Vermont Foodbank Bags $9 Million Gift From Billionaire MacKenzie Scott

by Kevin McCallum Posted on December 17, 2020 at 2:06PM

The Vermont Foodbank is the largest hunger-relief organization in the state, collecting food donations from producers and retailers and distributing the goods through 300 partners to food shelves, senior centers, schools and hospitals around the state. The organization plans to work with its partners to best determine how to use the gift, not just to expand its programs, Sayles said, but to leverage the cash to have a long-term impact on social issues at the root of hunger.

Former St. Joseph’s Residents Say Their Childhood Pain Lingers

by Chelsea Edgar Posted on December 16, 2020 at 6:50PM

——> “Some of us have done years and years of therapy at a very high cost, and some of us haven’t even had the money for that,” said Gene Clark, who lived at St. Joseph’s from 1964 to 1965.

Nurse Is First Vermonter to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccine

by Andrea Suozzo Posted on December 15, 2020 at 5:48PM

Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines require two doses spaced several weeks apart. Pfizer-BioNTech trial data indicate that it takes about a week after receiving the second dose to achieve full protection.

Weinberger Knew of Burlington Police Chief’s Anonymous Twitter Account

by Sasha Goldstein Posted on December 15, 2020 at 5:12PM

Lawmakers Give Final Boost to Vermont Business Grant Program

by Kevin McCallum Posted on December 15, 2020 at 3:45PM

———————> Disclosure: Tim Ashe is the domestic partner of Seven Days publisher and coeditor Paula Routly.

Orphanage Task Force Finds Credible Evidence of Abuse — But Not Murder

by Colin Flanders Posted on December 14, 2020 at 8:23PM

First Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine Arrive in Vermont

by Matthew Roy Posted on December 14, 2020 at 8:11PM

UVM Medical Center's allotment will go to its staff and to some "community health care workers," according to Neal Goswami, who said more details would be forthcoming. Later this week, another 1,950 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are to ship to pharmacies in Vermont that are under federal contract to immunize residents of long-term care homes.

Vermont Inmate Dies at Mississippi Prison

by Paul Heintz Posted on December 14, 2020 at 4:34PM

At a press conference last month, Secretary of Human Services Mike Smith called an outside investigation performed by the Burlington law firm Downs Rachlin Martin a new example for how such inquiries should be conducted. According to Feldman, the department is close to finalizing its new investigative procedures, which she said would be followed in Vargas' case. 

Vermont Casts Its Three Electoral College Votes for Biden and Harris

by Kevin McCallum Posted on December 14, 2020 at 2:49PM

“I think that’s the only way that I can take in that we will have a woman of color in the White House and two people who are deeply committed to turning the page for this country,” Ram said. Before driving to Montpelier for the 10 a.m. ceremony, Ram called former Vermont governor Madeleine Kunin to thank her for her work on behalf of women in politics in the state.

State Officials Slam Feds for Ending an Unemployment Benefits Program

by Colin Flanders Posted on December 12, 2020 at 1:18PM

State officials on Saturday slammed the U.S. Department of Labor for removing Vermont from a federally funded unemployment insurance program that is currently providing payments to more than 800 Vermonters. “For weeks, my Administration has called on the federal government to accept the bleak reality states are facing in combating this crisis and to act in support of its citizens, who were forced into unemployment through no fault of their own," Gov. Phil Scott said in a press release Saturday morning.