Thursday, October 19, 2017
The Energy & Environment Legal Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based law firm that often represents the interests of the fossil fuel industry, is seeking Sorrell’s records and communications as part of its lawsuit against multiple attorneys general, alleging that they engaged in a legal conspiracy against the industry.
Sorrell had failed to show up for a previous court-ordered deposition on the advice of current Attorney General T.J. Donovan. The limited deposition is to take place on Monday, and, according to Donovan, “We have every indication that Bill Sorrell will appear and be deposed.”
Tags: Bill Sorrell , T.J. Donovan , Mary Miles Teachout , Matthew Hardin , Energy & Environment Legal Institute , Image , Web Only
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Judge Martin Maley rejected prosectors' request to send McAllister to prison for nine to 12 months. The judge said it would not be "proportionate" to the misdemeanor crime of prohibited acts.
A jury in July convicted McAllister of arranging for a friend to have sex with a woman who lived in a trailer on his Franklin County farm, but acquitted him of another charge of prohibited acts and of felony sexual assault, which carried a potential life sentence. The charges involved the same woman.
Maley sentenced McAllister, 66, to probation and 25 days on a work crew, and ordered him to undergo sex offense therapy as ordered by probation officers. McAllister was also ordered to stay away from the woman. A suspended sentence of nine to 12 months could be imposed if McAllister violates any probation conditions.
Tags: Norm McAllister , Bob Katims , Martin Maley , John Lavoie , sexual assault , Franklin County , Image , Web Only
Sunday, October 15, 2017
"With responsibility at work that is now global in scope, I have already clocked more than 100,000 air miles this year," he wrote, "and have come to the realization that it would be a logistical impossibility for me to spend a meaningful amount of time in Montpelier this winter."
This has apparently been building for some time, as Olsen wrote that he has been sounding out potential successors "over the past year." Taken literally, that would have begun before he was reelected to the House last November.
"More recently, I have had substantive discussions with two well-respected and very capable women who have given serious thought to serving," he wrote, and added his belief that "at least one will come forward and seek an appointment from the governor."
Gov. Phil Scott will choose a new representative for Olsen's district; by tradition, that person will be a political independent like Olsen. Indeed, Olsen expressed hope that his successor will be "an independent thinker who understands the unique needs of our region."
Tags: Oliver Olsen , Phil Scott , Jim Douglas , Adam Greshin , legislature , Image , Web Only
Friday, October 13, 2017
State Sen. Debbie Ingram (D-Chittenden) was arrested Thursday night and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after allegedly steering her car into a ditch, Williston police said.
Around 8 p.m., Williston police responded to a crash on South Road. Police said that Ingram, an ordained minister and a freshman senator, had gone off the road, struck a "fixed object," continued on and then veered off the road again.
She was cited to appear in Chittenden Superior Court on November 2 on a charge of driving under the influence.
Ingram released a statement Friday morning through her attorney, Ted Kenney:
Last night I was arrested near my home in Williston and charged with a DUI. IIngram, 55, a Democrat who first won election to the state Senate in 2016, is the executive director of Vermont Interfaith Action, a nonprofit alliance of religious groups. She previously served on the Williston Selectboard.
am grateful that no one was injured as a result of my irresponsible behavior. I
suffer from a disease for which I have been getting treatment through a 12-Step
program. I had a temporary setback last night and will continue to seek treatment to ensure that something like this never happens again. I accept full responsibility for the consequences of my actions.
She lives on South Road in Williston, according to publicly available records. Earlier this year, she pushed for a failed bill that would have raised the legal smoking age from 18 to 21.
Ingram is a graduate of Stanford University and Fuller Theological Seminary, and completed a fellowship at Cambridge University in England, according to her legislative biography.
Tags: Debbie Ingram , Williston , DUI , Image , Web Only
Monday, September 25, 2017
The Vermont Department of Public Safety on Friday approved a license for the state's fifth medical marijuana operation, which plans to open dispensaries in Bennington and St. Albans.
PhytoScience Institute, led by University of Vermont professor William Cats-Baril, beat out four other applicants vying for a state license. For the last two years, the Waterbury-based Institute has offered consulting services and conducted testing and research on marijuana products.
While Gov. Phil Scott vetoed the Vermont legislature’s attempt to legalize marijuana last session, he did sign a bill that allows for a fifth state medical marijuana dispensary license.* The legislation also permits each of the five licensees to operate a satellite location.
Tags: Bennington , Cannabeat , medical marijuana , PhytoScience institute , St. Albans , Vermont legislature , Image , Web Only
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Turner, who is also a realtor, a partner in a family construction business, and Milton's fire and rescue chief, has been serving as interim town manager since March. In June, the selectboard named Turner as the sole finalist for the permanent job, but the arrangement wasn't finalized until this week.
Selectboard chair Darren Adams told the Milton Independent in June that Turner's "hat question" would be an issue. Turner acknowledges that being town manager and House Minority Leader "will be a lot of work," even for a guy accustomed to wearing multiple hats. But he will carry on — at least for now.
Tags: Don Turner , Darren Adams , Skip Vallee , Lenore Broughton , Tom Breuer , Carol Breuer , Image , Web Only
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Tom Little, a former Republican state representative from Shelburne, and Jake Perkinson, a former Democratic Party chairman from Burlington, will lead the 13-member panel.
Scott, a Republican, vetoed legalization legislation earlier this year. He pledged to appoint a commission that would look particularly at the impact of legalization on youths and highway safety, two concerns he cited as reasons for his veto.
Scott directed the commission to start meeting by October and to produce an initial report by January 15. Members are appointed to three-year terms to continue studying various aspects of legalization.
Tags: Cannabeat , Jake Perkinson , marijuana legalization , Phil Scott , Tom Little , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
The internet giant refused to comply with the warrants because the information sought by Vermont prosecutors is stored on overseas servers, Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan said.
This legal issue is playing out in criminal courts across the country and could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Tags: Attorney General , T.J. Donovan , Google , Samuel Hoar , courts , Dennis Wygmans , Image , Web Only
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Peter Diamondstone, a fiery socialist politician who founded the Liberty Union Party and was a mainstay on Election Day ballots in Vermont for four decades, died on Wednesday at his home in Dummerston, his wife confirmed to Seven Days. He was 82.
Diamondstone was suffering from a variety of ailments, Doris Lake said, including heart failure. He left the hospital several weeks ago to receive hospice care at home, Lake said. They had recently celebrated their 60th anniversary.
In recent years, Diamondstone was perhaps best known as a colorful character at debates and on the campaign trail for the various offices he sought. His name appeared on ballots in every statewide election since 1970, though he never came close to winning.
Tags: Senator , Peter Diamondstone , politics , Bernie Sanders , Doris Lake , elections , Patrick Leahy , Image , Web Only
Thursday, August 17, 2017
“I don’t think there’ll be a major impact felt,” Finance Commissioner Adam Greshin told reporters about the administration's plan. “That was part of the challenge of finding $12.5 million that won’t have a major impact on Vermonters, and I think we’ve done that.”
Lawmakers agreed. The 10-member Joint Fiscal Committee, which oversees state fiscal matters when the full legislature is not is session, unanimously signed off on the proposal Thursday afternoon at a Statehouse meeting.
Rep. Janet Ancel (D-Calais), Joint Fiscal Committee chair, said she was grateful the decisions did not involve state employee layoffs. “I think it’s a thoughtful way to move forward,” she said.
No one spoke at a public hearing on the budget rescissions before lawmakers voted.
The largest single chunk of savings — $4.5 million — will come from an anticipated reduction in Medicaid expenses. Some smaller cuts were found across state government, while there’s a $3.5 million projected increase in revenue from brokers’ fees paid to the Department of Financial Regulation.
Tags: Medicaid , Vermont legislature , state budget , rescissions , Joint Fiscal Committee , Image , Web Only