Friday, October 21, 2016
The sharply worded statement Friday also encouraged Kirk "to withdraw from his board activities at his discretion, to allow space for the board to review this matter."
When asked if he thought that Kirk should resign or take a temporary leave of absence, Obeng replied, "I do not have the authority to direct him."
The superintendent's condemnation came after Seven Days first reported Tuesday night on the images Kirk posted on his publicly accessible page. One defended the Confederate flag. Another accused immigrant students of asking too much of schools. And another featured an underwear-clad woman tied to a bed. At least one unhappy parent urged Kirk to resign.
Tags: David Kirk , Yaw Obeng , Burlington School Board , Image , Web Only
Nine months after President Barack Obama asked him to lead a national effort to expedite cancer research, Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Burlington Friday to outline the recommendations of his “Cancer Moonshot” initiative.
During a morning roundtable at the University of Vermont, Biden said that researchers had in recent years reached “a real inflection point” in the fight against the disease. But he argued that the medical community continued to face structural deficiencies that hobble communication and collaboration.
Specifically, Biden said, those fighting cancer struggle to access information about their malady, find clinical trials or even share their medical records with far-flung hospitals. Moreover, he argued, the pharmaceutical industry charges too much for life-saving drugs.
Tags: Joe Biden , Cancer Moonshot , Patrick Leahy , Sue Minter , Image , Web Only
Bourgoin, 36, had been a patient at the University of Vermont Medical Center since October 9. On October 14, he pleaded not guilty to five murder charges and two charges related to stealing a police cruiser. His arraignment was held in makeshift courtroom at the hospital.
Prosecutors say Bourgoin was driving in the wrong direction on Interstate 89 on the night of October 8 when he crashed into a car, killing Eli Brookens, 16, of Waterbury; Janie Chase Cozzi, 15, of Fayston; Liam Hale, 16, of Fayston; Mary Harris, 16, of Moretown; and Cyrus Zschau, 16, of Moretown.
Tags: Harwood Union High School , Steven Bourgoin , University of Vermont Medical Center , UVM Medical Center , wrong-way driver , Image , Web Only
On the radio, Obama cut ads for Vermont Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sue Minter and North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, who is challenging incumbent Republican Gov. Pat McCrory. He’s also on the radio for [North Carolina Senate candidate Deborah] Ross and [Pennsylvania Senate candidate Katie] McGinty and Senate candidates Catherine Cortez Masto in Nevada, and Maggie Hassan in New Hampshire.
Minter campaign spokesman Elliott Bent confirmed the Post's story Friday morning.
“In the ad, the president endorses Sue because she shares his values: economy for the middle class, education, fighting climate change, protecting women’s right to choose,” he said in a brief written statement.
Bent said the campaign itself, not a supportive super PAC, would pay for the Obama ad. He did not reveal when it would go on-air.
Read the full story here.
Tags: Barack Obama , Sue Minter , election 2016 , Image , Web Only
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Returning to the paper’s top job is Jim Fogler, who served as publisher for four years before leaving in September 2014 to become vice president of business development at Party City. Fogler returned to journalism — and Gannett — in January, when he took a job as publisher of the Poughkeepsie Journal.
According to the Free Press story announcing the transition, Fogler will now publish both papers. Even after he took the job in Poughkeepsie, the story said, he continued to commute between the two regions, because his family remained in South Burlington.
“I’m excited to be back, and I look forward to reconnecting with the community as well as the team here,” Fogler told the Free Press’ Dan D’Ambrosio. “My plan is to split my time evenly between the two sites.”
Tags: Al Getler , Jim Fogler , Burlington Free Press , Gannett , Poughkeepsie Journal , Image , Web Only
Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) wife, Jane O’Meara Sanders, attacked Gov. Peter Shumlin over Twitter Thursday after an email emerged claiming she “begged” him not to endorse Hillary Clinton for president last year.
“1st, I don’t beg,” O’Meara Sanders tweeted Thursday morning. “Knew Gov Shumlin endorsement of HRC worthless,told him his timing as @BernieSanders announced was pathetic crass politics.”
The senator’s wife was responding to an internal Clinton campaign email allegedly obtained by Russian hackers and posted online by WikiLeaks. In the May 2015 message, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook told the candidate that he had just spoken with Shumlin and an unnamed political adviser.1st, I don't beg. Knew Gov Shumlin endorsement of HRC worthless,told him his timing as @BernieSanders announced was pathetic crass politics. https://t.co/3rCf5KPpE5
— Jane O'Meara Sanders (@janeosanders) October 20, 2016
“He called Bernie a few hours ago and said he’s endorsing you, Madame Secretary,” Mook wrote of the governor. “It will be public at 3:30 today. This was a bold move for him so it would be great if you can call and say thanks.”
Mook added, “Apparently Jane Sanders has now called him twice and begged him to change his mind and he’s stood firm.”
Tags: Senator , Jane O'Meara Sanders , Peter Shumlin , Robby Mook , Bernie Sanders , John Podesta , WikiLeaks , Image , Web Only
Nope, it wasn't Jim Douglas, who won four races for governor from 2002 through 2008:
And it wasn't Brian Dubie, who lost the 2010 gubernatorial contest:
It was Lt. Gov. Phil Scott — the latest in a long line of Vermont Republicans who've sought statewide office in an increasingly Democratic state:
Tags: Phil Scott , Sue Minter , Frank Cioffi , Jim Douglas , Brian Dubie , Dick Mazza , Image , Video , Web Only
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
New North End school board member David Kirk, who represents Ward 7, sent the following statement via email Wednesday night:
At this time I would like to most sincerely apologize to the citizens of Burlington for a number of inappropriate social media posts. In the age of social media where we move at lightning speed, it is all too easy to simply repost and share items, sometimes carelessly, with a click of a button that may be hurtful to others. These posts are not a reflection of me, my family, my constituents and the decades of community service I have provided in Burlington. These posts were inexcusable and they have been removed.Seven Days reported about the posts Tuesday night.
While some defended Kirk’s posts as harmless sounding off, others saw them as disturbing and inappropriate for a public official. Upset parents emailed superintendent Yaw Obeng calling for Kirk to resign after learning about his posts defending the Confederate flag and suggesting that immigrant students ask too much of schools.
These were two of the posts:
Tags: David Kirk , Burlington School Board , Facebook , Image , Web Only
The details of the agreement were not immediately disclosed. Ira Lobel, a federal mediator who led the daylong negotiating effort that stretched into the evening hours, announced to waiting reporters Wednesday night that the agreement had been signed.
Shortly after that, the head of the Burlington teachers’ union issued a statement saying everyone would benefit from the deal.
“I am pleased to tell Burlington students, parents and residents that school will begin on time tomorrow morning,” said Fran Brock, a Burlington High School history teacher who serves as the president of the Burlington Education Association. “I know this has been a hard road, but we’re pleased to have reached an agreement with the school board.”
Tags: Ira Lobel , Burlington School District , Fran Brock , Burlington Education Association , Image , Web Only
"We just sat down and talked about what they do, how they help and the essential services they provide," Scott told Seven Days last December. "I don't think we should be spending our time defunding Planned Parenthood. They do really good work for a lot of people in need."
The goodwill gesture apparently went unnoticed. On Wednesday morning, a super PAC financed by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the Democratic Governors Association launched a $132,000 television advertising blitz questioning Scott's support for abortion rights.
"Two very different choices for Vermont's next governor," the ad's narrator says. "Phil Scott supported restrictions on a woman's right to choose. And Vermont Right to Life, which opposes all abortion — even for rape and incest — recommended Phil Scott."
Democratic nominee Sue Minter, the narrator says, is "the better choice" and would be "a governor we can trust."
According to Scott's campaign coordinator, Brittney Wilson, the ad is "dishonest and deceitful."
Tags: Phil Scott , Sue Minter , Planned Parenthood , Democratic Governors Association , abortion , choice , Image , Video , Web Only