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Pressure Builds on Scott to Approve Mail-In Voting

by Kevin McCallum Posted on May 8, 2020 at 1:57PM

“I just don’t understand the need to make the decision today ... whether it's going to be mandatory in November,” Scott said of a mail-in election. Condos and state elections officials have been insisting that planning for a mail-in election needs to begin now to ensure that ballots and envelopes can be printed, volunteers can be trained, voters can be properly educated about the change, and polling places — which will still be open — can be kept safe.

Media Note: Community News Project Kicks Off in Waterbury

by Kevin McCallum Posted on May 8, 2020 at 9:02AM

Richard Watts, director of the center, said the new initiative will allow students to go beyond honing their journalism skills at local papers by helping to build something new. "It’s a real opportunity for students to be on the ground floor of something," Watts said.

Burlington Plans to Offer Summer Camps, Reopen Some Parks

by Courtney Lamdin Posted on May 6, 2020 at 7:51PM

Weinberger has also spoken to representatives at Brookfield Asset Management, majority owners of the long-stalled CityPlace Burlington project. While the pandemic has affected operations, "Brookfield has indicated to us that they see the impact as more of a short-term impact than something that fundamentally changes their perspective on the property," the mayor said.

Vermonters Are Watching Their Neighbors — and Reporting Them

by Courtney Lamdin Posted on May 6, 2020 at 4:08PM

Andrea Suozzo contributed data analysis.

The toy selection outside Champlain Elementary School on Tuesday

School Distribution Sites Provide Food, Toys for Burlington Kids

by Alison Novak Posted on May 6, 2020 at 2:59PM

Misty Peck, who lives at the South Meadow Apartments, came to get food and toys for her daughter, a kindergartener. She also picked up an educational packet; grade-level teams create them each week to distribute along with food to interested families.

Scott Relaxes Vermont Guidelines for Socializing, Getting Outdoors

by Courtney Lamdin Posted on May 6, 2020 at 1:57PM

Wednesday's announcements included new details from the health department on Vermonters who have recovered from the coronavirus. Of the state's 908 total cases, 706 people have recovered, the data show.

Vermonters On the Move Again After Weeks Under Stay-Home Order

by Andrea Suozzo Posted on May 6, 2020 at 12:19PM

Between March 15 and April 26, visits to retail and recreation locations — including restaurants — in Vermont were down by about 48 percent compared to pre-coronavirus behavior. Visits to grocery and pharmacy locations, meanwhile, were down by 25 percent, the data show.

Coronavirus Claims a UVM Program for International Students

by Colin Flanders Posted on May 5, 2020 at 9:48PM

"At that time, we were one of just a few national universities that had pathway programs; today many universities do," Prelock wrote in her email. She also cited a "national context" that has complicated recruitment efforts and said the pandemic has only worsened matters.

Eviction Moratorium Bill Heads to Gov. Phil Scott

by Colin Flanders Posted on May 5, 2020 at 11:28AM

The bill, S.333, seeks to prevent people from being thrown out onto the street at a time when the governor has issued a stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Scott's order is set to expire May 15.

Finance Commissioner Adam Greshin and Gov. Phil Scott

Scott Proposes Balancing Budget by Borrowing From Reserves

by Paul Heintz Posted on May 4, 2020 at 11:35PM

The administration's plan to close the $195 million General Fund gap includes two components. The first is to draw down $138 million from the state's various reserve funds, which are currently worth $224 million.

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