Vermont
A breakdown of what got done during the Vt. legislative session
MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont lawmakers wrapped up the legislative session in the early morning hours Saturday, passing an $8.6 billion state budget.
Lawmakers tackled issues like housing and flood recovery, but also passed a number of new tax increases, including a 3% tax on short-term rentals, a 6% tax on business software and a 3.4% tax when second homes are bought or sold. It comes as Vermonters will also see a 0.44% payroll tax starting July 1 that will help pay for child care.
The session started with flood recovery in the forefront of everyone’s mind but ended with clashes among the House, Senate and Gov. Phil Scott over taxes and spending.
The session was defined by big questions about the future of education and no federal stimulus money to fall back on.
“This has been a hard session. Perhaps the hardest session of my 20 years here in the Statehouse,” said Sen. Allison Clarkson, D-Windsor County.
State lawmakers grappling with the soaring cost of education and spiking property taxes passed a plan to raise them by 13.8%.
The plan, sarcastically blasted by Senate Minority Leader Randy Brock, almost certainly faces a veto from Governor Scott.
“Most Vermonters will be happy that we’ve tamed the property tax problem by limiting this year’s increase to only double-digits,” said Brock, R-Franklin County.
Others stressed the challenges are in contrast to massive legislation last year.
“This has been a dark year but it’s been an amazing biennium,” said Sen. Phil Baruth, D-Vt. Senate President Pro Tem.
Lawmakers also struck 11th-hour deals on retail theft, stiffer penalties for drug trafficking and Act 250 reform. The proposal is intended to balance conservation and the housing crisis.
But not everything made it, including a proposed wealth tax, a bill reforming the state Fish and Wildlife Board, another banning cellphones in the classroom and a proposal to pause the PCB testing program.
The end of the legislative biennium again put the Democratic supermajority at odds with Republican Gov. Phil Scott. In his goodbye speech to lawmakers, Scott acknowledged their differences.
“I think most of us want the same thing. We just have a different vision on how to get there. And after this session, it’s clear that we have a little more work to do,” the governor said.
Political experts say the moderate Republican governor and Democrats are divided on what degree the state should spend and tax.
“I do think you see a deeper debate over principle here between Democrats who are willing to raise more taxes and a Republican governor who thinks it’s central to his philosophy to hold the line,” said Bert Johnson, a Middlebury College political science professor.
As Scott prepares to campaign for a fourth term, we’re tracking at least six bills on the way to his desk that could end in a veto. State lawmakers will return on June 17 to attempt to override.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.
Vermont basketball at America East tournament: Quarterfinal interviews
Vermont basketball coach John Becker and players TJ Hurley and Nick Fiorillo discuss America East quarterfinal win on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
Vermont women’s basketball won the opening tip and took control. Catherine Gilwee drove into the paint and nailed a jumper from just inside the free-throw line.
That was just the start of one of her best games of the season.
Gilwee’s team-high 16 points was more than enough as No. 2 Vermont women’s basketball cruised to a 62-45 win over No. 3 Bryant in the America East semifinals at Patrick Gym.
“I saw my first shot go in and it just gave me a lot of confidence to keep shooting,” Gilwee said. “The more you see go in, obviously the more you want to shoot.”
With the win Vermont (20-12, 14-3) booked its third straight trip to the America East championship game.
The Catamounts will take on top seeded Albany in the America East final on Friday at 5 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
Bryant brought its band, cheerleaders and dance team to Burlington and they made Patrick Gym louder than usual. The Bulldogs’ loud student support cheers of “Defense” were easy to hear made it feel like tournament time.
“We want (a) championship atmosphere, even on home sites,” Vermont coach Alisa Kresge said. “It felt like you were sometimes in a neutral (site) and then the Vermont crowd was like you guys are being loud, we’re going to be louder.”
Gilwee, a redshirt junior, scored 11 of Vermont’s first 13 points on 5 made field goals. Gilwee’s scorching start helped Vermont build a 15-6 lead.
The Catamounts lead swelled to 21-10 at the end of the first quarter as they appeared to not have the same nerves that plagued them in the quarterfinals.
Gilwee’s 16 points led all scorers and set a new season high. She also dished out four assists.
Bryant (17-14, 9-8) never recovered from its slow start in the program’s first-ever America East semifinal.
Besides the dominant offensive output, the Catamounts have been stellar on the defensive end during this playoff run. Vermont has held their opponents to a max of 15 made field goals in two straight games.
The Catamounts controlled the glass, finishing with 33 total rebounds compared to Bryant’s 19.
Anna Olson led the Catamounts with 10 rebounds, all on the defensive end making her presence known there after just scoring 4 points.
“I don’t really care if I score,” Olson said. “I just want to do my role to the best of my abilities. I had a tough match up with Nia Scott. My mindset going into this game was I need to stop her. If I can stop her from scoring I’m going to equate that to scoring a point.”
The Catamounts have a deep roster where any player in its seven-women rotation can contribute double-digit points on any given night. Three other Catamounts joined Gilwee to cross double figures: Sarah Ericson (11 points), Nikola Priede (10 points) and Keira Hanson (10 points).
Now Vermont sits one game away from making it to its second NCAA tournament appearance in three years.
“We’re really really lucky to have amazing people in all aspects of our program from our administration to our players to our support staff and everyone’s so bought in,” Kresge said. “And that’s what’s really special about Vermont as a whole, our community, everyone really cares about each other.”
Contact Judith Altneu at jaltneu@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – The trial for a man accused of two murders in Chittenden County has been delayed.
Denroy Dasent, 54, of South Burlington, faces second-degree murder charges after police say he shot and killed Sheikhnoor Osman at a Burlington apartment complex in 2022.
Dasent is also the suspect in a separate murder on the same day at the Swiss Host motel in South Burlington.
He is expected to be tried for both cases in the same trial, which was supposed to start on Tuesday. But the trial has been delayed following a motion for an emergency psychiatric evaluation.
His attorney says there are concerns about Dasent’s competency and mental state.
Copyright 2025 WCAX. All rights reserved.
ROCKINGHAM, VT (WFSB) – A father and his 4-month-old son died in a crash on I-91 in Rockingham, Vermont.
Vermont State Police identified the victims as Taylor Binnington, 39, and Parry Lake, 4-months-old, from North Haven.
On Saturday at 7:20 p.m., police responded to what they called a 10-plus car crash on I-91.
Two of the vehicles were involved in the fatal crash. Police said the rest were involved in minor crashes and slide-offs due to icy roads and low visibility during a snow squall.
According to authorities, a fuel tanker truck was stopped ahead of the crashes where it was rear-ended by a Hyundai. Police said the Hyundai was unable to stop in time due to icy roads.
They confirmed Binnington, the driver of the Hyundai, was pronounced dead on scene.
The truck driver was not injured.
Binnington’s wife, Evelyn Lake, was seated in the back seat with their two sons.
Evelyn and her 3-year-old were brought to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said the other son, Parry, was life-flighted to a hospital where he later died.
Channel 3 is working to get more information. Refresh this page for updates.
Copyright 2025 WFSB. All rights reserved.
Jokic, playing his ‘best basketball,’ fuels win
Oregon State WBB: Shuler's Game-Winner vs Gonzaga Pushes Beavers To Finals
Fight breaks out between parents at Pennsylvania high school basketball game
RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for March 10, 2025
Five things that must change for South Carolina basketball to go on an SEC Tournament run
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
The U.S. Is Trying to Deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Legal Resident. Here’s What to Know.
Judge blocks anti-Israel Columbia agitator Mahmoud Khalil from deportation as politicians come to his defense
French President Macron meets Moldovan counterpart Sandu for talks
Menendez brothers face resentencing hurdles with new L.A. district attorney
Elon Musk and Marco Rubio Share Awkward Social Media Embrace After White House Confrontation
-
Politics3 days agoAgriculture secretary cancels $600K grant for study on menstrual cycles in transgender men
-
Politics3 days agoRepublicans demand Trump cut American legal association out of nominee process
-
Politics1 week agoOPM's second email to federal employees asks what they did last week — and adds a new requirement: report
-
News2 days agoGene Hackman Lost His Wife and Caregiver, and Spent 7 Days Alone
-
Politics6 days agoEXCLUSIVE: Elon Musk PAC thanks Trump for 'saving the American Dream' in new million-dollar ad
-
News3 days agoStates sue Trump administration over mass firings of federal employees
-
News3 days agoTrump Seeks to Bar Student Loan Relief to Workers Aiding Migrants and Trans Kids
-
News1 week agoICE is making more arrests, but critics say some claims don't add up