Amongst all the encomiums that accompanied Sen. Jane Kitchel’s retirement announcement (“most influential legislator,” “tireless work ethic,” “encyclopedic” knowledge of state government and, of course, “legendary”), this comment from Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth stuck out at me: “I have adopted a two-word mantra as President Pro Tem, and[Read More…]

GREENSBORO – At a traditional time across cultures to celebrate the halfway point between the vernal equinox and summer solstice, let’s celebrate the coming of Spring by letting Spring do her thing: enter no mow May. Here’s what the Vermont Center for Ecostudies says: “We all know ‘April showers bring[Read More…]

MONTPELIER – As state lawmakers representing rural communities in our state, we are tasked with finding solutions to complex challenges and making Vermont a more affordable place for families to live. It’s no secret that Vermont is in the midst of a child care crisis, but by making historic long-term[Read More…]

EAST MONTPELIER – Wow. Not only did the state Senate reject Zoie Saunders’ nomination as education secretary, it did so on a lopsided 19-9 vote. That’s a damning indictment of how out of touch Gov. Phil Scott was in choosing her. I mean, it’s still unclear whether a Vermont Senate[Read More…]

WALDEN – More than 100 Vermonters rallied in the statehouse on April 25 to call attention to the failures of the state’s legislative supermajority, which is pushing through bills that are making the state less affordable and leaving the environment less protected. Predictably, some media outlets ignored the rally completely.[Read More…]

HINESBURG – Last year the Vermont Senate passed S.146, a bill relating to the permitting of indirect discharges. What does this mean? It will mean more protection for our lakes and ponds. To protect Vermont’s high quality waters, those lakes that exceed the Vermont Water Quality Standards (VWQS) should be[Read More…]

WALDEN – Renewables don’t change anything fundamental. They are just the latest business-as-usual scheme to keep the destructive economic party going for a few more years. In a recent VTDigger commentary, Sen. Becca White and Rep. Gabrielle Stebbins touted the “progress on climate” accomplished by the state Legislature. They claim,[Read More…]

CABOT — By the time you read this, Cabot Fire Department (CFD) should just be settling into the new, temporary building next to the recreation field on South Walden Road. After nearly nine months without a centralized space to store equipment and train our members, it’s safe to say our[Read More…]

PLAINFIELD — I have deep concerns about the future of Goddard College, an institution that holds a unique place in liberal higher education history and ethos. As a longstanding beacon of democracy, self-governance, and academic rigor, Goddard faces unprecedented challenges that threaten its very essence. Founded in 1938 as a[Read More…]

EAST MONTPELIER – Truly bizarre happenings over the last 24 hours, even by the bizarre standards of this seemingly never-ending crisis of housing and homelessness. We’ll get to the judge’s decision allowing Gov. Phil Scott’s ridiculous policy to go forward, but first a note from an official in the city[Read More…]

When Woodbury, Hardwick and Lakeview Elementary Schools were merged it was a shotgun wedding. It was a marriage that was ordered by an 11-member State Board of Education, the majority of whom had never been to Greensboro and probably didn’t even know where Stannard was. In fact, in the board’s[Read More…]

by Liz Steel and Laura Zakaras Later is too late. We must take sweeping action now to wean ourselves off fossil and other greenhouse gas emitting fuels. The climate crisis is raining out our iconic Vermont winters, flooding our streets and homes, battering our vibrant local farms, and filling our air with smoke. These[Read More…]