Wednesday, October 31, 2018
The sides agreed to a settlement instead of arguing the case before the Public Utility Commission. The commission approved the terms of the deal October 25; the new rates go into effect November 1.
While natural gas costs are down about 2.4 percent, according to Vermont Gas spokesperson Beth Parent, the company's "base rate" is on the rise. That figure is controlled by state regulators and covers costs such as staff salaries, infrastructure and vehicles.
“Those [costs] are up about 3.9 percent,” Parent said.
The company's base rate is adjusted less frequently than gas rates because changes require specific approval from the Public Utility Commission. The increase this time around means the typical residential customer will pay about $1.75 more each month.
Tags: Vermont Gas , Department of Public Service , Public Utility Commission , natural gas , Image , Web Only
"It's my understanding that you may have had some past encounters with Robert Mueller," read the email Jennifer Taub received on October 22 from Simon Frick, a researcher from a group called Surefire Intelligence. "I would like to discuss those encounters with you.”
Frick asked Taub for her "beginning rate" to talk about any encounters with Mueller and offered to pay her "for any references that you may have."
Frick, though, picked the wrong person to try to involve in such a scheme. Taub told Seven Days on Wednesday that she has never met or spoken to Mueller, who's investigating President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign. Moreover, she has been a public critic of many of the Trump administration's policies. And the Harvard Law School graduate has extensive media contacts: She has been quoted in numerous national outlets and appeared on CNN as a legal expert.
Taub played a key role in unraveling the scheme this week, when she forwarded the email to Mueller's office and then talked to the Atlantic about the bizarre events.
"It's very sloppy," said Taub, who lives in Northampton, Mass. "I just laugh. You probably shouldn't pick me. One theory is they're casting a very wide net, and they don't even care if people know."
Tags: Jennifer Taub , Vermont Law School , Robert Mueller , Special Counsel , Image , Web Only
Unhappy with the direction of the country, the women of varied shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds bared it all for an intimate, empowering photo session in Burlington, said organizer Dawn Robertson.
“How can we inspire women to vote after the Kavanaugh confirmation, the #MeToo movement and Trump?” said Robertson, a Harvard Law-educated attorney who writes about sexuality and relationships. “It’s a culmination of all those factors.”
Robertson was inspired by Massachusetts photographer Anja Schütz, who shot similar nude photos of women in the lead-up to the 2016 election, around the time the infamous “grab 'em by the pussy” Donald Trump tape was released. Both photo projects play off Trump’s crass comments. Robertson's, which she dubbed “Grab Them by the Ballot,” features women of color, a pregnant woman, a transgender woman and a woman with disabilities.
Tags: Vermont , photo shoot , grab them by the ballot , Election 2018 , politics , Donald Trump , Image , Slideshow
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Cris Ericson for Governor from Vermont PBS on Vimeo.
A Vermont gubernatorial candidate has proposed a nationally televised show in which a booing or cheering crowd would decide the fate of state prisoners.Independent candidate Cris Ericson, a marijuana advocate who regularly runs for statewide office, outlined her vision in a commentary for Vermont PBS.
“If you elect me, I will host a governor’s pardon TV show every Saturday night and pardon a few of the people who violate the new, unconstitutional anti-gun laws, and some of the nonviolent offenders of other laws, to save Vermonters money,” Ericson said in the commentary. She was referring, presumably, to new restrictions on gun ownership signed into law in April by her Republican opponent, Gov. Phil Scott.
Ericson said the show would be hosted from the auditorium in Montpelier's Pavilion State Office Building, a few floors below the governor’s office.
Tags: Cris Ericson , Vermont Department of Corrections , Idiocracy , pardon , prison , inmates , Montpelier , Election 2018 , Governor's Race 2018 , Image , Web Only , Video
Essex-Caledonia-Orleans
Grand Isle-Chittenden
Lamoille 3
Orange 1
Washington 3
Windsor-Orange 1
Our reporters have monitored several of these races over the course of the political season. Here are some of the races we'll be watching this Election Day, excerpted from our coverage over the past few months. Once you've caught up on these, make sure to check your registration and view a sample ballot at the Vermont Secretary of State's voter portal, and don't forget to vote.
Tags: Statehouse , Vermont House , politics , Election 2018 , election , midterms , Legislative Races 2018 , Image , Web Only
Monday, October 29, 2018
“Right now, my focus is on the year 2018, but if you’re asking me to make an absolute pledge as to whether I’ll be running for president or not, I’m not going to make that pledge,” Vermont's junior senator said. “The simple truth is I have not made that decision. But I’m not going to sit here and tell you that I may not run. I may. But on the other hand, I may not.”
Asked again whether he would commit to serving out a third term, Sanders said, “If I’m elected president of the United States? Mmm. Probably impossible to be a senator and a president at the same time. So the answer to that is probably no. But I haven’t made that decision as to whether I’ll run.”
He added, “If I run [for president] and win, the likelihood is I will not be Vermont’s senator.”
Tags: Senator , Bernie Sanders , U.S. Senate , Lawrence Zupan , Folasade Adeluola , Russell Beste , Bruce Busa , Edward Gilbert Jr. , Brad Peacock , John Svitavsky , 2020 , Election 2018 , Statewide 2018 , Image , Video , Web Only
The long-discussed project would help anchor the suburb's hoped-for downtown, known as City Center. The building would be constructed at 180 Market Street, a short walk from the Blue Mall on Dorset Street, and across from Rick Marcotte Central School.
Approval could build momentum to create a pedestrian-oriented downtown in the suburban community. So far, the envisioned $300 million mix of housing, retail and office space has stayed mostly on the drawing board.
The community building renderings depict a three-story structure with an auditorium, meeting rooms, library, activity rooms for seniors, and office space for planning, zoning and the city clerk.
The new structure would replace the cramped municipal building at 575 Dorset Street and provide South Burlington's public library a permanent home. City officials moved the library temporarily to the University Mall last year after it outgrew its shared space with the South Burlington High School library.
If voters approve, construction of the community building would begin next spring, with completion expected in 2020. Much of the project would be financed with revenue from a city property tax that funnels money to a City Center reserve fund.
Other funds would come from tax increment financing. A portion of tax revenue from new housing, office and retail development at City Center would be used to pay off the structure. Voters have already authorized such funding for the reconstruction of Market Street and for park improvements in the downtown area.
Property taxes would not be affected, according to city handouts about the project. City forecasts assume private development will generate new tax revenue. If the actual tax revenue is lower than forecast, though, the city and its taxpayers would still be on the hook.
The city would allow the South Burlington School District to lease the existing municipal building at 575 Dorset Street and buy it after three years for a nominal fee.
Four articles on the ballot are related to the new City Hall project financing and related property easements.
Tags: South Burlington , City Center , election , library , Blue Mall , University Mall , Election 2018 , Image , Web Only
Zupan repeatedly slammed Sanders’ brand of democratic socialism and said Sanders supports the kinds of policies that led to North Korea’s dictatorship and Venezuela’s failed economy. Sanders dismissed the attacks and accused Zupan of echoing national Republicans.
The debate, jointly sponsored by Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS, covered a wide range of hot-button political topics, and the two candidates agreed on almost nothing.
Tags: Senator , Bernie Sanders , Lawrence Zupan , Vermont PBS , Vermont Public Radio , VPR , debate , Senate , U.S. Senate , immigration , climate change , transgender , LGBT , abortion , Election 2018 , Statewide 2018 , Image , Web Only
Starting at 5:25 p.m., watch the livestream to hear from all nine candidates for the office, or head to the O’Brien Community Center in Winooski to see it live.
If you have questions for candidates, you can submit them to Channel 17 here.
Tags: Senator , elections , Bernie Sanders , U.S. Senate , Lawrence Zupan , Image , Video , Web Only
Friday, October 26, 2018
The new name will be the David W. Howe Memorial Library. Howe was a UVM alumnus and a publisher of the Burlington Free Press who died in 1969. A dedication plaque in the library says that Howe's "lifelong interest in the progress of his newspaper, community, state and university helped stimulate others to greater achievements."
The decision is subject to another vote Saturday by trustees, and is expected to pass.
University President Tom Sullivan praised the move, which was recommended by a campus Renaming Advisory Committee.
Tags: Guy Bailey , Bailey/Howe Library , University of Vermont , David W. Howe Memorial Library , David W. Howe , Tom Sullivan , Image , Web Only