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Lawmakers take up stopgap funding for Section 8 housing vouchers – VTDigger

Published

2 months ago

January 16, 2026

Lawmakers take up stopgap funding for Section 8 housing vouchers – VTDigger

Kathleen Berk, executive director of the Vermont State Housing Authority, speaks to lawmakers about financial challenges related to the Section 8 federal housing voucher program on Nov. 5, 2025 in Montpelier. David Littlefield / Vermont Public

This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.

With federal funds dwindling for a key housing assistance program, Vermont lawmakers are looking at using state money to slow the loss of vouchers that help thousands of Vermonters cover rent.

Legislators have said they want to earmark $5 million in a mid-year spending package to soften the blow of funding reductions to the Section 8 program. The bill has plenty more hurdles to clear, but a key housing panel registered its support for the funds on Thursday after local public housing authorities have spent months crying for help.

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Still, the earmark falls far short of the $18 million housing authority leaders had originally bid for last fall, an amount that would have maxed out Vermont’s voucher ceiling set by the feds and boosted the number of vouchers in rotation.

“What we’re trying to do with this one-time, strategic intervention is to…slow the decrease in the number of vouchers in this calendar year as much as possible,” said Rep. Marc Mihaly, D-Calais, who chairs the House General and Housing Committee.

As Vermont faces steep housing costs and persistently high levels of homelessness, federal housing vouchers play a crucial role in sustaining housing for low-income people who can’t afford market-rate rents. Voucher recipients pay a third of their income toward rent; a local agency administering the federal program pays for the rest. The vouchers offer one of the few avenues out of homelessness for the thousands of Vermonters sleeping in shelters, motels and outdoors.

But over the last year, local housing authorities in Vermont have seen reductions in funding from Congress. That has led many of the nine local authorities to stop issuing new vouchers off their lengthy waiting lists, rescind vouchers from people looking for an apartment to use them, and shelve vouchers when tenants have died or moved out. The state lost hundreds of housing vouchers in 2025 through attrition.

Still, many of the nine Vermont housing authorities are entering 2026 in a budget shortfall which they don’t expect to ease anytime soon. Berk is now worried VSHA might need to take the extraordinary step of withdrawing vouchers from people currently using them to help pay their rent if the state does not intervene.

Draft bills in Congress would result in the loss of roughly 300 to 600 more vouchers in Vermont – or $3.6 million to $7.2 million – according to Berk.

“Preserving housing assistance and keeping Vermont families stably housed has to be a priority,” Berk told lawmakers Thursday.

The federal government bases future years’ Section 8 voucher funding on past years’ spending by local housing authorities. That means that as Vermont authorities shrink their voucher rolls, they can expect to receive less money in the future even if need remains great, leading to what Berk has called a “downward spiral” in the number of vouchers available to Vermont renters.

The $5 million in state aid is meant to halt that spiral, at least for a year: It would allow Vermont housing authorities to slow down the erosion in the number of vouchers available to Vermont renters and ensure the state gets more federal money in the coming years.

“It means that we will always get a greater share of whatever [Congress chooses] to give us [in] future years,” Mihaly said.

Rep. Robin Scheu, D-Middlebury, chair of the powerful budget-writing panel in the House, said Friday morning that her committee is looking at the funding ask “very seriously.”

“If the Section 8 voucher goes away, these people will not be able to afford to pay full market value, and if they can’t pay, then they don’t have a place to live,” Scheu said.

The stopgap funding would help local housing authorities offset funding shortfalls and prevent the displacement of families, according to Berk.

The earlier public housing authorities can receive the funding, the more vouchers they can save this calendar year, Mihaly said – hence, lawmakers’ attempt to earmark the funds as part of the mid-year spending bill typically passed in March.

But Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s administration has signaled it wants to hold off and consider the ask as part of the budget for fiscal year 2027, which begins in July.

“[The governor] believes that in the face of federal uncertainty, we should not be appropriating funds without first understanding the full budget picture and weighing all priorities before making those decisions,” said Amanda Wheeler, Scott’s press secretary.

The House Committee on Appropriations is expected to hash out its version of the mid-year spending package over the coming weeks, before the bill is sent to the House floor and then to the Senate.

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Supreme Court reverses lower court on qualified immunity for Vermont police sergeant who arrested protester

Published

12 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Supreme Court reverses lower court on qualified immunity for Vermont police sergeant who arrested protester

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The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a Vermont state police sergeant is entitled to qualified immunity in a lawsuit brought by a protester who said she was injured when an officer used a wristlock to remove her from a sit-in at the state capitol.

In an unsigned per curiam opinion, the court reversed the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Zorn v. Linton, holding that existing precedent did not clearly establish that Sgt. Jacob Zorn’s specific conduct violated the Constitution.

“The Second Circuit held that Zorn was not entitled to qualified immunity,” read the majority ruling – with the three liberal justices dissenting – rejecting excess use of force arguments. “We reverse.”

The justices said officers are generally shielded from civil liability unless prior case law put the unlawfulness of their actions “beyond debate.”

JUDGE RULES FEDERAL AGENTS MUST LIMIT TEAR GAS AT PROTESTS NEAR PORTLAND ICE BUILDING

Just the three liberal justice dissented against the unsigned majority opinion. President Donald Trump brought three conservative justices to the Supreme Court in his first term, giving it a 6-3 conservative majority. (OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

“Because the Second Circuit failed to identify a case where an officer taking similar actions in similar circumstances ‘was held to have violated’ the Constitution, Zorn was entitled to qualified immunity,” the ruling concluded.

“We grant his petition for writ of certiorari and reverse the judgment of the Second Circuit.”

The case arose from a 2015 sit-in by healthcare protesters at the Vermont capitol on Gov. Peter Shumlin’s inauguration day. After the building closed, police moved to arrest demonstrators who refused to leave. According to the opinion, protester Shela Linton remained seated and linked arms with others.

Zorn warned her he would have to use force, then took her arm, placed it behind her back, applied pressure to her wrist and lifted her to her feet. Linton later sued, alleging physical and psychological injuries.

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The Supreme Court said the 2nd Circuit relied too heavily on its earlier decision in Amnesty America v. West Hartford, finding that case did not clearly establish that “using a routine wristlock to move a resistant protester after warning her, without more, violates the Constitution.”

On that basis, the justices concluded Zorn was entitled to qualified immunity and reversed the lower court.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. She argued the court had improperly stepped in with the “extraordinary remedy of a summary reversal” and said a jury could find the officer used excessive force against a nonviolent protester engaged in passive resistance.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the dissent Monday in Zorn v Linton. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

“A jury could find that Zorn violated Linton’s clearly established Fourth Amendment rights,” Sotomayor wrote in the signed dissent.

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“The majority today gives officers license to inflict gratuitous pain on a nonviolent protestor even where there is no threat to officer safety or any other reason to do so,” she concluded.

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“That is plainly inconsistent with the Fourth Amendment’s fundamental guarantee that officers may only use ‘the amount of force that is necessary’ under the circumstances,” Sotomayor wrote. “Therefore, I respectfully dissent.”

Eric Mack is a writer for Fox News Digital covering breaking news.

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VT Lottery Pick 3, Pick 3 Evening results for March 22, 2026

Published

24 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

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 March 22, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 22 drawing

Day: 0-3-1

Evening: 9-9-8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 22 drawing

Day: 2-4-4-1

Evening: 9-6-6-2

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 22 drawing

07-08-17-18-55, Bonus: 02

Check Millionaire for Life 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.

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40th Rotary All Star Classic features shootout to determine senior game

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

40th Rotary All Star Classic features shootout to determine senior game

A shootout to determine a high-scoring girls game highlighted the 40th Rotary All Star Classic featuring the state’s top high school senior hockey players at Essex Skating Facility on Saturday, March 21.

Chittenden Charge’s Hadia Ahmed scored the lone goal in the shootout, leading the Harris girls to a 7-6 victory over the Austin squad. In the nightcap, the Austin boys staked to a 3-0 lead in the second period on their way to a 4-2 triumph over Harris.

Ahmed was named team MVP for the Harris girls. Gabrielle Griffith was selected the MVP for the Austin girls. On the boys side, South Burlington’s Christian Butler and Rice’s Colton Riberia were their team MVPs for Austin and Harris, respectively.

Game details from Saturday’s doubleheader are below. Scroll down below the hockey results for details on the VBCA senior games.

Girls game: Harris 7, Austin 6 (shootout)

Harris: Hadia Ahmed 3G, 2A. Gabbie Fraties 2G, 1A. Gracie Lunt 1G. Grace Raleigh 2A. Jillian Smith 1A. Marley Clark 8 saves, Dahlia Steele 10 saves.

Austin: Gabrielle Griffith 2G, 1A. Alexis Moody 2G. Jackie Henderson 1G. Lillianna Fournier 1G, 1A. Alexis Audsley 1A. Morgan Rivard 1A. Lucia Minadeo 1A. Ella McAllister 15 saves.

Note: Austin took a 4-3 lead into the second period. Fraties and Ahmed had second-period tallies for Harris and Austin’s Moody also scored for a 5-all game entering the third. Harris’ Lunt and Austin’s Henderson traded third-period goals to forge overtime. After a scoreless extra period, Ahmed had the lone goal in the shootout.

Boys game: Austin 4, Harris 2

Austin: Christian Butler 2G, 1A. Eli Herrington 1G, 1A. Garret Carter 1G. Milo Lavit 1A. Gavin Benoit 1A. Brady Jones 1A. Tommy Barnes 8 saves, Alex McCabe 5 saves, Ryan Philbrook 10 saves.

Harris: Colton Ribera 2G. Chais Lyford 1A. Drew Laprade 1A. Ethan Fortin 6 saves, TJ Baron 5 saves, Dominic Palazzo 6 saves.

Note: Butler, Carter and Herrington gave Austin a 3-0 lead into the second period.

North sweeps South at VBCA senior showcase at Windsor

The state’s top boys and girls basketball seniors convened at Windsor High School for the long-running Vermont Basketball Coaches Association all-star event on Saturday, March 21. Among the all-day festivities, the North claimed all four games vs. the South, while year-end awards were handed out, including a lifetime achievement honor for Dave Fredrickson, the VBCA’s former executive director and Mount Anthony boys basketball coach.

The North now leads the all-time series 63-33.

For stats from Saturday’s game courtesy of the Rutland Herald, see below: