Vermont
Brattleboro’s Latchis Theatre: A Journey Through Cinema – Valley News
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — Ever since the Latchis Theatre debuted the day after the Great New England Hurricane of 1938, its operators have aimed to take the town by storm with one splashy film premiere after another.
Consider “That Certain Age,” a now-forgotten musical comedy, “rushed from Hollywood by airplane” for the grand opening before its release anywhere else, the local newspaper reported at the time.
Or “The Wizard of Oz,” screened after a 1939 downtown parade that featured the horse-drawn carriage Judy Garland rode through Munchkinland.
Or “Gone with the Wind,” which arrived with the advertised claim, “Brattleboro will be the first town in the country of less than 10,000 population to see it.”
“A lot of the history of cinema has taken place right here,” Jon Potter, the Latchis’ current executive director, said in a recent interview. “We hearken back to a golden age, and part of the experience is a trip back in time.”
This summer, the Latchis is offering the latest sequels to “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Toy Story” and “Spider-Man.” Yet operators say 2026’s biggest draw so far is an Oscar-winning best picture — not the reigning “One Battle After Another,” but 1942’s “Casablanca,” which sold a near-capacity 400 tickets in a recent one-night-only return.
“Things are in a transformative moment,” Potter said. “Our movie audience is half of what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, so we are doing more special events than ever of all shapes and sizes.”
The Latchis is set to host David Lubin, author of the new book “Ready for My Close-Up: The Making of Sunset Boulevard and the Dark Side of the Hollywood Dream,” as part of a June 14 showing of the 1950 film.
“Democracy Now!” host Amy Goodman will arrive June 19 with her new documentary “Steal This Story, Please!” as part of a program moderated by her brother, VTDigger podcast host David Goodman.
And the “Classics at the Latchis” series that has ranged from 1942’s “Now, Voyager” to 1983’s “Terms of Endearment” will continue June 21 with a Father’s Day presentation of 1973’s “Paper Moon.”
“There aren’t too many places that are a first-run movie theater and also an event space,” Potter said, “and that can be a challenge.”
The Latchis’ main auditorium can’t rely solely on films, as every “Casablanca” is a current box-office bomb that detonates upon arrival. But the theater also can’t limit itself to live performances, since it’s the only cinema in a half-hour radius.
As a result, the Brattleboro landmark has a history of promising something for everyone.
The Art Deco picture palace opened in 1938 as a memorial to Greek immigrant-turned-impresario Demetrios Latsis. (An Ellis Island registrar misspelled that original surname, resulting in what’s now on the marquee.) The four-story building was billed as “a town within a town” for its cinema, 30-room boutique hotel, restaurant and sidewalk of shops.
The block provided entertainment and escape during the Depression and World War II, then saw audiences scatter with the arrival of Interstate 91 and the internet. The Latchis became a nonprofit organization in 2003, only to face $500,000 in flood damage from 2011’s Tropical Storm Irene and up to $1,000 in daily losses at the height of the 2020 pandemic.
To make ends meet, the Latchis now rents its main auditorium and three smaller screens for private events. It mixes in live stage shows: the Windham Philharmonic played there last week and a new production of the opera “Tristan und Isolde” is set for August. It’s also plugging into technology for simulcasts from New York’s Metropolitan Opera and London’s National Theatre.
Theater manager Luis Negron came up with “Casablanca” when brainstorming a film for Valentine’s Day.
“It’s not only about love,” he said, “but also people were so ready to see heroes winning.”
Even so, Negron was surprised when fans arrived with the lyrics to “La Marseillaise,” the French national anthem that’s heard in the movie.
“When it played, some people stood up and started singing,” he said. “And every time a Nazi appeared, they booed.”
“It turned a little bit into Rocky Horror,” confirmed Potter, referring to the 1975 cult picture show.
The Latchis isn’t sure how locals will respond when it screens 1951’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” in September. But with the latest “Star Wars” spinoff reporting a 70% drop in U.S. ticket sales from its first to second week, the Brattleboro theater is willing to try something different.
“We’re just opening the doors to what we can do here,” Potter said. “There are lots of reasons to stay home, so you have to give people a reason to come out.”
This story was republished with permission from VtDigger, which offers its reporting at no cost to local news organizations through its Community News Sharing Project. To learn more, visit vtdigger.org/community-news-sharing-project.
Political parties are quick to declare victory when the bills they support make it into law. But for Vermont’s Republican minority in the Legislature, it was the laws they succeeded in rolling back this year that seem to have the party celebrating just as much.
In a newsletter to supporters last month, Paul Dame, chair of the Vermont Republican Party, adopted a sweeping tone as he reflected on the 2026 legislative session that had ended just days before.
“If Vermont’s Republicans are not the most effective minority in any legislature in the country, then I’d like to hear who is,” Dame wrote in the email. The GOP accomplished its goals, he went on, “in ways that seemed impossible just two years ago.”
Two years ago, Vermont’s 2023-24 legislative biennium ended with Democrats enacting six bills into law that Republican Gov. Phil Scott had vetoed and that Scott’s GOP allies in the House and Senate broadly opposed. Democrats were able to do so because they had a supermajority of seats in both chambers.
But then, voters elected a wave of additional Republicans to the House and Senate that November — many if not all of them maligning some of those new laws on the campaign trail — and the political dynamic in the Statehouse changed.
In the two years since, Republicans enjoyed more committee leadership roles, which dictate which bills get airtime, and found an easier path to get some of their party’s priorities into law. Dame pointed, for example, to a 2025 law expanding state tax breaks for military retirees, something Scott had backed for years with no success.
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Democrats still held a majority of seats in both chambers and so could set the agenda as they liked. They had their own priorities that they pursued, at times over many Republicans’ opposition, such as a new legal avenue for Vermonters to sue federal agents whom they allege have violated their constitutional rights.
But Republican leaders said that one of, if not their biggest, win of the 2025-26 biennium, which started last January and ended this May, was slowing or reversing some of the policies passed in the prior two-year period.
“Most of what Republicans did was apply the brakes,” Dame wrote in another newsletter last month. Even if the party succeeded in some ways, though, “there is still work to do in order to turn the car around and start moving toward prosperity instead of away from it,” he added.
Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, said the results of the 2024 election made it clear to him that his GOP colleagues would try to change some of what his caucus passed before.
“And that’s part of the democratic process,” he said in an interview. “The voters are the ones who decide. And so, given the change in the chamber, I think they accomplished some of their goals.”
Baruth agreed Republicans had a stronger voice in the Statehouse the past two years, but said he didn’t think that meant the legislative process was more confrontational.
“By and large it was not, every day, a struggle with an emboldened minority,” he said. “We worked very smoothly together — on what amounted to the Democrats’ agenda.”
The policies Republicans repealed was a focus for Gov. Scott at a press conference the week after the Legislature adjourned.
“We’ve now spent an entire session undoing harmful policies passed by the previous supermajority rather than making meaningful progress,” he said in early June.
‘The highlights of the session’
The most significant reversal Republicans say they won this year was to a slate of conservation measures included in a 2024 land use law, Act 181. That was one of the laws Democrats passed over Scott’s veto and opposition from the GOP.
Parts of the law aimed to loosen state reviews for new housing in already-developed areas. But at the same time — in response to climate change and habitat loss — the law added environmental protections for building projects in sensitive areas.
As state officials rolled out draft maps of these areas, ire from rural landowners, local officials and housing proponents bubbled up. Their opposition, which was echoed by Republican Lt. Gov. John Rodgers and GOP members of the House and Senate, also drew a large protest on the Statehouse steps in March.
After the Senate passed a bill delaying the implementation of some of those provisions, Democratic House leadership went a step further, and in an unexpected about-face approved a rollback of those measures entirely. That’s what lawmakers ultimately passed in May and Scott then signed into law.
Dame also pointed, in an interview, to how the 2025-26 biennium marked the end for the Clean Heat Standard, a 2023 law that Democrats also enacted over Scott’s red pen aimed at reducing the carbon emissions that come from heating and cooling buildings.
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Democrats came into the 2025 session understanding the policy was dead. The state’s Public Utilities Commission had recommended against moving it forward over concerns about its cost to consumers and the fact Vermont had little to model the initiative on.
Many Republicans, who cited concerns over costs of the policy on the campaign trail in 2024, pushed for a formal repeal over the past two years, which would have been largely symbolic but that they argued would show a spirit of compromise. Language repealing the policy passed the Senate, but the House did not take it up before adjournment.
“Things like the Clean Heat Standard would have made things more expensive for Vermonters,” Senate Minority Leader Scott Beck, R-Caledonia, said in an interview. “So the ability to knock back those types of increases, and actually move the other direction a little bit — and then also to get (parts of Act 181) repealed — were probably the highlights of the session for Republicans.”
Republicans also flexed their legislative numbers in at least one other key instance this year. That was over a bill that sought to largely bar federal law enforcement officers, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, from wearing masks.
When House Democratic leaders tried to bring a final version of the bill up for a vote on the final day of the session in May, House Republicans used a procedural move to block its consideration, killing the legislation. The move drew ire from Democrats, though not all of them supported the bill due to concerns a judge would find it unconstitutional.
Scott’s veto pen
At the same time, because Democrats could no longer override Scott’s vetoes on their own over the past two years, the likelihood of a bill getting rejected was at times enough for lawmakers not to advance it. A veto threat, for instance, was the reason at least some legislative leaders gave for why they did not pursue any policies that would help the state get on track to meet its carbon emissions reduction goals this year.
Scott leveraged that power throughout this year’s session. He spent months threatening to veto the state budget and key property tax rate-setting legislation if lawmakers did not advance a version of this year’s marquee legislation — an education reform plan — that he liked. Democratic lawmakers for a time contemplated whether the state government might shut down as a result, but they reached an education deal with time to spare.
The veto threat loomed over lawmakers’ decision to use more state revenue this year to again reduce property tax increases — a move backed by Scott. Lawmakers put $101 million in the coming fiscal year’s budget to “buy down” the average education property tax rate increase statewide.
Beck said Republicans’ increased numbers in the House and Senate could be directly tied to lower average increases in property tax bills. He contrasted the tax-rate setting legislation that Democrats enacted over Scott’s veto in 2024, which resulted in a 13.8% average increase in bills, to the versions of the annual bill enacted in 2025 and 2026, which set out an average increase of 1.1% and 3.5%, respectively. (Actual tax rate increases — or even decreases — have and will vary widely by town.)
“I think those are huge, huge wins,” he said Thursday.
To be sure, some Democrats, particularly in the Senate, voiced support for buying down property tax rates to the greatest extent possible from the beginning of this year’s legislative session.
“I told people on election night that I heard the message — and I do believe the message was primarily around the burden of the property tax,” Baruth said, referring to 2024.
The governor ultimately vetoed fewer bills over the 2025-26 biennium than he did in 2023 and 2024. In the more recent period, he rejected 13 bills, though one was over a technical error in how the bill was drafted and not a policy disagreement. Over the two years before that, he rejected 17. In 2023, that included the state budget bill, which lawmakers overrode.
Democrats came close to succeeding on one veto override attempt this year, over a bill that proposed a new regulatory framework for large data centers. Scott said he rejected the bill, which passed both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support, because he thought the state’s existing land use regulations would be sufficient.
The House came just seven votes short of the threshold needed to overturn Scott’s veto. Senators did not attempt an override vote. Beck — who voted for the bill — said in a post-session newsletter to his constituents that he understood the governor’s decision, and that he was OK letting the legislation fall by the wayside.
The bill could well be an issue on the campaign trail this year. The Vermont Democratic Party slammed Scott’s decision in a social media post in early June, saying that the governor “sided with big tech and corporations over Vermonters.”
Baruth, who is not running for reelection, echoed that criticism.
“I think the Legislature should go hard on that next session,” he said.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Vermont Lottery offers several draw games for those willing to make a bet to win big.
Those who want to play can enter the MegaBucks and Lucky for Life games as well as the national Powerball and Mega Millions games. Vermont also partners with New Hampshire and Maine for the Tri-State Lottery, which includes the Mega Bucks, Gimme 5 as well as the Pick 3 and Pick 4.
Drawings are held at regular days and times, check the end of this story to see the schedule.
Here’s a look at July 4, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from July 4 drawing
17-38-46-50-69, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 4 drawing
Day: 6-5-3
Evening: 8-0-6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 4 drawing
Day: 9-8-1-3
Evening: 2-9-4-1
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Megabucks Plus numbers from July 4 drawing
06-10-19-22-33, Megaball: 04
Check Megabucks Plus payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
For Vermont Lottery prizes up to $499, winners can claim their prize at any authorized Vermont Lottery retailer or at the Vermont Lottery Headquarters by presenting the signed winning ticket for validation. Prizes between $500 and $5,000 can be claimed at any M&T Bank location in Vermont during the Vermont Lottery Office’s business hours, which are 8a.m.-4p.m. Monday through Friday, except state holidays.
For prizes over $5,000, claims must be made in person at the Vermont Lottery headquarters. In addition to signing your ticket, you will need to bring a government-issued photo ID, and a completed claim form.
All prize claims must be submitted within one year of the drawing date. For more information on prize claims or to download a Vermont Lottery Claim Form, visit the Vermont Lottery’s FAQ page or contact their customer service line at (802) 479-5686.
Vermont Lottery Headquarters
1311 US Route 302, Suite 100
Barre, VT
05641
When are the Vermont Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
- Pick 4 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
- Pick 4 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
- Megabucks: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily
What is Vermont Lottery Second Chance?
Vermont’s 2nd Chance lottery lets players enter eligible non-winning instant scratch tickets into a drawing to win cash and/or other prizes. Players must register through the state’s official Lottery website or app. The drawings are held quarterly or are part of an additional promotion, and are done at Pollard Banknote Limited in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Vermont editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The trek north continues. After New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts seemed to pass in a blur. I had the pleasure of having a friend come out to hike with me from Lee, MA to Williamstown/North Adams, MA. Passing the 1600 mile marker felt like such an achievement but I was excited for what came next:
Vermont.
I could feel the excitement growing the closer I got to the Vermont border. Even the rock scramble out of Massachusetts and the rain couldn’t dampen my spirits. I was finally returning to a section of trail that was familiar.
Back in October 2025, I had completed sections 2 and 3 of the Vermont Long Trail in preparation for my At thru hike. This 84.4 mile stretch overlaps with the AT and crosses through some of the Green Mountains like Stratton Mountain, Bromley Mountain, and Killington Peak.
It took me 8 days to complete that practice hike as someone who had never backpacked before. I felt pretty good about that, but I was ready to learn if the past 4 months of thru-hiking had made me any better or stronger this time around.
Similarities and Differences
The good news is that I did do better. It took me about 6 days to complete the same sections I had done in October. The time it took to complete it, though, was less satisfying to me than the way I felt while doing it.
For example, I remember really struggling up Stratton Mountain and Bromley Mountain when I did it the first time around. This time? I could scale both without stopping for a breath break. Granted, I didn’t have trail legs and my pack weighed a good 10-15 lbs more back then than it does now. It just showed me how far I’ve actually come. It proved that I was getting stronger and more apt at this thru-hiking thing.
It was definitely a confidence booster at a time when I needed encouragement that I wasn’t doing too bad.
Round 2 of doing this section did have some differences I wasn’t thinking about, though. The cooler weather of October brought with it fall colored trees, dry terrain, and vacant shelters. What a difference coming back in the summer can make. For starters, the first five days of my time in Vermont on this go can be described in one word: wet.
I was constantly wet from rain, sweat, mud, water puddles, or a combination of all of that. I remember drying out my shoes and socks in the rare sunny moments only to get caught in an unexpected afternoon thunderstorm an hour later. Because of all that rain, the terrain was extremely muddle and slick.
Oh, and who can forget about the bugs. There were no bugs in October. In June? All the bugs. I caught the tail end of black fly season in Vermont in addition to the mosquitoes.
Navigating that was tiring to say the least. And yet, none of that bothered me because I was having a good time remembering what the trek was like back in October. More than once I found myself saying, “Oh yeah, I remember this part!”
Unexpected Fun Parts
When I did my section hike in October, I didn’t pull off for any resupply nor did I pay much attention to hiker services that may have been available. My thru-hike was different in the best ways.
Some of the fun unexpected aspects of my thru-hike in Vermont were the farm stands! These are stalls or small barns that have all sorts of goodies for hikers including veggies, baked goods, cold drinks, and resupply items. They also had charging stations and water bottle refill places. It was such a mood booster to get to a farm stand and relax for a bit. And who can be upset with all the maple based goodies?
I stopped at more farm stands than I did towns in Vermont. Part of that is because there aren’t many hostel options or places where the trail goes near a town like it does in other states/sections. One exception is the Rutland/Killington area. There’s a free bus that runs between these two towns. It was a great spot to resupply and recalibrate before attempting Killington Peak. Plus, the people were super friendly!
Finishing Vermont
I completed my time in the Vermont sections of the AT (total of 150.8 miles) in about 9 days. I don’t think October me could have conceived that I would go through the whole state that fast. My time in Vermont was certainly over sooner than I expected.
I hit Norwich and crossed the bridge into New Hampshire with a feeling of bittersweetness. I said goodbye to Vermont’s Green Mountains once more as I turned to face New Hampshire’s White Mountains. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about the White Mountains. I’ve heard how tough they can be. But my time in Vermont encouraged me to believe that maybe, just maybe, I can make it through the Whites all the way to Katahdin.
Lord willing.
And so we adventure on….
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