Two structurally deficient bridges connecting Brattleboro and Hinsdale, New Hampshire, are highlighting a disconnect between the two towns. Some in Brattleboro have big dreams to renovate the closed structures into recreation space, while others would just as soon demolish them. Last year’s grand opening of the General John Stark Memorial Bridge between Hinsdale and Brattleboro improved the commute between the two communities. But it also created a new problem — what to do with the two old bridges owned by New Hampshire that the new span replaced. The bridges are a stone’s throw from downtown Brattleboro, and many residents, including members of the select board, are calling on the Granite State to stick with a plan to restore the structures for a pedestrian trail and other outdoor recreation. Meetings with officials on both sides of the river are continuing. Town officials in Hinsdale say they’ve been told that any sort of renovation of the two bridges would take at least two years.
The federal government’s latest approval of COVID-19 vaccine regulations are raising concerns among health professionals and pharmacists in Vermont, as new rules limit eligibility to people considered high risk. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the fall vaccine rollout will focus on adults 65 and older, along with children and adults who have at least one medical condition that puts them at greater risk for severe illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists asthma, diabetes, disabilities, cancer, and other conditions as examples. At the same time, it is unclear if the vaccines will be covered by insurance when they roll out. Without the coverage, just one vaccine could cost over $100.
New Hampshire has reported a significant number of whooping cough cases this year, particularly among children. This highly contagious disease initially resembles a common cold but can rapidly develop into severe coughing episodes. Medical professionals at Elliot Hospital in Manchester have indicated that they have already encountered 13 cases of whooping cough this year, predominantly in children. With the return of school and the onset of the cold season, they anticipate an increase in cases. According to statistics from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, as of June 30, the state has recorded 63 cases of whooping cough this year. This is in comparison to a total of 69 cases in 2024.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that on August 29, Stephen Loewe, 43, from Springfield, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a 45-month term of imprisonment, followed by a 3-year period of supervised release. Loewe had previously entered a guilty plea for straw purchasing 19 firearms between December 2023 and May 2024. As part of his plea agreement, he acknowledged that he committed robberies at the Claremont Savings Bank in Springfield on August 13, 2024, as well as at the M&T Bank in Springfield on the same day, and at the M&T Bank in Putney, Vermont, on August 14, 2024. Court records indicate that Loewe acquired the 19 firearms from a store in New Hampshire, falsely claiming that they were for his personal use. However, he transferred the firearms to another individual, with 18 of them being handguns that he supplied to his drug dealer in exchange for crack cocaine.
WTSA SPORTS FOR THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4th 2025
THE GUARDIANS DEFEATED THE RED SOX YESTERDAY 8 – 1. RED SOX TAKING 2 OUT OF THAT 3 GAME SERIES. THE SOX HAVE THE NIGHT OFF AND ARE BACK ON THE FIELD FRIDAY IN ARIZONA AGAINST THE DIAMONDBACKS FOR A 3 GAME SERIES. FIRST PITCH FRIDAY LATE AT 9:40PM
THE ASTROS BEAT THE YANKEES YESTERDAY 8 – 7 THEY FINISH UP THEIR 3 GAME SERIES TONIGHT AT 7:40PM.
THE 2025 US OPEN CONTINUES THROUGH SEPTEMBER 7TH.
WEEK 1 OF THE NFL STARTS UP TONIGHT WITH THE COWBOYS AND EAGLES, KICK OFF AT 8:20PM ON NBC