Vermont
‘A historic moment’: Vermont delegates endorse Kamala Harris for president
Vermont’s 16 pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention voted unanimously to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president, according to a statement released by the Vermont Democratic Party.
The delegation’s announcement on Monday came just a day after President Joe Biden, who had been the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, dropped out of the race and backed Harris as his replacement. Since then, Harris has secured enough delegates − including Vermont’s own − to clinch the Democratic nomination.
The official nomination is scheduled to take place at the Democratic National Convention starting Aug. 19 in Chicago.
“Our phones have been ringing off the hook with a record number of people signing up to volunteer to elect Democrats up and down the ticket in November,” said Vermont Democrat Party Chair David Glidden in the party’s press release. “I’m proud to be part of such a historic moment.”
Vermont’s pledged delegates − who were picked in May and June by prominent state Democrats − made their endorsement decision during an unofficial online meeting. Despite throwing their support behind Harris, the delegates are not bound to a specific candidate now that Biden, who won the March primary, is out of the race.
Ten other delegates from Vermont will also attend the August convention, including eight automatic delegates − also known as superdelegates or unpledged delegates − and two alternate delegates. Automatic delegates, which consist of influential Democrats like members of Congress or party leaders, serve as tiebreakers should voting continue past the first round.
Welch, Pieciak, Balint endorse Harris, while Sanders holds off
In addition to the DNC’s 16 pledged delegates this year, several other big names in Vermont politics have also endorsed Harris for president since Biden dropped out on Sunday, July 21.
Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt. − one of the few major politicians in the Green Mountain State to call for Biden to step down − is among the most recent Vermonters to lend support to Harris. Welch initially neglected to endorse Harris, instead advocating for the party to consider all potential options for a new nominee, but changed his position on Tuesday morning after Harris earned the favor of most of the country’s Democratic delegates.
“There is no candidate better equipped to take on Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans and protect our democracy, to advance the Biden agenda, and help strengthen our communities in Vermont − and across America,” Welch said in his endorsement statement, lauding Harris’s background as a prosecutor and her support for reproductive freedom and “hardworking families.”
“She has reinvigorated this campaign,” Welch added.
Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak, D-Vt., endorsed Harris late Monday afternoon, describing her in a statement as having been “an invaluable partner to the President.”
“Her leadership has helped create millions of good-paying jobs, lowered healthcare costs for seniors, and delivered the most robust climate agenda in U.S history,” Pieciak said. “I trust Kamala Harris to finish the job.”
Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., was the first major Vermont politician to throw her support behind the U.S vice president. Following Biden’s announcement on Sunday, Balint wrote on X that “it’s time for all of us to get to work and secure @KamalaHarris in the White House.”
Of Vermont’s three members of Congress, only Sen. Bernie Sanders has yet to officially endorse Harris for president, though he told CNN on Monday evening that “I will do everything I can to make sure that Trump is defeated and that she is elected.” Sanders, an independent, has twice sought the Democratic presidential nomination.
Although Sanders told CNN he expects to lend his official support to Harris eventually, he said he is holding off his endorsement until he knows for certain that Harris “will stand up strongly with an agenda that speaks to the long neglected needs of working families.”
Balint, Welch and Sanders are all automatic delegates.
Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.
Nylah Mitchell’s 20 points carry Burlington girls basketball to win
Nylah Mitchell talks about her dominant 20-point outing where she attacked in the paint and the outlook for Burlington this season.
The 2024-2025 Vermont high school winter season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from basketball, hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, Nordic/Alpine skiing and other winter sports.
TO REPORT SCORES
Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.
►Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter:@aabrami5.
►Contact Judith Altneu at jaltneu@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
SATURDAY, DEC. 28
Boys basketball
Games at 2:30 p.m. unless noted
Middlebury at Mill River, 1:30 p.m.
Oxbow at Arlington, 2:30 p.m.
Girls basketball
Games at 2:30 p.m. unless noted
Winooski at Northfield, noon
U-32 at Lyndon, 1:30 p.m.
Blue Mountain at Woodsville, NH
Williamstown at Vergennes, 3:30 p.m.
Boys hockey
Harwood at Rutland, 11 a.m.
Rice at Saranac, NY, noon
Champlain Valley at Mount Mansfield, 3 p.m.
St. Johnsbury at Colchester, 5 p.m.
South Burlington at Spaulding, 5:15 p.m.
Burlington at North Country, 7 p.m.
Woodstock at Missisquoi, 8 p.m.
Middlebury Tournament
Essex vs. Stowe, 3 p.m.
U-32 at Middlebury, 7 p.m.
Philippe H. Bouthillier Holiday Classic
Consolation, 4 p.m.
Championship, 6 p.m.
Girls hockey
Champlain Valley/Mount Mansfield at Rice, 1:15 p.m.
Rutland at Kingdom Blades, 3 p.m.
Spaulding at Missisquoi, 5:30 p.m.
Stowe at Woodstock, 6:45 p.m.
Middlebury Tournament
Harwood vs. U-32, 1 p.m.
Burr & Burton at Middlebury, 5 p.m.
Hanover Tournament
BFA-St. Albans vs. TBD
Essex vs. TBD
Gymnastics
Harwood at South Burlington, 11 a.m.
St. Johnsbury at Essex, 1 p.m.
Burlington, Montpelier at Burr & Burton, 3:30 p.m.
Wrestling
Hubie Wagner tournament at Middlebury
MONDAY, DEC. 30
Boys basketball
Games at 7 p.m. unless noted
St. Johnsbury at Burlington, 7 p.m. (Sunday)
Richford at Northfield
Essex at Rutland, 6:30 p.m.
Williamstown at Stowe
Lyndon at U-32
Lamoille at Harwood
North Country at Spaulding
Lake Region at Enosburg
Winooski at Missisquoi
Vergennes at Twinfield/Cabot
Mount Mansfield at Champlain Valley
South Burlington at Rice
Oxbow at Blue Mountain
Colchester at BFA-St. Albans, 7:30 p.m.
Girls basketball
Games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Mount Abraham at Montpelier
South Burlington at Colchester
Middlebury at Harwood
Boys hockey
Hartford at Rutland, 1 p.m.
St. Johnsbury at Brattleboro, 3 p.m.
Woodstock at Burr & Burton, 5 p.m.
Spaulding at CVU, 5:25 p.m.
South Burlington at North Country, 6 p.m.
Stowe at Mount Mansfield, 6:30 p.m.
Girls hockey
U-32 at Rutland, 11 a.m.
Harwood at Champlain Valley/Mount Mansfield, 3:15 p.m.
Essex at Burlington/Colchester, 4:20 p.m.
Brattleboro at Stowe, 6:30 p.m.
Kingdom Blades at Missisquoi, 7:15 p.m.
Rice at Woodstock, 7:15 p.m.
Gymnastics
Montpelier, Middlebury at Harwood, 6:30 p.m.
(Subject to change)
JEFFERSONVILLE, Vt. (WCAX) – Despite warm temperatures on the way, skiers and snowboarders are celebrating the snow this holiday weekend. Our Calvin Cutler has a look at the conditions and the future of Vermont’s independent resorts.
If you ask just about anyone why they visit the Smugglers’ Notch Resort, you’ll likely get two answers: the conditions on and off the trail, and the local vibe, being one of the last independent ski resorts in Vermont.
Skiers and riders were swinging into the holiday weekend on ski lifts Friday, taking advantage of an early winter bluebird day to get in a few turns with friends and family.
“A little icy in some spots, but the sun warmed it up and it’s nice now,” said Tosh Moser of Cambridge.
Smuggs received about half a foot of fresh snow this week, allowing them to open 44 trails and their Madonna II lift in time for the crucial holiday weekend.
But temperatures are expected to rise this weekend which could melt away conditions.
“We’ve seen a great start to the season this year, better than last, especially this time last year, so we should be able to fare just fine,” said Caleb Kessler, the social media manager at the Smugglers’ Notch Resort.
As one of the last locally owned resorts in Vermont, Smuggs is an outlier in the ski industry which is undergoing consolidation, as big companies like Vail and Alterra buy up local resorts and pump in cash for new amenities and big infrastructure upgrades, like new snowguns that allow resorts to open earlier and close later. It’s sparking concern from many small American ski towns that their history and culture are fading away.
“You go to some of the bigger company-owned resorts, it’s different people, everything is different there,” said Wyatt McAdoo of Cambridge.
Last year, news of Smuggs considering a first-of-its-kind gondola to the Stowe Mountain Resort reverberated through the ski and ride community. The plan has since been scrapped.
Despite the corporate headwinds, Smuggs is sending the message that its size, culture and vibe set it apart.
“Being small and independent allows us to make decisions more quickly, more easily, be more nimble and gives us our personality as a resort,” Kessler said.
Despite the rain and warmer temperatures in the forecast, skiers and riders at Smuggs are hoping for a long season ahead.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.
The H5N1 bird flu was found in a backyard flock in Vermont, the state’s agricultural agency said Thursday.
The small flock of 24 non-commercial birds in Franklin County was quarantined and put down. The first bird death happened on Dec. 18 and the owner notified authorities on Dec. 19 as more birds died.
“Low risk to human health”
The agency said bird flu “is considered to be low risk to human health,” but the people who came in contact with the infected birds and their surroundings are being monitored by the Vermont Department of Health. There have not been any human cases reported in Vermont or New England from this current outbreak of bird flu in the United States.
The Vermont case of “highly pathogenic avian influenza” is not the same strain that’s currently affecting dairy cattle in other parts of the country, the agency said in a statement. This is Vermont’s fourth case of bird flu in a domestic flock since 2022.
“Despite the low risk to the public, the virus remains deadly to many species of birds,” the agency said. “All bird owners, from those who own backyard pets to commercial farmers, are strongly encouraged to review biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks.”
Bird flu cases in the U.S.
On Dec. 18, the Centers for Disease Control reported that a person in Louisiana had the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the U.S. That person was exposed to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, the CDC said.
There have been 65 reported human cases of bird flu in the country, according to the CDC. Most have come from California and were linked to exposure to infected cattle.
Besides the Louisiana instance, all known human H5N1 cases in the U.S. have been mild, with patients reporting conjunctivitis and upper respiratory symptoms.
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