From Afar, Vermont House Sends COVID-19 Bills to the Governor

by Kevin McCallum Posted on April 23, 2020 at 2:21PM

In recent weeks, the House held several practice sessions and one-on-one trainings with members to get them comfortable with the technology, but it was still slow-going on game day. “I can’t make this thing work again!” Rep. Robert Helm (R-Fair Haven) fumed during one of the votes.

A Small Lockdown Protest Features Sweeping Conspiracy Theories

by Derek Brouwer Posted on April 22, 2020 at 8:49PM

Its posts have generated hundreds of shares and comments, including from Vermonters who accused its administrators of living out of state. The group's administrators have not identified themselves besides posting that they live in Killington.

Students Sent Home for the Pandemic Sue UVM for Refunds

by Colin Flanders Posted on April 22, 2020 at 4:07PM

Amid Backlash, VSC Chancellor Withdraws Plan to Close Three Campuses

by Colin Flanders Posted on April 22, 2020 at 11:11AM

Trustees took testimony from more than 100 concerned students, faculty and community members over the course of more than five hours on Monday and Tuesday. Many urged them to reconsider, passionately describing how the closures would negatively impact their lives.

'Dark Cloud' Over St. Albans PD After Officer Charged With Rape

by Derek Brouwer Posted on April 21, 2020 at 6:13PM

For months, St. Albans officials strenuously denied that the department had a culture problem among its ranks and instead attributed instances of officer misconduct to a few bad apples. This week, Taylor said he has since understood that the department had a "small faction" of its 26 or so officers who "operated a little differently than everybody realized."

Facing Unprecedented Challenges, Champlain College Names New President

by Ken Picard Posted on April 21, 2020 at 3:37PM

“I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to lead Champlain College during this period of great transformation and even greater opportunity," Akande said in a press statement. "While the challenges we currently face as global citizens are daunting, they also sharpen our focus and urge us both individually and as a community, to lead from wherever we are.”

Vermont Lags in U.S. Census Response

by Andrea Suozzo Posted on April 21, 2020 at 10:50AM

 Only Maine, New Mexico, West Virginia and Alaska have lower response rates than Vermont. The Census Bureau calculates response rates based on the number of responding households in an area divided by the total number of households.

Vermont State Colleges Could Go Broke Within Months, Chancellor Says

by Colin Flanders Posted on April 20, 2020 at 6:00PM

The schools face financial challenges that have been compounded by the coronavirus pandemic. The system projects an operating deficit of up to $10 million this fiscal year, in part due to reimbursements to students sent home when the campuses closed last month, and another potential $12 million shortfall next year due to further drops in enrollment.

State to Send Relief Checks to More Than 8,000 Vermonters

by Colin Flanders Posted on April 19, 2020 at 9:08PM

On Sunday, the department assured that while payments are being expedited, it plans to implement "post-payment quality control measures" to ensure that the unemployment program maintains its "integrity." The department has also spent the last several weeks trying to set up a new system that will allow people who are self-employed or independent contractors to apply for unemployment benefits under the federal relief bill.

Proposal to Shutter VSC Campuses Hits Quick and Furious Resistance

by Colin Flanders Posted on April 19, 2020 at 1:06PM

Zuckerman, meantime, argued that the proposal is antithetical to the state’s long-stated goal of attracting more young people to stay in Vermont. He urged the college system to delay the vote for at least a few weeks and asked Scott to create a task force to look into the issue.