Vermont

New law expands Vt. child tax credit

Published

2 years ago

June 30, 2023

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – A program aimed at boosting family finances is getting a facelift. Under a new law, more people are eligible for Vermont’s child tax credit.

Vermont’s child tax credit mirrors a similar monthly benefit paid out during the pandemic.

“What we saw from across the county and Vermont, everyone was spending it on basic needs — food, clothing, basic household stuff, health care,” said Stephanie Yu with the Public Assets Institue.

New data shows 24,000 families received about $24 million for the first payment of the Vermont child tax credit. A new bill signed into law extends the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit to families without Social Security numbers.

“The Vermont child tax credit is up to $1,000 per child and I think this will be significant for those families who were not previously,” said Vermont Tax Commissioner Craig Bolio. He says it’s unclear how many families this applies to, estimating that there are several hundred with temporary tax IDs which could benefit, “These are proven programs.” He says it also provides privacy provisions so that recipients are not discouraged from sharing their personal information with the government.

“I think that’s a reasonable fear, and we did everything we could to make sure that people’s information is protected,” said Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro.

The new law also aims to pay out the benefit more frequently. Instead of one lump sum at the beginning of the year, half of the payment would come when a family files their taxes and the other half will be paid out quarterly. At least that’s what lawmakers want.

“We are trying to see how we can work with the federal government to be clear on what’s considered income and what isn’t,” Kornheiser said.

Federal rules classify the payouts as income, which could jeopardize other federal benefits like food stamps. Kornheiser says the IRS would have to change the rules to start paying out more often.

The District of Columbia, which also has a child tax credit, is moving ahead with the quarterly payments to see whether they get dinged by the feds. If they don’t, Vermont will likely follow suit.

What’s in the $8 billion Vt. budget?

Vermont child tax credit could mean more money for families

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Vermont

Essex Junction teen dies in Beltline crash

Published

7 hours ago

January 16, 2025

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Essex Junction teen dies in Beltline crash

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – An Essex teen is dead following a crash on Burlington’s Beltline, also known as Route 127.

Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad says it happened just south of the North Avenue interchange on Route 127 at around 5:30 p.m.

He says an Audi was speeding going southbound when it crossed the median and struck a jeep. The driver of the Audi, 18-year-old Mark Omand of Essex Junction, was killed in the crash.

The person driving the Jeep, 45-year-old Derek Lorrain of Burlington, had to be extracted from the car by the fire department and was sent to the hospital.

No one else was involved in the crash.

There were also reports of power outages in Burlington’s New North End at around the same time, but it’s unconfirmed if it was related to or caused by this crash.

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Vermont

Former UVM President Thomas P. Salmon Dies at 92

Published

15 hours ago

January 15, 2025

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Former UVM President Thomas P. Salmon Dies at 92

Thomas P. Salmon, who served as the 23rd president of the University of Vermont and who was twice elected governor of the Green Mountain State, died Tuesday, January 14, in a convalescent home in Brattleboro. He was 92.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in1932, Salmon was raised in…

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Vermont

‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’ is set at a fictional Vermont college. Where is it filmed?

Published

23 hours ago

January 15, 2025

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‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’ is set at a fictional Vermont college. Where is it filmed?

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It’s time to hit the books: one of Vermont’s most popular colleges may be one that doesn’t exist.

The Jan. 15 New York Times mini crossword game hinted at a fictional Vermont college that’s used as the setting of the show “The Sex Lives of College Girls.”

The show, which was co-created by New Englander Mindy Kaling, follows a group of women in college as they navigate relationships, school and adulthood.

“The Sex Lives of College Girls” first premiered on Max, formerly HBO Max, in 2021. Its third season was released in November 2024.

Here’s what to know about the show’s fictional setting.

What is the fictional college in ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’?

“The Sex Lives of College Girls” takes place at a fictional prestigious college in Vermont called Essex College.

According to Vulture, Essex College was developed by the show’s co-creators, Kaling and Justin Noble, based on real colleges like their respective alma maters, Dartmouth College and Yale University.

“Right before COVID hit, we planned a research trip to the East Coast and set meetings with all these different groups of young women at these colleges and chatted about what their experiences were,” Noble told the outlet in 2021.

Kaling also said in an interview with Parade that she and Noble ventured to their alma maters because they “both, in some ways, fit this East Coast story” that is depicted in the show.

Where is ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’ filmed?

Although “The Sex Lives of College Girls” features a New England college, the show wasn’t filmed in the area.

The show’s first season was filmed in Los Angeles, while some of the campus scenes were shot at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. The second season was partially filmed at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.

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