Appearing on “The Morning Drive” radio show with Kurt Wright and Anthony Neri on Wednesday, former United States Attorney Christina Nolan, a candidate for U.S. Senate, blasted her opponent Peter Welch for being soft on crime.
Acting Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad has warned of an uptick in the most serious types of crimes that police deal with, yet the force is struggling to keep up with the activity, with just 23 officers available to patrol the city.
“Tax relief has always been my priority, but instead I’ve had to resort to preventing efforts to raise taxes over the last six years, so I’m encouraged the Legislature agreed with me this session that Vermonters need a break,” Scott said.
The Vermont State Police have been seeing increased activity in drug trafficking, shootings and highway accidents.
With approval from Gov. Phil Scott last Friday, the state of Vermont has a new bureaucratic responsibility to tally racial justice statistics from within all government operations.
Former Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas takes issue with Middlebury’s decision to shun another of the state’s former governors, John Mead, also an alumnus of the college, for its abrupt September 2021 decision to remove Mead’s name from its chapel.
This week saw some movement in various races and public board seats, including a new GOP candidate for state treasurer, a Democrat state senator who has dropped out of the race for Vermont’s U.S. House seat, and a new board member on the Rutland City School Board.
Retail marijuana sales are anticipated to begin later this year in The Green Mountain State, and will be taxed at 20%, which includes a 14% excise tax and the state’s 6% sales tax.
Vermont police and school officials have investigated reports of potential shootings at the Derby Junior High School, Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, and Montpelier High School. There are no school resource officers at Champlain Valley Union High School and Montpelier High School.
“Priority 1” crimes like arson, assault, overdoses and robbery rose 14.2% in Burlington in 2021, the first full year of the ‘Defund the Police” staff reductions measures, according to a May 20, 2022 report by city analyst Jonathan Larson.
After a mass shooting Tuesday in Uvalde, Texas, killed 19 children and two teachers, Gov. Phil Scott is calling for new federal gun control measures, and Vermont’s education secretary is reminding communities about important resources that may prevent future tragedies.
Police in Burlington, largely understaffed due to funding cuts from City Council, investigated another gun incident early Monday morning. Multiple parties were firing at each other, according to BPD.