Hartford reconsiders local option sales tax

By LIZ SAUCHELLI

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Hartford Selectboard will ask voters to approve a local option sales tax for the second time in two years at Town Meeting.The local sales tax would add a 1% tax on retail items — including cannabis — sold in the town’s five...

Bernie Sanders tells Politico that next U.S. Senate term will ‘probably’ be his last

By KRISTEN FOUNTAIN

Vermont’s senior U.S. senator shared new insight this week into how long he may be willing to represent the Green Mountain State in the nation’s capital. In an interview published by Politico Tuesday night, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said he was...

Newport seeks solution for ambulance staffing challenges

By PATRICK O’GRADY

NEWPORT — With a continuing rise in call volume for its ambulance service but no additional staffing due to budgetary constraints, the town is considering the option of contracting with an outside agency for coverage.The town has issued Request for...

Norwich University student newspaper resumes publishing

By PETER D’AURIA

The Guidon, Norwich University’s student newspaper, has resumed reporting and publishing for the first time since it was suspended by administrators earlier this year.Prior to this week, student writers and editors had refused to resume publication of...

Claremont buys parking spaces as part of redevelopment effort

CLAREMONT — The City Council unanimously voted to purchase 20 parking spaces across from the brick building that until last year housed offices of two state agencies.The $45,000 purchase of the privately-owned spaces on Water and Crescent streets...

Vermont loosened Act 250 rules for housing. Here’s where developers are responding

By CARLY BERLIN

When 10 apartments at the new Armory House building just outside of downtown Vergennes opened in June, they all had tenants within two weeks. To developer Peter Kahn, the building’s developer, watching the new apartments fill up so quickly — most...

New program aims to help Vermont employers hire and retain diverse employees

By AUDITI GUHA

Gary Scott has lived in many states but his move to Vermont was the hardest.Scott, a Black man, moved from Texas in October 2020 for a new job at the University of Vermont Medical Center and felt immediately isolated. He didn’t know anyone in this...

UVM lab spotlights gadgets that make independent living safer and easier

By KLARA BAUTERS

BURLINGTON — Do you ever feel anxious wondering if you left the oven on or whether you closed the door? At an open house at the University of Vermont, visitors explored a recreated apartment with low- and high-tech devices that could make it easier to...

NH telehealth prescriptions should be available for more mental health and substance use patients, says commission

By DAVID BROOKS

Five years after COVID lockdowns supercharged the idea of talking to your doctor or nurse online from home, telehealth has become such a regular part of medical care in New Hampshire that advocates hope the state will loosen laws concerning...

Uncertainty over funding clouds proposed school construction aid program

By ETHAN WEINSTEIN

A group of lawmakers and a Vermont Agency of Education executive tasked with designing a potential school construction aid program have hashed out the details but stopped short of identifying a funding stream.The group is hoping Gov. Phil Scott will...

NH Supreme Court hears arguments in ConVal education funding case

By JAMES RINKER

CONCORD — What are the components necessary to provide an adequate education for children in New Hampshire? That question was at the root of arguments presented before the N.H. Supreme Court Tuesday morning in the state’s appeal of a superior court...

Woodstock voters approve two measures tied to purchase of water company

By CLARE SHANAHAN

WOODSTOCK — Residents voted to approve $8.3 million in bonds to purchase water company property and fund capital improvement projects for the water system Tuesday, following months of town-wide discussion on the acquisition.In Tuesday’s vote,...

Sharon voters approve retail cannabis sales

By LIZ SAUCHELLI

SHARON — Voters have approved the sale of retail cannabis in Sharon nearly two months after narrowly rejecting a similar measure.The vote was 295 to 196 in favor, according to results provided by Sharon Town Clerk Catherine Sartor after the polls...

White River Junction couple fights eviction from apartment they’d rather not live in

By EMMA ROTH-WELLS

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A couple facing health challenges is fighting their landlord in court for the right to stay at their Demers Avenue apartment because they have nowhere else to go.Bob Stange, 85, and Cindy Anne Packard-Stange, 65, have lived in...

Flood watch issued for most of Vermont on Wednesday

By ERIN PETENKO

The National Weather Service has expanded a flood watch for almost the entire state of Vermont for Wednesday, meteorologist Eric Myskowski said on Tuesday. Early Tuesday morning, the weather service issued a flood watch starting Wednesday afternoon...

Investigation probes truck driver’s alleged inhumane treatment of pigs at North Springfield slaughterhouse

By GRETA SOLSAA

Police are investigating an incident last summer at a North Springfield slaughterhouse in which a federal investigator witnessed what it described as “inhumane” animal handling. On June 3, a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector reported observing...

Hanover police chief announces plans to retire

By JOHN LIPPMAN

HANOVER — After serving as Hanover’s police chief for 10 years, Charlie Dennis informed the Selectboard last month that he would be stepping down at the end of the year.The Nov. 18 announcement was not a surprise. Dennis, who just turned 61, never...

Drug test strips available in Hartford

HARTFORD — Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southwestern Vermont, or HRCS, will now provide drug test strips as well as overdose reversal medication at its Hartford regional office.The strips — which can be used to test for the presence of...

Vermont’s largest substance use rehab facility will no longer accept patients on methadone

By PETER D’AURIA

Valley Vista, Vermont’s largest substance use disorder rehabilitation facility, will no longer take patients on methadone, an administrator said Thursday.The facility, which has locations in Bradford and Vergennes, will continue to serve current...