Brattleboro has granted 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in local elections. Those who will be 18 by the November general election can also vote in the state’s presidential primaries. The change required legislative approval and was initially rejected by Republican Gov. Phil Scott. However, the Democratic-controlled Legislature overrode the governor’s veto, allowing more Brattleboro teenagers to vote and run for local government positions. The ability for 16 and 17-year-olds to serve on the local school board was not included in the measure approved by town residents in 2019.
When it comes to residential reentry centers, Vermont Sen. Peter Welch says the U.S. Bureau of Prisons is leaving Vermont behind. Vermont is one of only two states that doesn’t have a facility designed
to help formerly incarcerated people reenter society with housing,
substance use, and unemployment help. According to Welch, D-
Vermont, the BOP director said she would consider putting a reentry
center in Vermont if the congressional delegation supported it, which
It was in a letter in December. In a hearing on Wednesday, Welch
followed up on what he calls the BOP’s refusal to put a center in the
state. The BOP said that because, so few people are released back
into Vermont, it doesn’t make financial sense to put a center in the
state. Welch said the state needs one regardless, and he plans to keep
advocating for a residential reentry center.
A budget adjustment bill in Montpelier will continue the homeless hotel program, but with lower reimbursement rates. This has raised concerns that some hotels may leave the program, leading to more people being homeless. The state will now cap hotel vouchers at $80 per room per night starting in March for the 1,701 households currently in the program. Housing advocates criticize the state for not providing sufficient notice or clarity on which hotels will still participate.
Vermont lawmakers are headed on a path to approving a bill prohibiting ghost guns. S.209 would prohibit the possession and transfer of these unregulated, unserialized and untraceable firearms. It also establishes a process for federal firearms dealers and licenses to print serial numbers on firearms. Nationally, the U.S. Department of Justice says the number of ghost guns recovered by law enforcement agencies increased by more than 1,300% from 2016 to 2022. Because these guns are not traceable, they inhibit law enforcement’s ability to solve gun crimes.
Change Healthcare, the operator of Vermont’s Medicaid pharmacy claims system, faced a major cyber security problem recently. This issue has affected pharmacies and providers not only in Vermont but also across New England. The Vermont Department of Health has reported that this cyber security issue has caused service disruptions in all 50 states, impacting various healthcare sectors. Optum Solutions, the parent company of Change Healthcare, is actively working to address the ongoing service outages. Unfortunately, the outage is expected to persist throughout the week, and Optum has not yet provided a timeline for when full service will be restored.
Police say someone shot through the wall of a Vermont school, but investigators do not believe it was a malicious act. Vermont state police say a bullet hole was discovered Wednesday in the wall of one of the buildings at the Burke Town School. They say the bullet hit a bookshelf and was found on the floor. Troopers say a muzzleloader fired the round from a considerable distance away from the school, and they do not believe it was malicious. Investigators say according to staffers at the school, the shooting could have happened anytime between August 2023 and Feb. 28, 2024.
WTSA SPORTS FOR FRIDAY MARCH 1ST 2024
THE CELTICS ARE BACK ON THE COURT TONIGHT AT TD GARDEN AGAINST THE DALLAS MAVERICKS. THE CELTICS ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR 10TH STRAIGHT, TIP OFF AT 730PM TONIGHT.
THE BRUINS BEAT THE GOLDEN NIGHTS LAST NIGHT SNAPPING THEIR LOSING STREAK, 5 – 4. THE BRUINS ARE OFF TONIGHT AND ARE BACK ON THE ICE SATURDAY ON THE ROAD AGAINST THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS. THEY DROP THE PUCK AT 7:30PM ON SATURDAY.
IN NASCAR CUP SERIES THIS SUNDAY IT’S THE PENNZOIL 400 A THE VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, RACE TIME AT 3:30PM SUNDAY, THE RACE IS ON FOX.
According to multiple sources, the Patriots have a plan in place to reshape their QB position. The plan is to sign a veteran, draft a QB at No. 3 and potentially sit the rookie if need be. Mac Jones is also on his way out.