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Where Democrats lost ground in Vermont’s House – VTDigger

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Where Democrats lost ground in Vermont’s House – VTDigger


In Tuesday’s election, Vermonters voted to change the balance of power in the state’s House of Representatives during the next legislative biennium. Republicans picked up 17 seats, bringing their ranks to 55 in the 150-member chamber. 

Democrats held 105 seats alone by the end of the 2023-2024 session, but now will be left with just 88, meaning they’ve lost their supermajority. Their numbers are bolstered by alliances with Progressives and independents, who will occupy the same number of seats as they do now: 4 and 3, respectively. But even with full cooperation, their numbers would not allow them to pass bills into law over the veto of Republican Governor Phil Scott. That requires a two-thirds vote in the chamber, or at least 100 votes. 

Fourteen incumbent House Democrats lost their seats, though two of them will be replaced by fellow Democrats. Several lawmakers from districts in Bennington, Caledonia and Rutland counties were ousted, as were at least one from Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, Washington and Windsor counties. 

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Among them are several veteran lawmakers who hold leadership positions and other legislators who just started in 2023. Voters have left almost no House committee unchanged. 

  • Rep. Diane Lanpher, D-Vergennes, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, first elected in 2008, was bested by Republican Rob North of Ferrisburgh. 
  • Rep. Mike McCarthy, D-St. Albans City, chair of the House Government and Military Affairs Committee, fell to Republican Joe Luneau also from St. Albans City.
  • Rep. Stephanie Zak Jerome of Brandon, a House member since 2019 and vice chair of the House commerce committee, fell to Republican Todd Nielson, also of Brandon.
  • Robin Chesnut-Tangerman of Middletown Springs, vice-chair of the House Committee on General and Housing, was bested by Republican Chris Pritchard of Pawlet.
  • Rep. Carl Demrow, D-Corinth, ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee, fell to Mike Tagliavia, also of Corinth.
  • Rep. William Notte, D-Rutland City, an assistant majority leader, lost his seat to Republican Chris Keyser, also of Rutland City.
  • Rep. Mike Rice, D-Dorset, elected in 2022, lost to Republican Sandra Pinsonault, also of Dorset.
  • Rep. Bobby Farlice-Rubio, D-Barnet, elected in 2022, fell to Republican Debra Lynn Powers, a Waterford Republican.
  • Rep. Dennis LaBounty, D-Lyndon, also elected in 2022, lost to Republican Martha “Marty” Feltus, a former lawmaker, also of Lyndon.
  • Rep. Julie Andrews, D-Westford also elected in 2022, was bested by Republican Brenda Steady of Milton.
  • Rep. Josie Leavitt of Grand Isle, also elected in 2022, lost a race to Republican Leland Morgan, a former state lawmaker from Milton.
  • Rep. Heather Chase, D-Chester, elected in 2022, fell short in her race against Republican Thomas Charleston, also of Chester.
  • Rep. Jonathon Williams, D-Barre City, elected in 2022, landed third in a four-person race. Republican Mike Boutin of Barre City came out on top, and a different Democrat, Edward “Teddy” Waszazak, was second. 
  • Rep. Jim Carroll of Bennington, came in third to both Rep. Mary Morrissey, R-Bennington, and fellow Democrat Michael Nigro. The two seatmates were both in the spotlight over the past session, Carroll for a drunken driving arrest in Montpelier and Morrissey for her behavior towards Caroll, which included repeatedly soaking his personal belongings. 

Elsewhere, Democrats lost ground when newcomers were unsuccessful in filling a seat vacated by an incumbent. 

  • Republican Mike Southworth of Walden bested Sabrina Morrison of Hardwick.
  • Republican Greg Burtt of Cabot prevailed over Thomas Ziobrowski of Danville.
  • Democrat Jim Ryan of Wolcott was unable to overcome a challenge from Richard Bailey of Hyde Park. 
  • Republican Kevin Winter of Ludlow outlasted Adrienne Raymond of Shrewsbury.
  • Republican VL Coffin of Cavendish bested Mark Yeungling of Weathersfield. 

Republicans Jim Casey of Hubbardton and Ken Wells of Brownington won without a fight when Democrats did not field a candidate for one stepping down.

The highlight for Democrats was in a Chittenden County district, where incumbent Rep. Sarita Austin and newcomer Wendy Critchlow, both of Colchester, were able to overcome Republican challengers to swing one seat the other direction. 

The overall balance of power is complicated by party shifts in two other districts. Northfield’s Anne Donahue, a long-time Republican, won reelection as an independent, while Democrat Chris Morrow of Weston was able to win a seat for his party previously held by independent Kelly Pajala who did not run. 

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Milton man injured in shooting

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Milton man injured in shooting


COLCHESTER, Vt. (WCAX) – Colchester Police Department say a 25-year-old man from Milton is injured after a shooting in Colchester.

Police say it happened around 6:45 Saturday evening, when the station received a call reporting a loud “bang” followed by screaming from the area of 806 Blakely Rd.

Right after, police say a man entered CPD headquarters lobby with a facial wound saying he had just been shot.

Police and emergency crews treated a 25-year-old Milton man before taking him to the UVM Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries.

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Investigators identified the suspect from information gathered at the scene and arrested them. Police say the event seems targeted, with no increased danger to the public.

This is an ongoing investigation, WCAX will continue to provide updates as we know more.



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See schedules, scores for Jan. 16-19 UVM basketball, hockey games

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See schedules, scores for Jan. 16-19 UVM basketball, hockey games


UVM welcomes Adrian Dubois as new men’s soccer coach

Adrian Dubois answers questions from the media following his introductory press conference on Monday, Dec. 22.

All the University of Vermont winter sports teams are hot, coming off big wins. No team is hotter than the men’s basketball team which is the last undefeated team in America East play with a 3-0 start and the women’s hockey team is undefeated in its last four games with three wins and a tie.

The men’s basketball team has Saturday, Jan. 17 off, before a big Martin Luther King Jr. Day trip to Albany for a game televised on ESPNU at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19.

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Can the Catamounts keep on winning this weekend? For schedule, scores and stats from all games, read on below:

FRIDAY, JAN. 16

Women’s hockey

Vermont 2, Maine 2 (Vermont wins shootout 2-1)

V: Oona Havana 1G. Julia Mesplede 1G, 1A. Josie Hemp 1A. Rose-Marie Brochu 1A. Natalie Zarcone 1A. Zoe Cliche 20 saves.

M: Stephanie Jacob 1G. Mackenzie Podewell 1G. Sade Sandilands 2A. Gracie Hanson 1A. Isabelle Michaud 1A. Kiia Lahtinen 26 saves.

Note: Kaylee Lewis made the game ending shot in the fifth round of the penalty shootout. Both teams converted their first try before missing in rounds 2-4.

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Men’s hockey

UConn 4, Vermont 1

UC: Joey Muldowney 2G. Ethan Whitcomb 1G. Mike Murtagh 1G. Jake Richard 2A. Ryan Tattle 2A. Trey Scott 2A. Tom Messineo 1A. Ethan Gardula 1A. Tyler Muszelik 30 saves.

V: Jonah Aegerter 1G. Cedrick Guindon 1A. Matteo Michels 1A. Axel Mangbo 28 saves.

Note: The Catamounts’ three-game winning streak was snapped in the loss at No. 11-ranked UConn.

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SATURDAY, JAN. 17

Women’s hockey

Maine at Vermont, 2 p.m.

Men’s hockey

Vermont at UConn, 4 p.m.

Women’s basketball

UAlbany at Vermont, 6 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 19

Men’s basketball

Vermont at Albany, 1 p.m.

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.

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Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.





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A Shelburne couple’s quest for VT to prevent bird deaths from windows

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A Shelburne couple’s quest for VT to prevent bird deaths from windows


SHELBURNE — Just outside the window in front of Bruce and Marcia Fowle’s dining table  recently, birds took their turns at a green feeder hanging off the side of the house. A grid of small square stickers on the window gave the couple confidence that their feathered friends wouldn’t fly into the glass. 

The couple sat with John Lomas, a Hinesburg furniture maker, and tried to identify each bird that took its feed in the snowy yard. The gaggle had become friends over their mutual love for the avian animals — and their mutual concern about the threat buildings can pose to them. 

“Any time there’s a bird and glass, there’s a threat. Anywhere. Not just in cities,” Marcia said. 

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More than 1 billion birds collide with glass every year in the United States, with most fatal collisions happening at homes and buildings shorter than four stories, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The collisions happen because reflections in glass tend to disorient birds, creating the appearance of a space in front of them rather than a flat surface. 

Bruce, a New York City architect known for his environmentally sustainable designs, moved to Shelburne two-and-a-half years ago with Marcia, who for years ran a bird conservation group in the Big Apple. Since making the move, the couple, along with Lomas, said they think bird collisions receive too little attention in Vermont. 

In November, the Fowles and Lomas helped host an event for about 40 architects at Burlington architecture firm TruexCullins to talk about bird-friendly designs with people in the industry. Lomas and the Fowles are pushing the latter’s retirement community, Wake Robin in Shelburne, to outfit windows with new features. And they hope to host some educational events in town this spring. 

Kent McFarland, a conservation biologist at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, said bird collisions are often less monitored in rural and suburban areas. 

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Though Vermont may not have towering sky scrapers, the state still has buildings with glass, making bird kills possible. “The ingredients (for collisions) are there,” McFarland said. 

How can you prevent birds from hitting your windows?

Experts recommend buildings use alternatives to typical clear glass to prevent bird collisions. Glass that’s frosted or etched with patterns can give birds the image of a solid surface, rather than a reflection. Ultraviolet patterned glass is visible to birds but appears transparent to the human eye.

Bruce cofounded the firm that designed the Reuters building and The New York Times building and redesigned the Javits Center, all in New York. The latter is one he especially points to as an example of preventing bird collisions through building design. Lomas admires his work and the pair has bonded over a common idea: A building isn’t sustainable if it harms birds. 

Naturally, Bruce’s pioneering bird friendly designs take inspiration from his wife. “I’m into birds because I’m married to Marcia,” he said. 

Marcia grew up in a suburb of Boston where the Massachusetts Audubon Society was based, a place that fostered her love for birds. In the 1990s she joined the New York City Audubon Society, now called the New York City Bird Alliance. 

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When she later became the organization’s executive director, the organization started a project to monitor and research bird collisions in the city and spread awareness for the issue. 

The org lobbied local leaders, and in 2020 the city passed a law aimed at reducing bird collisions. The law, called Local Law 15, requires developers to use bird-friendly designs and materials when undertaking new construction and some renovation projects. 

According to the group, anywhere from 90,000 to 230,000 birds die in New York City each year from collisions with glass. Marcia and her colleagues have seen that phenomena up close. 

Marcia said that one of her colleagues, on her way to work everyday, walked around the Twin Towers and picked up the bodies of dead birds, she said. It led the group to begin freezing the bodies and keeping a tally, Marcia said. 

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Then that work started to rub off on Marcia’s husband.

“I was ridden with guilt because I was designing high-rise buildings all over New York with lots of glass,” Bruce said. 

In 2009, his firm began redesigning the Jacob K. Javits Center, a convention center on the west side of Manhattan. The original facade of the building was almost completely made of glass, some of which was opaque and some of which was transparent, Bruce said. 

“It was nasty because it was a very dark but very highly reflective glass,” Bruce said. He knew that meant birds were flying into the surface. 

The city, which was paying for the redesign, didn’t care about making the building more bird friendly, Bruce said. But officials did care about making it more energy efficient — so his firm considered all different types of glass.

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“I had birds in mind the whole time, but I couldn’t say that,” Bruce said. 

The final design used transparent glass covered in a dense pattern of dots. Bruce said the design reduced the energy consumption of the building by 25% and stopped birds from collisions. The design also replaced the original roof with one made of sedum plants, which lived on atop a thin membrane of earth and attracted birds to stop or nest. Last Bruce heard, birders had spotted 64 different species on the roof, he said. 

“It’s easier for people to see the problem in a city. But the problem exists everywhere. And if we could see every dead bird that was killed in the state of Vermont, by glass, it would be enormous,” Marcia said. 

McFarland, from the ecostudies center, said he’s never seen any research on bird collisions in Vermont, but he’s sure they happen. The Fowles and Lomas said the same thing. 

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McFarland said there are also simple measures people can take to prevent bird collisions with the windows at their home or office. Bug screens, sticker decals, tempura paint or string on the outside of windows can break up the image of a reflection for birds. Experts recommend spacing obstacles like paint or decals in a grid two inches apart.

Charlotte Oliver is a freelance journalist in Vermont.



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