Boaters paddle through the flooded intersection of Main and State Streets in Montpelier on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger As head of the Center for an Agricultural Economy in the Northeast Kingdom, Sarah Waring was surprised by the number of rules the federal government had for a grant to build a simple wooden pavilion in a park in Hardwick.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture told staff, “‘oh, but you actually need to separate the design from the build. And you actually need to have three procurements that are fair,’” and other rules to protect taxpayers dollars ..read more

Photo via Adobe Stock The Vermont Criminal Justice Council has unanimously approved a selection of long-debated changes to Vermont’s fair and impartial policing policy in an attempt to curtail biased treatment of people by law enforcement based on personal characteristics. The changes, many of which centered on citizenship status, earned qualified applause from an immigrants’ rights group, which said they were a step in the right direction but did not go far enough. Last updated in January 2018, the policy lays out guidelines for unbiased policing, including under what circumstances law enfor ..read more

Mike Pieciak speaks at a Vermont Democratic Party press conference in Montpelier on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022. File photo by Natalie Williams/VTDigger Mike Pieciak will run for a second term as state treasurer, his campaign announced on Thursday.  The 40-year old Winooski Democrat — who is widely seen as a contender for higher office — has raked in more campaign contributions than any other statewide incumbent, according to his last campaign filing in mid-March.  “I’m focused on the major challenges facing Vermont: housing, climate resilience, and economic opportunity. I’m seeking anot ..read more

The Autumn Inn, a motel in Bennington that shelters unhoused people through the state’s motel voucher program, pictured in January. Photo by Carly Berlin/VTDigger and Vermont Public This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public. The capacity of Vermont’s motel shelter program for unhoused people could shrink by a third for much of the coming fiscal year, which begins on July 1. The Vermont Senate passed its version of the state budget on Thursday, which would place a cap on the number of motel and hotel rooms ..read more

Rep. Jim Carroll, D-Bennington, listens at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Jan. 7, 2020. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger Rep. Jim Carroll, D-Bennington, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to driving under the influence of alcohol, first offense. The hearing had earlier been postponed because he was undergoing treatment at a rehabilitation facility. Public defender Avi Springer entered the plea on Carroll’s behalf at the Washington County Superior criminal court in Barre. Carroll appeared via video link, having earlier asked the court’s permission to participate remotely as he was scheduled t ..read more

This commentary is by Jonathan Elwell of Brattleboro. He organizes with FreeHer VT and VTJustJustice and volunteers (and formerly worked) with the Brattleboro Community Justice Center. “The traditional closed institution has a consistent record of failure over the last 200 years. With increasing caseloads and steadily rising costs, Vermont cannot afford programs that are proven failures and will only become more wasteful of money and human potential.” These words were written not by some radical activist, but by Department of Corrections Commissioner Kent Stoneman in a 1972 report titled “A ..read more

To the editor:  Vermont faces an escalating opioid overdose crisis with increasing fatalities each year.  Our current care system falls short — and we must consider new research-backed ways to save lives.  Next week, the Vermont Senate will vote on H.72, which would launch a pilot of an overdose prevention center, filling a crucial gap in our care framework. OPCs serve as  vital links to treatment and recovery, offering much-needed immediate support during  crises.  Planned Parenthood of Northern New England’s Vermont health centers are a vital part of the ..read more

Kevin Jones, of Chittenden, commutes to work in his electric car, a Chevy Bolt, in Royalton on July 12, 2017. File photo by Geoff Hansen/Valley News This story by Frances Mize was first published by The Valley News on April 22. SOUTH ROYALTON — Nicole Lepre, a former student at Vermont Law and Graduate School, told her professor Kevin Jones that she was interested in some of the more nuanced policy related to electric vehicles.  “Then Kevin was like, ‘Well, why don’t you help me get more EV chargers in the parking lot?’” Lepre said. Lepre graduated with a master’s degree in energy regula ..read more

Tamara Mathieu and her new book, “All Who Believed: A Memoir of Life in the Twelve Tribes.” Courtesy photos The Vermont Conversation with David Goodman is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues with politicians, activists, artists, changemakers and citizens who are making a difference. Listen below, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify to hear more. In August 2000, 23-year-old Tamara Mathieu and her husband left good jobs, gave up everything, and joined a cult. For 14 years, they were members of T ..read more

Rep. Tom Stevens, D-Waterbury, and chair of the committee that created a bill that apologizes for Vermont’s eugenics movement. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger For close to a century, workers across the backbone of Vermont’s economy — agriculture — have been barred under federal and state laws from joining a union. A bill that passed the Senate last year, and is now being marked up in the House, would change that.  S.102 would authorize a workplace of five or more agricultural or domestic workers to form a collective bargaining unit, among other measures. The bill would also prohibit empl ..read more