Vermont
‘Served our country with honor and dignity’: Vermont’s leaders react to Biden dropping out
Biden steps down: What’s next for America?
President Joe Biden said he is ending his bid for reelection amid intense pressure from Democratic leaders.
Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed President Joe Biden after his announcement Sunday that he is dropping his reelection bid.
In a statement posted on X, Balint wrote, with his decision, Biden “put the needs of the nation first,” adding the president “has cemented his legacy as a true patriot and a man of deep integrity.”
“Now it’s time for all of us to get to work and secure @KamalaHarris in the White House,” Balint wrote.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, among the first Vermont politicians to weigh in on the announcement that President Joe Biden has ended his reelection campaign, posted on X that Biden “has served our country with honor and dignity.”
Sen Peter Welch, D-Vt., said in a post on X, “Joe Biden will be remembered as one of the greatest presidents of our time.”
“I know Vermonters are indebted to Biden for his lifetime of public service and to strengthening our democracy,” Welch wrote.
Biden’s announcement came after weeks of turmoil for the Biden-Harris campaign. Many within his party began to call on him to withdraw after the president’s poor performance at the June debate against former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for the president.
The president is 81 years old and has held elected office for 50 years, including on a Delaware county council, U.S. senator, and vice president.
Even while calling for Biden to drop out in an op-ed that ran in the Washington Post on July 10, Welch spoke highly of Biden and described him as “one of the best presidents of our time,” but added that Americans “cannot ignore or dismiss the valid questions raised since that night.”
Here are the reactions of the Vermont congressional delegation and Gov. Phil Scott.
What did Senator Bernie Sanders
Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats and ran for their party’s nomination in the past two election cycles, praised Biden in an op-ed published in the New York Times. Sanders called Biden “the most effective president in the modern history.” Sanders wrote Biden “is the strongest candidate to defeat Donald Trump — a demagogue and pathological liar.”
Sanders acknowledged he and Biden disagree on many issues, but added, “Supporters of Mr. Biden can speak proudly about a good and decent Democratic president with a record of real accomplishment.
What Rep. Becca Balint said
In a statement posted on X, Balint said, “President Biden has dedicated his life to public service for his country, leading with courage and grace.”
“President Biden understands the White House must continue to be occupied by someone who believes in democracy, the constitution, and protecting civil rights.” the statement continues.
In endorsing Harris, Balint wrote, “Through her leadership, we will be able to build on the President’s legacy and get the job done.”
What Peter Welch has said
Welch said in a statement released on X Biden made a “difficult and selfless choice.”
“Joe Biden defeated Trump, and restored our democracy,” Welch wrote. ““Now we have an existential task at hand: defending the White House from Donald Trump — a felon, a twice-impeached liar, and a man who tried to overturn the results of the last election. There is much at stake.”
“I express deep gratitude to President Biden for making his difficult decision,” Welch wrote. “As he has done throughout his long career, this decision was made for the benefit of the country.”
Peter Welch, one of Vermont’s two senators, was among the first to call for President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race.
What the Vermont Democratic Party said
“Joe Biden has been a dedicated public servant for as long as my parents have been able to vote, and he has been the most consequential President of my lifetime. As President, Biden brought decency and competence back to the White House, putting working families first as he brought inflation under control, invested in American infrastructure and supported Vermont’s flood recoveries,” reads the statement Vermont Democratic Pary Chair David Glidden issued on Sunday.
“He made transformative investments in climate change that will pay off for generations after hispresidency. He is the single greatest president for organized labor this country has ever seen. He ledour country through difficult times with dignity and honor, and the Vermont Democratic Party will beforever grateful.
“On behalf of all Vermont Democrats, I want to thank President Biden for his service, his sacrifice,and his judgment. We look forward to continuing his work to protect democracy for regularAmericans. While his decision could not have been an easy one, President Biden has always beensomeone who put his country first.”
What the Vermont Republican Party said
On July 12, the Vermont Republican Party issued a statement titled, “VTGOP Joins Senator Welch in Calling for Biden to Drop Out of Presidential Race.”
“I am surprised to agree with Senator Peter Welch on this, but many Republicans also believe that ‘for the good of the country’ President Biden should withdraw from the race for President,” state party Chairman Paul Dame wrote. “It is rare to have this kind of bipartisan support on such a significant and urgent issue, but when Senator Welch is right he ought to be recognized.”
The statement went on to read, “Democrats kept on pretending that that the flaws in their candidates could be ignored out of existence the same way that the flaws in their economic policies could be wished away.”
Where Sander, Welch, Balint and other stood before the announcement
Welch less than two weeks ago had called on Biden to drop his reelection bid. as did former Vermont Gov. Madeleine. Kunin. Sanders and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean had urged Biden to stay in the race. Balint did not explicitly take a position on Biden’s candidacy, but told Seven Days the president is “an honest, decent President with a proven track record of fighting for working families.”
Vermont
Noah Kahan, Vermont consumers and venues voice support for ticket resale limits
A movement to limit the resale price of concert and event tickets is growing in Vermont.Last Thursday, renowned Vermont singer Noah Kahan submitted a video to a state Senate committee voicing his support of H.512. The bill passed the House last month. “This bill is a critical step in eliminating predatory resale behaviors and offering promoters a great solution for exchanging and reselling tickets in a safe marketplace,” the Strafford native said to lawmakers.The bill would limit the resale of tickets to 110% of the value they were originally purchased at. Other Vermonter’s testified that day and said they found themselves purchasing tickets online, not from the event’s venue or artist. They said the price was way above the original rate. “Now I was not just mad at myself, but I was mad at this person who did it to me,” Marina Cole of Wheelock told lawmakers. In 2024, the National Association of Ticket Brokers told NBC 5 that they were against price caps, which this bill is currently pursuing.”We have really good businesspeople who are doing the right thing,” Executive Director Gary Adler said at the time. The bill, as passed by the House, would charge the Vermont Attorney General’s Office with enforcing the resale cap. The office would have the authority to conduct audits, issue penalties and revoke a reseller’s license. Resale licenses would be a new requirement under the current bill. “I suspect the enforcement won’t be easy,” executive director of the Champlain Valley Exposition Tim Shea said Monday. “But it’s something we’re looking to follow and advocate for the right ticket buyer.”Shea said the Expo has been approached by consumers who have faced high resale prices and even some cases of ticket fraud through online reselling. He believes the legislation would help avoid those issues and keep revenues for Vermont venues and artists within the state. “When tickets are marked up to the level, they are that money’s going out of Vermont. It’s not staying here. It’s not going to the promoter. It’s not going to the concessioners on the ground,” Shea said. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs.
A movement to limit the resale price of concert and event tickets is growing in Vermont.
Last Thursday, renowned Vermont singer Noah Kahan submitted a video to a state Senate committee voicing his support of H.512. The bill passed the House last month.
“This bill is a critical step in eliminating predatory resale behaviors and offering promoters a great solution for exchanging and reselling tickets in a safe marketplace,” the Strafford native said to lawmakers.
The bill would limit the resale of tickets to 110% of the value they were originally purchased at. Other Vermonter’s testified that day and said they found themselves purchasing tickets online, not from the event’s venue or artist. They said the price was way above the original rate.
“Now I was not just mad at myself, but I was mad at this person who did it to me,” Marina Cole of Wheelock told lawmakers.
In 2024, the National Association of Ticket Brokers told NBC 5 that they were against price caps, which this bill is currently pursuing.
“We have really good businesspeople who are doing the right thing,” Executive Director Gary Adler said at the time.
The bill, as passed by the House, would charge the Vermont Attorney General’s Office with enforcing the resale cap.
The office would have the authority to conduct audits, issue penalties and revoke a reseller’s license. Resale licenses would be a new requirement under the current bill.
“I suspect the enforcement won’t be easy,” executive director of the Champlain Valley Exposition Tim Shea said Monday. “But it’s something we’re looking to follow and advocate for the right ticket buyer.”
Shea said the Expo has been approached by consumers who have faced high resale prices and even some cases of ticket fraud through online reselling. He believes the legislation would help avoid those issues and keep revenues for Vermont venues and artists within the state.
“When tickets are marked up to the level, they are that money’s going out of Vermont. It’s not staying here. It’s not going to the promoter. It’s not going to the concessioners on the ground,” Shea said.
The bill is currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs.
Vermont
Meet the 95-year-old Vermont herbarium volunteer who had a fern named for her
BURLINGTON, Vt. (InvestigateTV) — For 28 years, Hilda White has shown up at the University of Vermont’s Pringle Herbarium to do a job most people have never heard of: mounting plants.
Now 95 years old, White has carefully preserved more than 50,000 plant specimens — pressing and affixing them to archival paper so they can be studied and referenced for generations to come.
“If I mount the plants, the plants will be around for hundreds of years, barring any unforeseen accidents or anything,” White said.
Birthday gift unlike any other
For her 95th birthday, the herbarium gave her a gift unlike any other: a newly discovered fern, found in Colombia in 2023, was officially named for her.
The plant — a Christmas fern — was discovered by Wes Testo, now the director of the Pringle Herbarium collection, during a research trip to South America.
“I was walking through the forest there, and I saw this just spectacular fern,” Testo said. “I knew immediately it was something I hadn’t seen before.”
After further research confirmed it was a species new to science, Testo and his colleagues decided to name it for White: Polystichum hildae.
“Oh, I was absolutely blown away,” White said when she learned of the honor.
“You can’t imagine, I cried all afternoon.”
‘Library for plants’
White’s work at the herbarium is kind of a library for plants.
“I can’t draw, but this is my artistic outlet,” she said.
Testo said White’s contributions have been essential to the research conducted in the collection, which now houses 400,000 plant specimens in a single room.
“Hilda mounted a huge amount of the specimens you see here,” Testo said. “Her contributions are absolutely essential to the research we do here.”
The collection’s survival is not something White or Testo take for granted. In 2017, a fire broke out at Torrey Hall, where the collection was housed at the time. Testo was in South America doing research when he received word.
“All I could see from an email in Colombia — the roof on fire. I thought my whole Ph.D. was going up in flames along with the whole collection here,” Testo said.
White was on her way into work when the fire broke out. Staff and volunteers, including White, worked to restore and remount the damaged plants. The collection has since been relocated to the Jeffords Building.
No plans to stop
White says she has no plans to stop.
“Oh no! I’ll be here as long as I can,” she said.
And when asked what she planned to give Testo for his birthday in return for the honor of having a plant named after her, White kept it simple.
“He just got good wishes!”
Read the full story.
Copyright 2026 Gray Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Vermont
Swanton honors WWI soldier with new historic marker
A new roadside historic marker was unveiled outside Riverside Cemetery, honoring Cpl. Leonard A. Lord, the first Vermonter killed in action during World War I.The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation dedicated the marker during a ceremony held at the site, recognizing Lord’s service and sacrifice more than a century after his death.Lord was killed in April 1918 in France during heavy artillery fire while serving with the 26th “Yankee” Division. He had enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1917 at Fort Ethan Allen.After his death overseas, Lord’s remains were later returned to Swanton in 1921 and reinterred at Riverside Cemetery, just yards from where the new marker now stands.Officials say the marker is part of Vermont’s long-running effort to preserve local history and highlight individuals who shaped the state’s past.U.S. Army SSgt. Stephen Prochniak reflected on the importance of remembrance.“History is alive in all of us,” Prochniak said. “It’s something that will probably be here longer than any of us are alive. And that’s important. It preserves it not just for us, but for our kids and their kids.”The marker now stands as the 335th installed through the state’s historic preservation program.
A new roadside historic marker was unveiled outside Riverside Cemetery, honoring Cpl. Leonard A. Lord, the first Vermonter killed in action during World War I.
The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation dedicated the marker during a ceremony held at the site, recognizing Lord’s service and sacrifice more than a century after his death.
Lord was killed in April 1918 in France during heavy artillery fire while serving with the 26th “Yankee” Division. He had enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1917 at Fort Ethan Allen.
After his death overseas, Lord’s remains were later returned to Swanton in 1921 and reinterred at Riverside Cemetery, just yards from where the new marker now stands.
Officials say the marker is part of Vermont’s long-running effort to preserve local history and highlight individuals who shaped the state’s past.
U.S. Army SSgt. Stephen Prochniak reflected on the importance of remembrance.
“History is alive in all of us,” Prochniak said. “It’s something that will probably be here longer than any of us are alive. And that’s important. It preserves it not just for us, but for our kids and their kids.”
The marker now stands as the 335th installed through the state’s historic preservation program.
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