At least 26 people have traveled to Vermont for the purpose of medically assisted death, accounting for nearly 25 percent of the state’s reported assisted deaths from May 2023 through June 2024, according to data from the Vermont Department of Health.

Similarly, in Oregon, 23 out-of-state residents utilized medical assistance to end their lives in 2023, as reported by the Oregon Health Authority, CBS News reports.

In a significant policy shift, Vermont lifted its residency requirement in May 2023, followed by Oregon two months later. Montana allows aid in dying through a 2009 court decision, though the ruling does not specify residency rules. Recent legislative efforts in New York and California to permit out-of-state residents to access aid in dying did not pass.

During the 2023-24 legislative sessions, 19 states, including Pennsylvania, considered aid-in-dying legislation, according to Compassion & Choices. Delaware was the only state to pass such legislation, though it awaits the governor’s action.

Despite logistical challenges, such as finding doctors in a new state and traveling when severely ill, dozens of terminally ill nonresidents have made their way to Vermont and Oregon to die. Both states require patients to be assessed by two doctors, have a prognosis of less than six months to live, be mentally and cognitively sound, and be physically able to ingest the lethal drugs.

CEO of Death With Dignity, Peg Sandeen, noted that these restrictions are intended as safeguards to balance patient rights with legislative concerns. However, she told CBS that “such rules create undue burdens for people who are already suffering.”

Powdr Corp., which owns multiple ski resorts in the United States. and Canada, is selling Vermont’s Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, the largest mountain resort in New England, to a group of local passholders, the company said Thursday.

Powdr also said it plans to list three other resorts for sale in the coming weeks: Eldora, in Colorado; Mt. Bachelor, in Oregon; and SilverStar, in British Columbia.

The Salt Lake City-based company will keep Copper Mountain, in Colorado, and Snowbird in Utah, she said. It aims to balance its ski business with its two concession contracts in the National Parks and operations of Woodward camps and mountain centers, spokesperson Stacey Hutchinson said by email.

Killington said the purchase by local investors represents “a commitment to keeping Killington and Pico in the hands of those who know and love it.” The new owners will focus on capital investment, community engagement and sustainability, the resort said.

Powdr bought Killington in 2007. The ski area for years has been one of the stops on the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup tour. Powdr will retain a minority ownership stake and have a seat on the board of directors, it said.

“We will miss the entire team there but cannot wait to see the amazing things that lie ahead,” Hutchinson said. “The new owners, who are locals with a deep love for the mountain, share our commitment to the resort’s long-term success.”

Killington said it’s grateful for Powdr’s stewardship over the years, with improvements to infrastructure, snowmaking capabilities, and year-round growth.

“We believe that local ownership will allow us to be even more responsive to the needs and desires of our community and guests,” said Mike Solimano, Killington’s president and general manager.

Killington and Pico will remain on the popular Ikon ski pass, Killington said. There will be no changes to the leadership or management, it said.

Powdr previously owned Alpine Meadows, now called Palisades Tahoe, in California, from 1994 to 2007; Lee Canyon, in Las Vegas, from 2003 to 2023; and Park City Mountain in Park City, from 1994 to 2014, according to Hutchinson.

A southern Vermont resident spotted a Canada lynx over the weekend, walking along a gravel road.

Gary Shattuck of Shrewsbury caught the lynx on video on Aug. 17, 2024. It’s the first time the animal has been confirmed in the state since 2018, according to state biologists.

Lynx live in much of Canada and Alaska, as well as parts of Maine and New Hampshire.

“Canada lynx are endangered in Vermont and threatened nationally,” said Brehan Furfey, wildlife biologist and furbearer project leader with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, in a press release Wednesday. “That makes any verifiable lynx sighting in our state important.”

The department said this sighting, in Rutland County, is especially exciting because of how south it occurred compared to previous sightings in the state.

Fish and Wildlife Department biologists suspect this lynx was a male, looking to establish its own territory — a practice called “dispersing.”

Canada lynx have huge paws, black tufts on their ears and the tip of their tail, and thrive where snowshoe hare are abundant. They’re often mistaken for bobcats — which are closely related, and more common in Vermont.

If you think you’ve spotted a lynx, the Fish and Wildlife Department recommend sending in a photo or video for identification.

This story is a production of  the New England News Collaborative. It was originally published by Vermont Public.