Lawmakers who pushed for a tax-and-regulate marijuana market in Vermont met last week with the state’s Cannabis Control Board to hear about next steps and reiterate their intent to show favoritism to minorities.
Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed S.15 making universal vote-by-mail permanent for Vermont’s elections going forward, and the reaction on social media has been swift and largely supportive, despite the bill’s lack of security safeguards.
“I believe making sure voting is easy and accessible, and increasing voter participation is important,” Scott said in a statement Monday. He also asked the legislature to expand the bill’s provisions to primary and local elections and school budget votes in order to facilitate higher voter turnout.
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets officials are looking for Addison County farms, food businesses, sugarmakers, restaurants, breweries, lodging partners, producer associations, food system organizations, recreation, tourism partners, and more to participate in the Vermont Maple 100 celebration of all things maple.
The Vermont Council on Rural Development held a summit last week on the future of Vermont, and the series of discussions ranged from developing a climate economy to educating kids on equity and inclusion.
Since Tropical Storm Irene devastated many central state farming operations, the Vermont-based fund has made over $2 million in loans to area farmers and food producers to help fortify the local agribusiness economy.
Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed two bills that would have let noncitizen residents of Montpelier and Winooski vote in local elections. However, he signed H.430, which will create a program similar to Dr. Dynasaur so undocumented immigrant children and pregnant woman can obtain health insurance coverage.
Over the weekend social media was abuzz about the Rutland Town Selectboard rejecting consideration of an “inclusion statement” on racism. Plus, voters are wondering who might replace longtime incumbent U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., if he retires, and anti-Trump sentiment is still alive and well.
Speaking at the governor’s press conference Friday, Health Commissioner Mark Levine said eight Vermont deaths reported to the nation’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System were not likely attributable to COVID-19 vaccines, though the health department will be keeping an eye on it.
In a radio interview on “The Morning Drive” with Marcus Certa and Kurt Wright on Friday, new Essex School Board member Elizabeth Cady took aim at a new ideology being pushed in education — critical race theory.
The new study is aimed at select Vermont Medicaid members struggling with alcohol use. DynamiCare launched the study to test whether financial rewards can help Vermonters curb excessive drinking. The experimental effort may someday usurp some staid mainstream approaches to the addiction problem.
The Agency of Natural Resources this week hosted a virtual public forum about climate change in Vermont, and it focused in on discussions of the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) and carbon emission reduction targets.