Op-Ed: The Waterworks, the Worcesters, and the science we’ve been missing
When I first adopted the Hunger Mountain Trail for the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation in the mid-1990s, the entire trailhead might see three cars on a holiday weekend. Today, in peak season, we regularly see 100+ vehicles cycling through in a single Saturday or Sunday, far beyond what this narrow hillside road and fragile watershed were ever designed to accommodate.
Molly Gray: Standing with Afghan allies & Vermont’s future
Afghan allies are our neighbors, friends, and colleagues. At the Alliance, the majority of staff and board members are Afghan allies themselves—thoughtful, courageous, emerging leaders raised in an Afghanistan backed by the U.S. They understand, as deeply as we do, the hope and possibility that come with a free and democratic society.
LETTER: Efforts of many make River of Light shine
A huge shout-out to everyone who made the 16th annual River of Light Lantern Parade such a joyful success!
Atty. Gen. Clark: I’ve been battling the Trump administration for 11 months. Here’s what’s next.
Having sued the Trump Administration 36 times in 11 months, I am reflecting on the wild ride of 2025 – and preparing for what’s next.
LETTER: More than $11K raised for Community Harvest of Central Vermont
To the Community: We’re thrilled to share the results of last week’s fundraising initiative coordinated by 5th Quarter Butcher + Provisions and The Local: Wine & Beer.
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.