Former House representative for Cambridge dies of coronavirus
Bernie Juskiewicz, husband, father, dedicated local volunteer, and a Republican legislator who represented Cambridge and Waterville from 2013-18, has died of the coronavirus.
As COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths remain low, Scott hints at turning economy back on
At a press briefing Wednesday, Gov. Phil Scott said Vermonters can expect at least one more extension of the state of emergency order as he prepares to lay out his plans on Friday for getting people back to work.
Vermont single-use plastic bag ban to continue despite worries about coronavirus spread
Reusable shopping bags are being banned in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and even San Francisco. They are also not welcome at many Vermont grocery stores. However, the chair of the House Natural Resources Committee said Vermont’s ban on single-use plastic grocery bags will take effect as scheduled July 1.
Department of Labor virtual public forum discusses rapid changes to unemployment benefits
With the onset of the coronavirus and subsequent economic shutdown resulting in massive job losses, the Vermont Department of Labor conducted a virtual town hall meeting late last week to take questions from more than 600 employers and employees who need answers on how to survive.
Scott announces extension of business closures as many Vermonters remain jobless
Gov. Phil Scott on Friday said he is extending business closures, which so far have caused more than 60,000 Vermonters to lose their jobs in a matter of weeks.
Gov. Scott OK with Legislature remote voting, for now
Gov. Phil Scott said Monday he is working “hand in hand” with legislative leaders on COVID-19 legislation and is fine with the use of remote voting “during this point in time during this crisis.”
COVID-19 impact on Vermont property taxes not clear, but big
The Legislature is supposed to set the “yield” rate for Vermonters’ property taxes, but the economic chaos set off by the COVID-19 response has left the bean counters shrugging their shoulders — there is a great deal of “we don’t know what we don’t know.”
Virus no problem for power, internet, state computers
Vermont’s power grid, internet connectivity and state computers are performing well, but some weaknesses are being exposed.
Walmart customers unhappy without ‘Straight Talk’ cards
The coronavirus this week hit Vermonters where they live — again — after the Berlin Walmart roped off access to the Straight Talk phone cards, in response to Gov. Phil Scott’s ban on in-person sale of “non-essential products” at big box stores.
Proposed doubling of Renewable Energy Standards could cost a half-billion dollars
In mid-March, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy heard from energy experts about how effectively doubling portions of the state’s Renewable Energy Standards could have dramatic consequences for ratepayers and require massive amounts of new solar to be built across the Vermont landscape.
Economy collapsing under Gov. Scott, weekly jobless claims soar 286 percent
The number of Vermonters out of work and scrambling to provide for their families has skyrocketed two weeks in a row due to the Scott administration’s response to fears about the coronavirus.
Infrastructure bill will bring new, 100% federal funding for transportation projects
State transportation officials expect a new federal infrastructure bill will soon deliver a large influx of federal transportation money to Vermont.