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New England Features Three Top U.S. Fall Foliage Road Trips, According to Travel + Leisure

New England Features Three Top U.S. Fall Foliage Road Trips, According to Travel + Leisure

New England Features Three Top U.S. Fall Foliage Road Trips, According to Travel + Leisure
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Senator Sanders Accuses Dairy Farmers of America of Illegal Union Busting in St. Albans Creamery Closure

Senator Sanders Accuses Dairy Farmers of America of Illegal Union Busting in St. Albans Creamery Closure

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has publicly accused Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), the nation's largest dairy cooperative, of engaging in illegal union busting by closing the St. Albans Creamery. Sanders alleges that the closure is a retaliatory measure against nearly 80 unionized workers who went on strike last year to demand better pay and working conditions. Standing with workers outside the facility, Sanders called for DFA to reverse its decision, emphasizing the creamery's importance to local dairy farmers and the community. DFA, which acquired the facility in 2019, announced in June its intention to 'idle' the creamery. The company has vehemently denied Sanders' claims, labeling them as 'ridiculous and inaccurate.' A federal judge in Burlington issued a five-day restraining order blocking DFA from closing the plant, and Teamsters Local No. 597 members attempted to return to work, though they were not permitted entry. Another hearing in federal court is scheduled for Thursday. The union claims to p...
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Senator Kaine Supports Luria's Healthcare Plan to Address Medicaid Cuts and Rural Health Crisis

Senator Kaine Supports Luria's Healthcare Plan to Address Medicaid Cuts and Rural Health Crisis

Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) has publicly endorsed former Representative and current Democratic congressional candidate Elaine Luria's healthcare reform plan. Luria's proposal aims to enhance healthcare accessibility and affordability for Virginians by targeting predatory medical debt collectors, pharmaceutical monopolies, and Wall Street firms acquiring hospitals for profit. A key component of her plan, which Senator Kaine specifically supports, is the restoration of Medicaid cuts. Senator Kaine emphasized that reversing these cuts is crucial to avert a 'catastrophic crisis in rural health.' Luria's initiative also includes expanding access to telehealth, mobile, and community healthcare options. Her announcement followed a roundtable discussion in Franklin, Virginia, highlighting the vulnerability of rural hospitals like Bon Secours Southampton Medical Center to closure.
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Two Adults Cited for Underage Drinking in East Montpelier

Two Adults Cited for Underage Drinking in East Montpelier

In East Montpelier, Vermont, two adults, Lucky Boardman, 42, of Berlin, and Sophia Bowater, 55, of Middlesex, have been cited by police for allegedly allowing minors to consume alcohol at a party on County Road on August 9. The individuals are also accused of attempting to impede the police investigation into the incident. Both Boardman and Bowater have been issued citations to appear in Washington County Superior Court next month to address the charges. This action follows an investigation by local authorities into reports of underage drinking.
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Vermont Officials Seek Solutions for Forest Industry After New York Mill Closure Impacts Pulpwood Market

Vermont Officials Seek Solutions for Forest Industry After New York Mill Closure Impacts Pulpwood Market

Vermont officials are actively seeking solutions for the state's forest industry following the announcement that Finch Paper, a major wood plant in Glens Falls, New York, will no longer accept woodpulp from Vermont. This closure has created a significant void in the market for local loggers, leaving approximately 2,000 weekly tons of low-grade pulpwood without a destination. The lack of a market for this material is causing severe financial distress for loggers, with many forced to sell equipment or lay off workers. The forest industry is foundational to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom economy, supporting timber harvesting and recreational trails. The situation threatens the viability of the state's Current Use program, which offers tax breaks to landowners who manage their land for timber or agricultural purposes, as foresters may find it unsustainable to continue operations.
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Vermont Governor Supports Continued Participation in Federal Border Patrol Program Amid Deputy Investigation

Vermont Governor Supports Continued Participation in Federal Border Patrol Program Amid Deputy Investigation

Vermont Governor Phil Scott has stated that the state should continue its involvement in Operation Stonegarden, a federal program that allows local police to patrol the U.S.-Canadian border. This statement comes amidst an ongoing investigation into Chittenden County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Costella. Deputy Costella is accused of violating Vermont’s Fair and Impartial Policing policy by handing over a migrant farmworker to immigration officials while working under the federal program. Vermont's policy explicitly prohibits state law enforcement officers from engaging in immigration enforcement. Operation Stonegarden, a post-9/11 initiative, enables local law enforcement to receive overtime pay for border security patrols, primarily for national security purposes. Advocates have called for Vermont to withdraw from the program, arguing that it blurs the lines between civil immigration law and criminal law.
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Virginia Hospitals Face Widespread Labor and Delivery Unit Closures, Impacting Rural Mothers

Virginia Hospitals Face Widespread Labor and Delivery Unit Closures, Impacting Rural Mothers

Several hospitals in Southwest Virginia have closed their labor and delivery units in recent years, creating what health leaders describe as a growing maternity care desert. This trend has left expectant mothers in rural areas with significantly longer travel times to access obstetric care. For instance, LewisGale Montgomery ceased labor and delivery services in 2024, and Sovah Health in Martinsville followed suit in 2022. Crystal Fink, a licensed midwife at Roanoke Birth and Perinatal Center, noted that options for birthing facilities have steadily disappeared, forcing residents to travel to larger cities like Roanoke. More than one in three Virginia counties are now considered maternity care deserts, lacking birthing facilities and obstetric clinicians. This situation affects approximately 7,000 births annually in rural parts of the state, with some mothers reportedly delivering on the side of the road or in church parking lots due to the increased distances to hospitals. While facilities like the Roanok...
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U.S. Senators Urge Dairy Farmers of America to Keep St. Albans Plant Open Amid Union Dispute

U.S. Senators Urge Dairy Farmers of America to Keep St. Albans Plant Open Amid Union Dispute

U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch of Vermont have written a letter to Dennis Rodenbaugh, President and CEO of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), urging the cooperative to keep its St. Albans dairy processing plant open and to reach a fair agreement with the union. This intervention comes after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to halt the plant's planned closure, which was set for Monday. The Teamsters Local No. 597 union filed a complaint alleging that DFA's decision to idle the plant was an illegal act of retaliation following a strike last year. The union claims supervisors indicated the closure was linked to the strike and cited an internal memo labeling 'union decertification' as the primary reason. DFA has denied these allegations, stating that the closure is due to broader operational and network changes, not union activities. The temporary order will last for five days, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday afternoon where the union will seek a longer stay.
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Vermont Healthcare Worker Receives Community Support Amidst ICE Check-in

Vermont Healthcare Worker Receives Community Support Amidst ICE Check-in

Steven Tendo, a Ugandan asylum seeker and licensed nursing assistant at UVM Medical Center, attended a routine Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) check-in in St. Albans, Vermont. Tendo, who has been living in Vermont since 2021 under a stay of removal, was accompanied by a crowd of supporters. Despite initial concerns that he might be detained, Tendo emerged from the facility after 15 minutes to a cheering crowd. He was given a 90-day reprieve before his next scheduled ICE check-in. Tendo is currently barred from working while he navigates the legal process of his asylum claim. He expressed gratitude for the overwhelming community support he has received, noting that Vermonters have provided him with food, housing, and educational opportunities.
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Ugandan Asylum Seeker Steven Tendo Receives 90-Day Extension for ICE Check-in in Vermont

Ugandan Asylum Seeker Steven Tendo Receives 90-Day Extension for ICE Check-in in Vermont

Steven Tendo, a Ugandan asylum seeker and licensed nursing assistant at UVM Medical Center, attended a routine check-in at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in St. Albans, Vermont. Supporters gathered, anticipating his potential detention. However, Tendo emerged 15 minutes later, having been granted a 90-day extension before his next required check-in. Tendo has been living in Vermont since 2021 under a stay of removal, which temporarily halted his deportation order. He is currently barred from working while his legal process is ongoing. Tendo expressed gratitude for the overwhelming community support he has received from Vermonters, who have provided housing, food, and educational assistance.
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Vermont Officials Deploy Bird Noise Devices to Deter Loitering at Capitol Complex

Vermont Officials Deploy Bird Noise Devices to Deter Loitering at Capitol Complex

The Scott administration in Vermont is implementing a new strategy to address homelessness and quality-of-life concerns in Montpelier. Following earlier efforts that included deploying state Troopers to Burlington, officials are now using bird-noise devices at the historic Pavilion building within the Capitol complex. These devices are intended to deter individuals from gathering on the porch, where incidents such as fights, discarded syringes, human waste, and a fire have been reported. The bird squawking devices will operate between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. This measure comes after previous attempts, including portable toilets and signs requesting people not to gather, proved ineffective. Governor Phil Scott stated that the alternative would be arrests, which the administration aims to avoid. This initiative is part of a broader approach by the Scott administration to manage public spaces and address issues related to the unhoused population.
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Colchester Man Cited for Driving 102 MPH and Suspected Impairment on I-89 in Milton, Vermont

Colchester Man Cited for Driving 102 MPH and Suspected Impairment on I-89 in Milton, Vermont

Vermont State Police cited Thierno Diallo, a man from Colchester, for driving 102 mph on I-89 south in Milton. The incident occurred on Tuesday night, where Diallo was observed traveling significantly above the posted 65 mph speed limit. Upon stopping Diallo, state troopers noted that he appeared to be under the influence of drugs. Consequently, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. Diallo has been cited to appear in court in October to face the charges related to speeding and impaired driving. This event highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to enforce traffic laws and ensure road safety.