The Swanton Sector leads the northern border in illicit border crossings, whose agents continue to see a record number of foreign nationals illegally entering upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire after flying to Canada from at least 19 countries.
Two members of the Office of Legislative Counsel sat in with the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Tuesday morning to discuss a bill that would impact abortion and sex change policies, especially as it pertains to the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade.
On March 7, 2023, voters in Burlington, Vermont, will decide on at least seven ballot measures — five of which were placed on the ballot by the Burlington City Council, and two which were placed on the ballot by citizen initiative.
In the past environmental groups have tried getting multiple bills on the issue of forest fragmentation through the legislature, including last session’s H.606, which made it through the Legislature but was vetoed by Gov. Phil Scott. At this point, forest advocates are bullish on their chances of changing Act 250 this session.
In both his inaugural and budget adjustment addresses this month, Scott placed a priority on closing the economic gap between Vermont’s more populated cities and its small, rural towns. The governor proposed $3 million in his budget to help Vermont’s least-equipped towns take advantage of funding.
South Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke isn’t pleased with how Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden, has been representing crime in his city — especially retail theft.
The bill would make straw purchases — when a person buys a gun for someone who can’t, already a federal offense — illegal in Vermont. And it would criminalize defacing a gun’s serial number and bar people under 21 from possessing semi-automatic firearms.
Eleven organic dairy farms in Vermont closed in 2021. The next year, 18 more followed. And this year the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont expects to lose another 28 farms. That data is why the association wants to see $9.2 million sent to organic dairy farmers in this year’s budget.
A House bill H.113 introduced by two southern Vermont legislators would ban tax exemptions for any church or charitable organization engaged in lobbying. Also, S.41 would eliminate a life without parole as a sentencing option.
Several witnesses (and basic math) are on record that Vermont is not on track to achieve those reductions by the first milestone in 2025, nor the second milestone in 2030, so the anticipated lawsuit now appears inevitable.
A young NYC woman and activist for pro-life causes, Savannah Craven, is making rounds across New England to speak about the topic of abortion. On Saturday she attended the Right to Life March, and on Monday evening she will speak at UVM.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont is backing House Bill 88, an act relating to reducing the imposition of cash bail in the state’s judicial system. The legislation is sponsored by Rep. Michelle Bos-Lun, D-Windham, who serves on the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions.