Vermont Republican lawmakers are set to address a projected 5.9% property tax increase for the upcoming year. House Republicans will hold a press conference following the Democrats’ announcement of their education finance reform plan, which is linked to the tax hike. The new estimates stem from preliminary school budgets. If approved by voters on Town Meeting Day, the statewide property tax will need to rise nearly 6% to fund school expenditures, adding to last year’s nearly 14% increase that resulted in residents rejecting about one-third of school district budgets.
On Tuesday at approximately 5:30 PM, a Vermont State Police Trooper discovered a vehicle that had crashed into the guardrail on I-91 in Dummerston. The driver, James Clark (44) of Chichester, NH, exhibited signs of impairment and resisted law enforcement commands, becoming disorderly. A search revealed brass knuckles on his person. After being taken to the Westminster Barracks, Clark continued to act aggressively. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. He was subsequently issued a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court, Windham Criminal Division, on February 18th to address the charges.
A man accused of murdering his wife in 2021 during a vacation is back in court. Joseph Ferlazzo, from New Hampshire, is charged with killing his 22-year-old wife, Emily Jean, in Bolton. Although he allegedly confessed to the crime, he has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. Last month, Ferlazzo appeared in court for a hearing to dismiss potential jurors deemed unable to assess the case impartially. The case’s extensive media coverage has complicated the selection process, making it challenging to find unbiased jurors.
Vermont’s new public retirement program, ‘Vermont Saves,’ is now open for enrollment, as announced by the state Treasurer’s Office. This initiative targets approximately 88,000 workers in Vermont, particularly women and individuals from Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, who lack employer-sponsored retirement plans. Employers with five or more employees without a current plan must enroll in Vermont Saves by February 2025. Employees will be automatically enrolled in a Roth IRA with various investment options, allowing them to select their contribution amount or opt out entirely.
Drivers exhibited remarkable patience as they awaited their opportunity to drive the newly constructed Gen. John Stark Memorial Bridge connecting Hinsdale to Brattleboro on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. Prior to the official opening of the roadway, crews were engaged in painting new traffic lines on the Hinsdale side of the bridge. Due to the colder temperatures, the drying time for the paint was extended. Concurrently, the signal lights were being adjusted to accommodate the new traffic pattern, and the road signage was being revealed. As 3 p.m. approached and passed—beyond the scheduled opening time—drivers continued to approach the new intersection of Route 142 and Route 119, inquiring if they could access the bridge.