Vermont health officials are warning the public about a spreading norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug. Symptoms typically last around three days, including vomiting and diarrhea. Dr. Tim Lahey from UVM Medical Center advises that individuals who are not severely affected should remain at home, stay hydrated, and avoid spreading the virus. However, he emphasizes that young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals who struggle to maintain hydration or nutrition should seek emergency medical care.
U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) expressed his support for the announcement of $67.84 million in flexible funding for Vermont from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This funding, part of the Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program and authorized by the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025, aims to assist communities affected by the July 2023 floods. Senator Welch stated, “In the aftermath of Vermont’s brutal floods, I promised we would not abandon families and communities impacted by this disaster. This bipartisan disaster aid package delivers on that promise, providing over $67 million in recovery funds for our hardest-hit communities. This funding will enable Vermont to make significant progress in rebuilding stronger and more resilient communities.” The overall disaster aid package allocates $12 billion in Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery CDBG-DR funds nationwide to support recovery from natural disasters. For further details on this story, please visit wtsaradio.com and click today’s news.
Senator Welch, alongside the Vermont Congressional Delegation, has advocated for disaster aid funding throughout Vermont’s catastrophic flooding, which devastated communities in July 2023 and again in July 2024. The comprehensive disaster relief bill provides more than $100 billion total in disaster relief, and contains many of Senator Welch’s top priorities for Vermont: Support for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF); dedicated help for flood-impacted farmers; flexible spending through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery fund; and low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help businesses and homeowners recover, among other resources.
Read the announcement from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Game Warden Kelly Price has accumulated a wealth of experiences during his 23 years with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Notably, he recently retrieved a deer from a swimming pool in late October. While he takes great pride in his work and has a deep affection for the agency, he has decided to retire in the summer of 2025. At 53 years of age, Price, a graduate of high school in Northampton, Massachusetts, joined the service immediately after graduation and later returned to New England to engage in general labor. He expressed his intention to use this upcoming period to “reground” himself, reflecting on his past, present, and future aspirations.
Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas announced the upcoming release of Vermont’s first ever Civic Health Index, a report measuring how civically engaged Vermonters are across the state and in relation to the rest of the country. The report is due to be published on January 15th.
The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 cases rose to their highest level since early November, while hospitalizations subsided after a brief rise, but remained low. There was only 1 reported fatality over the last two weeks. The number of reported COVID cases rose to 138 from 106. Wastewater monitoring still shows a relatively low level of virus, except for a spike in the Montpelier report to its highest level in a full year. The pandemic death total stands at 1,235 as of December 24, 2024
A recent study reveals that Vermont ranks ninth in the nation for drug overdose fatalities. Although there has been a national decline in overdose deaths across the United States, the crisis remains severe in specific states, exhibiting disturbingly high mortality rates due to drug overdoses. The research conducted by Universal Drugstore examined overdose mortality statistics, the prevalence of prescription drug misuse, and the demand for substance use treatment, identifying the states most affected by prescription drug misuse.
U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) has been appointed as the Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee for the 119th Congress. Established in 1946, this committee is composed of members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Senator Hassan has been a member of this committee since 2017. In addition, she will participate in the Senate’s Finance Committee, the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Vermont welcomes new EPA ban on dry cleaning chemicals as cleanup continues. Only one dry cleaning company in Vermont still uses the cancer-causing chemicals perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). But the chemicals, known as chlorinated solvents, have been found at over 100 sites across the state due to historic contamination. They seep into groundwater and soil, and evaporate at low temperatures, polluting indoor air.“They can remain in the environment for over 100 years,” said Patricia Coppolino, who manages the contaminated sites program at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.
WTSA SPORTS FOR WEDNESDAY JANUARY 8th 2025
THE OILERS BEAT THE BRUINS YESTERDAY 4 – 0 THE BRUINS ARE OFF TONIGHT AND ARE BACK ON THE ICE THURSDAY IN TAMPA AGAINST THE LIGHTNING, THEY DROP THE PUCK AT 7PM THURSDAY
THE CELTICS ARE BACK ON THE COURT ON FRIDAY AT HOME AGAINST THE KINGS, TIP OFF AT 7:30PM
IN LOCAL BOYS ICE HOCKEY, U-32 VISITS THE BRATTLEBORO BEARS TONIGHT, THEY DROP THE PUCK AT 7:15PM