Vermont’s treasurer says the president’s new tariffs will end up costing
Vermont households a total of over $1 billion a year. The treasurer’s office
crunched the numbers from both Wednesday’s “Liberation Day” tariffs and the
ones the Trump administration has already imposed. They used estimates from
the Yale Budget Lab, a nonpartisan research center, which said the tariffs would
cost the average U.S. household an extra $3,800 a year. Vermont has 279,612
households, so multiplying those brings the total to $1.06 billion.
The federal office that administers money to Vermonters as part of the Low-
Income Home Energy Assistance Program has been shut down. The shutdown is
connected to the 10,000 layoffs sought by the Trump administration this week
at the Department of Health and Human Services. On Thursday, 13 U.S.
senators, including two Republicans, sent a letter to Health Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy Jr. urging the administration to reverse its decision to cut the LIHEAP
staff. They warned the terminations will undermine the agency’s ability to
provide a “crucial lifeline” for low-income seniors and families. The Vermont
Department for Children and Families, which helps administer LIHEAP, says the
program will continue to operate this season but is still assessing potential
impacts for next season.
On Thursday, a little before 8:30am, Officers of the Brattleboro Police
Department responded to a suspicious complaint on Edward Heights. After an
investigation, it was determined that Preis Lyn Benoit was operating a vehicle
with a criminally suspended license. She was arrested for the offenses of Driving
with a Criminally Suspended License, Reckless Endangerment, Aggravated
Disorderly Conduct and Unlawful Mischief. Benoit was transported to the
Brattleboro Police Department where she was issued a citation. She is
scheduled to appear in Windham County Superior Court on May 20th.
Also on Thursday, Officers from the Brattleboro Police Department conducted a
motor vehicle stop on Putney Rd. After an investigation, it was determined that
Brady Chilson and Kimberly Hazlett were in possession of suspected crack
cocaine. Chilson and Hazlett were both issued a citation and released. Chilson
and Hazlett are scheduled to appear in Windham County Superior Court on May
20th.
Attorney General John M. Formella has announced the arrest of James
Tetreault, 60, of Winchester, on charges related to falsifying a marriage record
and misconduct in his capacity as a justice of the peace. Tetreault, who currently
serves as the Town Clerk and Tax Collector for Winchester, has been charged
with one class B felony count of Vital Records Fraud and one class A
misdemeanor count of Notarial Misconduct. The charges allege that Tetreault
knowingly signed and certified a marriage license stating he had officiated the
ceremony, when in fact, he had not. Tetreault is scheduled to be arraigned on
May 7.