Vermont's COVID-19 Outlook Is Uncertain, Top Official Says

By Anne Wallace Allen Posted on September 17, 2021 at 6:04PM

There are a couple of reasons why Vermont might have a different experience with the Delta surge than that of other states, Pieciak said. One is the state's very high vaccination rates — the highest in the country for most of the pandemic.

St. Joseph’s Orphanage Survivors Say Church Must Do More

By Colin Flanders Posted on September 16, 2021 at 8:31PM

The diocese has paid roughly $32 million in settlements to childhood sexual abuse plaintiffs over the last two decades, and Coyne told Seven Days this spring that if the organization settled 10 pending cases in full, the payouts would exceed the rest of the diocese's resources. "At the end of the day, like other dioceses and archdioceses across the country, we may face bankruptcy," Coyne said in May, though he refused to share the sum of the diocese’s assets.

Vermont to Welcome 100 Afghan Refugees in Coming Weeks

By Alison Novak Posted on September 16, 2021 at 6:14PM

Vermont will become the new home for dozens of displaced Afghans in the coming weeks, Gov. Phil Scott's office announced on Thursday. The U.S. State Department notified state officials this week that the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) has been approved to welcome up to 100 refugees from Afghanistan to the state.

UVM Med School to Grant Education Credits to Staff Who Attend Right to Life Conference

By Sally Pollak Posted on September 16, 2021 at 2:17PM

Abortion access has been under attack elsewhere in the country, while an effort to codify a woman's right to choose has been advancing in Vermont. Proposal 5, which Vermonters could vote on in November 2022, would amend the Vermont Constitution to state that "an individual’s right to personal reproductive autonomy is central to the liberty and dignity to determine one’s own life course." The medical school is not organizing or sponsoring the conference, and it is not a UVM-affiliated event.

Assessment of Burlington Police Finds Serious Deficiencies, Supports Smaller Force

By Courtney Lamdin Posted on September 15, 2021 at 6:20PM

The recommendation is similar to the “community control board” model proposed by council Progressives late last year. The plan would have given the panel the ability to investigate and punish officers for misconduct.

Burlington School District to Consider Three Possible Sites for New High School

By Alison Novak Posted on September 14, 2021 at 9:51PM

"I know that there is an old ravine, for example, under the Gateway Block site, and that ravine reputedly has fill that is not structurally sound and it also supposedly has a major storm water drainage pipe through it," White said. "So we need to look at that ... and understand what constraints or added costs may be involved with those."

Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Porter to Leave for Washington Electric Cooperative

By Kevin McCallum Posted on September 14, 2021 at 4:38PM

While he acknowledged he isn’t an expert in electric utility management, Porter noted he wasn’t a wildlife biologist or game warden, either, when he took the commissioner post. He was nevertheless able to help the department accomplish its mission of conserving wildlife species and habitat for hunters, trappers, anglers, birdwatchers and all Vermonters.

Care Board Approves UVM Medical Center Rate Hike, Asks for Access 'Crisis' Plan

By Colin Flanders Posted on September 14, 2021 at 1:57PM

Human Services Secretary Mike Smith announced an investigation into the problem, saying his agency will examine all Vermont hospitals in hopes of figuring out why delays for specialty and primary care exist and what can be done to shorten them. Days later, the Green Mountain Care Board announced that it, too, would assist with the probe.

At Heated Meeting, Burlington City Council Withdraws BDS Resolution

By Courtney Lamdin Posted on September 14, 2021 at 2:29AM

Burlington City Council Fires Airport Director Gene Richards

By Courtney Lamdin Posted on September 10, 2021 at 1:54AM