Things you ought to know.

18/01/2024

PUTNEY — Soundview Vermont Holdings LLC, a division of Marcal Paper but known by its historical and well-known name of Putney Paper, is closing.

18/01/2024

The company cites high energy cost, electricity is only part of the energy costs of running a factory. Fossil fuels are a part of that as well.

PUTNEY — Soundview Vermont Holdings LLC, a division of Marcal Paper but known by its historical and well-known name of Putney Paper, is closing.

16/01/2024

It used to be a felony to steal any amount of merchandise over $100. The Legislature changed that and other penalties. Hence the rise in retail theft. That in addition to having a whacko prosecutor in Chittenden County and you have the answer to the problem up there.

Burlington retailers are pleading with the public to come shop downtown to help keep them afloat.

14/01/2024

https://vtdigger.org/2024/01/12/judge-sentences-professional-con-artist-to-5-to-10-year-prison-term/

The judge said Richard Blackmer took advantage of farmers and small business owners who believed in the value of a person’s word. As of Friday, 42 people sought restitution.

10/01/2024

More secrecy and behind closed door government. It is also an infringement on everyone else's rights. This cannot be allowed to pass.

Panel members said that shielding these meetings from public participation is important to ensure the safety of people who are testifying. The Vermont Press Association has concerns.

05/01/2024

https://www.benningtonbanner.com/local-news/deven-moffitt-murder-trial-date-set-for-10-days-in-may/article_df31f0fc-ab47-11ee-9440-ef48a463a6a4.html

The trial for defendant Deven Moffitt, accused in a brutal Searsburg murder in 2019, is scheduled to begin this coming May for a rare 10-day trial, according to filed paperwork at the Bennington Courthouse.

04/01/2024

Chittenden County States Attorney Sarah George isn't afraid to admit she wants to dismantle the criminal justice system.

"I went to law school because I wanted to dismantle the criminal legal system and thought that that’s the best way to do it,” George said.

04/01/2024

The state knew better than to challenge the decision by the insurance company. Rather than risk the exposure of potential criminal wrongdoing by its officials it has burdened taxpayers with the debt.

According to documents obtained through public records requests, the state tried unsuccessfully to convince the carrier, AIG, to change its mind.

04/01/2024

04/01/2024

The Governor knows what the problems are. He signed off or just allowed these bills to pass that created this mess, including bail reform, justice reinvestment, etc. Nobody is willing to take responsibility and say I was wrong including Phil Scott. At some point, it's not all about resources and pathways it's called making life decisions that determine your future.

“It seems like all carrots and no sticks,” the governor’s chief lawyer said.

03/01/2024

The majority of the crime problems we have were created by the legislature and Senator Sears. Now that the state is falling apart they talk about changing things or I should say reversing the laws back to what they were, without of course admitting and wrongdoing on their part.

As the 2024 legislative session kicks off at the State House in Montpelier, the complex issue of 'public safety' – a mix of challenges facing communities that include substance abuse, mental health, homelessness and more – will be among the priorities for the Bennington County's two senators.

01/01/2024

The ruling means the state Department of Corrections will no longer need to provide round-the-clock staff to monitor Michael Louise. That supervision has cost the department nearly $300,000 since he entered a medical facility in July.

01/01/2024

Do you know that Vermont law enforcement is prohibited from cooperating with Border Patrol in most instances thanks to the Vermont legislature?

01/01/2024

Stenger said he was determined to do “what I can, whether it’s at Jay or Newport, to help the projects that did not come to fruition as I hoped they would.”

01/01/2024

As of the January 2023 count, Vermont also had the highest rate of unhoused people who were sheltered. But experts and service providers worry that could soon change.