303 stories, newest first.
South Burlington police launched a bike patrol this month, three mountain bikes and two e-bikes focused on the growing City Center area, with officers in bright blue polos. Deputy chief Sean Briscoe trained on bike patrol in Saratoga Springs in the late 1990s and taught the course himself, coveri…
The state police pulled their extra downtown patrols Sunday after three weeks, an assignment Gov. Phil Scott ordered ahead of the New England governors and Eastern Canadian premiers conference. The weekend they left brought a stabbing near Bank and St. Paul, the fatal stabbing behind Courthouse P…
Hassan O. Haji, 24, of Winooski, walked into Burlington police headquarters Tuesday morning and pleaded not guilty that afternoon to second degree murder in the Saturday stabbing behind the Main Street courthouse we noted Monday. Police allege that during a fight around 4 a.m. involving a third m…
Since 2019, Burlington has paid nearly $1.5 million, plus $747,500 in legal fees, to settle five police use-of-force cases, all involving Black individuals or people facing mental health challenges. In 2025, force against Black residents hit a record 99 incidents, accounting for 28% of cases desp…
Sen. Bernie Sanders rallied Wednesday with the Teamsters at the St. Albans Creamery and accused Dairy Farmers of America of idling the century old plant to retaliate against its nearly 80 unionized workers for last year's strike, a claim DFA calls ridiculous. A federal judge in Burlington issued …
South Burlington councilors passed the first reading Tuesday of an ordinance that would ban motorized devices of 750 watts or more, e-motos included, from shared use paths while leaving regular e-bikes, e-scooters and motorized wheelchairs alone. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee proposed it, …
[Man killed in downtown Burlington stabbing](https://www.wcax.com/2026/08/15/man-killed-downtown-burlington-stabbing/)
[UVM's Sustainable Innovation MBA ranked #2 Green MBA in the nation](https://vermontbiz.com/news/2026/august/11/uvms-sustainable-innovation-mba-ranked-2-green-mba-nation)
An April 23 fire closed Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity's Williston store for three months, and it reopens Saturday at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting and food, repaired, repainted and reorganized. ReStore revenue pays for Habitat's building work, including three homes going up right now at Har…
Some 500 cyclists rode a two mile circuit Wednesday evening from Pine and Locust streets, where a white ghost bike now marks the spot 16 year old Shiloh Skalka was struck on July 16. Driver Douglas Knapp, cited for negligent operation with death resulting, is due in court August 27, and speakers …
[Woman injured after e-scooter hit by bus in Burlington, police say](https://www.mynbc5.com/article/e-scooter-hit-by-bus-burlington-vermont/73415334)
['Break Room' in South Burlington announces closure](https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/local-news/break-room-in-south-burlington-announces-closure/)
Local Motion held its first walk-bike forum steps from the Pine Street memorial for 16 year old Shiloh Skalka, who died in July after being struck while riding her e-bike. Neighbors marked dangerous intersections on city maps and pitched fixes like new crosswalks, with Councilor Becca Brown McKni…
Five weeks in, drivers love how fast the Parkway gets them to the highway, and Pine Street is paying for it with new backups. The top complaint is the missing left turn arrow where the project swapped four-way stops for signals at King and Maple, with waits of up to three light cycles at peak tim…
The downtown safety fight has narrowed onto harm reduction, after the council's Burlington Forward resolution passed 7 to 5 with zoning language aimed at keeping syringe programs and the planned overdose prevention center out of downtown. The flashpoint is Vermont CARES' expanded Bank Street exch…
The council's Democrats passed their Burlington Forward resolution 7 to 5 on party lines late Monday after more than 100 people spoke across three hours, 60 of them against. The measure targets unpermitted services like Food Not Cops' daily meal share in City Hall Park and calls for zoning that w…
[Sailboat catches fire in Malletts Bay after possible lightning strike](https://www.mynbc5.com/article/sailboat-catches-fire-in-malletts-bay-after-possible-lightning-strike/73372098)
[Man Admits to Paying Migrant Justice Leader in Border Smuggling Case](https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/man-admits-to-paying-migrant-justice-leader-in-border-smuggling-case/)
City council Democrats plan to bring their Burlington Forward public safety resolution to a vote tonight, over Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak's public demand that they wait until August 24. The measure would crack down on open drug use, move homeless residents out of certain public spaces and add new…
A gram averages $9.59 here against $3.87 in Massachusetts, and the gap is intentional. Vermont capped grow sizes to keep big multistate operators out and protect small growers, while Massachusetts let large operations flood their market and crash prices. The state has 110 retailers and 322 cultiv…
Douglas Knapp, the 79 year old Burlington folk artist known as Dug Nap, has been cited for negligent operation with death resulting in the July 16 Pine Street crash that killed 16 year old cyclist Shiloh Skalka. He is due in court August 27. Skalka's family has set up a memorial fund through the …
Gov. Phil Scott directed state troopers to patrol downtown from July 29 through mid August, and Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak learned about it indirectly, then announced it herself in a Tuesday mass email saying the news had come to her attention the day before. His office pointed to a coming gather…
Most of the council’s Democratic caucus gathered on Bank Street to announce Burlington Forward, a resolution headed to their August meeting that would expedite hiring for the 10 officers funded in the new budget and create public space response teams able to issue citations and connect people wit…
Eighteen dogs lined up on the grass at the Winooski Farmers Market on Sunday for the market’s annual show, a $20 per entry fundraiser for the market and For the Love of Dogs Vermont, a rescue that rehomes around 800 dogs a year. Ahki, a three legged husky, took Cutest, Scar and his owner won Look…
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Vermont, in Chapter 11 since the fall of 2024, wants a judge's permission to sell the 400 student South Burlington campus to a new nonprofit called RMHS Inc. for $4.3 million, up from an initial $2 million offer. The point is to shield the 42 classroom building and i…
Chittenden County towns are scrambling to catch up with kids as young as 9 riding e-bikes and far more powerful e-motos, which can hit 55 mph and are illegal for riders under 16. Burlington police have responded to at least six e-bike crashes this spring and summer, a UVM pediatric ICU doctor rep…
Flowers, pictures, and handwritten notes now mark the spot on Pine Street where the 16 year old Burlington High School student was struck and killed while riding an e-bike last Thursday. Friends remember her as a kind, quiet artist who spent her summer swimming and hiking, including a Mount Philo…
Researchers off Valcour Island recovered the final missing piece of a cannon that exploded during one of America's earliest naval battles, killing Lt. Thomas Rogers, nearly 250 years ago. The fragment joins the rest of the gun at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, and for retired trooper turned …
An early Thursday fire on South Winooski Avenue displaced nine people and one cat, with everyone getting out safely and one person checked for smoke inhalation. The property owner credits recent code compliant renovation work with keeping the blaze from being far worse, a rare kind word for build…
The council unanimously approved a 5 megawatt battery at the McNeil Generating Station, leased from Kearsarge Energy but controlled by Burlington Electric. The math is straightforward, BED's average hourly load is 37 megawatts and peaks hit 60, so a battery that can push 20 megawatts over four ho…
The August 11 primary offers a genuine contrast. Incumbent Dan Gamelin, 65, is a 40 year law enforcement veteran from Winooski who manages 22 full time and nine part time deputies and defends the office's traditional role. Challenger Kevin Bloom, 32, owns a music studio, has no law enforcement ba…
[New Vermont State Police Commander Rose Up Through the Ranks](https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/new-vermont-state-police-commander-rose-up-through-the-ranks/)
[South Burlington City Council signs off on settlement for Dorset rec path](https://www.vtcng.com/otherpapersbvt/news/municipal_matters/south-burlington-city-council-signs-off-on-settlement-for-dorset-rec-path/article_7dec5768-c532-4c1d-bc9d-94d87ef39e9b.html)
The foundation that has carried the ice cream brand's giving for 40 years says it will close at the end of the year after parent company Magnum cut off funding and ordered its three staffers out of their South Burlington office. About $600,000 a year goes to Vermont groups like Migrant Justice an…
Dozens marched from City Hall to the federal building on Elmwood Thursday after federal immigration agents shot and killed two men at attempted traffic stops in Maine and Texas over the past several days. Organizers with Migrant Justice tied the moment back to the March raid on Dorset Street, whi…
Vermont Public sat down with founders Michael and Valerie Wood-Lewis as the hyperlocal institution turns 20, and the listener stories steal the show. One new arrival found her running partners two doors away, another built a backyard brick oven from three neighbors' spare fire bricks, and a libra…
VTDigger transcribed more than 100 hours of body camera footage from the March ICE standoff in South Burlington and published the result this morning, a ground level account of what a police line actually sounds like hour by hour. Officers debated car engines and puppy names between waves of neig…
[A festive occasion for Vermont's craft beers](https://www.wcax.com/2026/07/14/festive-occasion-vermonts-craft-beers/)
The deal came down to the wire, finalized June 29, one day before the old contract expired. The new rates put Shelburne roughly even with Hinesburg, where officers start at $34 an hour, and closer to Williston, South Burlington and Richmond, which start between $34.15 and $36.95. Taxpayers get so…
The District 4 Environmental Commission denied the developer's final motion, upholding its earlier ruling against the subdivision and access road the project needed. It is a clear win for the Alliance of Concerned Residents Envisioning Solutions, the local group that organized against the plan. T…
Burlington finally has a real pipeline to replace interim Chief Shawn Burke, who has led the department since Jon Murad's departure in early 2025. The 12 person committee spans councilors, the police commission, both city unions, the Howard Center, King Street Center, and a Church Street business…
The retro toy shop closed Sunday after just seven months in the compact corner storefront where the couple previously ran Weenies Hot Dogs. It's a tough data point for Church Street, where the mix of rents and retail theft keeps grinding down small independents even as the Marketplace draws summe…
The new law took effect last week and folds the old forest fire warden role into each town's fire chief, changing how burn permits get issued and how wildfire response is organized. It's a quiet administrative shift with real consequences in a state that has seen drier summers and more brush fire…
Since 2022, a state funded program run through Champlain Housing Trust has put more than $5.6 million toward fixing or replacing farmworker housing, improving conditions for roughly 360 workers so far. The forgivable loans have tackled everything from failing septic to missing fire escapes on far…
The August 11 Democratic primary between George and challenger Bram Kranichfeld will almost certainly decide who runs the county prosecutor's office, since no Republican is running. George, one of the nation's more progressive prosecutors, defends declining cash bail and expanding diversion, and …
Illegal dumping piles up faster than Vermont can clear it, and this deep dive shows why the situations drag on for years. The DEC has fielded 4,450 dumping complaints since 2015 with 587 still unresolved, all handled by just five investigators who cannot enter a property without consent or a cour…
In the department of very Vermont problems, Strafford keeps losing its Alger Brook Road sign to fans chasing a "Stick Season" lyric. Replacements run $70 to $150 a pop, and the selectboard has floated everything from tougher bolts to a photo op monument. Kahan himself asked fans to knock it off a…
Seven Days parked a team of reporters on the marketplace for a full day ahead of its 45th birthday, and the result is a portrait of a place holding a lot of contradictions on the same block. Tourists, buskers, dispensary regulars, panhandlers, World Cup fans, and last-call partiers all share the …
The four 1940s sketches, "So You Want to See the President!", hung in the West Wing for more than four decades before a family ownership dispute sent them to auction. The White House Historical Association paid over $7 million to keep them out of a private collection, its priciest art purchase ev…
[City of Burlington forms hiring committee to help choose next police chief](https://www.mynbc5.com/article/burlington-hiring-committee-to-choose-next-police-chief/71684350)
Fresh off council approval of her third budget, the Progressive mayor was pushing back on Democratic councilors who argue her administration has not done enough for downtown business, a fight that flared over the gross receipts tax on meals, hotel rooms and short term rentals. She pointed to cons…
The case began when a South Burlington family kept finding cash missing from a home safe and a relative installed cameras to catch the culprit. Investigators say the footage pointed to Leclair, a fire department lieutenant who has since resigned and now faces four felony burglary counts, each car…
The 10 to 1 vote, with Councilor Evan Litwin the lone no, locks in a 6 percent municipal property tax bump, so the owner of a median $365,000 home will pay roughly $191 more next year. New spending includes $150,000 for added police and private security downtown and in the Old North End, plus $1 …
[Getting Stuck in the Notch Just Got Pricier](https://www.wcax.com/2026/06/17/get-stuck-notch-you-will-pay/)
An April fire forced the Williston Habitat for Humanity ReStore to throw out all its merchandise to water and smoke damage, and the shop is now rebuilding from scratch. They're asking businesses and neighbors to donate seasonal goods, racks, mannequins and carts, plus volunteers to help move ever…
The case goes back to a 2021 incident in which officers restrained a 14-year-old and paramedics sedated him with ketamine to recover stolen vape pens his own mother had reported. What makes this one sting locally is the paper trail. The Police Commission found unanimously that officers violated d…
By declining to hear Meta's appeal, the nation's highest court left intact Vermont's ability to pursue the company in state court over claims it concealed how Facebook and Instagram affect kids. Meta had argued it lacks the in state presence to be sued here, a jurisdictional dodge Vermont's own S…
Milot runs the state's two year old Animal Welfare Division entirely by herself, on a budget of about $128,000 drawn from dog license surcharges. Lawmakers passed only two modest bills this session rather than the broader overhaul she recommended, one tightening forfeiture rules and another effec…
The March 11 ICE raid in South Burlington drew more than 100 complaints, and the city's internal reviews cleared every officer involved, including Cpl. Julian Gonzalez, whose body camera caught him forcing a woman to the ground. The citizen police commission broke with city leadership, concluding…
The co-op board's letter to 12,000 members is a notable shift in tone for a store long treated as a downtown fixture. The struggles echo what other Burlington merchants have flagged, with police tracking rising theft and trespassing calls around the store much as they do at City Hall Park, plus p…
Chief Bill Breault wants to spend part of South Burlington's opioid settlement money, roughly $219,000 now and a projected $726,000 by 2038, to contract a 30 hour Howard Center coordinator who links people to services. His data makes the case, showing trespassing calls up 240 percent and mental h…
The group formed in 2010 after the workplace death of a young Chiapas farmworker, and it has since become the public face of Vermont's resistance to the federal immigration crackdown, with about 3,500 people now signed up for text alerts that summon crowds to ICE actions. The piece also surfaces …
The department is leaning on a mix of officers, detectives, community service officers, and its returning beach and park patrol of college students to cover the busiest blocks as the season ramps up. Burke framed much of the work around the unhoused population and people drifting away from behavi…
The House passed S.208, which creates a statewide masking and identification policy for state and local police but stops short of applying those rules to federal agents. That was a bitter pill for roughly 50 of the chamber's 87 Democrats, who backed a failed floor amendment to restore the origina…
Morristown police have been running "Wanted Wednesdays" since 2023, offering prizes ranging from Shamrock Shakes to Lego sets in exchange for tips on people with active warrants. Lt. Todd Baxter says all 12 cases posted have led to arrests, with several suspects choosing to turn themselves in. Bu…
Nearly two years after catastrophic flooding, Montpelier is finally getting $11.78 million for repairs to City Hall, the fire department, and police buildings, while VTrans receives over $9 million for rail trail and railroad damage in Washington County. The money had been held up under former DH…
The state has released 10 preapproved home designs through a pilot program called 802 Homes, and a public survey is now open for feedback. The idea is straightforward. State-commissioned architects drew up plans for modest homes ranging from accessory dwelling units to fourplexes, and builders ca…
The Humane Society of Chittenden County, which started in 1901 when 20 people gathered in a Burlington garage after a horse cruelty case in St. Albans, facilitated 965 adoptions and rescued 210 animals from cruelty or neglect in 2025 alone. Beyond adoptions, the organization runs a free food pant…
[Vermont Expands Battery Recycling Options](https://www.wcax.com/2026/05/13/vermont-expands-battery-recycling-options/)
Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak's proposal eliminates or delays filling 27 vacant positions, following last year's layoff of 18 city workers. A big part of the squeeze comes from one-time state and federal funds drying up, money that had been bankrolling community safety positions tied to the police depart…
Thursday's action targeted an ICE digital surveillance center at 426 Industrial Avenue in Williston, where four protesters were arrested on trespassing and resisting arrest charges after blocking entrances. This follows a similar February protest at the same site where 11 were arrested, though Ch…
The study, published in Nature, found that when and how frequently rain falls matters just as much as total precipitation in determining drought risk. For Vermont, this means more rain overall but delivered in heavier downpours with longer dry stretches between them, a pattern that leads to both …
The 25% drop in 2025 is genuinely encouraging, but context matters. The 170 Vermonters who died from overdoses last year is still more than 2.5 times the number who died in 2014, the year Governor Shumlin devoted his entire State of the State to the opioid crisis. Researchers point to expanded na…
The city's 126-page service assessment, delivered two months ahead of schedule, identifies downtown, the Old North End, and the Riverside-Intervale Avenue corridor as the three potential locations for the center. The report draws on interviews with 50 drug users and feedback from 1,500 community …
Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth is pushing a statewide ban on firearms in bars and restaurants after Burlington's own charter change, which city voters approved by a large margin in 2025, has repeatedly stalled in the House. The new bill, S.329, sidesteps the patchwork concern that Gover…
The Trump administration's border czar visited Vermont last week to meet with Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison, State Police Colonel Matt Birmingham, and the Burlington and South Burlington police chiefs about the March 11 ICE operation and protest. Morrison called the meeting product…
Six hours of bodycam footage from South Burlington Deputy Police Chief Sean Briscoe paint a vivid picture of local law enforcement navigating an impossible position on March 11. The video shows Briscoe trying to walk a middle line between ICE agents pushing to execute their operation and hundreds…
The House Judiciary Committee gutted S.208, the bill that would have required all law enforcement in Vermont to display identification and stop concealing their faces during operations. The retreat came after a federal appeals court struck down a similar California law last week, ruling it violat…
During the council's annual reorganization, Democrats replaced Progressive Councilor Melo Grant as chair of the Public Safety Committee with Ranjit "Buddy" Singh, whose approach is shaped by 18 years on the Church Street Marketplace Commission. Singh's priorities include accelerating the search f…
[Vermont Overdose Deaths Drop 25% in Dramatic Decline](https://www.wcax.com/2026/04/24/vermont-overdose-deaths-drop-25-dramatic-decline/)
[Conversation Continues Over Housing Standards in Burlington](https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/local-news/conversation-continues-over-housing-standards-in-burlington/)
The department released roughly 60 hours of body camera footage and a nearly 100 page after action report last week, and the picture that emerges is one of local police caught between federal agents and the community they serve. Chief Bill Breault's report concludes that South Burlington officers…
George's decision not to prosecute drew a sharp response from state law enforcement leaders, who called it "a disheartening decision that sets a dangerous precedent." The six were arrested during the March 11 ICE raid on Dorset Street, an operation later found to have been triggered by mistaken i…
A 19 year old Burlington man, David Francis-Lutz, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting into a car in the Domino's parking lot on Shelburne Road on Tuesday night. Court documents say Francis-Lutz had been harassing two coworkers, and when a friend arrived to pick the wom…
Last week we covered the release of South Burlington's body camera footage from the March 11 Dorset Street ICE raid. Seven Days dug deeper this week. Both South Burlington and Vermont State Police concluded their officers did not use excessive force or violate the state's Fair and Impartial Polic…
Jason Eaton, who for months rejected his lawyers' advice and instead claimed CIA involvement in the November 2023 shooting of three Palestinian American college students, has reversed course and will now pursue an insanity defense. The move came just days after a judge ruled him competent to stan…
Gov. Phil Scott appointed former Burlington Police Chief Kevin Scully to fill the New North End House seat vacated by Bob Hooper, who resigned in March after a sexual harassment finding. The rub: Scully wasn't on the three person list that the local Democratic committee submitted, and Democrats s…
After Burlington's voter approved charter change banning guns in bars stalled in a House committee that didn't have the votes to advance it, Baruth is trying a new angle: a statewide ban. His new bill, S.329, would make it illegal to carry firearms into any establishment serving alcohol. Governor…
It's been one year since Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian Columbia University student and Vermont green card holder, was arrested by the Trump administration. A federal judge compared his detention to McCarthyism era repression and ordered his release on bail. Since then, Mahdawi graduated from Colu…
The department published 51 body camera videos to YouTube showing officers' perspectives during the Dorset Street operation that drew hundreds of protesters and ended with federal agents deploying tear gas and flashbangs. A letter from the city manager found no South Burlington officers used exce…
What started as an effort to breathe new life into Essex Community Players spiraled into a mess of licensing disputes, anonymous threats, and board resignations. Director Patrick Cope cast the role of Rocky with a female presenting actor, which prompted pushback from some board members and eventu…
This saga has been brewing for years in Burlington's New North End, where neighbors on Roseade Parkway repeatedly complained about Moose after Wheeler adopted the dog in 2023. He was declared a public nuisance after biting a man at Leddy Park in September 2024 and was ordered to live with Wheeler…
The Burlington School District is seeking $135 million in compensatory damages from Monsanto over PCB contamination that forced the closure of Burlington High School and Burlington Technical Center on Institute Road in 2020. Monsanto had tried to get the case dismissed through a summary judgment,…
The Ben & Jerry's cofounder joined over 200 demonstrators at Lockheed Martin's facility in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on Good Friday for a nonviolent direct action organized by a broad interfaith antiwar coalition. Participants carried the names of children killed in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon be…
Rising property taxes are colliding with stagnant incomes across rural Vermont, and the fallout is landing hardest on the state's smallest towns. In Cambridge, over $500,000 in unpaid taxes forced officials to cut capital fund contributions, delaying purchases like fire trucks. In Granville, deli…
The community meeting at Contois Auditorium gave the public its first chance to hear directly from one of the people swept up in the March 11 raid, which targeted a Mexican citizen who was never actually taken into custody. All three people detained were later ordered released by a federal judge.…
The city is staring down a budget gap of up to $12 million, marking the third consecutive year of significant shortfalls. A voter approved 5-cent increase to the police and fire tax covers about $3 million of that, but the rest will likely come from a painful combination of unfilled positions, de…
About 200 people filled the Vermont House chamber last week for a public hearing called by judiciary committee members from both chambers. Roughly 60 speakers described being choked, pepper sprayed, and dragged by state and local police during the March 11 immigration enforcement operation on Dor…
The Vermont Labor Relations Board ruled in a 60 page decision that Gov. Scott exceeded his authority when he ordered about 3,000 state employees back to the office at least three days a week without bargaining with the union. The board ordered the policy rescinded and said workers should be given…
Officer Jeffrey Baur has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment after body camera footage showed him firing his weapon at a car with two teenagers inside just seconds after arriving at a reported kidnapping scene last August. Baur's account of why the gun went off has c…
Frog & Toad Child Care in the New North End shut down abruptly last week while both state regulators and police investigate allegations that a former staff member physically abused children. What makes this particularly frustrating for families is the whiplash: owner Tiffany Corbett spent weeks r…
After President Trump twice denied Vermont's request for FEMA funding to help Northeast Kingdom towns recover from last summer's flooding, the Scott administration is proposing to redirect about $1.3 million in state reserves to cover half the estimated damage. Most of the money would go to Sutto…
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak outlined the status of Burlington's internal review of the March 11 encounter between ICE agents and local police in South Burlington, which has generated 121 citizen complaints to date. BPD is conducting a supervisor review expected to wrap within 30 days of the incide…
Attorney General Charity Clark has joined 20 other state attorneys general in suing the Trump administration over new USDA grant conditions that tie federal food program funding to compliance with immigration, DEI and gender identity policies. The lawsuit, Clark's 46th against the administration,…
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Vermont State Police Sgt. Jacob Zorn is immune from a lawsuit brought by protester Shela Linton, who suffered permanent wrist and shoulder injuries and PTSD after being forcibly removed from the Statehouse during a 2015 demonstration. The conservative majority fou…
All three people detained during the March 11 raid have now been freed following court hearings this week, with federal judges in Burlington ordering immediate release in each of the sisters' cases. Judge Reiss noted that Patin Patin's warrantless arrest may have been unlawful. The person ICE was…
The Governor insists state police did not violate Vermont's Fair and Impartial Policing policy, while Public Safety Commissioner Morrison argued that withdrawing would have led to worse outcomes for protesters. Body camera footage is under review. The administration also acknowledged it did not r…
Vermont is part of a 24 state coalition challenging the Trump administration's repeal of the EPA's 2009 "endangerment finding," which underpinned federal authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and power plants. Legal experts note an interesting contradiction: the administrat…
The joint House and Senate Judiciary Committee hearing laid bare sharply divided accounts. Law enforcement officials say they were there strictly to keep the peace and had no advance knowledge of ICE's plans. Advocacy groups and some lawmakers counter that state police clearing protesters so agen…
Seven Days published a detailed reconstruction of the March 11 ICE operation on Dorset Street that consumed an entire day and drew hundreds of protesters. Federal agents initially arrived without a warrant to enter the home, spent hours obtaining one, and ultimately raided the house with a SWAT t…
The 14 seed Catamounts earned their spot by winning the America East Championship on March 13 and now travel to Louisville's home court for a noon tipoff on Saturday. Vermont's defense, allowing just 51.4 points per game (fourth nationally), will be tested against a Louisville squad averaging nea…
The House passed H.849 days after a tense ICE operation in South Burlington on March 11 that involved flash bang devices, chemical agents, and an hourslong standoff between federal agents and protesters. The bill would allow anyone in Vermont to sue federal officers who violate their constitution…
The ASPCA coordinated the operation alongside local law enforcement, with rescue workers arriving from across New England. Officials on scene were tight lipped, and as of the article's publication, no agency had released a formal statement and it remained unclear whether criminal charges would fo…
The House Judiciary Committee passed H.606 on a strict party line vote, with all six Democrats in favor and all five Republicans opposed. The bill would make it a felony to steal a firearm, ban machine guns and conversion devices under state law, and, most controversially, prohibit gun ownership …
This ward by ward snapshot from UVM's Community News Service captures the texture of Town Meeting Day across the city. In Ward 4, voters largely backed the proposed $140.8 million school budget, which would bring per student spending to about $15,775. Ward 5 saw split opinions on permanently esta…
On Town Meeting Day, 70% of Burlington voters approved a $0.05 police and fire tax rate increase, and 57% approved a charter change formally establishing the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The tax increase funds negotiated salary and benefit agreements, two new firefighter pos…
Attorney General Charity Clark joined 23 other states in filing suit at the U.S. Court of International Trade after the president imposed new across the board tariffs under a different legal authority following the Supreme Court's rejection of his original tariff regime. Vermont has skin in this …
That's César Camacho, a UVM junior and U.S. citizen who grew up in Ecuador and now carries his passport at all times with a location tracking app at his mother's request. The piece paints a sobering picture of how federal immigration policy is rippling through Vermont's colleges. At Middlebury, a…
That's Sen. Andrew Perchlik, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, explaining why lawmakers held off on committing to Gov. Scott's proposal to use $74.9 million in excess revenue for property tax relief. The concern is that federal funding cuts could force the state to redirect those doll…
The 5 cent police and fire tax bump is expected to generate about $3 million in new revenue, but that still leaves a sizable chunk of the city's $12 million budget gap unresolved. For homeowners, the math works out to roughly $186 more per year on a home valued at $353,000. The closest vote was t…
Colchester's Development Review Board approved plans for "The H on Malletts Bay," a 20 room hotel with a 40 seat restaurant and 60 person event space on a 2 acre lakefront slope owned by the Hazelett Strip-Casting Corp., now part of Austria's EBNER Group. Opponents, organized as Save Malletts Bay…
Silverman spent 18 years in journalism before becoming the public information officer for the Vermont State Police, keeping his camera close through all of it. About 11 years ago he started sharing his fine art landscape photography online and has since built a following of more than 42,000 acros…
The protesters, ranging in age from 21 to 85, had been scheduled for arraignment on March 2. George cited the group's lack of criminal history, their nonviolent conduct, and the absence of any reported disruption to other tenants in the building. The decision drew sharp criticism from the propert…
The Burlington pilot was widely considered a success, resolving 702 of 972 assigned cases by pairing a dedicated judge and prosecutor with social workers right in the courtroom. Rutland's version will target defendants with four or more pending cases (compared to five in Chittenden County), captu…
[WCAX to Premiere 'Aging Untold'](https://www.wcax.com/2026/02/24/wcax-premiere-aging-untold-new-show-aging-process/)
Romance, 54, previously led a 58 officer department in Rockville Centre on Long Island and began his new role on Feb. 17, overseeing a much smaller team of three officers in Hinesburg. He started under an employment offer of $112,000 annually while his contract is finalized and will continue coll…
The most interesting detail buried in the numbers is the spending on town committees, which is set to more than double to $328,600, with nearly two thirds of that going to the newly established Community and Economic Development Committee. That committee's budget funds everything from business re…
Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak signed an executive order Tuesday laying out the city's playbook if federal immigration enforcement escalates locally. The order directs emergency plan reviews, establishes communication lines with neighboring towns and the school district, and mandates training for city emp…
A federal judge in New Hampshire granted Tendo's habeas petition on Friday, ordering the release of the Ugandan asylum seeker who was detained by immigration agents in a Shelburne parking lot earlier this month. Tendo, a pastor and health care worker who has lived in Vermont since 2021, was immed…
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump's sweeping tariffs on Friday in a 6 to 3 ruling, and a Burlington company was at the center of the case. Terry Precision Cycling, a women's cycling gear company, was one of five American businesses that sued, arguing Trump exceeded his authority …
This op ed from Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation president Frank Cioffi offers a progress report on Governor Scott's downtown Burlington action plan, now past the 100 day mark. Cioffi points to a restored sense of confidence among business owners, noting that state trooper presence on Ch…
[Wintervale Brings Outdoor Recreation to the Intervale](https://www.vtcng.com/stowetoday/family_fun/wintervale-brings-outdoor-recreation-to-intervale/article_2a7f77a8-2599-4c77-9864-433041f02748.html)
Burlington's accountability court pilot, which embedded social workers in the legal system to help defendants dealing with housing instability, mental health issues, and substance abuse, has resolved 702 out of 972 cases since October. Gov. Scott now wants to spend $500,000 to bring the model to …
A site the city had been seriously considering for Vermont's first overdose prevention center has been deemed not viable, and Burlington currently has no identified location. The city now plans to buy rather than lease a building, citing insurance difficulties and unwilling landlords. Of the $2.2…
The Senate passed S.208, which bans all law enforcement officers from wearing masks while on duty, and S.209, which prohibits warrantless civil arrests at "sensitive locations" like schools, hospitals, and polling places. Both bills were carefully written to apply to all law enforcement, not just…
Eleven people, many of them older adults, were arrested on trespassing charges during a civil disobedience action at the Williston office park housing ICE's National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center. Protesters read names of people killed in ICE custody and called on the landlord to cancel …
Poulin, 28, died from cardiac arrest following complications from a necrotizing MRSA pneumonia infection while incarcerated at the Chittenden County Regional Correctional Facility. MRSA, a bacteria resistant to antibiotics, spreads more easily in crowded settings like prisons, though the Departme…
What initially looked like a suspicious package situation at the White Street post office turned out to be a can of dog spray that popped open in a delivery truck. The driver reported moderate ill effects and was treated and released. The incident prompted a significant emergency response includi…
Shawn Burke took over as interim chief a year ago when morale was low, crime was elevated, and the court backlog was deep. His approach has centered on visibility: shifting resources toward higher profile patrols on Church Street and around City Hall Park. But Burke is dealing with a department a…
Seven Days' latest restaurant feature highlights three local spots worth booking for date night, Valentine's or otherwise. Salt & Bubbles in Essex has quietly leveled up under executive chef Jordan Atwood and beverage director Logan Patnaude, turning out dishes like a caramelized cabbage plate wi…
The scope of preparation here is striking. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak met with Burlington's police and fire chiefs last week to game out a response to a potential large scale ICE operation, while Migrant Justice has built a rapid response network of roughly 2,000 people and tallied 107 immigration det…
Burlington native and Wellesley College professor Dan Chiasson has a new book out called "Bernie for Burlington: The Rise of the People's Politician," noted by the New York Times as one of their picks for Books Coming in February. The book weaves Chiasson's own memories of growing up in Burlingto…
Five skaters got stranded on Lake Champlain on Tuesday after a large chunk of ice broke apart roughly 700 yards off Charlotte Town Beach, leaving about 200 yards of open water between them and the intact ice closer to shore. Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue crews reached them by cell phone, co…
[Burlington Telecom Raises $10,000 for Food Shelves](https://www.vtcng.com/otherpapersbvt/community/noteworthy/phoenix-books-hosts-vermont-poet-laureate/article_be402569-5f0d-49d0-8ff3-13f4cd1e3393.html)
Activists are targeting two Williston locations that house ICE operations, with the White Cap Business Park becoming a particular flashpoint. A four hour sit in there last week drew backlash from tenants, including a café owner forced to close early. The property manager called police and demande…
Senate bill S.208, sponsored by Sen. Nader Hashim (a former state trooper) and 12 other senators, would prohibit law enforcement officers from concealing their faces while on duty, with exceptions for illness, hazards, and undercover work. Officers would also need to display their name, badge num…
Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak confirmed that ICE has been active in Burlington and elsewhere in Vermont in recent months, while noting the city has credible information disputing a circulating rumor about an upcoming surge. The city launched a dedicated webpage for verified updates and the mayor is conve…
The Senate Transportation Committee is seriously considering a bill to shift Vermont from annual to biennial car inspections, noting the state is one of just eight still requiring yearly checks. Lead sponsor Sen. Becca White cited studies showing no link between annual inspections and serious cra…
[Vermont House Passes Mid-Year Budget Adjustment](https://www.wcax.com/2026/02/01/vermont-house-passes-mid-year-budget-adjustment/)
['ICE Out' Rally Draws Huge Crowd in Burlington](https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/ice-out-rally-draws-huge-crowd-in-burlington/)
Hussien Noor Hussien, a 63 year old Somali refugee who has lived in Vermont for 13 years and runs Freedom Cab, was detained by ICE at the Burlington Airport on New Year's Day while his wife worked nearby as a cleaner. His five children, ages 3 to 17, are all U.S. citizens. Hussien had a court dat…
Aaliyah Johnson pleaded guilty to second degree murder Thursday in the August 2024 shooting death of Teville Williams outside Red Square on Church Street. The 13.5 year sentence falls between the defense's request of eight years and the typical 20 to life. The case, which stemmed from a dispute o…
Vermont is the only state in the nation without nighttime restrictions on junior driver's licenses. A new report from the state's Child Fatality Review Team documented seven teen driver deaths in crashes between 11 PM and 5 AM over a 15 year period and recommends prohibiting teens from driving du…
The Catamounts topped UMBC 64 to 55 Wednesday night to claim sole possession of first place in the America East. Vermont's defense held the conference's top scoring offense to nearly 19 points below their average, forcing just 32.7 percent shooting. TJ Hurley led the way with 18 points on 7 of 11…
These workers typically process applications and check for immigration fraud. They've never been sent out of state or performed enforcement work before. Rep. Becca Balint called the move "outrageous," noting these are public servants who signed up to help people navigate the system, not conduct d…
Nikhil Goyal, an adjunct assistant professor at UVM and former senior policy advisor to Sen. Bernie Sanders, launched his campaign for the Chittenden Central seat as a Democrat/Progressive. His platform centers on property tax relief, education funding, healthcare costs, and affordable housing. G…
Robert Payson and Kathy Brunette filed suit in 2024 alleging nuisance, trespass, and negligence after Myer's moved to Shelburne Road in 2023. A Superior Court judge issued a split decision in December, dismissing the trespass and negligence claims but allowing the nuisance claim to proceed to tri…
[Gov. Scott Joins Growing Number of Lawmakers Criticizing ICE-Related Shootings](https://www.wcax.com/2026/01/26/gov-scott-joins-growing-number-lawmakers-criticizing-ice-related-shootings/)
After historic highs in 2024, monthly Border Patrol apprehensions in the Swanton Sector have dropped 92 percent. But enforcement has intensified: those caught crossing are now almost universally detained and prosecuted, and agents have expanded operations into Vermont's interior, arresting roofer…
[One Dead, One Injured in Burlington Apartment Fire](https://www.mynbc5.com/article/one-dead-one-injured-in-burlington-apartment-fire/70099877)
[Vigil Calls for Support for Unhoused People Ahead of Frigid Temperatures](https://www.wcax.com/2026/01/22/vigil-calls-support-unhoused-people-ahead-frigid-temperatures/)
South Burlington's proposed $58.5 million budget includes a 3.55% spending increase and a 3.3% tax rate bump, roughly mirroring inflation. For an average home valued at $440,000, that translates to about $79 more in property taxes. Also on the Town Meeting Day ballot: a $2.3 million vote on an ad…
The Senate Judiciary Committee began hearings for Christina Nolan and Michael Drescher, both veteran federal prosecutors appointed by Gov. Phil Scott to fill two Supreme Court vacancies. Nolan, who led the U.S. attorney's Vermont office under Trump before entering private practice, faced question…
[Vermont Responders Train for Ice Rescues on Lake Champlain](https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/local-news/vermont-responders-train-for-ice-rescues-on-lake-champlain/)
Senate Democrats are advancing two bills aimed at limiting federal immigration enforcement in Vermont: one would prevent civil arrests at schools, government buildings, health care facilities, and shelters, while another would restrict when law enforcement officers can wear masks. Legislative att…
Fourteen months after her devastating crash at Killington left her with an abdominal puncture wound that nearly perforated her colon, Burke Mountain Academy graduate Mikaela Shiffrin has pushed her World Cup victory total to 106 and is heading into next month's Winter Olympics in Italy. Her recov…
The pilot program, proposed by Gov. Phil Scott last fall, dedicated court time and staff to expediting hearings for defendants with five or more pending criminal cases. State leaders told lawmakers the model has been successful, with one observer noting that while regular courtrooms schedule hear…
Hundreds gathered at Burlington City Hall Thursday evening before marching up Church Street to the federal courthouse, joining nationwide demonstrations over the fatal shooting of 37 year old Renee Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Federal officials called …
That's Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak on the frustration of watching voter approved charter changes stall in Montpelier. Since 2021, Burlington voters have overwhelmingly approved measures to ban guns from bars, protect renters from no cause evictions, and adopt a new police oversight model, but none…
Champlain Valley School District is putting forward $13 million in building bonds for voter approval on Town Meeting Day, separate from its $107.8 million operations budget. The bonds would fund 16 projects across every school in the district over 2027 and 2028, including $3.2 million for heating…
Americans awoke Saturday to news that U.S. troops had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in an overnight operation dubbed "Absolute Resolve." President Trump announced the U.S. will now "run" Venezuela. Vermont's entire Congressional delegation swiftly condemned the action,…
That story covered the hundreds of Vermonters forced out of housing when the state's motel voucher program expired in July. Other top reads included coverage of Vice President JD Vance's Vermont visit, the fatal shooting of a Border Patrol agent in the Northeast Kingdom, and the South Burlington …
Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak is laying the groundwork for what promises to be a difficult budget season. The gap stems from workforce growth in prior administrations, overreliance on temporary funding, and a grand list that's only grown about 1% annually. Her proposed solutions include a 5 cent Police a…
The case in point: 32 homes near South Burlington's Wheeler Nature Park that took three years and two court battles before construction could begin. The Land Use Review Board is now recommending that Act 250 appeals be removed from the court system entirely and handled by the board itself, which …
Hilda White, 95, has volunteered at UVM's Pringle Herbarium for 28 years, mounting an estimated 50,000 plant specimens. For her birthday, herbarium director Wes Testo surprised her by naming a Christmas fern he discovered in Colombia after her: Polystichum hildae. White helped save much of the co…
Seven Days' annual Backstories feature pulls back the curtain on how reporters actually do their jobs. Highlights include Kevin McCallum sweating through deadline after deadline as Congress upended his Bernie Sanders cover story, Courtney Lamdin catching city councilors texting during meetings, a…
Burlington's new Partizanfilm theater on Church Street had a merry Christmas indeed, with sold out screenings of Marty Supreme packing its two room venue. The small arthouse cinema, which opened earlier this year, is carving out its niche as the Roxy's spiritual successor for moviegoers who want …
Starting February 1, New Hampshire will no longer require vehicle inspections, a move its Republican controlled Legislature justified by citing studies showing no correlation between inspections and fewer crashes. Mechanics on both sides of the Connecticut River aren't thrilled. Lakeside Automoti…
Eva Sollberger's annual year in review episode is always a cozy watch, but this one hits a little different. Filmed in her Burlington living room with her 91 year old mother Sophie (and Lexy the cat), the two reflect on a year that included Eva's cartoon cameo in Alison Bechdel's new book Spent, …
Sandbox VT on the Burlington waterfront has carved out a niche repairing everything from worn jackets to police uniforms to Skida hats, giving customers a way to extend the life of their favorite gear rather than tossing it. The shop also resells secondhand and fixed up items, and manager Molly S…
The Department of Public Works announced it would stop servicing 54 roads, many of which are private or "unaccepted" streets not built to city code, by next October. The proposal caught residents off guard, with at least 600 homes affected. After pushback from councilors, officials agreed to slow…
Mauricio Martinez, 52, of Schenectady, New York, was killed Tuesday evening while crossing Route 7 between Lakeview and Champlain Drives. Police say crashes along the corridor have increased markedly, with pedestrian incidents frequently occurring away from crosswalks. Interim Police Chief Josh F…
[May Day Adds Sandwich Saturday Lunches in Burlington](https://www.sevendaysvt.com/food-drink/foodnews/may-day-adds-sandwich-saturday-lunches-in-burlington/)
This is one of four priorities the mayor and council have identified for 2026. The DMV enforcement team has already been monitoring Route 127 during commute hours and confirmed there's a genuine traffic safety problem. State lawmakers will need to address privacy concerns when they reconvene in J…
This marks the third consecutive year of significant budget shortfalls, with the city facing a $10 to $12 million gap driven largely by rising personnel costs. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak is proposing a 5 cent increase to the police and fire tax, which would close about $3 million but leave the rest un…
City councilors unanimously approved pursuing legislative approval for automatic license plate readers to enforce speed limits and red lights. The technology was once common in Vermont, with over 40 departments using it a decade ago, but fell out of favor due to costs, regulations, and limited us…
The Cynic's Kennedy Connors sat down with Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak as she approaches the midpoint of her three year term, and she pointed to rebuilding the police department as one of her key achievements. When she took office in 2024, crime was up 23% and the department was operating with 50% fewer…
Peter ter Kulve, CEO of Unilever's ice cream offshoot Magnum Ice Cream Company, told the Financial Times that Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, both in their seventies, need to "hand over" control of the brand they founded nearly five decades ago. The comments come as Magnum prepares to demerge fro…
Seven Days profiles seven Vermonters and organizations pushing back against the Trump administration. The Vermont Asylum Assistance Project has emerged as a particularly effective check, winning multiple habeas corpus cases to free detained immigrants despite having no previous federal court expe…
A delightful piece of Burlington culinary history. Those beloved wings at Zabby & Elf's Stone Soup? They're actually a recipe Tim Elliott secretly copied from Jerry Weinberg's Five Spice Café back in the 1990s, despite Weinberg's heavy threats about recipe theft. The Indonesian sauce sat unused i…
Interim Chief Shawn Burke, now seven months into the job after his surprise return from South Burlington, sat down to discuss the department's progress and ongoing challenges. While increased patrols in City Hall Park have pushed some activity to other areas including Battery Park, Vermont State …
The fire department's prevention team, currently crammed into a 350 square foot trailer that's miserable in both winter and summer, would get a proper 2,000 square foot addition with offices, a conference room, and public meeting space. The $2 million project heads to voters on Town Meeting Day, …
The City Council delayed voting Monday on transferring the city's CARES mental health response program to Howard Center after Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak announced the program would end next month. The program has responded to 600 incidents since launching last year but struggled to hire more than…
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak's legislative priorities for 2026 remain nearly identical to 2025's agenda after what she described as "very little progress" last session. These include authority to ban firearms in bars (approved by 87% of voters in March 2025), just-cause eviction requirements, and a…
Downtown Burlington's safety metrics are showing meaningful improvement, with violent crime trending downward and gunfire incidents dropping significantly from their 2022 peak, according to interim Police Chief Shawn Burke's October report to the Police Commission. The city's innovative Situation…
Vermont's homelessness rates have increased 200% since 2020, with the state now holding the nation's fourth-highest per capita rate of unhoused individuals. The crisis intensified after Governor Scott vetoed a bill extending the hotel-motel voucher program, leading to hundreds of evictions earlie…
Vermont issued $6 million in state-funded food aid to 36,000 households on Friday after the five-week federal government shutdown paused 3SquaresVT (SNAP) payments, VTDigger reports. Vermont is one of only a few states, including New Mexico and Virginia, to provide direct replacement benefits rat…
Troopers can sign up for voluntary overtime shifts Monday through Sunday from noon to 4 PM or 4 PM to 8 PM, working alongside Burlington police to free up city officers for other calls. This is one of 14 points in Governor Phil Scott's short-term action plan for the city. Local businesses welcome…
The new "accountability court" targets 110 people with five or more pending cases who Burlington Police say account for 842 downtown incidents among just 20 individuals. Special prosecutor Zach Weight and retired Judge Martin Maley oversee the docket, part of Governor Scott's public safety push t…
George met with Governor Scott about the backlog crisis, ultimately agreeing to add prosecutor Zack Weight who's "immediately started taking folks with 5 or more dockets that are really the folks in the community that people are most upset about." Burlington Police resolved August's Church Street…
Despite zero e-bike accidents in South Burlington according to police data, the bicycle committee recommends 15 mph advisories on paths and 10 mph on sidewalks after complaints about speed and safety. Earl's Cyclery owner Joe Drennan sees problems arising from mixing older cyclists seeking assist…
Burlington officials are tackling the city's second-most dangerous intersection at Route 127/Plattsburgh Avenue, where 120 crashes have occurred since 2012. The Transportation Committee is considering blocking the right-turn slip lane to force traffic through the stoplight, a strategy that succes…
After a five-year legal battle ending at the Vermont Supreme Court, residents near Wheeler Nature Park received notices that blasting for a 32-unit development begins in November. The controversial project sits on 7 acres that the city traded to JAM Golf a decade ago for 21 acres, a deal resident…
Governor Scott and Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak unveiled a 14-point public safety plan offering state police patrols, a pretrial supervision program for repeat offenders, and a UVM Medical Center mobile addiction treatment van. The plan includes both accountability measures like requiring service provid…
Building Burlington's Future launched a recruitment video featuring Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak and current officers promoting the Burlington Police Department's $15,000 recruitment bonus and starting salaries of $74,415-$81,030. The campaign comes as BPD intensifies recruitment amid national staffing …
Another article about Scott's 14-point action plan as it tries tackling Burlington's public safety through a combination of increased state police presence, expanded substance use treatment, and a special court docket to address case backlogs. The plan sidesteps specifics on funding, with officia…
Vermont's new 911-to-988 transfer protocol allows emergency dispatchers to connect mental health crisis calls directly to trained counselors rather than automatically dispatching police or EMS. The statewide rollout follows successful pilots in Hartford and Westminster, with the first transfers h…
Governor Phil Scott's new initiative includes expanding prison drug treatment, offering additional police patrols, and launching a "mass volunteer clean-up and beautification event," but omits any expansion of homeless shelter capacity despite urgent need. The plan arrives after months of public …
Justice Sotomayor delivered the first Supreme Court address at UVM in over two decades, engaging with students about perseverance in divisive times and the importance of civic engagement. The liberal justice, part of the Court's 6-3 minority, emphasized that young people are her source of hope wh…
The Conservation Law Foundation filed a notice of intent to sue Vorsteveld Farm in Panton for allegedly discharging pesticides into Dead Creek without required federal permits. Testing by Burlington engineering firm VHB found 99% of 92 water samples contained clothianidin at levels exceeding EPA …
19-page CDNR report reveals Howard Center dispensed 944,109 syringes in 2024 but received only 516,335 back, leaving 427,774 unaccounted for, though return rates improved to 81% through August 2025. The report, prompted by a child being stuck at a South Burlington playground, recommends requiring…
The BTV Stolen Bike Report and Recovery Facebook group has reunited nearly 900 bikes with owners since 2022, including a UVM student's bike recovered within hours after thieves cut through a deck rail to steal it lock and all. The volunteer-run group crowd-sources searches after victims file poli…
Scott's appointing a special prosecutor to handle cases involving "service-resistant" repeat offenders with five or more pending criminal cases, who'll be sent to a dedicated courtroom with a specific judge. This "community accountability court" represents the first step in addressing what the go…
The town's "Meet Me on Main Street" experiment closes the thoroughfare four Saturdays in a row for pedestrian-only community gatherings, but timing conflicts and parking concerns divide local merchants. While Thomas worries about losing out-of-town customers during her busiest season (her shop cl…
Burlington's first overdose prevention center faces mounting opposition despite securing $2.2 million in state opioid settlement funds, with the Ward 3 Neighborhood Planning Assembly passing a resolution "vigorously opposing" a downtown location while supporting the concept at a medical facility …
Police Chief Shawn Burke's data shows a spike in downtown drug-related incidents, while Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak reported productive meetings with Governor Scott about state partnership opportunities. The mayor announced three key administration departures by mid-October, including the Senior Adviso…
With police recording only 12 graffiti complaints this year compared to 160 in 2020 (though interim Chief Burke calls it "grossly underreported"), Burlington lacks comprehensive graffiti abatement despite campaign promises. Building Burlington's Future plans to launch volunteer cleanup efforts in…
Days after a WCAX investigation into Clarke Street concerns, the Howard Center announced it will end pipe distribution at its Safe Recovery Center this month due to state funding cuts, though needle exchange programs will continue. The decision won't affect Burlington's future overdose prevention…
Vermont's homelessness has increased 200% since 2020, making it the nation's fourth highest per capita. City Hall Park residents report increased "no trespassing" signs and police scrutiny following August's council resolution enforcing overnight camping bans and curfews, while advocates stress t…
Friday evening's chaos started when Jaffe-Suggs allegedly blocked a fire truck, spat on a firefighter, then led police on a wild chase that included driving down the pedestrian-only Church Street while it was busy with people. Officers deployed tire deflation devices but he continued onto I-89 be…
The vandalized mural was designed by a local artist and commissioned by the building owner and parents from Edmund's School. Surveillance images show what appears to be "SALO 1" tagged on the artwork. Burlington Police are asking anyone with information to call 802-540-2321. The timing is particu…
A Montana-based helicopter nicknamed the "Skycrane" flew in from New Hampshire to help battle the Saturday fire, dropping thousands of gallons of water to contain it to less than an acre. Vermont State Wildland Fire Specialist Devin Healy says it was most likely human-caused, not lightning. The f…
The Gryphon's September closure wasn't just about downtown construction woes, though owner Tom Chadwick blamed Burlington's "dystopian cesspool" for killing his business. Court records reveal Chadwick owes nearly $10 million in restitution for mishandling elderly clients' investments, including a…
Vermont's entering what health officials call a new wave of the drug crisis as users shift from injecting opioids to smoking stimulants like crack and meth. Fatal overdoses from smoking drugs tripled between 2019 and 2023 while injection deaths decreased by 10 percent. The Howard Center's Safe Re…
South Burlington may use eminent domain to complete a 0.7 mile shared use path along Dorset Street after failing to reach agreements with three property owners. Property owner Robert Chittenden says the process literally makes him sick to his stomach, arguing a bike path doesn't constitute public…
Berlin's public works supervisor Craig Pelletier is literally running a fire hose to keep the town's elder care facility from going dry. With nearly 94% of Vermont experiencing severe drought and almost a quarter in extreme drought conditions, towns across the state are scrambling to maintain bas…
Burlington's overdose prevention center, approved by City Council in April, still has no opening date. A service assessment report is due by June 2026 (goal is spring), with a public survey launching November 1. Vermont has seen 54 overdose deaths this year, down from previous years but advocates…
Williston Road's international markets face mounting challenges as Trump's tariffs hit imported goods, with Indian products facing 50% tariffs and European goods seeing increases too. India Bazaar owner Harish Nair tries not to pass costs to customers who travel hours for authentic Indian product…
Big John Van Hazinga has been living on a futon in the shop's basement without a shower, prompting his landlord to issue a termination notice for the end of October. The Battery Street fixture since 2003 survived Van Hazinga's near-fatal 2007 longboarding crash and his 2019 federal weed dealing i…
Governor Phil Scott announced his administration will present recommendations to Burlington leaders in coming weeks to address what he termed a crisis of homelessness and public drug use. The governor met with Burlington business owners Tuesday and plans additional meetings with residents and aca…
Burlington Square, the long delayed redevelopment of the former downtown mall site, will partially open next month with luxury apartments and hotel rooms commanding top dollar prices. The AC Marriott opens September 18, with apartments following October 1, featuring rents from $1,950 monthly for …
Burlington's new police contract significantly boosts compensation and benefits in an aggressive bid to rebuild a department where 75% of officers rated morale as "poor" or "terrible" in a recent survey. The agreement increases base salaries to a range of $88,400 to $114,979, adds retention bonus…
The Gryphon's weekend closure announcement adds another name to Burlington's growing list of shuttered businesses, following Nectar's recent bombshell closure after nearly 50 years just up the street. Both establishments cited similar struggles with public safety concerns and construction-related…
Shelburne police sergeant Kyle Kapitanski avoided prison time after pleading guilty to negligent operation resulting in death, receiving two years probation for striking and killing cyclist Sean Hayes last November while streaming YouTube videos on his cruiser laptop. Prosecutors initially charge…
A 16-year-old South Burlington youth's case has been temporarily moved to family court after he and co-defendant Isaiah Argro were charged with second-degree murder in the August 11 beating death of Scott Kastner, who suffered at least 21 blows to the head in under two minutes. Video evidence sho…
The September 8 breakup comes after months of failed negotiations over reciprocal coverage, pay inequities between departments, and the fundamental question of what kind of policing system the towns actually want. The sticking point? Richmond's officer gets time and a half for covering Hinesburg …
The father of four was beaten in broad daylight around 1:30pm by three youths believed to be 14 to 16 years old, one of whom displayed a gun during the assault. Officers on Church Street foot patrol intervened and caught the suspects, but Kastner died days later from his injuries. Two more suspec…
In a rare bipartisan move, councilors voted 9-2 to demand greater police presence and overnight clearing of City Hall Park, where drug dealing occurs openly and homeless residents regularly camp despite ordinances prohibiting both. The resolution comes after the recent fatal beating and ongoing c…
Sunday afternoon's discovery of explosive devices at 90 Pearl Street forced an hours-long evacuation and street closure between South Winooski and Battery. Police connected the devices to Justin Perkins, a 40-year-old resident already jailed for allegedly bringing a homemade pipe bomb to his Colc…
Following recent assaults including an August 11 attack that left a man dead and an August 17 shooting incident, Council President Ben Traverse will introduce a resolution tonight calling for police presence during all park hours, enforcement of the 10 PM to 7 AM closure, and aggressive action ag…
Thursday's move-in day brought fresh energy to the UVM campus as first-year students hauled their belongings into dorms. Despite nationwide uncertainty around DEI debates and federal funding challenges, President Marlene Tromp struck an optimistic tone about the university's adaptability. Interes…
Sandy and Jesse Harper have spent nine months searching for their 38-year-old son Chris, who vanished from Burlington's streets last November after leaving a homeless shelter. Detective Eric Kratochvil calls it highly unusual, a case where someone is simply "just gone." The Harpers have offered a…
Pizzeria Verita owner Leslie Wells reports sales down 30% from last year during Tuesday's virtual town hall with Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak. Business owners attribute the slump to multiple factors: fewer Canadian visitors, downtown construction, and public safety concerns including open drug use. Iron…
Governor Phil Scott responded to Burlington's cry for help, though tensions are evident between state and city leadership. WCAX's data analysis shows Burlington's retail, restaurant and bar tax revenues have been declining when adjusted for inflation, suggesting the Queen City is losing business …
This marks the second time in as many months that Vermont's Republican governor has told the Trump administration no thanks when it comes to using our National Guard for federal domestic operations. The first rejection came in July when Scott declined to let a dozen Vermont guard troops do cleric…
Nick Deml steps down August 15 after nearly four years leading Vermont's prison system, passing the torch to former Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad. In his exit interview, Deml painted a picture of a corrections system stretched beyond its original mandate, now expected to provide education, su…
A Burlington police officer fired their weapon at a driver near 16 Prospect Hill around 12:40 a.m. Sunday during a search for a vehicle connected to a disturbance call. No injuries were reported in the incident, which is now under investigation by Vermont State Police. The officer has been placed…
Immigration activists have documented ICE agents moving detainees through nonpublic side entrances at Burlington International Airport, bypassing public areas where advocates have been monitoring transfers for months. Videos from July 25 and early Thursday morning show officials escorting people …
William Breault will lead South Burlington's police department starting October 6, bringing 26 years of experience from Dover, New Hampshire where he oversees 54 officers. Selected from 14 nationwide applicants through what officials described as an extensive process involving community input, Br…
Burlington City Arts' Festival of Fools will happen after all this weekend, though scaled down to a two-day block party after funding cuts initially forced its cancellation. The grassroots rescue effort began when Café HOT. owners Travis and Allan Walker-Hodkin rallied fellow business owners to d…
Jon Murad's appointment as interim Corrections Commissioner represents a significant career pivot for Burlington's former police chief, who left the department after opposing the council's force reduction efforts. Murad inherits a system grappling with severe staffing shortages, mandatory 16-hour…
A small aircraft made an emergency crash landing at Burlington International Airport with two people aboard, though thankfully both walked away uninjured according to BTV officials. The incident, while dramatic, ended about as well as any crash landing can, with no injuries reported and emergency…
Winooski Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria, a U.S. citizen since 2018, endured a five hour detention and interrogation at Houston's airport Monday while returning from visiting family in Nicaragua. Despite using Global Entry for years without issue, customs officials pulled him from line, separated…
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak rescinded her January executive order requiring mayoral review of police press releases, following the police commission's approval of an updated media policy Wednesday. The new guidelines specifically prohibit police from releasing statements about individuals' charact…
Just when you thought North Beach couldn't get better, Kona Beachside Tiki Bar & Grill drops a slice of Polynesia on Lake Champlain. Owner Sandi Pasagic has created what sounds like the perfect Vermont summer spot: tropical drinks and island-inspired food with waterfront views, open daily from no…
The TikTok-inspired Kia theft trend that started three years ago is somehow still happening, with about a dozen cars stolen in the past two weeks alone. The thieves are posting videos of their joyrides on social media before abandoning the destroyed vehicles. South Burlington Police are investiga…
After a period of considerable turnover and public debate, Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak is making a clear move to stabilize leadership in the city's public safety departments. The appointment of a department veteran like Michael Curtin as Fire Chief and the return of Jon Young as Deputy Police Chief are…
The Gardener's Supply bankruptcy is sending a cautionary ripple through Vermont's dozens of employee owned companies. The case reveals a potential vulnerability in the model when a wave of retirements coincides with economic volatility. It’s a crucial conversation about long term financial planni…
This budget represents the first real test of Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak's "ModernGov" initiative, aiming to streamline a city government that has grown significantly over the last decade. The plan walks a tightrope, cutting staff and programs while simultaneously increasing funding for police and soc…
The Vermont Supreme Court has sided with developers planning 32 mixed housing units next to South Burlington's Wheeler Nature Park, a decision that upholds earlier court rulings. Neighbors who appealed the project cited concerns over aesthetics, blasting, and the loss of a scenic view, arguing th…
This new unit represents a shift towards a more community-oriented policing model, aiming to handle quality of life issues like neighbor disputes and mental health calls that don't necessarily require a traditional law enforcement response. The goal is to build stronger relationships with residen…
The long-running battle over short-term rentals in Burlington is far from over. A recent Supreme Court ruling essentially sent a group of Airbnb hosts back to Environmental Court to continue their challenge against the city's restrictive ordinance. This procedural move underscores the legal compl…
Tonight’s City Council meeting at 6 PM (as this newsletter releases) will see Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak lay out her proposed 2026 budget. The administration is grappling with a significant $8 million shortfall, leading to some tough decisions including job cuts and the proposed end of adult programmi…
This issue touches on how Burlington defines fair policing and interacts with all its residents. Back in 2020, the city adopted its own distinct rules that, among other things, limited how much our local police would assist federal immigration enforcement, a move often intended to build trust wit…
A shout out to an unnamed bystander whose quick thinking and bravery likely saved an elderly woman from a burning apartment building in South Burlington this past Tuesday. After spotting smoke and calling 911, he ran into the building to help. It's a powerful reminder that everyday heroes walk am…
This resolution addresses some pressing concerns, especially with local leaders noting a 10% drop in municipal revenue over the past year. It is not just talk; the proposal sets some firm deadlines for action. For instance, the Department of Public Works has a June 15th target to figure out costs…
A significant coalition of downtown businesses has voiced serious concerns to city leadership, outlining a 10 point call to action. The letter highlights impacts on foot traffic and safety, urging measures from increased police presence to relocating a pop up soup kitchen and even addressing publ…
Despite a damp welcome this past Saturday, the Burlington Farmers Market still drew a respectable crowd. It’s a testament to Burlington’s hardy spirit and love for local goods that even a bit of rain couldn't entirely wash out opening day. Here’s to sunnier market Saturdays ahead for the rest of …
The green light for an overdose prevention center is a significant step, but the conversation is now shifting to its location. Advocates stress the need for a downtown presence to be effective, while some neighborhood groups express concerns and suggest placement near medical facilities. This wil…
A significant court decision means temporary relief for hundreds relying on state-sponsored hotel and motel stays. Vermont Legal Aid’s advocacy ensures affected residents gain crucial protection through proper notice and hearings.
His arrest sparked outcry, his release drew cheers, and now questions remain. Mahdawi, detained in Vermont just as he was about to become a U.S. citizen, is free—for now—but his case underscores a broader collision between immigration enforcement and civil rights. The legal dust hasn’t settled, a…
While search rates dropped during the pandemic, they’re back up—and not equitably. White drivers were more likely to have contraband, yet drivers of color were still searched at higher rates. The data’s sparking renewed scrutiny of police practices across Chittenden County.
Inspections uncovered makeshift bedrooms and missing smoke alarms, but officials say the goal is safer housing, not citations. With 3,000 units to review, the city hopes to visit every property at least once by year three.
Burlington’s federal courthouse overflowed with supporters of Rümeysa Öztürk, the detained doctoral student whose visa revocation has become a flash‑point for free‑speech advocates. The crowd—and the judge—now wait to see whether the case stays in Vermont or heads back south.
Emergency gifts keep the Activating 21st Century Local History initiative alive through October, sparing one layoff. If you like your archives dust‑free and your historians employed, consider tossing a few coins in the collection jar.
The case that rattled North Winooski Avenue is inching toward trial, and legal strategy looks fluid. Expect a long docket and even longer comment threads once jury selection begins.
Reminder: water and sizzling oil are not friends. One resident was treated for smoke inhalation, and the building’s cabinets took the worst of it. Check those fire extinguishers, neighbors—cheap insurance against charred brunch.
Chris Harper has been gone since November, and leads are thin. If you have seen or heard anything, call BPD at 802‑658‑2704. Five grand is on the table, but closure is priceless.
It’s no secret we’ve had plenty of public safety chatter these last few years. Chief Burke’s focus on rebuilding the department, including non-traditional roles, might be the mix we need. Let’s hope for a smoother, more collaborative approach to policing in the Queen City.
The city council and local nonprofits want to get it done, but regulatory hoops and site selection are proving tricky. Neighbors are anxious for a solution to opioid-related emergencies, yet opinions vary on the best location. For many, the hope is that slow and steady will still save lives when …
In typical Burlington fashion, folks are banding together to support science. Organizers say they hope these marches light a fire under local leadership to keep research afloat in Vermont.
Their push comes as the bar-related shooting last year remains on people’s minds. The measure will go before voters on Town Meeting Day, so expect more conversation around this charter change as Election Day approaches.
Longtime patrons hope that these hurdles can be cleared soon. Until then, the downtown spot that once buzzed with late-night slices is dark while owners work toward compliance.
Although remote work empties some local offices—and hits downtown eateries—leaders say it also helps fill state job openings. If you’re missing that midday café bustle, new housing conversions might be on the horizon for vacant office space.
A small plane went down near Mount Equinox’s summit, but miraculously all three aboard escaped with non-life-threatening injuries. Getting everyone off the mountain in four feet of snow was no small task. Cheers to our first responders for a job well done in tough conditions.
After two decades of planning, the doors are open on Colchester’s new rec center. Residents can now walk an indoor track, shoot hoops, or join training classes—even spin if that’s your speed. Colchester officials say it’s a game-changer for seniors and for folks who hate braving the cold just to …
This means someone up north is suddenly feeling luckier. Double-check your pockets, because missing out on a million bucks would be quite a bummer.
If you tried calling and got static, that’s why. The good news is they’ve set up alternate numbers, and 911 calls are unaffected. Hopefully the upgrades will be worth the brief hassle.
It’s uplifting to see neighbors supporting neighbors. If you needed a reason to smile or do something kind this week, let this remind you that small gestures can become big moments.
Some departments want stricter guidelines, citing public safety and tragic outcomes in recent pursuits. Expect discussions of balancing firm law enforcement with making sure no one gets hurt in a chase.
Shutting down an opponent like that takes discipline, and the team proved they have it. With their momentum growing, expect a fun match on Thursday.
With overnight wind chills expected to dip below zero, the city’s stepping up to keep folks safe. If you know someone in need of a warm place this weekend, pass along the info—and remember, being neighborly can make a world of difference when the thermometer drops.
The department continues to fine-tune its recruitment strategy while navigating a transitional period. Let’s hope fresh leadership helps steady the ship and keep our city streets safe.
Burke steps in after leading the South Burlington force and 20 years with Burlington’s department prior to that. Fingers crossed he brings good energy to BPD and continues to build trust around town.
From Burke Mountain Academy to world champion again—Shiffrin seems unstoppable (even after her recent crash). She’s not just collecting medals; she’s cementing her status as a Vermont legend.
For those missing a day on the links this new indoor venue is a hole in one opportunity to mix leisure with a dash of local flair.