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Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Posted By on Tue, Jul 5, 2016 at 1:28 PM

Former state senator Peter Galbraith released his first television advertisement of the gubernatorial campaign Tuesday, becoming the fourth candidate in the race to hit the airwaves. 

The ad features the Townshend Democrat sitting at a kitchen table — his hand grasping a mug decorated with a peach — highlighting his progressive bona fides. He notes that he authored a law banning hydraulic fracturing, though he neglects to mention that no fracking had been planned for Vermont when he introduced the legislation. Galbraith pledges to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and make tuition at state colleges free — paid for by "ending special-interest tax breaks." And he signs off with a nod to Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) declaration that his presidential campaign was not financed by billionaires, saying, "Paid for by Galbraith for Vermont — not the special interests."

The ad also makes reference to Galbraith's diplomatic career, featuring a photo of then-vice president Al Gore swearing him in as ambassador to Croatia and another of him sitting with the late prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, a longtime friend. 

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Saturday, July 2, 2016

Posted By on Sat, Jul 2, 2016 at 2:41 PM

click to enlarge 'Running Wild With Bear Grylls' to Film on Lake Champlain With Likely Guest Shaquille O'Neal
Molly Walsh
Jason Balmer, petty officer first class, at the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Burlington.
Stand by for a Shaq attack.

Ex-NBA great Shaquille O'Neal is expected to perform a stunt for a reality TV show filming an episode next week on Lake Champlain.

A producer for the NBC show "Running Wild With Bear Grylls" visited the Coast Guard station on the Burlington waterfront Thursday to ask them to participate in the event, said Jason Balmer, a petty officer first class who met with the producer.

The producer said the 7-foot-1 legend, who will be inducted this year into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, would likely be a guest on an episode to be shot Friday or Saturday on the New York side of the lake, according to Balmer. It would be filmed near the town of Willsboro, about 30 miles south of Plattsburgh. The episode will involve an aquatic derring-do, maybe involving a helicopter and a drone.

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Thursday, June 30, 2016

Posted By on Thu, Jun 30, 2016 at 5:45 PM

click to enlarge Planned Raftapalooza Makes Waves in Colchester
Courtesy Jeremy Dewyea
The scene at Raftapalooza last year
Raftapalooza 2016, a floating party off Thayer Beach in Colchester, is planned for July 23. But Colchester police are already saying that the annual bash — this year’s will be the fourth — will not be welcome to return next year.

“I’ve been straight up that we do not want this event back in our community in 2017,” Colchester Police Chief Jennifer Morrison announced at a public meeting Wednesday.

Trash, trespassing, drunks and parking problems made the mega-flotilla on Lake Champlain a mess last year, some residents said at the police department meeting to address public concerns as the event looms.

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Friday, June 24, 2016

Posted By on Fri, Jun 24, 2016 at 9:09 AM

click to enlarge Sanders Says He'll Vote for Clinton in November — but Won't Concede
Screenshot
Sen. Bernie Sanders appears Friday morning on MSNBC.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said for the first time Friday morning that he would vote for rival Hillary Clinton in the November election. But he wasn't quite ready to concede the Democratic presidential primary, nor would he offer a full-throated endorsement of the former secretary of state.

Since losing California to Clinton more than two weeks ago, Sanders has alternately sounded a combative and a conciliatory tone. In a speech Thursday night in New York City called "Where we go from here," he largely avoided mentioning his Democratic rival and pledged to continue fighting for his progressive priorities. 

But asked directly Friday morning on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" whether he would vote for Clinton this fall, Sanders provided an unambiguous response. 

"Yes," he said. "Yeah, I think the issue right here is, I'm going to do everything I can to defeat Donald Trump."

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Thursday, June 23, 2016

Posted By on Thu, Jun 23, 2016 at 5:33 PM

click to enlarge Rep. Peter Welch Calls Democrats' 25-Hour Gun Sit-In 'Very Effective'
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Congressman Peter Welch follows House leaders out of the U.S. Capitol Thursday after a 25-hour sit-in.
Congressional Democrats didn't get the gun-control votes they demanded. But during a 25-hour sit-in on the floor of the U.S. House, they got something else: eyeballs. 

"We focused attention on the obligation of Congress to act," said U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who joined his colleagues for much of the protest. "The response I got on social media from Vermonters — the calls to our office — has been greater on this event than anything else since I've served in Congress. And it's been overwhelmingly positive." 

Democrats took control of the House floor late Wednesday morning and did not leave until roughly 1 p.m. Thursday. They stalled all congressional action until late Wednesday night, when House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Republican leaders reconvened to push through a major spending bill and other legislation. GOP lawmakers then left town — despite chants of "no bill, no break!" — for their annual Independence Day recess. 

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Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Posted By on Wed, Jun 22, 2016 at 5:21 PM

click to enlarge Vermont Congressional Delegation Joins Gun Sit-In on House Floor
Courtesy: Office of Congressman Peter Welch
Congressman Peter Welch takes part in a sit-in Wednesday on the House floor.
Days after the June 12 mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) walked off the floor of the U.S. House during a moment of silence.

"That's something I've never done in my life," he said. "But every moment of silence has been followed by moments of total inaction, and obviously our job is to do something — to have a debate on a bill and pass some common-sense gun legislation."

Welch took his protest a step further Wednesday, joining a highly unusual sit-in on the House floor to demand a vote on gun-control legislation. Democratic lawmakers interrupted the chamber's proceedings that morning and vowed to remain in the well of the House until Republican leaders scheduled a vote.

"It's been a spontaneous avalanche of support among our colleagues," Welch said Wednesday afternoon during a phone interview from the House cloakroom. "Members feel good that finally we're doing something to indicate clearly and explicitly with our actions that we want action, we want to do our job, we want to vote."

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Posted By on Wed, Jun 22, 2016 at 4:20 PM

click to enlarge Rainbow Family Lays Groundwork for Its Massive Vermont Gathering
Mark Davis
A woman who goes by “Feather” stands at the campsite entrance by poles that will be used to construct teepees.
More than 700 people have gathered at Mount Tabor to prepare a campsite in the Green Mountain National Forest for a Rainbow Family of Living Light celebration that will culminate on July 4 with several thousand people massing.

The vanguard of the group, which says it has no leadership and convenes annually to celebrate peace, nature and community, began arriving last week at a site northeast of Manchester Center. They are establishing a water supply, setting up kitchens and digging latrines. U.S. Forest Service officials expect as many as 10,000 more people to arrive in the coming weeks.

The forest service stationed officers a few miles down the road from the campsite, and a Rutland County sheriff’s deputy idled Tuesday at the intersection of Route 7 and Brooklyn Road, eight miles below the gathering.
click to enlarge Rainbow Family Lays Groundwork for Its Massive Vermont Gathering
Mark Davis
A handmade map of the campsite
While early arrivals have been able to park relatively close to the site, those who come next week will likely have to hike in from miles away.

The forest service says that the gatherings, which have been held on federal land around the country, “can stress the services and resources of a small, rural community.” The nearby town of Mount Tabor has a population of just 250.

The forest service, which is providing daily media updates, said Wednesday that authorities have issued 16 warning notices and eight violation notices for traffic or drug-related offenses.

Forest service spokesman Ethan Ready said the Rainbow Family traditionally leaves behind several people after the main celebration to clean up the site.

The site, a looping hiking trail atop Mount Tabor with a large meadow in the middle, includes several kitchen areas where food is prepared for a mass evening meal. Guests pitch their tents wherever they please.
click to enlarge Rainbow Family Lays Groundwork for Its Massive Vermont Gathering
Mark Davis
One of the kitchens at the Mount Tabor campsite
Teams on Tuesday were busy bringing in food and water, digging toilet trenches and even setting up pipes that will eventually carry water from nearby springs, a woman who goes by “Feather” explained.

“We share what we have together and we pray for peace and love around the world and Mother Earth,” Feather said. “Welcome home.”

A first-time visitor was greeted warmly by almost everyone at the campsite.

“Welcome home man!”

“Want to help me drag this cart to a kitchen?”

“Peace, brother.”

“Stop and sit and hang out for a minute.”

“Want to dig a shitter?”

But this question popped up too: “It’s a cop! Are you a cop?”

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Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Posted By on Tue, Jun 21, 2016 at 12:36 AM

click to enlarge After Six-Month Absence, Sanders Returns to the Senate for Gun Votes
File: Matthew Thorsen
Sen. Patrick Leahy, left, and Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2014
After a six-month absence, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) returned to the U.S. Senate on Monday to cast his second vote of the year. And his third, fourth, fifth and sixth. 

At issue were a series of proposals to strengthen the nation's gun laws. Like his district-mate, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sanders supported measures that would bar those on federal terrorism watch lists from buying firearms and require those engaging in private sales to undergo federal background checks. The pair opposed a Republican proposal to delay for 72 hours the purchase of firearms by those on terrorism watch lists.

All of the measures failed. 

For Sanders, who has been busy campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, the votes were his first since January 12. According to GovTrack.us, Sanders missed another 19 votes last fall. The senator declined an interview request, and a spokesman did not respond to questions about his long absence. 

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Friday, June 17, 2016

Posted By on Fri, Jun 17, 2016 at 3:01 PM

click to enlarge Trooper, Burlington Woman Honored for I-89 Rescue in Colchester
Matthew Thorsen
Beth Howe
A Vermont State Police sergeant and a Burlington resident who in December pulled a woman from a burning car after a collision on Interstate 89 were honored at a Statehouse ceremony Friday.

Beth Howe, who was walking to work in Colchester when she scrambled up an embankment onto I-89 to help, and Sgt. Cory Lozier received a Lifesaving Award at the Vermont Department of Public Safety's annual awards and promotions ceremony.

"Your actions are a credit to you and are honorably recognized," Detective Sgt. Julie Scribner told Howe and Lozier during the ceremony, according to prepared remarks.

Howe and Lozier pulled Danielle Houle-Charbonneau, who was badly injured, from her car moments before it was engulfed in flames. Houle-Charbonneau, a 45-year-old Swanton resident whose car was hit from behind in a large pileup, has had several surgeries and is still recovering.

The Department of Public Safety also recognized civilians who rescued a woman from a burning home in Milton, pulled a driver out of a burning car in Springfield, and cared for a woman involved in a motorcycle collision in Bethel.

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Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Posted By on Wed, May 18, 2016 at 12:55 AM

Bernie Sanders Wins Oregon; Clinton Declares Victory in Kentucky
File: Paul Heintz
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Update, May 18, 2016 at 12:20 p.m.: Hillary Clinton on Wednesday morning declared victory in Kentucky, though Bernie Sanders has yet to concede. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton is leading Sanders 46.8 to 46.3 percent, according to the Associated Press. If that tally holds, each candidate will win 27 delegates.

Hours after the polls closed Tuesday, nervous network execs still hadn't called Kentucky's Democratic presidential primary. By midnight, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton was leading Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) by fewer than 2,000 votes out of 455,000 cast, with all but four precincts reporting. 

Across the country, the results were far clearer: Sanders won Oregon by roughly six percentage points. His wife, Jane O'Meara Sanders, delivered the news to him as he addressed thousands of supporters at a rally in Carson, Calif. 

Though Sanders likely netted several delegates to the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, Clinton crept ever closer to the majority she will need to seal the party's nomination. Including some but not all of those awarded Tuesday, Clinton was leading Sanders 1,767 to 1,488 among pledged delegates, according to the Associated Press. Counting superdelegates, Clinton had reached 2,291 — less than 100 shy of the 2,383 she needs. 

But as he does nearly every election night, Sanders declared in Carson that he would remain in the race "'til the last ballot is cast."

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