Rep. Satcowitz: Governor’s order exceeds authority
On Sept. 17, Gov. Phil Scott issued Executive Order 06-25, Promoting Housing Construction and Rehabilitation. It has prompted much concern among local environmental groups, legislators, and private citizens.
LETTER: Fire department association supports training, outreach, wellness, safety, and more
We hope we can count on your support so that the Waterbury Firefighters Association can continue to fund programs to support the training, education, wellness, safety, and retention of members, as well as provide the best level of service to our community.
COMMENTARY: Stowe Mountain Rescue urges skiers to resist TikTok temptations
There’s a more dangerous trend happening now, where TikTok videos of whooping skiers in knee-deep powder are luring inexperienced skiers and riders into Stowe’s backcountry at a time of year when the snowpack is unreliable.
Zuckerman: Vermonters can’t afford a 12% tax increase; real solutions needed now
Vermonters are staring down a staggering 12% property tax hike in 2026—that’s simply unacceptable. It’s a looming crisis that will squeeze working families, small businesses, and residents on fixed incomes, threatening the stability and affordability of our communities.
Sen. Sanders: This is where authoritarianism leads
Authoritarianism is not just the loss of democracy, freedom of expression, or civil liberties. It can also mean horrific wars and massive loss of life. When we defend democracy, we are fighting not only for our personal freedoms but to prevent autocratic leaders from dragging us into bloody and unnecessary wars.
LETTER: Keeping score on Sanders, Welch votes on federal bills affecting owl species
Hats off to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who supported efforts to nix a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan to kill as many as 500,000 barred owls in California, Oregon, and Washington, in a vain attempt to reduce competition with the rarer Northern spotted owls.
Commentary: Is President Trump antisemitic, racist, and misogynistic? Do people actually care?
America has seen its share of presidents who have displayed racist, antisemitic and misogynistic actions, behaviors and language. Some presidents have been more reserved with their values and opinions, and used coded language and “dog whistling” to let the nation know what they believed, and how they would like to be remembered.
LETTER: Remembering Jon Gailmor
To the Community: He was my friend, as he was for so, so many others. He made each of his friends feel they were special, as they were
Giving Tuesday isn’t about buying things
Giving Tuesday isn’t about buying things. It’s about investing in people and organizations doing work we admire, believe in, and want to see prosper.
LETTER: Notes from Wanda Meriems Johnson’s journal, March 16, 1948
Carol Collins in South Duxbury shares an excerpt from a 1948 journal of her mother who died in 2020, close to the age of 106. The passage, Collins says, very closely mirrors her own thoughts about the world today.
LETTER: Vermont refugee groups condemn Trump action requiring ‘re-interviews’
The latest proposed action from the presidential administration regarding refugees would be devastating to a group in this country that has already been faced with mounting challenges this year.
Fellowship frees up Harwood teachers to deepen student engagement
Thanks to landing one of Vermont’s most prestigious fellowships for secondary school educators, we have the opportunity this school year to take a bold step to deepen student learning and engagement. We invite the community to join us.
Schubart: Thanksgiving and the ethics of expansive wealth
My family’s always favored Thanksgiving over the celestial holidays like Christmas and Easter that feed a bloom of consumption. At Thanksgiving, families and friends simply gather to express gratitude, share food, and tell stories. It’s an earthbound holiday.
Opinion: The AI wars are on – a modest proposal for Vermont
The AI wars are on. The battle for data to host the “smartest,” most comprehensive, machine-learning-capable Artificial Intelligence is the ultimate goal. AI destroys the soul of entire sectors and human capacity, as life is commodified and infinitely extracted for data to feed and train the AI and scale the data markets.
Seize the opportunity for a second chance at education reform
The Act 73 School Redistricting Task Force wrapped up its work this week, and it’s given the state a chance to rethink the course of education reform it has been pursuing for the last decade.
OPINION: Workforce depends on housing
Vermont faces a headwind slowing its economic engine: a profound lack of housing. Without enough affordable homes, we cannot grow our workforce, increase the number of students in our schools, attract new businesses, or sustain the rural communities that make this state special.
OPINION: Five reasons why public health matters
November 24 is Public Health Thank You Day and this year it feels vitally important to speak out in support of public health professionals, given the demoralizing attacks on public health from the Trump administration and the potential impact on state health departments.
COMMENTARY: Our aging presidents – America deserves better
The nation and the world expect America’s presidents to be able to handle the rigors of the job. We are not well served by unelected, loyal party members who fill the vacuum created by aging presidents.
LETTER: A nation where work no longer matters
At the Vermont AFL-CIO, we work every day to support workers throughout the state and raise up their voices. Through the power of collective bargaining and union organizing, working families in the Green Mountain state can restore hope for tomorrow.
Call for submissions: Giving Thanks 2025
For the past 5 years, we've asked readers of all ages, "What are you thankful for this year?" We're asking again this year.