Vermont’s forests are experiencing significant thirst as the drought persists, potentially resulting in a long-term effect on the state’s landscape. Officials from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources are performing flyovers across the state to identify areas suffering from dryness. Trees situated in rocky or ledgy regions, which absorb less water, are facing the greatest challenges. This situation is causing fall colors to appear earlier and with less vibrancy. The state remains vigilant in monitoring the effects of drought on its forests.
A local man was arrested on multiple charges following a traffic stop on Monday afternoon. Vermont State Police conducted a stop on Putney Road for a motor vehicle violation around 2:38 p.m. on Sept. 22. The driver was identified as 41-year-old Timothy Buckley from Brattleboro. An investigation revealed that Buckley was operating a vehicle with a criminally suspended license. Police noted that he was required to have an ignition interlock device in his vehicle, which was absent. Buckley showed signs of impairment and declined to take a test for driving under the influence. He was taken into custody and transported to the Westminster Barracks for processing. Buckley was subsequently released with a criminal citation to appear in Windham County Superior Court on Oct. 28th.
A federally funded initiative that assists students at VTSU-Castleton in achieving their higher education objectives may be at risk. The McNair Scholars Program supports low-income, under-represented, and first-generation college students in pursuing graduate studies. However, this federally funded program appears to be losing support, as institutions nationwide have seen their programs discontinued. Although this has not yet occurred for Castleton, the program is only funded until the end of the month, and time is of the essence. While the program has not yet received a cancellation notice regarding its funding, it only has sufficient resources to last until September 30th. Nevertheless, both professors and scholars remain hopeful.
On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the University of Vermont officially opened its BioLabs Innovation Center in Colchester, VT, a new facility for life science startups offering fully supported coworking lab and office spaces to foster innovation in the Green Mountain State. The new 7,000-square-foot incubator center, a venture with the global company BioLabs, aims to support entrepreneurs and startup companies specializing in all areas of life sciences research and development.
Criminal suspects in New Hampshire are now likely to encounter stricter bail conditions due to a new law that took effect over the weekend. This bail law was the first legislation signed by New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte in March. It reverses bail reform measures enacted seven years ago by, among other things, granting judges greater discretion in deciding whether to detain individuals accused of violent crimes. Lebanon Police Chief Phil Roberts was among over 70 chiefs statewide who endorsed the new law. “We observe case after case in New Hampshire where these defendants are released. Recently, we have witnessed a few high-profile murder cases in Berlin and Manchester, where the defendant should not have been on the streets,” Roberts stated.
Two individuals chosen for NASA’s latest astronaut class have connections to our area. Lauren Edgar hails from Washington but obtained her bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Meanwhile, Imelda Muller from New York received her medical degree from the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine. This year, only 10 candidates were selected from a pool of 8,000 applicants. They will undergo two years of training before qualifying as flight-ready astronauts for missions to Earth, the moon, and eventually Mars.
WTSA SPORTS FOR WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24th 2025
THE REDSOX BEAT THE BLUE JAYS LAST NIGHT 4 – 1 GAME 2 OF THEIR 3 GAME SERIES IS TONIGHT FIRST PITCH AT 7:07PM’
THE YANKEES DEFEATED THE WHITE SOX YESTERDAY 3 – 2 GAME 2 OF THEIR 3 GAME SERIES IS TONIGHT FIRST PITCH AT 7:05PM
NHL PRESEASON, THE BRUINS BEAT THE RANGERS YESTERDAY IN OT 5 – 4. FOUR MORE PRESEASON GAMES FOR THE BRUINS, NEXT UP IS SATURDAY AGAINST THE FLYERS AT 5PM
Boys Junior Varsity Soccer It’s Twin Valley vs. Brattleboro, at Twin Valley Middle/High School in Wilmington at 1:30 p.m