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Thursday, March 12, 2020:

UVM Cancels All Athletics for Remainder of School Year

The University of Vermont has canceled all athletics for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year.

The announcement Thursday came after the America East Conference cancelled Saturday's championship basketball game, which was to be hosted by UVM.

The later decision for all team activities includes practices, games, and organized training.

As always, the health and well-being of student-athletes, coaches and staff remain our top priority," director of athletics Jeff Schulman said in a statement. "While I know this is difficult news for our dedicated student-athletes, coaches and staff, this is clearly a time for sports to take a back seat to the responsibility that we all have to keep each other safe."

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Vermont State Colleges, Dartmouth College Turn to Remote Learning

Vermont State College Chancellor Jeb Spaulding announced on Thursday that all four state colleges will transition to online learning on Friday. In New Hampshire, Dartmouth College officials announced a similar step.

Each Vermont state college — Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, Community College of Vermont and Vermont Technical College — will post their individual plans on their websites. Spaulding said remote instruction is expected to continue, system-wide, through April 3.

"I recognize this is a difficult time for students and staff, but one in which we can all pull together with the common goal of protecting our communities’ health and safety, and also ensuring that our students continue to receive the valuable education we provide through the successful completion of the semester," Spaulding wrote.

Dartmouth, meantime, announced plans to run a remote format at least until May 1.

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Democrats Move Sunday's Debate from Arizona to Washington, D.C.

The head-to-head debate between Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former vice president Joe Biden on Sunday night has been moved from Arizona to Washington, D.C., the Democratic National Committee announced in a statement Wednesday.

"Out of an abundance of caution and in order to reduce cross-country travel, all parties have decided that the best path forward is to hold Sunday’s debate at CNN’s studio in Washington, D.C., with no live audience," DNC communications director Xochitl Hinojosa said in the statement.

The statement continues:

In addition, the DNC, CNN and Univision recently learned that Univision anchor and moderator Jorge Ramos was in proximity with someone who was in direct contact with a person that tested positive for coronavirus. Both Mr. Ramos and the person he was in contact with are in good health and symptom free. Despite being cleared by medical professionals and out of an abundance of caution, Jorge has decided to step aside from participating in the upcoming March 15 democratic debate. Univision’s News Anchor Ilia Calderón will moderate the debate in his place.

Our number one priority has and will continue to be the safety of our staff, campaigns, and all those involved in the debate.

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UPDATE: GAMES POSTPONED No Fans Allowed at High School Girls' Basketball Games

The games have now been postponed.

The Vermont Principals' Association announced Thursday that Division 1 and 3 semifinal girls' basketball games scheduled for this evening will be played — but not open to fans. The games are to be held at UVM's Patrick Gym and the Barre Auditorium.


No decision has been made yet but similar precautions will likely be in place for Saturday and Sunday's championship game, the organization said. All of the games will be streamed online.

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Burlington Farmers Market Cancels Saturday's Winter Market

The Burlington Farmers Market won't happen this Saturday, March 14. The event is usually held every two weeks in the University of Vermont's Davis Center. But UVM announced this week that it'll begin limiting on-campus gatherings to no more than 25 people.

The market said it will hold the April 11 event as planned.