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Federal Judge Orders Trump Admin to Transfer Rumeysa Ozturk to Vermont | Common Dreams

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Federal Judge Orders Trump Admin to Transfer Rumeysa Ozturk to Vermont | Common Dreams


“Nobody should be shipped to a detention facility halfway across the country for writing an op-ed,” said the ACLU Friday evening after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to transfer Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk to a facility in Vermont, where she was forced to board an airplane bound for Louisiana last month after immigration agents detained her.

Judge William K. Sessions III of the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont found that Ozturk “raised significant constitutional concerns with her arrest and detention which merit full and fair consideration in this forum.”

Ozturk was arrested by plainclothes immigration agents, some of whom wore masks, outside her apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts late last month—days after her student visa was revoked without her knowledge.

She is one of hundreds of international students who have been targeted by the U.S. State Department’s “catch and revoke” program aimed at revoking visas and green cards of students who have been involved in pro-Palestinian protests.

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Ozturk wrote an op-ed for her university newspaper last year calling on administrators to “acknowledge the Palestinian genocide” being committed by Israel with U.S. backing and to divest from companies with ties to Israel. The Tufts Community Union Senate had made the same demand.

In court documents the Trump administration has said Ozturk has been “involved in associations that ‘may undermine U.S. foreign policy by creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and indicating support for a designated terrorist organization,’” suggesting support for Hamas—but officials have presented no evidence of such support.

Numerous Jewish scholars and organizers have spoken out against the administration’s “weaponization” of concerns about antisemitism to oppress groups and individuals who have spoken out against Israel’s U.S.-backed assault on Gaza.

Ahead of the ruling on Friday, Massachusetts Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley demanded that Secretary of State Marco Rubio release an internal memo on Ozturk’s arrest and any other documentation about the administration’s case against her.

“Ms. Ozturk’s case demands transparency,” wrote the lawmakers. “The circumstances of her arrest and detention raise serious concerns about civil liberties, academic freedom, and free speech, as well as the Trump administration’s truthfulness. Congress, universities, legal experts, and other members of the public have a strong and compelling interest in the matter.

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“Nobody should be shipped to a detention facility halfway across the country for writing an op-ed.”

Ozturk filed a lawsuit challenging her detention in Massachusetts, where a U.S. district judge transferred the case to Vermont and denied a government request to transfer it to Louisiana.

Due to the “significant constitutional concerns” raised by Ozturk, Sessions said the court “denies the government’s request to dismiss the petition and orders that Ms. Ozturk be transferred to custody within the District of Vermont pending further hearings on this matter.”

He said Ozturk should be transferred by May 1 and stayed the order to four days to allow for an appeal.

Ozturk was denied bond this week by an immigration judge, as her lawyers filed their request for her transfer. They said the transfer would allow her better communication with her legal team and a doctor. Ozturk has suffered five asthma attacks in the Louisiana detention center where she is being held, they said.

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Lia Ernst of the ACLU of Vermont said Friday’s ruling correctly affirmed “that the government cannot undermine the justice system and attempt to manipulate a case’s jurisdiction by secretly transporting and imprisoning someone over a thousand miles from home.”



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Wrong-way driver stopped on I-89, charged with DUI

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Wrong-way driver stopped on I-89, charged with DUI


BOLTON, Vt. (WCAX) – A wrong-way driver was safely stopped on Interstate 89 overnight Sunday.

Vermont State Police say just before 12:30 a.m., they stopped the car near marker 77, near Bolton.

The driver, Denise Lear, 60, of Revere, was charged with driving under the influence and gross negligent operation.

Lear is expected in court Monday.

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Copyright 2026 WCAX. All rights reserved.



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Women’s Lacrosse Bested in Burlington by Vermont – University at Albany Great Danes

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Women’s Lacrosse Bested in Burlington by Vermont – University at Albany Great Danes


Score: UAlbany 4, Vermont 14

Location: Virtue Field | Burlington, Vt.

Records: UAlbany (10-5, 5-1 America East) | Vermont (8-6, 4-1 America East)

Short Story: UAlbany women’s lacrosse fell to the Vermont Catamounts on Saturday afternoon.

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Key Stats

  • Grace Cincebox recorded a total of 14 saves with 13 goals allowed for a .565 save percentage.
  • Ravan Marsell led the Great Danes with two points on one goal and one assist.
  • Four different UAlbany players scored in the contest.
  • Reggie Williams was the team’s leader with three ground balls.
  • Delilah Mile caused a team high three turnovers.

 
How It Happened

  • The Catamounts came out of the gates hard and heavy, scoring all three goals between both sides in the first quarter.
  • Vermont would take an 8-0 lead in the second quarter before Amanda Williamson found the back of the net on a women-down goal to put the Great Danes on the board and make it 8-1.
  • The Great Danes would allow one more goal in the first half to trail 9-1 after 30-minutes of play.
  • Grace Cincebox would enter the half with 10 saves.
  • Riley Forthofer started the Great Danes off in the second half to make it a 9-2 game, before Vermont put up three more goals to take a 12-2 lead entering the final quarter of play.
  • Mya Carroll and Ravan Marsell both scored on back-to-back free-position goals to make it a 12-4 game.
  • The Catamounts finished the game with two more goals to take the win 14-4.

 
Up Next
The Great Danes will next have a bye week and wait to see the outcome of next week’s Vermont vs UMass Lowell game to see who will host the America East Tournament.

Social Central: Stay up to date with UAlbany women’s lacrosse by following the team on Instagram (@UAlbanyWLax), Facebook (UAlbany Women’s Lacrosse),  and X (@UAlbanyWLax) for all of the latest news and highlights throughout the year.





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Vermont lands two cities in America’s top 15 happiest list

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Vermont lands two cities in America’s top 15 happiest list


Is creativity the missing key to better health?

Research suggests creative activities like art, music and crafts may benefit mental health as much as other key health habits.

Here’s another reason Vermont is the best New England state: It’s home to one of the top 5 happiest cities in the United States.

Plus, it has another within the top 15.

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Massachusetts, on the other hand, doesn’t even break the top 50. Nor, does Connecticut or Rhode Island.

The personal finance website analyzed 182 of the largest cities in the country, and ranked Boston 63rd overall. Although the city is home to some of the nation’s top universities, high-ranking hospitals, and well-regarded companies, it didn’t break the top 50.

To get the rankings, WalletHub compared the cities using 29 metrics, including life-satisfaction index, depression rate, poverty rate, job security, and acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, and cities were assigned an overall happiness score.

Here’s a look at how the cities ranked.

South Burlington is No. 4 happiest city, Burlington is No. 11

South Burlington came on top for Vermont in WalletHub’s list of the happiest cities in the United States, ranking at No. 4. In scored very high for emotional and physical well-being coming in at the No. 4 spot, which made up for coming in No. 48 for community and environment. It was No. 9 for income and employment ranking. That gave it a total happiness of score of 70.15

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Burlington wasn’t far behind at all, taking the No. 11 spot on the list and a happiness score of 67.54. It’s highest score was for income and employment ranking where it came second. It ranked No. 13 for community and environment and No. 21 for emotional and physical well-being.

Happiest cities in the US, per WalletHub

Here are the 25 happiest cities in the U.S., and their happiness scores, according to WalletHub’s 2026 list:

  1. Fremont, California – 74.09
  2. Bismarck, North Dakota – 73.11
  3. Scottsdale, Arizona – 71.36
  4. South Burlington, Vermont – 70.15
  5. Fargo, North Dakota – 69.36
  6. Overland Park, Kansas – 68.45
  7. Charleston, South Carolina – 68.44
  8. Irvine, California – 67.99
  9. Gilbert, Arizona – 67.96
  10. San Jose, California – 67.79
  11. Burlington, Vermont – 67.54
  12. Madison, Wisconsin – 66.35
  13. Columbia, Maryland – 66.28
  14. Chandler, Arizona – 65.69
  15. Seattle, Washington – 65.62
  16. Plano, Texas – 65.34
  17. San Francisco, California – 64.99
  18. Lincoln, Nebraska – 64.90
  19. Portland, Maine – 64.59
  20. Tempe, Arizona – 64.30
  21. San Diego, California – 64.30
  22. Raleigh, North Carolina – 63.47
  23. Peoria, Arizona – 63.38
  24. Durham, North Carolina – 62.84
  25. Huntington Beach, California – 62.80

Least happy cities in the US, per WalletHub

Here are the 25 least happy cities in the U.S., and their happiness scores, according to WalletHub’s 2026 list:

  1. Detroit, Michigan (#182 overall) – 29.55
  2. Memphis, Tennessee (#181 overall) – 34.39
  3. Shreveport, Louisiana (#180 overall) – 34.93
  4. Cleveland, Ohio (#179 overall) – 36.50
  5. Huntington, West Virginia (#178 overall) – 37.20
  6. Toledo, Ohio (#177 overall) – 37.21
  7. Augusta, Georgia (#176 overall) – 38.24
  8. Fort Smith, Arkansas (#175 overall) – 38.66
  9. Dover, Delaware (#174 overall) – 39.08
  10. Akron, Ohio (#173 overall) – 40.11
  11. Baltimore, Maryland (#172 overall) – 40.28
  12. Birmingham, Alabama (#171 overall) – 40.37
  13. Baton Rouge, Louisiana (#170 overall) – 40.47
  14. Columbus, Georgia (#169 overall) – 40.61
  15. Montgomery, Alabama (#168 overall) – 41.35
  16. Gulfport, Mississippi (#167 overall) – 41.65
  17. Charleston, West Virginia (#166 overall) – 42.18
  18. Jackson, Mississippi (#165 overall) – 42.60
  19. St. Louis, Missouri (#164 overall) – 43.53
  20. Knoxville, Tennessee (#163 overall) – 44.04
  21. Wilmington, Delaware (#162 overall) – 44.34
  22. Little Rock, Arkansas (#161 overall) – 44.48
  23. Mobile, Alabama (#160 overall) – 44.85
  24. New Orleans, Louisiana (#159 overall) – 45.19
  25. Tulsa, Oklahoma (#158 overall) – 45.33

Where New England cities ranked

Here are the 12 happiest cities in New England, and their happiness scores, according to WalletHub’s 2026 list:

  1. South Burlington, Vermont (#6 overall) – 70.15
  2. Burlington, Vermont (#11 overall) – 67.54
  3. Portland, Maine (#19 overall) – 64.59
  4. Nashua, New Hampshire (#27 overall) – 62.49
  5. Manchester, New Hampshire (#51 overall) – 59.10
  6. Boston, Massachusetts (#63 overall) – 56.88
  7. Warwick, Rhode Island (#66 overall) – 56.59
  8. New Haven, Connecticut (#95 overall) – 54.14
  9. Bridgeport, Connecticut (#96 overall) – 54.01
  10. Providence, Rhode Island (#98 overall) – 53.52
  11. Worcester, Massachusetts (#116 overall) – 50.12
  12. Lewiston, Maine (#145 overall) – 47.28



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