Vermont health officials are investigating a measles exposure among a group of over two dozen people in an international program. The group, consisting of 18 teenagers and eight adults, were exposed to an unvaccinated person with measles while traveling to the U.S. Currently, there are no confirmed cases in Vermont. State health officials are obtaining vaccination records and testing for the virus. The group is quarantining, and the risk of transmission to the public is low. The MMR vaccine can prevent the highly infectious respiratory virus. Measles was nearly eliminated in the U.S., with the last confirmed case in 2018. However, in the first three months of 2024, the CDC reported over 100 cases and seven outbreaks.
Brattleboro is evaluating its solid waste options. Casella, the only company to respond to the service request, is in ongoing discussions with the Town. Assistant town manager Patrick Moreland will update the select board on Tuesday and recommends gathering public input before making a decision.
A man from Hardwick was arrested on Saturday for stealing a car in Walden. The man, identified as 41-year-old Brook Stotesbury, pulled out a knife and attempted to assault the driver, 27-year-old Gerin Fortin. Fortin managed to escape from the car, but Stotesbury drove away. Fortin was dragged for a short distance before letting go of the car. Stotesbury was later arrested in Berlin and charged with aggravated assault and grand larceny. He is also facing additional charges in Berlin and is scheduled to appear in court in May.
Efforts persist to include more Holocaust education in Vermont schools. The Vermont Holocaust Memorial and Jewish Vermonters, along with lawmakers, are advocating for two bills that have been stagnant in the House and Senate since last year. They highlight that Vermont is the sole state in New England without mandatory Holocaust education. The bills, H.294 and S.87, propose six hours of annual Holocaust education for students in grades six through 12.
Firearms dealers nationwide will soon be required to conduct background checks on buyers at gun shows under a new rule proposed by the Biden administration. In Vermont, gun rights advocates argue that similar regulations have been in place for years, while gun control advocates are pushing for more restrictions. Vermont lawmakers are currently focusing on a bill addressing ghost guns, which can be assembled from parts or 3D printed without serial numbers, making them untraceable. The bill, S.209, mandates that owners must have a serial number added by a licensed dealer, undergo a background check, and wait 72 hours before transferring the gun
Vermonters save money while going green at the state’s largest energy fair. The LEAP Energy Fair in Duxbury offers a variety of booths with electric vehicles and pellet stoves. Visitors can explore the market, ask questions, and make informed choices. Carmel Kelley of Duxbury shared her positive experience with a hybrid water heater installed through connections made at the fair. The event also includes guest speakers who provide information on financing and subsidies for energy efficient upgrades.
Joe’s Pond officially iced out on Sunday morning, according to the Joe’s Pond Association. On their website, they say Joe’s Pond iced out at 4:02 am. The Northeast Kingdom contest has been going on since the 1980s. Records have been kept since 1988 and the earliest the block had fallen was April 5th in 2010. Each year, the association puts the block tethered to a clock out on the ice. When the ice melts, and the block falls through, the clock records the ice-out time. The Ice Out competition is a game of chance, where people predict the date and time the block falls through and win big. This year marked the 37th year of the winter tradition. Last year, the ice broke on April 17 at 10:18 p.m. More than 11,000 tickets were sold.
WTSA SPORTS FOR MONDAY APRIL 15th 2024
THE CELTICS BEAT THE WIZARDS YESTERDAY 132 -122. THE CELTICS FINISH THEIR REGULAR SEASON WITH A LEAGUE BEST AT 64 – 18. THE FIRST ROUND OF THE NBA PLAYOFF WIL START APRIL 20TH.
THE BRUINS ARE IN WASHINGTON TO TAKE ON THE CAPITALS TONIGHT, THEY DROP THE PUCK AT 7PM. THE BRUINS HAVE CLINCHED THE PLAYOFF POSITION.
THE REDSOX BEAT THE ANGELS YESTERDAY 5 – 4. THE REDSOX START A 4 GAME SET THIS MORNING AT FENWAY WITH A 11:10AM FIRST PITCH
THE YANKEES BEAT THE GUARDIANS YESTERDAY 8 – 7. YANKEES ARE IN TORONTO TONIGHT FOR A 3 GAME SERIES WITH THE BLUE JAYS, FIRST PITCH IS 7:07 TONIGHT.
AND THE 128TH BOSTON MARATHON HAPPENS TODAY…