The suspect in a double-murder case in Northeast Kingdom appeared in court on Wednesday. The crime is described as gruesome by the police and is said to be uncharacteristic of the community. Cirell Brown, a 23-year-old resident of Orleans, pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. The victims were friends of the family and there were concerns about Brown’s mental health. He had previously received mental health treatment in Connecticut and was charged with assault. Brown’s attorney, Lydia Newcomb, expressed concerns about his competency during the court proceedings.
Vermont’s House of Representatives has passed a bill to increase penalties for retail theft. The proposal aims to impose harsher penalties on repeat offenders. Currently, stealing less than $900 in merchandise is considered a misdemeanor. However, if the bill becomes law, the total amount stolen would be aggregated, potentially resulting in a felony charge. Supporters of the bill argue that it is a crucial component of the criminal justice system, but further measures are necessary to deter theft.
U.S. Representative Becca Balint of Vermont will begin her campaign for a second term this month. Balint’s campaign announced the news via email to supporters on Wednesday. She will officially launch her reelection campaign on March 27 in Brattleboro, her hometown. In 2022, Balint made history as the first woman and openly LGBTQ+ individual from Vermont to be elected to Congress. She emerged victorious in a closely contested primary against then-Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray, and went on to defeat Democrat Liam Madden and Libertarian Ericka Redic in the November election.
More than $130,000 is going to the Northern Border Alliance in New Hampshire with the goal of reducing crime within 25 miles of the border. The contracts approved by the Executive Council Wednesday provide funding for the Fish and Game Department and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Division of Forests and Lands. The group was created last year and is composed of state, county, and local law enforcement officers with the purpose of conducting patrols along the Northern Border.
Vermont Senators Peter Welch and Bernie Sanders are supporting the MAPLE Act, which aims to include maple syrup as an eligible product in the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program. This program provides low-income seniors with access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs. Senators Welch and Susan Collins are leading the bill’s introduction in the Senate.
The U.S. Postal Service is considering moving mail processing facilities in Vermont and New Hampshire to Connecticut and Boston, respectively. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and other lawmakers have expressed concerns about this initiative, as it could potentially impact postal worker jobs. However, the USPS assures that these reviews are only meant to evaluate operations and future uses, and will not lead to closures or layoffs.
WTSA SPORTS FOR FRIDAY MARCH 15th 2024
THE CELTICS BEAT THE PHOENIX SUNS LAST NIGHT, 127 – 112. THE CELTICS ARE THE BEST IN THE LEAGUE RIGHT NOW AT 52 AND 14…THE CELTICS ARE BACK ON THE COURT SUNDAY IN WASHINGTON, LOOKING FOR THEIR 5TH STRAIGHT AGAINST THE WIZARDS. TIP OFF SUNDAY AT 7PM.
THE BRUINS BEAT THE CANADIANS YESTERDAY IN OVERTIME 2 – 1. THE BRUINS HAVE THE NIGHT OFF AND ARE BACK ON THE ICE AT HOME SATURDAY AGAINST THE FLYERS. PUCK DROPS AT 7PM.
NASCAR CUP SERIES THIS SUNDAY, IT’S THE FOOD CITY 500 AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY, CATCH THE RACE AT 3:30PM ON FOX