Vermont State News

Watch Live: Vermont bars get greenlight; lodgings full capacity

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:06:31 +0000

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Governor Phil Scott Friday announced that Vermont bars will be allowed to open again after being closed for months, and that lodgings can go back to full capacity.

Watch live at 11 a.m. on Channel 3 and WCAX.com. Click here to open a new browser window or watch above.

The governor said seating at bars is now allowed. That means food and drinks at the counter can resume effective immediately, but patrons must sit six-feet apart and there must be a barrier between guests and the bartender.

Scott also announced that hotels, motels, and other lodging facilities can now rent out all rooms, but quarantine rules remain in place for people coming from places where that’s required, as well as standard safety precautions.

DFR Commissioner Mike Pieciak presented an update on case modeling and the travel map. He says that out-of-state visits were way down over the summer, so the timing for loosening hospitality restriction should help a bit as leaf peepers look to visit this fall. He says the number of people able to come here without a quarantine is now about 7.4 million -- up by about 2 million people -- even though there was an uptick in COVID cases in the Northeast, though still very low compared to the rest of the country.

The governor says five organizations are now offering technical assistance for small businesses and nonprofits.

As of Friday, Vermont health officials reported a total of 1,706 coronavirus cases in the state and 58 deaths. A total of 154,099 tests have been conducted, 464 travelers are being monitored, 8,489 have completed monitoring and 1,536 have recovered.

Those who died from the virus will again be honored with flags lowered Saturday, like they are on the 19th of every month.

After some positive tests at the Crossett Brook Middle School in Waterbury, the health commissioner says that many members of the community have been tested and all came back negative.

Vermont still has the lowest positivity rate in the country.

In a bit of comic relief, Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts responded to allegations raised at last week’s briefing that the Vermont creemee does not include milk products. After doing some modeling of his own, Tebbetts clarified that there is indeed cream in creemees, along with milk, sugar, and other ingredients. “That should put everyone at ease,” Gov. Scott added.

Watch Live: Vermont bars get greenlight; lodgings full capacity

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:23:48 +0000

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Governor Phil Scott Friday announced that Vermont bars will be allowed to open again after being closed for months, and that lodgings can go back to full capacity.

Watch live at 11 a.m. on Channel 3 and WCAX.com. Click here to open a new browser window or watch above.

As long as the data supports it, Scott says the loosening of these restrictions is warranted to help the hospitality sector ahead of foliage season. Bars will have to use social-distancing protocols and a shield will need to separate bartenders and patrons. Lodgings can also reopen with standard safety precautions.

DFR Commissioner Mike Pieciak presented an update on case modeling and the travel map.

Photo of maskless Vermont high school football players prompts criticism

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:19:59 +0000

WESTMINSTER, Vt. (AP) — A photo of the senior football players from a Vermont high school is prompting school officials to remind the players and others of the need to wear masks and maintain social distancing.

The Brattleboro Reformer reports the photo of the uniformed-players from the Bellows Falls Union High School senior was taken by the parent of one of the players.

“We are asking people to wear masks and keep social distance,” School Board member Colin James said during a meeting this week. He said the football players were “stacked on top of each other, no masks were worn.”

“To me, that is not okay,” James said.

After seeing the photo, school Principal Christopher Hodsden sent out an email to coaches reminding them that if a student wears a school uniform he or she has to wear a mask and follow social distancing practices.

School board member Jack Bryar said the students needed to be reminded that football is recreation.

“This is serious business,” Bryar said. “It’s not trivial.”

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Southwestern Vermont Medical Center releases drive-up flu vaccination schedule

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:09:11 +0000

BENNINGTON, VT (NEWS10) — Southwestern Vermont Medical Center released a schedule of flu vaccination opportunities region-wide in an effort to get as many people vaccinated before the 2020 Flu Season. Physicians recommend that most every individual over six months old should receive a flu vaccine every year.

“Getting vaccinated against the flu is more important than ever before because of the emergence of COVID-19,” explained Trey Dobson, MD, SVMC’s chief medical officer. “Getting both the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, or within a short time apart, could be deadly. It is clear that vaccination is very safe and certainly one of the best measures to protect against the influenza virus. Equally as important, vaccination decreases the chance one will transmit the flu to others, particularly to those who are at risk such as the elderly or those with certain chronic illnesses.”

There are no out-of-pocket costs to get the flu vaccine for those with most insurance plans.

Drive-up clinics will be held in Bennington from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, September 21, and Thursday, September 24. No appointment is necessary and patients should enter through the Monument Avenue Extension of SVMC’s Bennington Campus and enter parking lot S5.

The following rules are in place for those seeking a vaccine:

Be at least 10 years old.
Stay in car.
Wear a mask.
Wear short sleeves or loose clothing around the arms.
Patients should be limited to four per vehicle.
Those with pets in their vehicles will not be vaccinated.
The event is rain or shine.

Here are other clinics throughout the state of Vermont:

PATIENTS OF SVMC PEDIATRICS
Patients of SVMC Pediatrics may attend a clinic specifically for those over 6 months. (Those 10 and older may also use the family clinic noted above.) An appointment is required, and patients should call the office at 802-447-3930 to check availability and schedule.

PATIENTS OF SVMC NORTHSHIRE CAMPUS
Patients of SVMC Northshire Campus in Manchester, VT, are required to make an appointment to attend its walk-up flu vaccination clinics scheduled on six dates in late September and early October. Call 802-362-4440 to schedule.

PATIENTS OF TWIN RIVERS MEDICAL, P.C.Patients of Twin Rivers Medical, P.C., in Hoosick Falls, NY, are required to make an appointment to attend its flu vaccination clinic 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturdays, September 19 and September 26. Call (518) 686-5770 to schedule.

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YWP: ‘Bucket list’

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:00:00 +0000

Photo by Sam Aikman, 16, Richmond/YWP Media Library

Open a pastry shop, hike the Inca Trail, meet Stephen King… what’s on your bucket list? For Thetford Center writer Michael Fernandez, featured this week, the first adventure to prioritize is expanding his worldview with a headfirst dive into Indonesian culture, hot sauce and all.

Bucket list

By Michael Fernandez, 15, Thetford Center

When I was younger, I didn’t really have a bucket list. My dreams were of things that were all easily accessible, like doing well on a test or beating a certain video game. Now, as a 15-year-old, my bucket list has started expanding to include experiences and achievements that will take more preparation and effort. The older I get, the more I realize that there’s a huge world out there, and I’d like to see it.

That’s why, last year, I decided to apply for a program called Where There Be Dragons. Where There Be Dragons is an organization that leads young people on summer trips to developing countries on all parts of the globe. I did a lot of thinking to decide between all the offerings. I thought about what places sounded the most interesting, but also what kinds of things I would get to learn about and experience in each place. Finally, after much thought and research, I decided my top choice was Indonesia.

Indonesia was my first choice for many reasons. First, growing up, I always heard my family talk about the Indonesian exchange student they had before I was born. Her name was Ori and she came to the U.S. when she was just 13 years old. She taught my family so many unique things about her culture. My family still laughs about the time she let my dad try the hot sauce she brought with her and it set his mouth on fire, and they still feel awkward about the time our dogs burst into the bedroom where she was doing her daily prayers. If our dogs had touched her, she told my family, she would have had to wash seven times – the last time in dirt! We still keep in touch with her today.

The stories I heard taught me that Indonesian culture is very different from ours, and that was the biggest reason I wanted to spend time there. It’s not very often that people get to travel so far from home and become completely immersed in another culture. I was excited to hear the language, try the food, and meet the people there. Finally, part of the trip was to stay with local families who live in villages of stilt houses that are built on top of the water. This sounded like something so unique that it would be a completely once-in-a-lifetime experience.

When I received my acceptance letter to the program, I was overjoyed. I started thinking about all the things I would need to do to prepare. Sadly, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trip was canceled. This is why I have added visiting Indonesia to my bucket list. Almost all the money I earn goes into my bank account to save up for it. Hopefully I’ll get the chance to go with the program next summer, but even if I don’t, I know it’s something that I’m going to do someday no matter what!

Read the story on VTDigger here: YWP: ‘Bucket list’.

Burlington Councilor Paulino won’t run again, endorses a new Democratic candidate

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:59:14 +0000

Burlington City Councilor Franklin Paulino at a council meeting last year. He’s not running for reelection. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

Burlington City Councilor Franklin Paulino is not running for reelection in the city’s North District.

He’s endorsing a new Democratic face to take his spot — Kerin Durfee, who’s on the Burlington Police Commission, which is a citizen oversight group, and is the director of earned revenue and guest services at ECHO, the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain.

Paulino, a Democrat, said he’s sitting out this race to focus on his family and achieve a better work-life balance. Paulino said he has three young kids who need his full support going to virtual school.

“Covid has really changed things for me as a parent,” he said. “You’re not just a parent anymore. You’re part schoolteacher, part parent.”

Paulino said he thinks he’s achieved what he set out to do on the council — establish reasonable policies that can appeal to both Democrats and Republicans in his district, which is known to have a conservative tilt.

Specifically, he’s excited that his proposal to add full-time social workers to the Burlington Police Department is moving forward. Mayor Miro Weinberger is endorsing the idea and has a plan to allocate funding for two new positions.

Although he’s taking a break from Burlington politics, Paulino said he might return in the future. As for running for mayor? “Hard no,” Paulino said.

He said there are people champing at the bit to run for City Council in his district, so he expects a competitive race when voters head to the polls in March. When Paulino ran in 2019, the North District was a competitive seat between Progressives and Democrats. He thinks Durfee is the best fit because she knows the Burlington community well.

“She has that mindset,” Paulino said, “about being a voice of reason and wanting to get things done.”

Durfee said she’s concerned about the divisiveness that’s emerged between Progressives and Democrats in the city. She said she’s not sure she can cure that on her own, but if elected, she wants to bring more unity to the council, specifically over issues of racial justice.

“We should be able to agree on racial justice, and then move forward. We should be able to agree on policing policy and move forward,” Durfee said. “What I’m saying is, we’re stuck.”

Durfee has been involved in the Burlington community for years, with organizations such as Women Helping Battered Women (now called Steps to End Domestic Violence), the Burlington Partnership for a Health Community, and the NAACP.

“It sounds so cliche, but I’m looking to unify. I can talk to a lot of different groups of people,” Durfee said. “As a Black woman, that certainly is a privilege. And I want to use that privilege to bring folks together.”

Read the story on VTDigger here: Burlington Councilor Paulino won’t run again, endorses a new Democratic candidate.

Latest coronavirus numbers -- WCAX continuing coverage

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:58:09 +0000

•As of Thursday, Vermont health officials reported a total of 1,705 coronavirus cases in the state and 58 deaths. A total of 153,195 tests have been conducted, 453 travelers are being monitored, 8,465 have completed monitoring and 1,533 have recovered.

•As of Thursday, New Hampshire health officials reported a total of 7,814 coronavirus cases in the state and 438 deaths.

•As of Thursday, Clinton County, New York, has 155 confirmed cases and four deaths.

•As of Thursday, Essex County, New York, has 193 confirmed cases and 10 deaths.

•As of Thursday, Franklin County, New York, has 58 confirmed cases.

View the COVID-19 Stat Center graphs full screen by clicking on the upper-right of the graph (the shaded button with three dots), then choose the icon which looks like a monitor. For mobile users, just pinch to zoom in.

This map is best viewed on a desktop. Tap/click for a bigger view from Johns Hopkins University. Tap/click here for a mobile-friendly version.

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS/CONTACTS:

If you are sick and have questions call your primary care physician. If you do not have one, call 211.

Vt. Department of Health: 802-863-7240

NH Division of Public Health Services: 603-271-4496

NY Novel Coronavirus Hotline 1-888-364-3065

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE VIRUS AND STEPS TO TAKE TO PREVENT ITS SPREAD, SEE THE LINKS BELOW:

More information from the Vermont Department of Health

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health

More information from the NY Department of Health

More information from the CDC

UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS/SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Vermont unemployment claims

Vermont information for small businesses

Vt. Agency of Commerce and Community Development small business disaster hotline: 802-461-5143

New Hampshire unemployment claims

Small Business Administration

New York unemployment claims

REGIONAL COVID-19 TIMELINE (AS OF 5/8)

March 2 -- first Upper Valley NH case confirmed

March 7 -- first Vermont case confirmed in Bennington county

March 11 -- VT activates emergency operations center, first Chittenden County case confirmed

March 13 -- state of emergency declared, began restricting size of gatherings, restricted visitors to long-term care facilities

March 15 -- schools closed

March 16 -- reduced gathering sizes more, closed bars and restaurants

March 17 -- child care closures

March 18 -- in-person DMV restricted, first nursing home case

March 19 -- first VT deaths from coronavirus

March 20 -- elective surgeries suspended

March 22 -- closure of close-contact biz, limited gatherings to 10 or fewer people

March 23 -- telecommuting ordered

March 24 -- stay home stay safe order issued, closure directed of in-person operations for non-essential biz the next day (March 25)

March 26 -- schools closed for rest of school year. NH orders residents to stay home & non-essential biz to close

March 30 -- all coming in from out-of-state have to quarantine at home for two weeks

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April 10 -- extended stay at home order through May 15

April 17 -- announced phased restart with five areas of focus

April 20 -- first biz reopen (outdoor work, small groups of 2 or fewer)

April 24 -- expands work crews to 5 or fewer, adds manufacturing reopening, greenhouse sales allowed with 10 person limit, mandates masks and safety training for biz

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May 4 -- Crews of 10 or fewer in manufacturing/construction/distribution, outpatient elective procedures can resume

May 6 -- limited social gatherings (10 or fewer, preferably outdoors) may resume, "trusted households" -- high-risk & seniors have to stay home still

May 7 -- some outdoor recreation may resume (golf, guided hikes, skate parks, etc.)

May 8 -- Ed agency announces traditional in-person large graduations are not allowed

May 11 -- Full/normal operations for manufacturing/construction/distribution

May 13 -- antibody testing group update (expected)

May 15 -- state of emergency expires but is extended to June 15

May 18 -- child cares can start bringing staff back, some nonessential businesses can reopen under guidelines

May 22 -- In-patient medical procedures, dentists, and most other one-on-one health visits reopen with guidelines; restaurants, lodgings, marinas reopen under guidelines

May 29 -- Salons and barbershops can reopen

May 29 -- NH stay-at-home order extended to June 15

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June 1 -- child cares reopen as able & with changes based on health dept. guidance; museums, gyms, spas, massage therapists, nail salons, cleaning services, and similar "interior maintenance" businesses can reopen

June 5 -- New Hampshire lodgings can resume with guidelines

June 8 -- Interstate travel to and from New England and New York counties with 400 or fewer active COVID-19 cases per million is permitted.

June 8 -- Vt. Indoor dining will be permitted with 25% occupancy limits and social distancing and health and safety protocols.

June 15 -- Vt. emergency order extended to July 15

June 15 -- NH stay-at-home order ends

June 15 -- Vt. lodging reservations start again. Travelers may complete quarantine requirements in their home state. Lodging operations may also increase occupancy limits to 50% or a total of 25 guests and staff, whichever is greater.

June 19 -- Vermont long-term care residential facilities can allow up to two visitors per resident, per day. Visits must be outdoors.

June 22 -- NH day camps allowed to open with guidelines.

June 25 -- Vermont State Parks camping allowed

June 28 -- NH overnight camps allowed to open (guidelines in development)

July 7 -- Gov. Scott says he will likely extend the emergency order that's set to expire on July 15 for another month

July 15 -- Vt. emergency order is extended to August 15

July 17 -- Agriculture Assistance Program applications open

August 1 -- Vt. mask mandate begins

August 14 -- Vt. emergency order extended to September 15

August 26 -- Deadline for Operational Relief Grant Program to help child care programs offset pandemic-related expenses and losses.

September 8 -- Vermont statewide return to school date

September 15 -- Vt. emergency order expires and is extended to October 15

September 21 -- Vt. school sports can begin inter-team scrimmages

October 1 -- Deadline for Agriculture Assistance Program

October 15 -- Vt. emergency order expires; Guidelines for Vt. school winter sports to be released

WCAX CORONAVIRUS CONTINUING COVERAGE:

NH House speaker apologizes to UNH for lawmakers' beer-drinking, maskless behavior

Vt. AG responds after US judge blocks USPS changes that slowed mail

More testing leads to slight increase in NH coronavirus numbers

After record turnout in NH primary, focus shifts to general election

Champlain Valley Head Start offers virtual program

Can food trucks help boost Barre businesses?

UVM students sticking to COVID pledge; bar owners sour on early closures

Relay for Life moves to Thunder Road

Middlebury College moves into phase 2 of COVID response

Kids take a break from online learning

New York fall youth sports still in question

Students turning gap year into fishing adventure stop in Vermont

Tips on how to avoid ‘maskne’ skin irritation

A look at how SUNY Plattsburgh’s COVID-19 pool testing works

COVID prompts St. Jay to cancel Halloween parade

Vt. poll workers wanted for November election

NY lowers coronavirus threshold for nursing home visits

Sanitized school buses the new normal across region

Salvation Army will gather donations early due to virus

Should Vermont’s mask mandate be lifted?

New York extends special uninsured enrollment through 2020

State leaders aren’t canceling trick-or-treating this year

Flag football league fined for bringing in out-of-state teams

Fauci congratulates Vermonters on success of slowing spread of COVID

Burlington community center creates space for remote learners

Two more Vermont schools with COVID-19 cases

Federal lawsuit seeks to halt Vt. vote-by-mail plan

Preparing to pick up for the fall season

Navigating remote learning

Advice for families with loved ones in long-term care during pandemic

Surprise gifts help keep spirits up for Make-A-Wish kids

Fauci to speak at Vermont COVID-19 briefing Tuesday

Vermont agritourism moves online

Pandemic isn’t stopping longtime Essex Junction crossing guard

NH fall visitors encouraged to research, ‘Leave No Trace’

Pride Vermont puts on virtual event in place of parade

Hartford High School comes down with case of COVID-19

Crossett Brook Middle School closes due to COVID cases

Hundreds compete in Race Vermont’s first event since pandemic

UVM medical trial examines benefits of blood thinners in COVID treatment

2 Dartmouth undergrads test positive for Covid-19

Scott extends COVID emergency order to mid-October

Superintendent warns of possible COVID-19 exposure in Stowe schools

Expert explains how parents can ease students' back to school concerns

Airline coronavirus contractions leave Vermont travelers with fewer options

Quebec to impose mask fines starting Saturday

Will fall foliage season salvage COVID tourism losses?

UVM continues to see low number of positive COVID test among student body

Judge: Trump campaign, RNC can intervene in NH voting lawsuit

NY eases restrictions on visits at assisted living homes

Despite hiccups, state calls buy local voucher program a success

Dartmouth students reprimanded for breaking rules

The New Vermonters: Fleeing COVID-19, newcomers find temporary — or permanent — refuge in the Green Mountains

A look at remote learning in the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union

Skeleton tableaus bring out a community in Essex Junction

Sanders presses health officials on vaccine availability

Vt. House approves $5M in stimulus payments to migrant workers

Essex Junction students, parents excited for return to school

Vermont Pride Week perseveres through pandemic

Leahy: GOP stimulus attempt ‘woefully inadequate’

Vermont buy-local program sells out; Kinney Drugs to provide COVID testing

Dartmouth students back on campus

New York schools to report COVID data to state

Vermont rolling out $30 ‘Shop Local’ program Tuesday, lawmakers mulling over more hazard pay

Plattsburgh community reacts to SUNY Plattsburgh suspensions

Will there be a stigma surrounding the coronavirus in schools?

No Labor Day parade, but one Northfield tradition went on

NH Health Department looks into possible outbreak tied to frat party

New York marks a month of fewer than 1% virus tests positive

Apple orchards expect sweet season despite pandemic

Vermont House to debate state budget amid virus uncertainty

Back-to-school tour shows what school will look like during the pandemic

Annual Connecticut River cleanup a monthlong event this year

Local businesses get boost from federal COVID relief funds

Vermont receives nearly 200 COVID-19 complaints from residents

Gov. Scott urges caution this Labor Day weekend

Vt. health officials prepared to receive vaccine by November if ready

Vermont schools make final preparations for opening day Tuesday

Vt. officials say return to college testing successful so far

Watch Live: Scott COVID-19 briefing

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:47:28 +0000

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Governor Phil Scott is holding another pandemic press conference Friday and may further loosen COVID occupancy restrictions.

Watch live at 11 a.m. on Channel 3 and WCAX.com. Click here to open new browser window or watch above.

As long as the data still supports it, Scott has indicated he will turn the spigot again and allow increased capacity at hotels and restaurants to help the tourism sector of the economy for foliage season.

We also expect an update on case modeling, positive cases, and schools.

As of Thursday, Vermont health officials reported a total of 1,705 coronavirus cases in the state and 58 deaths. A total of 153,195 tests have been conducted, 453 travelers are being monitored, 8,465 have completed monitoring and 1,533 have recovered.

SCOV Law Blog: Are furloughed inmates still ‘incarcerated’?

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:45:00 +0000

Editor’s note: This piece from the SCOV Law Blog is by Jacob Oblak.

State v. Gauthier, 2020 VT 66

An appeal means a party or the parties disagree on a ruling or rulings by a lower court and want a second look from a higher authority to review it and make a final decision. A lot of appealed cases involve lawyers arguing about what really happened, picking apart the facts, and trying to get the Supreme Court justices to see it their way. This isn’t one of those cases. This is a purely legal disagreement about the definition of a single word.

The facts are fairly simple: Gauthier was convicted in 2010 of a sex offense. That conviction comes with sex offender registry (SOR) requirements, one of which is that he notify the SOR of his home address every year. The Department of Corrections told him about the requirements. In April 2014, Gauthier was released on furlough, so he dutifully notified the SOR in 2015 of his new home address as required. He didn’t in 2016. SOR tried twice through the mail to get him to comply, but he didn’t. That’s a crime, so he was charged and convicted for failure to comply. Like I said, simple, right?

Well, I have to explain what furlough is before we get to the disagreement between the State and Gauthier. Furlough is the ability to live in the community while your sentence is still ongoing (before your minimum release date). So furlough time counts as time spent towards your sentence. It is available to some incarcerated individuals based on certain statutory criteria, like helping get living arrangements situated for when they’re eventually released, or to get substance abuse treatment, etc.

And there are lots of restrictions while you’re on furlough, because technically your sentence is being served while you live in the community. You can’t just move. You can’t just take a vacation out of state. You have to get DOC approval for almost anything like that.

Everybody here agrees Gauthier was on furlough and still serving his sentence in 2015. The SOR notification requirements do not apply to people who are “incarcerated,” only to people who are not incarcerated, because the statute specifically says they apply “except during periods of incarceration.” So Gauthier argued he’s incarcerated for all intents and purposes, with only one difference, he can live in the community rather than in jail. The State disagreed, arguing furlough isn’t incarceration for SOR purposes.

So, if furlough counts as incarceration, then the SOR requirements don’t apply. If furlough doesn’t count as incarceration, then Gauthier is guilty of failing to follow the SOR requirements.

SCOV starts with their patented plain-statutory-language approach (yeah, yeah, I know lawyers can’t just toss around legal words like “patented” because it’s clearly not patented, but yes I can, I’m using it colloquially, so there). But it doesn’t help in this case, because the SOR notification statute doesn’t define “incarcerated.” So SCOV relies on the common person’s understanding of what “incarcerated” really means.

In other words, what image pops into your mind when you hear that someone is “incarcerated?”

You don’t think of sipping margaritas while socially-distanced in a friend’s backyard. You don’t think of working a 9-5 job and sleeping in mom’s basement. You don’t think of getting takeout, going shopping, or singing karaoke.

You think behind bars. Like, in jail.

SCOV points to a few dictionaries that support that view, too. Also, other laws usually mean “in jail” when they talk about incarceration. Also, DOC notified Gauthier that he had to follow the SOR requirements while he was released into the community on furlough, because the statute made them. Why would they have to notify him if it didn’t apply to him?

In the end, SCOV acknowledges that there might be different contexts where they’ll have to treat furlough as a form of incarceration, but this isn’t one of them. For purposes of keeping the government updated on where you live, a sex offender has to do it whenever they’re not in jail, even when they’re on furlough. Gauthier should have notified SOR of his home address; he didn’t; so he’s guilty.

One little word: incarcerated. Its definition was the difference between guilty and not guilty. The law is intricate like that.

Read the story on VTDigger here: SCOV Law Blog: Are furloughed inmates still ‘incarcerated’?.

F-35s performing night flights

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:44:03 +0000

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont Air National Guard F-35s conducted night time training earlier this week and Thursday.

Channel 3′s Photographer Lance MacKenzie captured their return on camera Thursday night.

Pilots will also be flying at night next Tuesday and Thursday.

We’re told the goal is to make sure the Air National Guard is ready to do night operations to meet Air Force requirements and proficiencies.

Related Stories:

Why do Vermont’s F-35′s train at night?

F-35 flyover on Friday to honor Vermont’s front-line workers

Burlington City Council approves measure to ground F-35

Burlington City Council votes to oppose ‘nuclear-capable aircraft’ in Burlington

Burlington airport to submit noise exposure map for federal grants

Burlington City Council to vote on measure to ground F-35s

First Lady visits New Hampshire

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:41:58 +0000

CONCORD, N.H. (WCAX) - First lady Melania Trump used her first solo trip outside Washington since before the start of the pandemic to showcase a piece of her “Be Best” youth well-being initiative in New Hampshire Thursday.

The First Lady toured Concord Hospital in an effort to highlight the hospital’s treatment programs for babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Mrs. Trump, who has focused many of her public efforts on health issues such as the nation’s opioid crisis, tweeted earlier in the day that the appearance was a nod to Recovery Month.

She also visited the Manchester Fire Department Central Station on Thursday.

Groundbreaking Friday for Winooski River bike-pedestrian bridge; completes major link in Cross Vermont Trail

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:41:15 +0000

EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - A groundbreaking ceremony is being held Friday for a multi-use bridge over the Winooski River between East Montpelier and Berlin.

The 200-foot long bridge is being pushed by the group Cross Vermont Trail. They got a large federal highway grant years ago, but it only covered 80% of the project. Since then, board members have been working to raise the rest of the money.

We’re told it will provide safe travel separated from busy Route 2, access to conserved natural areas along the river, and recreation. It’s part of a larger project to build a 90-mile path connecting towns across the state from Lake Champlain to the Connecticut River.

First Lady visits New Hampshire

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 13:45:27 +0000

The First Lady toured Concord Hospital in an effort to highlight the hospital’s treatment programs for babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Mrs. Trump, who has focused many of her public efforts on health issues such as the nation’s opioid crisis, tweeted earlier in the day that the appearance was a nod to Recovery Month.

She also visited the Manchester Fire Department Central Station on Thursday.

Vermont landowners starting to plan for ‘three-acre rule’

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 13:27:03 +0000

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - New state rules for stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces go into effect later this winter and all Vermont landowners with over three acres will be required to comply by 2023. The effort, which has been in the works for several years, is aimed at improving water quality on Lake Champlain, but how much will this cost landowners?

Peter Walke with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, says that the new rule will create runoff systems on properties that are deemed to have a “significant” acreage of impervious surfaces. That includes roofs, cement, and asphalt to name a few.

“This is part of our overall effort to address water quality around the state," Walke said. "It’s actually a requirement that was put into law in 2015 as part of Vermont’s Clean Water Act. This component is to really look at, what about our existing built-lands, their areas we can address that will reduce runoff into the lake.”

One city that’s familiar with stormwater regulations is South Burlington, which has 49 properties that apply to the three-acre rule. Dave Wheeler, the city’s stormwater superintendent, says it might cost between $50,000 to $75,000 per impervious acre of land. “Of those 49, 36 already have some sort of stormwater treatment in place," Wheeler said. "A handful already meets the current regulations, while others may need to upgrade their systems.”

The South Burlington School District’s five buildings will all need to comply with the rule, and only one of them currently has a stormwater runoff system. Landowners like the South Burlington School District understand and agree with the rule, however, they are unsure of where they’re going to get the necessary funding to either create or upgrade their existing stormwater systems.

“The folks that are in this particular field say it’s important and needed to protect our waterways then, we understand, and we want to comply," said South Burlington Superintendent Dave Young. “However, we also want to make sure that we aren’t unable to do our work.”

Landowners hope the state will provide more clarity and pathways for financial assistance in the coming months. For now, they see it as a necessary obstacle for environmental preservation, but an obstacle nonetheless.

US EPA says Vermont falling behind on Lake Champlain cleanup

EPA praises Vermont for Lake Champlain water quality efforts

Vt. officials say Lake Champlain water quality efforts on track

New Vt. stormwater regulations come with hefty price tag

Vermont House OKs deal on bill to allow marijuana sale, tax

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 13:13:40 +0000

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont House of Representatives has approved a deal on a bill that would allow for the legal sale of marijuana, as well as taxation on those sales.

The legislative conference committee report passed the House by a vote of 92-56 on Thursday.

It now heads to the state Senate, where a vote is expected next week.

House members of the conference committee had agreed to drop language that would have prevented advertising for cannabis-related businesses. They also gave up their insistence upon seat belt use becoming a primary reason for motor vehicle stops as part of the legislation.

LATEST STORIES

NH House speaker apologizes to UNH for lawmakers' beer-drinking, maskless behavior

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:59:08 +0000

DURHAM, N.H. (WCAX) - New Hampshire’s House Speaker is apologizing to the University of New Hampshire for how some lawmakers behaved on campus.

In a letter UNH officials, Rep. Steve Shurtleff, D-Merrimack, acknowledged that members were on campus drinking beer on Wednesday and not wearing masks, which is against UNH and the Town of Durham’s rules.

“It came to my attention that some of the members were drinking beer in the hall and that some members were outside of the Whittemore Center, without masks, against both UNH and Durham protocol and ordinances. Please know that the House takes decorum very seriously and the actions of a few do not represent the New Hampshire House of Representatives as a whole,” Shurtleff wrote.

No names were mentioned. Shurtleff also thanked the University for allowing them to meet on their campus since the Statehouse is too cramped for safe social-distancing.

New Vermont Farm Walks Initiative Blends Agriculture with Recreation

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:48:50 +0000

New Vermont Farm Walks Initiative Blends Agriculture with Recreation Agency of Commerce and Community Development Press Release Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/18/2020 - 08:48

Press Releases

18 September 2020

New Vermont Farm Walks Initiative Blends Agriculture with Recreation

1964 at https://accd.vermont.gov Fri, 09/18/2020 - 12:00

Street through downtown Middlebury to reopen after project

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:48:00 +0000

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. (AP) - A major construction project through downtown Middlebury is taking a big step forward with traffic being restored through the heart of the community.

Vermont officials are planning a ribbon-cutting Friday to mark the reopening of traffic at Main and Merchant streets.

The area was closed to traffic for 10 weeks this summer while construction crews worked on a new rail tunnel beneath the center of Middlebury. The rail tunnel will be able to accommodate large freight cars and, it’s hoped, expanded Amtrak passenger rail service between Rutland and Burlington.

A special invitation-only passenger train will use the new tracks. Later Friday, two freight trains are scheduled to go through.

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First Lady visits New Hampshire

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:47:49 +0000

CONCORD, N.H. (WCAX) - First Lady Melania Trump was in New Hampshire Thursday.

She was participating in a round table in Concord, New Hampshire, in honor of Recovery Month as part of her Be Best Initiative.

She also visited the Manchester Fire Department Central Station on Thursday.

Vt. AG responds after US judge blocks USPS changes that slowed mail

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:44:55 +0000

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont’s attorney general is calling a court decision about the U.S. Postal Service a ‘major victory.’

Fourteen states sued the Trump administration and the U.S. Postal Service over changes that have slowed mail nationwide. The lawsuit challenged the so-called “leave mail behind” policy, where trucks have been leaving postal facilities on time regardless of whether there is more mail to load.

A judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction Thursday to stop the changes, calling them “a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service” before the November election.

Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan was one of the 14 state attorneys general to sue. “We need our postal service to be fully operational for the general election. I am pleased with the Court’s ruling. The stakes in this case are too high,” Donovan said in a statement.

Vermont was joined in the lawsuit by Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Gov. Scott expected to provide tourism update during pandemic briefing

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:39:36 +0000

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Governor Phil Scott is holding another pandemic press conference Friday and may further loosen COVID occupancy restrictions.

Watch live at 11 a.m. on Channel 3 and WCAX.com. Click here to open new browser window or watch above.

We also expect an update on case modeling, positive cases, and schools.

Gov. Scott expected to provide tourism update during pandemic briefing

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:38:07 +0000

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Governor Phil Scott is holding another pandemic press conference Friday and may further loosen COVID occupancy restrictions.

Watch live at 11 a.m. on Channel 3 and WCAX.com. Click here to open new browser window or watch above.

We also expect an update on case modeling, positive cases, and schools.

F-35s performing night flights

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:16:33 +0000

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont Air National Guard F-35s arriving back to their airbase after performing night drills.

The fighter jets did night time training earlier this week and Thursday.

Channel 3′s Photographer Lance MacKenzie captured their return on camera Thursday night.

Pilots will also be flying at night next Tuesday and Thursday.

We’re told the goal is to make sure the Air National Guard is ready to do night operations to meet Air Force requirements and proficiencies.

Related Stories:

Why do Vermont’s F-35′s train at night?

F-35 flyover on Friday to honor Vermont’s front-line workers

Burlington City Council approves measure to ground F-35

Burlington City Council votes to oppose ‘nuclear-capable aircraft’ in Burlington

Burlington airport to submit noise exposure map for federal grants

Burlington City Council to vote on measure to ground F-35s

Winooski River bridge to hold groundbreaking ceremony

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:02:24 +0000

EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - A groundbreaking ceremony is being held for a bridge over the Winooski River Friday.

The project is being pushed by the group Cross Vermont Trail.

They got a large federal highway grant years ago, but it only covered 80 percent of the project.

Since then, board members have been working to raise the rest of the money.

The bridge is over the Winooski River between East Montpelier and Berlin. We’re told it will provide safe travel separated from busy Route 2, access to conserved natural areas along the river, and recreation.

It’s part of a larger project building miles of new trails.

Gov. Scott could provide tourism update during pandemic press conference

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 11:51:41 +0000

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Governor Phil Scott is holding another pandemic press conference Friday.

As long as the numbers still support it, we expect the governor to turn the spigot again and allow more people in hotels and restaurants.

We also expect an update on case modeling, positive cases and schools.

The press conference starts at 11 a.m. and we’ll carry it live right here on Channel 3.

Vt. fugitive arrested in Indiana

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 11:38:47 +0000

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - A man wanted for firing a gun outside a home in South Burlington last week has been arrested in Indiana.

Last Friday, police were searching for 36-year-old Malachi Buswell, of Burlington. They say he got in a fight at a home on Swift Street and fired a gun in the direction of other people at the residence. No one was hurt.

Police now tell us Buswell, along with Alexis Lesage, 22, of Colchester, were arrested after being found at a convenience store in a car stolen out of Indiana.

We’re told he had a gun on him that matches ballistic evidence found at the Vermont crime scene.

Another car, reported stolen from South Burlington, was found burned in Fort Wayne earlier in the day.

They’re both being held on charges in Indiana.

Buswell has had prior run-ins with the law. He was arrested in 2018 after making threats against the Vt. Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole office in Burlington and the Department for Children and Families office in Williston related to an earlier child custody issue.

South Burlington Police on lookout for suspect in shooting incident

Man suspected of threatening Vt. workers arrested

F-35s performing night flights

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 11:28:02 +0000

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont Air National Guard F-35s arriving back to their airbase after performing night drills.

The fighter jets did night time training earlier this week and Thursday.

Channel 3′s Photographer Lance MacKenzie captured their return on camera Thursday night.

Pilots will also be flying at night next Tuesday and Thursday.

We’re told the goal is to make sure the Air National Guard is ready to do night operations to meet Air Force requirements and proficiencies.

Related Stories:

Why do Vermont’s F-35′s train at night?

F-35 flyover on Friday to honor Vermont’s front-line workers

Burlington City Council approves measure to ground F-35

Burlington City Council votes to oppose ‘nuclear-capable aircraft’ in Burlington

Burlington airport to submit noise exposure map for federal grants

Burlington City Council to vote on measure to ground F-35s

Vt. AG responds after US judge blocks USPS changes that slowed mail

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 10:31:21 +0000

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Local leaders are calling a court decision about the U.S. Postal Service a ‘major victory.’

14 states sued the Trump administration and the U.S. Postal Service over changes that have slowed mail nationwide.

The lawsuit challenged the so called “leave mail behind” policy, where trucks have been leaving postal facilities on time regardless of whether there is more mail to load.

A judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction to stop the changes, calling them “a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service” before the November election.

Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan was one of the 14 state Attorneys General to sue.

“We need our Postal Service to be fully operational for the General Election. I am pleased with the Court’s ruling. The stakes in this case are too high,” said Donovan.

Street through downtown Middlebury to reopen after project

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 10:18:38 +0000

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. (AP) - A major construction project through downtown Middlebury is taking a big step forward with traffic being restored through the heart of the community.

Vermont officials are planning a ribbon cutting Friday to mark the reopening of traffic at Main and Merchant streets.

A special invitation-only passenger train will use the new tracks.

Later Friday, two freight trains are scheduled to go through.

Battleboro woman arrested on fentanyl trafficking charges

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 09:31:15 +0000

BATTLEBORO, VT, (NEWS10) – A Battleboro woman has been arrested on fentanyl trafficking charges. Police claim 56-year-old Susan Yeates was the passenger in a vehicle that was stopped and siezed on Birge Street in August.

Upon execution of a search warrant, the vehicle Yeates was traveling in was found to contain fentanyl.

Yeates is set to appear in court on September 18 to answer the charges.

LATEST STORIES

Landowners starting to plan for the three acre rule

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 04:31:09 +0000

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont has passed the Three Acre Rule which will call for all landowners with over three acres of land to implement or upgrade their stormwater runoff system by 2023; but how much will this cost landowners? Peter Walke, from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, says that this new rule will create runoff systems on properties that are deemed to have a “significant” acreage of impervious surfaces.

That includes roofs, cement, and ash fault to name a few.

One city that’s adept with stormwater regulations is the City of South Burlington, who has 49 properties that apply to the three-acre rule. Dave Wheeler, stormwater superintendent for the city, says it might cost between $50,000 to $75,000 per impervious acre of land.

“Of those forty-nine, thirty-six already have some sort of stormwater treatment in place," Wheeler said. "A handful already meets the current regulations while others may need to upgrade their systems.”

The South Burlington School District’s five buildings will all need to comply with the three-acre rule, and only one of them currently has a stormwater runoff system. Landowners like the South Burlington School District, understand and agree with the three-acre rule, however they are unsure of where they’re going to get the necessary funding to either create or upgrade their existing stormwater systems.

“The folks that are in this particular field say it’s important and needed to protect our waterways then, we understand, and we want to comply," Dave Young, Superintendent of the South Burlington School District, said. “However, we also want to make sure that we aren’t unable to do our work”

Landowners hope the state will provide more clarity, and pathways for financial assistance in the coming months. For now, they see it as a necessary obstacle for environmental preservation, but an obstacle nonetheless.

N.H. Speaker of the House apologizes to UNH

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 04:20:38 +0000

DURHAM, N.H. (WCAX) - New Hampshire’s Speaker of the House Steve Shurtleff is apologizing to the University of New Hampshire for how some lawmakers behaved on campus.

In the letter, no names were mentioned, but Shurtleff acknowledged that members were on campus drinking beer on Wednesday, and not wearing masks, which is against UNH and the Town of Durham rules.

He also says those lawmakers do not represent the entire House of Representatives.

Shurtleff also thanked the University for allowing them to meet on their campus since the statehouse is too cramped for safe social distancing.

Investigation continues into ‘suspicious’ fire at Green Mountain Race Track

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 02:53:45 +0000

POWNAL, Vt. (NEWS10) — Thirteen different fire crews worked to put out a massive blaze at the former Green Mountain Race Track Wednesday night, and some crews remained there on Thursday.

Jim Winchester owns Winchester Deli on Route 7. He has dedicated part of his store wall to show historic photos of the Green Mountain Race Track. He has memories back from when he worked there.

When the track closed in 1991, he, like many others, wondered what would replace it.

“The race track is the most talked about the least done about,” he said. “Every day somebody talks about what are we going to do with it. I’m on the planning board. It’s one of the big talks at the end of most meetings.”

He didn’t think much of it when he heard about another fire.

“My wife was on Facebook, and she said, ‘Jim, the tracks are burning down,'” he recalled. “I said, ‘No, that can’t be,’ you know. We knew they’ve been lighting fires in there. Somebody really got it hot today.”

Fire crews were on the scene throughout the day Thursday. Pownal Fire Chief Keith Coon said it was the biggest fire he’s ever seen in his 40-year career.

Fire crews still on scene this evening at the former Green Mountain Race Track. The Pownal fire chief says in his 40 years on the job, this is the biggest fire he has ever seen. #WTEN pic.twitter.com/JOH3TYX8AD
— Jenn Seelig (@jennseeligtv) September 17, 2020

“We don’t know the cause of the fire, but we’ve had numerous calls in the past,” he said. “There’s been people inside the building partying, and there’s been some fires inside the building, so we’ve been here, like I said, numerous, numerous times.”

The fire caused part of the roof to cave in. The building has been abandoned for decades, but Winchester said the memories will live on forever.

“It’s sad; it really is sad,” he said. “Like a lot of things, you miss the people who come around. Knowing all the jockeys and trainers, the employees. It’s what would you miss.”

The Vermont Arson Tip Award Program offers an award of up to $5,000 for any information that will lead to the arrest of anyone involved in the crime of arson. You may provide this information by calling The Vermont Arson Tip Award Program hotline at 1-800-322-7766, by contacting Det. Sgt. Steven Otis of the Vermont State Police at the Westminster Barracks at 802-722-4600, or by email at steven.otis@vermont.gov.

Anyone having additional information or having witnessed the events prior to the fire are also encouraged to reach out as well.

LATEST STORIES

Latest coronavirus numbers -- WCAX continuing coverage

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 00:30:43 +0000

•As of Thursday, New Hampshire health officials reported a total of 7,814 coronavirus cases in the state and 438 deaths.

•As of Thursday, Clinton County, New York, has 155 confirmed cases and four deaths.

•As of Thursday, Essex County, New York, has 193 confirmed cases and 10 deaths.

•As of Thursday, Franklin County, New York, has 58 confirmed cases.

This map is best viewed on a desktop. Tap/click for a bigger view from Johns Hopkins University. Tap/click here for a mobile-friendly version.

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS/CONTACTS:

If you are sick and have questions call your primary care physician. If you do not have one, call 211.

Vt. Department of Health: 802-863-7240

NH Division of Public Health Services: 603-271-4496

NY Novel Coronavirus Hotline 1-888-364-3065

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE VIRUS AND STEPS TO TAKE TO PREVENT ITS SPREAD, SEE THE LINKS BELOW:

More information from the Vermont Department of Health

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health

More information from the NY Department of Health

More information from the CDC

UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS/SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Vermont unemployment claims

Vermont information for small businesses

Vt. Agency of Commerce and Community Development small business disaster hotline: 802-461-5143

New Hampshire unemployment claims

Small Business Administration

New York unemployment claims

REGIONAL COVID-19 TIMELINE (AS OF 5/8)

March 2 -- first Upper Valley NH case confirmed

March 7 -- first Vermont case confirmed in Bennington county

March 11 -- VT activates emergency operations center, first Chittenden County case confirmed

March 13 -- state of emergency declared, began restricting size of gatherings, restricted visitors to long-term care facilities

March 15 -- schools closed

March 16 -- reduced gathering sizes more, closed bars and restaurants

March 17 -- child care closures

March 18 -- in-person DMV restricted, first nursing home case

March 19 -- first VT deaths from coronavirus

March 20 -- elective surgeries suspended

March 22 -- closure of close-contact biz, limited gatherings to 10 or fewer people

March 23 -- telecommuting ordered

March 24 -- stay home stay safe order issued, closure directed of in-person operations for non-essential biz the next day (March 25)

March 26 -- schools closed for rest of school year. NH orders residents to stay home & non-essential biz to close

March 30 -- all coming in from out-of-state have to quarantine at home for two weeks

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April 10 -- extended stay at home order through May 15

April 17 -- announced phased restart with five areas of focus

April 20 -- first biz reopen (outdoor work, small groups of 2 or fewer)

April 24 -- expands work crews to 5 or fewer, adds manufacturing reopening, greenhouse sales allowed with 10 person limit, mandates masks and safety training for biz

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May 4 -- Crews of 10 or fewer in manufacturing/construction/distribution, outpatient elective procedures can resume

May 6 -- limited social gatherings (10 or fewer, preferably outdoors) may resume, "trusted households" -- high-risk & seniors have to stay home still

May 7 -- some outdoor recreation may resume (golf, guided hikes, skate parks, etc.)

May 8 -- Ed agency announces traditional in-person large graduations are not allowed

May 11 -- Full/normal operations for manufacturing/construction/distribution

May 13 -- antibody testing group update (expected)

May 15 -- state of emergency expires but is extended to June 15

May 18 -- child cares can start bringing staff back, some nonessential businesses can reopen under guidelines

May 22 -- In-patient medical procedures, dentists, and most other one-on-one health visits reopen with guidelines; restaurants, lodgings, marinas reopen under guidelines

May 29 -- Salons and barbershops can reopen

May 29 -- NH stay-at-home order extended to June 15

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June 5 -- New Hampshire lodgings can resume with guidelines

June 8 -- Interstate travel to and from New England and New York counties with 400 or fewer active COVID-19 cases per million is permitted.

June 8 -- Vt. Indoor dining will be permitted with 25% occupancy limits and social distancing and health and safety protocols.

June 15 -- Vt. emergency order extended to July 15

June 15 -- NH stay-at-home order ends

June 19 -- Vermont long-term care residential facilities can allow up to two visitors per resident, per day. Visits must be outdoors.

June 22 -- NH day camps allowed to open with guidelines.

June 25 -- Vermont State Parks camping allowed

June 28 -- NH overnight camps allowed to open (guidelines in development)

July 7 -- Gov. Scott says he will likely extend the emergency order that's set to expire on July 15 for another month

July 15 -- Vt. emergency order is extended to August 15

July 17 -- Agriculture Assistance Program applications open

August 1 -- Vt. mask mandate begins

August 14 -- Vt. emergency order extended to September 15

August 26 -- Deadline for Operational Relief Grant Program to help child care programs offset pandemic-related expenses and losses.

September 8 -- Vermont statewide return to school date

September 15 -- Vt. emergency order expires and is extended to October 15

September 21 -- Vt. school sports can begin inter-team scrimmages

October 1 -- Deadline for Agriculture Assistance Program

October 15 -- Vt. emergency order expires; Guidelines for Vt. school winter sports to be released

WCAX CORONAVIRUS CONTINUING COVERAGE:

NY lowers coronavirus threshold for nursing home visits

Sanitized school buses the new normal across region

Salvation Army will gather donations early due to virus

Should Vermont’s mask mandate be lifted?

New York extends special uninsured enrollment through 2020

State leaders aren’t canceling trick-or-treating this year

Flag football league fined for bringing in out-of-state teams

Fauci congratulates Vermonters on success of slowing spread of COVID

Burlington community center creates space for remote learners

Two more Vermont schools with COVID-19 cases

Federal lawsuit seeks to halt Vt. vote-by-mail plan

Preparing to pick up for the fall season

Navigating remote learning

Advice for families with loved ones in long-term care during pandemic

Surprise gifts help keep spirits up for Make-A-Wish kids

Fauci to speak at Vermont COVID-19 briefing Tuesday

Vermont agritourism moves online

Pandemic isn’t stopping longtime Essex Junction crossing guard

NH fall visitors encouraged to research, ‘Leave No Trace’

Pride Vermont puts on virtual event in place of parade

Hartford High School comes down with case of COVID-19

Crossett Brook Middle School closes due to COVID cases

Hundreds compete in Race Vermont’s first event since pandemic

UVM medical trial examines benefits of blood thinners in COVID treatment

2 Dartmouth undergrads test positive for Covid-19

Scott extends COVID emergency order to mid-October

Superintendent warns of possible COVID-19 exposure in Stowe schools

Expert explains how parents can ease students' back to school concerns

Airline coronavirus contractions leave Vermont travelers with fewer options

Quebec to impose mask fines starting Saturday

Will fall foliage season salvage COVID tourism losses?

UVM continues to see low number of positive COVID test among student body

Judge: Trump campaign, RNC can intervene in NH voting lawsuit

NY eases restrictions on visits at assisted living homes

Despite hiccups, state calls buy local voucher program a success

Dartmouth students reprimanded for breaking rules

The New Vermonters: Fleeing COVID-19, newcomers find temporary — or permanent — refuge in the Green Mountains

A look at remote learning in the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union

Skeleton tableaus bring out a community in Essex Junction

Sanders presses health officials on vaccine availability

Vt. House approves $5M in stimulus payments to migrant workers

Essex Junction students, parents excited for return to school

Vermont Pride Week perseveres through pandemic

Leahy: GOP stimulus attempt ‘woefully inadequate’

Vermont buy-local program sells out; Kinney Drugs to provide COVID testing

Dartmouth students back on campus

New York schools to report COVID data to state

Vermont rolling out $30 ‘Shop Local’ program Tuesday, lawmakers mulling over more hazard pay

Plattsburgh community reacts to SUNY Plattsburgh suspensions

Will there be a stigma surrounding the coronavirus in schools?

No Labor Day parade, but one Northfield tradition went on

NH Health Department looks into possible outbreak tied to frat party

New York marks a month of fewer than 1% virus tests positive

Apple orchards expect sweet season despite pandemic

Vermont House to debate state budget amid virus uncertainty

Back-to-school tour shows what school will look like during the pandemic

Annual Connecticut River cleanup a monthlong event this year

Local businesses get boost from federal COVID relief funds

Vermont receives nearly 200 COVID-19 complaints from residents

Gov. Scott urges caution this Labor Day weekend

Vt. health officials prepared to receive vaccine by November if ready

Vermont schools make final preparations for opening day Tuesday

Vt. officials say return to college testing successful so far

Burlington school janitor doing more than just sanitizing

Lumber shortage driving up some construction prices

Middlebury College student tests positive during first week

North Country students head back to class without leaving home

COVID cases continue to climb at North Country nursing home

Is Vt. unemployment system working for the most complicated cases?

NH goes full contact, while Upper Valley rivalries renewed

Rutland COVID test clinic assisting Vt. Health Department

Burlington sampling city wastewater to spot next COVID outbreak

Killington Resort to hold food giveaway

Hanover, NH, limits gatherings to 10 people

Vermont museums provide content for online learners

Essex Westford district gets jump-start on child care hubs

Burlington school officials discuss final reopening plans

3 charged in 2018 Northeast Kingdom shooting death

5th suspect charged in fatal drug-related shooting

VSP: Victim in Concord was shot; likely drug-related

Concord shooting victim was subject of heroin investigation

Court documents reveal drug connection with homicide victim

Waterford man died of multiple gunshot wounds

Associate of Vermont murder victim facing ammunition charges

Vermont murder victim’s girlfriend indicted on gun charges

Father and daughter admit to involvement in NEK murder

Judge orders girlfriend of murdered NEK man to remain in jail

Feds charge 3rd person linked to NEK homicide case

Vermont State Police contend with backlog of homicide investigations

Vt. man questioned in murder says authorities hiding evidence

4th suspect identified in shooting death of Michael Pimental

Who murdered Michael Pimental?

Co-conspirators still under investigation in fatal shooting

Suspicious fire destroys Green Mountain Racetrack

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 23:48:49 +0000

POWNAL, Vt. (WCAX) -The grandstand of a Southern Vermont track once known for its horse and greyhound racing is now considered a total loss. A fire that started around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday quickly spread throughout the entire building.

Investigators say the fire was most likely set by someone. It’s unknown if it was an accident or intentional, but there has been a lot of vandalism and small fires reported on the property this summer. The backside of the building has been boarded up multiple times, but police say people continue to break in and young adults have been caught skateboarding and riding ATVs inside.

Detective Sgt. Steven Otis with the Vermont State Police said, “We aren’t really sure why this one started either. We really can’t tell, the building really is so unstable and unsafe for us to go into to look at.”

Barbara Roan is happy no one was hurt. She lives in Pownal and has wanted the building gone for years.

“I wanted a demolition party! Hire some professionals. Set it up. The whole community would come around. Have some beers and the building would go, fold in,” said Roan.

Sam Riordan or North Adams, Massachusetts, said it is, “Definitely a shame, it was a cool spot.” Riordan likes taking photos in abandoned buildings. He’s been confused by the use of the property because there was usually someone there, like families out for a jog and kids on dirt bikes or hanging out.

“It’s kind of a beautiful ending to a kind of screwed up past though. I think, greyhound racing is a little morally ambiguous, so I think it is a little poetic,” said Riordan.

Edith Durham of Williamstown, Massachusetts, stopped by after hearing about the fire.

She said, “Personally, I don’t have a history with it, but I know that a lot of people in the area worked here and have fond memories.”

Cars pulled into an old entrance to the racetrack every few minutes Thursday with curious people looking to see the damage. Some people actually climbed the fence to see how far they could get in. Vermont State Police are worried someone may enter the building to look around and get seriously hurt.

Otis said, “Will someone go inside and become trapped or hurt, and it’s a really high probability someone is going to come back and look at this.”

It’s now the owner’s responsibility to decide which steps to take to keep it safe. They can demolish the building, board it up again or have someone watching it for trespassers.

THE TRACK’S COLORFUL HISTORY

The Green Mountain Racetrack has a long, colorful history dating back nearly 60 years.

It was billed as America’s newest and most modern racetrack when Green Mountain Park opened in 1963. The Southern Vermont community borders both Massachusetts and New York, and reports say upward of 4,000 people showed up for the opening day, far more than was expected.

But it became a challenge to fill the stands throughout the years. The track had both harness and thoroughbred racing, but competing with the established race track at Saratoga -- just 42 miles away -- proved to be difficult.

In 1968, Green Mountain was the only race track that had Sunday racing, helping push up the numbers betting on the ponies. But it would be short-lived when other states allowed Sunday racing.

In 1972, the sons of Art Rooney bought the track. Rooney, the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, reportedly thought it was a bad investment, saying the town had more cows than people.

Eventually, the Rooneys sold the track and in the mid-1970s, the horses went away and it went to the dogs. A greyhound track was built, and for 15 years the racing continued until animal rights activists put pressure on the state to ban the racing. The park permanently closed in 1992.

In 1995, a developer named Eric Nelson wanted to bring a casino to the sight. That never happened and the property languished for years, much of it falling into disrepair.

It showed signs of life again in 1996 when rock music and thousands filled the stands for the Lollapalooza festival.

More recently, the stables and paddocks were torn down to make way for a solar farm close to Route 7 and there have been other attempts to redevelop the property.

Crews battle suspicious fire at abandoned Pownal race track

Relay for Life moves to Thunder Road

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 23:46:59 +0000

BARRE, Vt. (WCAX) - “At first we weren’t even sure if we were going to have it. Typically we have it at one of the local high schools,” said Cara Gorman, an event leader for the Relay for Life.

After postponing its annual Relay for Life event this summer, the committee at the American Cancer Society, Central Vermont shifted gears.

“It’s amazing how many moving pieces when you start to start to think about the logistics,” Gorman said.

Gorman was one of the committee members who reached out to Thunder Road. The Nation’s Site of Excitement has hosted premiere events before, but nothing quite like this.

“Now is when we really need to step up and when we can do things safely and responsibly, we should be doing those things to help give back to the community,” Gorman said.

“I would say that this is our toughest challenge,” said Richard Swenson, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society.

The Relay for Life has special meaning for Swenson. A two-time cancer survivor, Swenson says Thunder Road’s willingness to get on board is exactly what was needed for the organization’s mission to move forward.

“Having that ease of comfort, that the accommodations have been great, will really help this event succeed this year,” he said.

The relay begins at 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, with people taking a walk around the race track. Luminaria bags will line the infield honoring those who are battling or lost their lives to cancer. Those names will then be read throughout the track and stands.

“Hearing the people close to you, having their names read aloud so everyone can hear it, is just very touching,” Swenson said.

After the luminaria ceremony, people are invited to get out on the track in their cars and take a few laps.

“Being able to walk out on the track, even drive it with a car, people are going to love that,” Swenson said. “I’ve lost some really good friends to cancer, who were younger than I was and I’m trying to make that difference and help others make that difference in our community.”

So many people driven to honor those affected by cancer, now, they can actually get behind the wheel to do it.

Swenson has been helping out with the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life for 26 years.

Luminaria bags are $5. Click here for more information.

War of 1812 soldier’s remains unearthed in Burlington

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 23:29:57 +0000

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Human remains discovered in Burlington have been identified as some of Vermont’s first war veterans.

Archaeologists have been digging for a few days now at a site in Burlington where construction crews doing a home improvement project discovered what appeared to be bones.

The team UVM team has now identified the remains of one body, a soldier from the War of 1812, and officials say they could easily find up to a half-dozen more.

John Crock, a UVM archeology professor and director of the UVM Consulting Archaeology Program, says the discovery will lead to a greater understanding of Vermont’s role in the three-year-long conflict between Great Britain and the U.S., and the lives of those who came -- and fought -- before us.

“Our goal is to -- as quickly as possible -- exhume the remains, documenting where they were found and what was included with them, and then study them briefly. And ultimately, they will be re-buried,” Crock said.

Crock says additional information, including where the remains were found, will be shared with the public once excavation operations have ended.

Remains of War of 1812 dead have previously been found in 2002 and 2006 in Burlington’s Old North End.

Relay for Life moves to Thunder Road

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 23:17:06 +0000