replaced by a new event called WinterFest. WinterFest will be held on Feb. 24 at the Middlebury Recreation Park (located near the Mary Hogan School). WinterFest is set to be packed with events and ...
MIDDLEBURY — On Sunday, Dec. 3, members of the local community and the college gathered at the Town Hall Theater for the inaugural film of the 2017/18 Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (MNFF) Winter Screening Series. Titled “Menashe,” the film was directed by Joshua Z. Weinstein and follows the ...
MONTPELIER — It is common knowledge that men are paid more than women over their lifetimes in the United States. You might be aware of the widely reported statistic that, in 2016, women working full time in the United States typically made only 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. Why does a national ...
In a college town like Middlebury, a local coffeehouse is a staple for study sessions, reunions, first dates and interviews. For the past 12 years, Carol’s Hungry Mind Café has served as a hub for students and professors alike to share ideas away from campus. Three weeks ago, though, owner John Melanson ...
BURLINGTON-- For high school nordic skiers across Vermont, race day brings giddy excitement as skis are waxed and hot gatorade is prepared. The warm up tracks and gear tents ll with racers, each sporting a different skin-tight racing suit—emblazoned with the name of their school. One colorful accessory ...
MONTPELIER — State legislators are discussing a proposal that would provide free tuition to members of the Vermont National Guard. Supporters of the bill are hoping that the measure will increase enlistment and attract more working-age people to the state. Vermont is one of few states in the country ...
MONTPELIER-- After the revelations of sexual misconduct by such public figures as Al Franken, Harvey Weinstein, and Matt Lauer, the #metoo movement continues to carry momentum, prompting action to prevent sexual harassment. On Dec. 22, Vt. Gov. Phil Scott, updated his office’s ethics policy to require ...