Thursday, December 13, 2018
The 56-41 vote on Thursday afternoon was a rebuke of Saudi Arabia over the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was assassinated inside the country's embassy in Turkey. Because the U.S. House has blocked debate of the resolution, the Senate vote was largely symbolic.
President Donald Trump has refused to condemn the killing, which the Central Intelligence Agency determined was likely ordered by Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
Tags: Senator , Yemen , Saudi Arabia , Bernie Sanders , Peter Welch , Donald Trump , human rights , Jamal Khashoggi , Image , Web Only
The buyer is Chicago-based publishing executive Jim O’Rourke, according to a story posted on the Messenger's website. The announcement did not disclose the terms of the sale.
Tags: media note , St. Albans Messenger , Champlain Valley News Group , Colchester Sun , Essex Reporter , Milton Independent , Emerson Lynn , Suzanne Lynn , Jim O'Rourke , Image , Web Only
It was the beginning of six months behind bars for Vo, a Vietnamese citizen who has lived legally in the U.S. with a green card since 1999, when he was 6. He got out in March on supervised release. But officials have since told him that he must wear a GPS tracking device until he's deported to Vietnam in February because of a 2016 conviction for marijuana possession.
Along with his fiancée, Desiree Mora, and close friends, Vo is trying to raise money and publicity to fight the government’s decision.
“My whole immediate family is over here. Everybody,” Vo said in an interview. “I’ve been here for 20 years. I’ve made my mistakes, but I’ve never blamed anybody for my mistakes.”
Tags: Cannabeat , Thao Vo , Immigration and Customs Enforcement , Vietnam , immigration , deportation , ICE , marijuana , Illinois , cannabis , Vermont , Burlington , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Baruth announced his intention on Facebook Wednesday, and he referred to the death of 23-year-old Andrew Black, an Essex resident who died in his home on December 6. Black's mother, Alyssa Hughes Black, told WPTZ-TV that her son bought a gun late that morning and shot himself within a few hours.
In Black's obituary, his parents urged people to "work for legislation that imposes a reasonable waiting period between firearm purchase and possession to provide a cooling off period to guard against impulsive acts of violence."
California, Illinois and Rhode Island are among the states that have established waiting periods in law.
Tags: Phil Baruth , Andrew Black , Alyssa Hughes Black , guns , Image , Web Only
Ali Dieng (D/P-Ward 7) fired off the accusation in a tweet around midnight Tuesday, shortly after his proposal to provide increased support to the city's Neighborhood Planning Assemblies failed in a 6-6 vote.
"Thank you to all the councilors that voted to support the motion calling for an open process to strengthen our NPAs," Dieng wrote. "The motion failed 6-6 because it came from @diengali the only back [sic] councilor in #BTV."
Tags: Kurt Wright , Ali Dieng , Joan Shannon , Burlington City Council , Image , Web Only
Twigg, who replaced Tricia Coates in March 2015, said he's moving with his wife to Boulder, Colo., where he’ll work as a policy analyst for the Boulder Board of County Commissioners. “Unlike Vermont, Colorado has a pretty robust county government system,” he said.
As Welch's top Vermont staffer, Twigg oversees the congressman's outreach and constituent service operations, coordinates his in-state schedule and serves as Welch's eyes and ears in the district.
Of his time in Welch's office, Twigg said, “It’s been an especially interesting time to be in national politics, with the 2016 elections." It required, he continued, “trying to not just respond to the tweet of the day but think about long-term solutions to real challenges and issues that Vermonters have.”
Before he went to work for Welch, Twigg was public affairs director for the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation.
Welch’s office has yet to hire a replacement, according to Twigg.
Tags: Peter Welch , George Twigg , Vermont Energy Investment Corporation , Image , Web Only
Monday, December 10, 2018
Burlington officials are once again considering a plan to redevelop the old coal-fired power plant, which has sat vacant on the Lake Champlain waterfront for more than 30 years and seemed destined to be demolished.
This time, the city is proposing a partial redevelopment — not a full renovation, said Neale Lunderville, interim director of the city's Community and Economic Development Office. And unlike previous, divisive proposals, the idea was met with unbridled enthusiasm by city councilors at a meeting Monday night.
Under the plan, the basement of the old structure would be filled in and most of the brick exterior would be removed. The remaining structural steel skeleton and roof would create an open-air space for concerts or events, a skating rink or public park. It would be built and run by the city and would cost between $5.2 and $5.5 million.
Tags: Moran Plant , Miro Weinberger , Neale Lunderville , Sharon Bushor , Dave Hartnett , waterfront , Image , Web Only
The five-story building would be constructed between the road and an existing 176-room Holiday Inn, which would be renovated as part of the project. Both properties, located near Dorset Street and an Interstate 89 entrance, would be accessed by a new section of city street.
The new hotel would have awnings, an outdoor terrace with public seating and a rooftop overlook, according to the proposal submitted to the South Burlington Development Review Board by the developer, Burlington-based Larkin Hospitality.
Tags: South Burlington , construction , development , hotels , Image , Web Only
Sunday, December 9, 2018
The former vice president and senator avoided all but an ambiguous hint when it came to discussing a possible 2020 presidential run, and he steered clear of any direct attacks on President Donald Trump — even as he came to the home turf of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a possible 2020 competitor.
Instead the 76-year-old appeared intent on offering a more personal message. For those who are grieving or bereaved, he told a packed house at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, "There's a reason for hope, believe it or not."
Tags: Joe Biden , Flynn Center for the Performing Arts , 2020 presidential campaign , Jodi Picoult , Image , Web Only
Friday, December 7, 2018
That leaves him with nearly $8.8 million, which could be transferred to a campaign for president, should he decide to run.
Sanders' expenses are consistent with those of a probable presidential candidate. They include about $113,000 on events; nearly $92,000 on salaries to 31 individuals; more than $64,000 on travel by car and plane; more than $60,000 on research, including $52,000 to the polling company Tulchin Research; and more than $37,000 on lodging.
His travel expenses also included a $6,800 payment to the private charter plane company Apollo Jets, as well as $5,000 in carbon offsets to NativeEnergy to compensate for his air travel. According to a previous FEC filing, Sanders spent nearly $300,000 on chartered planes earlier in the campaign season, as VTDigger.org reported last week.
Tags: Senator , Bernie Sanders , Patrick Leahy , Peter Welch , Organizing for Bernie , Image , Web Only