Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders joined teachers outside the Capitol on Wednesday to highlight President Trump’s intentions to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Reports indicate that the department has begun reducing its civil service workforce. This occurs as Trump’s nominee, Linda McMahon, was scheduled for a Senate confirmation hearing today. As a cabinet-level department, full abolition would require congressional approval.
Governor Phil Scott has introduced a comprehensive public safety initiative focused on enhancing drug treatment and offering financial incentives for individuals in recovery. Emphasizing the importance of addressing drug use, the proposal seeks to expand a program that rewards sobriety. Additionally, it suggests providing mental health services within prisons for intoxicated offenders. The plan also encompasses bail reform, the sealing of criminal records, and increased supervision for those facing charges.
Vermont is unveiling a five-year strategic plan, Move Forward Together Vermont, aimed at enhancing outdoor recreation. This initiative is the result of 18 months of stakeholder engagement and focuses on three key themes: preserving Vermont’s recreational and natural resources, promoting physical and mental health, and bolstering opportunities for outdoor recreation businesses.
A Vermont man was sentenced in Franklin Superior Court for a 2023 motor vehicle crash that injured a family of four. On March 12, 2023, Stephen and Stephanie Sojkowski and their two children were returning to Rhode Island after skiing when Javery Hattat, 33, swerved into their lane on Route 2 in Greenfield, resulting in a head-on collision. All four family members sustained serious injuries and were hospitalized. Hattat was convicted of four counts of reckless assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, as well as negligent operation of a motor vehicle and possession of cocaine.
The University of Vermont has attained the prestigious “R1” designation from the Carnegie Classification, placing it among the nation’s leading research institutions. This status is expected to enhance recruitment and grant funding opportunities. In the 2024 fiscal year, UVM secured over $260 million in extramural support, more than doubling its research funding in five years, with the Larner College of Medicine contributing over $100 million.
Average gasoline prices in Vermont remain at $3.14 per gallon, unchanged from last week, but up 4 cents from last month and down 8 cents from last year, as reported by AAA. This week, prices ranged from a low of $2.85 to a high of $3.29 per gallon, a 44-cent difference. Rutland County has the lowest prices at $3.03 per gallon, while Franklin and Lamoille counties have the highest at $3.22. The national average has increased by 3 cents over the past week, now at $3.16 per gallon.
WTSA SPORTS FOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14th 2025
THE DAYTONA 500 IS THIS SUNDAY, RACE TIME AT 2:30PM ON FOX
REDSOX SPRING TRAINING STARTS UP NEXT SATURDAY AGAINST THE TAMPA BAY RAYS, the Rays are preparing to play their 2025 regular season “home” games at the Yankees spring training stadium in Tampa. Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg on Oct. 9, FIRST PITCH NEXT SATURDAY AT 1:05PM
Tom Brady enters the sports collectibles industry with 50% ownership stake in CardVault, ushering in a new era for sports collectables as “CardVault By Tom Brady”
Robert Kraft says Josh McDaniels was the first person Mike Vrabel wanted for his staff.