Vermont
An ICE operation in Vermont leads to violent clashes between protesters and police – The Boston Globe
Federal authorities deployed flashbang devices and pepper-sprayed those who refused to allow police cars to depart.
The incident began around 7:30 a.m., when federal authorities attempted to detain a man in a busy neighborhood of South Burlington, according to local and State Police. The man fled in a car and struck several other vehicles — including two operated by ICE officials who were attempting to box him into a parking lot, police said. The man was seen entering a nearby house.
Migrant Justice, a Vermont-based activist group, activated its rapid response network, prompting supporters to arrive at the house and block its doors so that authorities could not enter. As a dozen masked ICE officers stood sentry, more activists joined the scene throughout the day — chanting, singing and, at times, hurling insults at authorities.
Police shut down traffic for several blocks around the house, which is located between a middle school and a shopping center, not far from Interstate 89.
Grace Oedel, a nonprofit executive and rabbi, was among those leading the crowd in song. In an interview, she compared ICE’s actions to those that took place in Nazi Germany, where relatives of hers were killed.
“This is completely, clearly immoral, abjectly racist, dehumanizing policy,” she said. “And it is our human duty to stand for our neighbors and make sure everyone and everyone’s children are safe.”
At times during the day, the protest took on a carnival-like atmosphere. Rae Beecher, a South Burlington resident, carried over a charcoal grill and set it up outside the house to cook hotdogs.
“I am here as a person who abhors what is going on here and also fights for the freedom of eating, as well,” Beecher said, rotating hotdogs with grilling utensils. “I feel like my duty as a neighbor is to make sure that everybody is fed in every circumstance.”
But the mood turned darker around 5 p.m., when a law enforcement official in an unmarked vehicle pulled up in front of the house and announced to the crowd that a federal judge had issued a criminal arrest warrant for the person they believed was inside.
Dozens more federal, state and local police officers arrived — many in tactical gear, holding rifles aloft — and pushed their way through the crowd, entering the house with the help of a battering ram. Officers shoved several people to the ground.
“ICE, out! ICE, out!” protesters chanted.
Nearly half an hour later, police escorted two women and a man from the house to an unmarked SUV, but it remained trapped at the scene as protesters lined the street on either side. Some threw dirt, banana peels and water bottles at the cars. Officers donned respirators and fired pepper spray projectiles. Some police vehicles escaped by crossing the median and speeding away before protesters could stop them.
Four members of the crowd were detained by local and state law enforcement and quickly released, according to South Burlington Police Chief Bill Breault.
The fate of those inside the house was unclear. ICE did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
According to Seven Days, a Burlington newspaper, the warrant was issued for Deyvi Daniel Corona-Sanchez, a Mexican man who faced previous charges for criminal trespass and driving under the influence. It was not clear whether Corona-Sanchez was among the three occupants of the house.
At a press conference Wednesday night at South Burlington City Hall, local and state police sought to distance themselves from the actions of their federal counterparts. They said their departments had complied with state policies limiting cooperation with federal authorities on immigration matters — and were focused on keeping protesters and officers safe.
Breault criticized what he called “poor decision-making and planning” by federal authorities — citing their decision to apprehend someone in a busy neighborhood as children were heading to school.
“That would not have been how I would have done it,” he said. “I will be clear about that.”
Paul Heintz can be reached at paul.heintz@globe.com. Follow him on X @paulheintz.
Vermont
Debate over ICE masking bill complicates, for a moment, end of session in the Vermont House – VTDigger
We’re outta here
That’s all, folks.
The Vermont Legislature adjourned for the year, and for the 2025-26 biennium, Friday night. Senators finished up their work just before 6 p.m., and the House followed suit two hours later. I’m not complaining about the time. I was happy, in fact, to be on the road home with a sliver of daylight left.
The House took longer to finish in part because its adjournment got tangled up in a bill, ultimately doomed, that as originally proposed would have barred federal officers such as ICE agents from wearing masks.
The bill, S.208, emerged from a joint House and Senate conference committee Thursday. In order for the latest version of the legislation to be taken up on the floor so soon after, though, the House needed to suspend its rules. Such a procedural move needs three-quarters approval. And while rules suspensions are common late in the session, when it came to taking up S.208 “for immediate consideration,” that was not the case.
House lawmakers voted 81-51 in favor of expediting the bill’s timeline, falling 18 short of the 99 needed to meet the threshold to cast aside the chamber’s rules.
After that, the House took up and passed, with no debate, this year’s budget bill, H.951. Then, House Speaker Jill Krowinski, in her last floor session holding the gavel, brought up the last thing lawmakers had to approve for the year: a resolution formally dictating the terms of adjournment.
But some lawmakers weren’t ready to be done with S.208. Rep. Brian Cina, P/D-Burlington, stood and asked for a roll call vote on the adjournment resolution itself, “due to the important impact of S.208 on our open democracy.”
His comments mirrored those of several senators earlier in the night who had lamented on the chamber floor how the bill was falling by the wayside. The Senate also adjourned without taking any floor action on the compromise version of S.208.
Ultimately, 15 other House members joined Cina voting against the adjournment resolution in a vote of 114-16. After it was approved, the rest of the formalities of adjournment played out, including a requisite speech from Gov. Phil Scott.
“I’m going to try and make this brief,” the governor said at the outset of his remarks. “I guarantee it’ll take less time than it did to roll call the adjournment address.”
Beyond debate over S.208, adjournment in both chambers was marked by emotional farewell remarks from Krowinski, D-Burlington, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, both of whom aren’t seeking reelection.
Krowinski said her favorite memories from her 14 years in the House have been “the quieter moments most Vermonters never witness,” such as “members helping one another through difficult days, offering support regardless of politics and members coming together to support a colleague through a rough time.”
Baruth at times teared up as he recounted his 16 years in the Senate. And the English professor closed his speech with a nod to some of his favorite literature.
“It will hurt not to find my seat when the bell rings next session,” Baruth said. “But even Frodo Baggins — and you know that ‘The Lord of the Rings’ means everything to me — even Frodo Baggins knew when it was time to follow Bilbo to the Grey Havens.”
OK, our turn now
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VTDigger reporters fanned out this session to bring you the news from Montpelier. Clockwise from top left, Shaun Robinson, Ethan Weinstein, Charlotte Oliver and Corey McDonald. File photos by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerBefore we go, some thanks are in order.
Putting together an originally-reported newsletter every day of the session — on top of the traditional news stories our readers expect — is no easy task. While you’re used to seeing my byline, and that of our fearless Statehouse Bureau Chief, Ethan Weinstein, there are a host of others who make this work possible.
Several other VTDigger reporters took the lead on issues of Final Reading this year, including Charlotte Oliver, Olivia Gieger, Theo Wells-Spackman and Corey McDonald. Meanwhile, ace photographer Glenn Russell captured many of the moments — like this one — that defined this year’s session.
Chad Lorenz, contributing editor on the politics desk, and Ruth Hare, VTDigger’s managing editor, brought their decades of experience and watchful eyes to each day’s newsletter. Noel Clark, VTDigger’s digital editor, and Night Editor Nathan Allen turned the plain text of a Google Doc into the email that landed in your inbox every night. Taylor Haynes, the newsroom’s audience and product director, made sure that email looked as good as it did.
And of course, we’re grateful to all of you — almost 8,000 subscribers — who turned to this newsletter, and do so year after year, to stay on top of the news under the Golden Dome.
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— VTD editors
While we’re gone
Even though the legislative session lasts just five months, our coverage of state government and politics is year-round. Your tips and pitches help us find the stories readers care about and that need to be brought to light. So don’t be a stranger, even if it’s just a little harder to reach us than flagging us down in the Statehouse hallways.
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Until next year!
— Shaun Robinson
Students who plan to enter the workforce after graduation are being celebrated at the Northwest Career & Technical Center’s 2026 Skilled Trades Signing Day.
The event is scheduled for 1 to 2:30 p.m. June 5 in the BFA Saint Albans Gymnasium, according to a community announcement.
Modeled after collegiate athletic signing days, the event will feature students signing “letters of intent” with future employers. The ceremony aims to recognize students for their hard work, technical skill development and commitment to pursuing careers in Vermont’s workforce.
Students from various programs at the Northwest Career & Technical Center are expected to participate, including those entering fields such as electrical, construction, cosmetology and engineering.
Participating students and their future employers include:
- Theodore DeCiantis – Alliance Group (Electrical)
- Nolan Howrigan – BP Construction
- Lexie Lemieux – Downtown Cuts
- Brayden Rooney – Engineers Construction Inc.
- Hunter Gagne – Engineers Construction Inc.
- Nicholas Boomhower – Engineers Construction Inc.
- Quinton Nicholas – Handy Toyota
- Natalie Powers – Hayward Tyler
- Kaleb Bocash – Hazelett
- Damien Callan – Husky
- Hailey Carey – Jubilance Salon
- Hallie Robtoy – Jubilance Salon
- Ryiah Gaudiaso – Lake Shore Hair
- Kris Mumert – MEI Electrical Contractors
- Logan Little – Milton CAT
- Alisa Freighberger – Nail Nook
- Jonas Wagner – Omega Electric
- Collin Langevin – PC Construction
- Vernon Ouellette – PC Construction
- Brandon Murray – RPM Engines
- Wyatt Blake – United Ag & Turf
- Edan Peters – VHV
- Owen de Jesús López – VHV
- Grace Robert – Villa Rehab Center
“We are incredibly proud of these students and the opportunities they have earned,” said Lisa Durocher, assistant director at Northwest Career & Technical Center. “This event highlights the value of career and technical education and the strong partnerships we have with local employers who are investing in the next generation of skilled professionals.”
The Northwest Career & Technical Center, located in St. Albans, provides career and technical education opportunities for high school students and adult learners throughout northwestern Vermont. Programs include automotive technology, building trades, cosmetology, culinary arts, digital media, electrical, engineering technologies, human services, medical professions, outdoor technology and public safety and law enforcement.
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
The 2026 individual Vermont High School tennis tournaments concluded on Sunday, May 31 with a quartet of first-time winners.
Both girls match-ups went to a third set tiebreak with Essex senior Hannah Knickerbocker capturing her elusive title. Burlington High School swept the boys singles and doubles tournaments becoming the first school to accomplish that feat since St. Johnsbury did it in 2019.
Read on below for a recap from both tournaments’ finals.
Hannah Knickerbocker upsets top-seed in final; while Stowe’s freshman tandem wins doubles
In the last two individual tournaments, Hannah Knickerbocker advanced to the semifinals before her run ended there. This past offseason, Knickerbocker spent a lot more time honing her tennis skills. With a stronger tennis IQ, Knickerbocker cruised into the finals with a trio of straight set wins.
“Consistency and shot choice,” Knickerbocker said. “I think I improved with knowing when to go for a win and when not too.”
There Knickerbocker earned a match with No. 1 seeded Anna Dauerman from Champlain Valley, the 2024 champion and last year’s runner-up. The match was competitive with Knickerbocker winning a three-set thriller 6-4, 4-6, 10-8, becoming the first female Hornet to win an individual title since 2007.
The skills Knickerbocker worked on in the offseason paid off in her match against Dauerman.
“Anna’s a really hard fighter so a lot of balls come back and if you go for too much on the wrong one then she would beat you,” Knickerbocker said.
This is Knickerbocker’s fifth state title overall after winning the Division I girls volleyball championships all four years of high school. The 2024 Vermont Gatorade Player of the Year in volleyball is pivoting to a stronger focus on tennis. Knickerbocker will be playing Division I tennis at the University of New Haven starting next school year.
While Knickerbocker saw this part of her career end on a high note, the doubles champions of India Freund and Belle Gaines from Stowe hope to usher in a new wave of tennis talent. The freshmen tandem, partnered up for the first time this season for the individual tournament and won three straight matches to reach the final.
Then in the championship, Freund and Gaines took down Champlain Valley’s tandem of Sara DiGuglielmo and Justyna Amblo in three sets, 7-6 (7-3), 0-6, 12-10. The duo built on the momentum they gained from their three-set victory over Essex’s team into May 31’s final.
“We both like high-pressure situations, so maybe that’s what we needed to play our best tennis,” Freund said.
Freund and Gaines are great friends on and off the court who play tennis together all year around making this a tandem a formidable duo. Freund and Gaines showed maturity after getting crushed in the second set to squeeze out the win in the tiebreaker.
“It was really impressive of us to not get in our heads and it did for a bit,” Gaines said.
Burlington sweeps the boys singles and doubles finals
The boys tennis had some drama with rain forcing an interruption of the matches’ at Leddy Park to drive over to the The EDGE Sports & Fitness in Essex. Still the pause (that was almost two hours for the double players) did not affect the players in the lead.
No. 3 Niah LeMay held a 4-2 lead in set 1 entering the weather related intermission against teammate and top-ranked Oscar Crainich. LeMay did not let the pause phase him or interrupt his momentum.
“Just a lot of deep breaths and tried not to think about it,” LeMay said. “I turned on the radio and listened to some music.”
The sophomore bested his teammate in straight sets with a 6-3, 7-5 victory. In his run to the title, LeMay knocked off the top-two seeds. The only set he has lost all season came against No. 2 Charles Young from Middlebury in the semifinals. LeMay brought the energy with passionate bursts of emotion after nailing a tough shot.
LeMay becomes the first male Seahorse to win an individual title since 2004. It’s the first time since 2015 that the singles final featured two members from the same school. LeMay and Crainich have been rotating between the No. 1 and No. 2 single spots for Burlington this year after helping the Seahorses capture the 2025 team title.
“I have only beaten him once in the past,” LeMay said. “It felt really good to beat him since he’s one of my main competitors if not my main competitor.”
The winning for Burlington did not stop at singles. The Seahorses No. 3 ranked doubles tandem of Miles Kenny and Ben Koh captured the championship as well sweeping No. 1 Middlebury Nate Cook-Yoder and Nathan Stefani 6-4, 7-5.
The weather pause came after the Seahorses claimed the first set. It’s the second straight year Burlington claimed the doubles title. This is Kenny and Koh’s second championship this spring after helping Burlington win the 2026 Unified Basketball title earlier in May.
Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
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