Vermont
Vermont Backs Off of Law Targeting Pro-Life Centers After Lawsuit
Under pressure from a lawsuit challenging a 2023 law restricting life-affirming pregnancy centers, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill repealing those restrictions, allowing the centers to continue providing medical services, including abortion-pill reversal.
Under pressure from a lawsuit challenging a 2023 law restricting life-affirming pregnancy centers, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill repealing those restrictions, allowing the centers to continue providing medical services, including abortion pill reversal.
Vermont — one of the most pro-abortion states in the country — has no laws restricting abortion. But the 2023 law created a category of “limited-services pregnancy centers,” defined as such because they do not provide or refer clients for abortions.
The state threatened the centers with fines up to $10,000 for advertising in a “misleading” way, though the law did not specify what the state meant by the word “misleading.”
These clinics could be fined for advertising their existence and for bringing awareness to chemical-abortion reversals.
The law alleged that some clinics falsely advertised that they offered abortion or abortion counseling when they did not. It also prohibited any advertisements that the state considered to be “untrue or clearly designed to mislead the public about the nature of services provided,” including chemical abortion pill reversal.
Many life-affirming clinics promote chemical-abortion reversal, in which the naturally occurring hormone progesterone can be taken to reverse the effects of the first abortion drug mifepristone.
In July 2023 the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) and other pregnancy resource centers sued state officials for restricting the centers’ freedom of speech and provision of services.
“The state of Vermont has backed away from attacking the work of pro-life pregnancy centers,” said NIFLA Vice President of Legal Affairs Anne O’Connor. “Pregnancy centers are no longer under direct threat from the law and pro-abortion lobby in Vermont.”
While O’Connor “celebrates” the change, she added that the group “stands ready” to defend pro-life pregnancy centers “if in the future the state again decides to unconstitutionally” restrict their work.
State officials have targeted life-affirming pregnancy centers across the country, including in California and New York, for advertising abortion-pill reversal.
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) — the legal nonprofit defending the life-affirming pregnancy centers — announced the dismissal of the case in a press release last week.
ADF Legal Counsel Julia Payne Koon applauded the change to the “discriminatory law that unlawfully targeted faith-based pregnancy centers and restricted their ability to speak and act according to their conscience.”
“Pregnancy centers must be free to serve and empower women and their families by offering the support they need without fear of unjust government punishment,” Payne Koon said.
“Women who become unexpectedly pregnant should know they have life-affirming options available to them, from emotional support to practical resources, which is exactly what our clients offer.”
Vermont
Iconic Tree Care Expands Professional Tree Services to Colchester, VT
The tree care professionals at the company bring modern equipment and technical knowledge to every job site. They manage everything from routine pruning to complex removals near power lines. Their comprehensive services include tree trimming, stump grinding, land clearing, and emergency storm response. Each project starts with a free on-site assessment and upfront written estimates. The company specializes in Vermont’s native species, including maple, oak, pine, and hemlock. With skilled arborists, they identify threats and offer customized solutions. Every service comes with complete cleanup, which saves their customers from dealing with any leftovers.
Vermont
Julia Pellerin Hat Trick Propels Huskies Over Vermont – University of Connecticut Athletics
STORRS, Conn. – No. 9 UConn women’s hockey secured a decisive 4-0 win over Vermont on Friday night at the Toscano Family Ice Forum. Julia Pellerin led the way for the Huskies scoring three of UConn’s four goals in the win. UConn moves to 4-1 in Hockey East play and 9-3-1 overall this season.
UConn netminder Tia Chan was stout throughout, making 18 saves, earning her second shutout of the season.
The first period began with Vermont winning the opening faceoff and testing the Huskies’ defense early with a series of blocked and saved shots. UConn responded with offensive pressure, leading to a power-play opportunity after a tripping penalty against Vermont. Junior forward Julia Pellerin capitalized on the power play, finishing a great no-look pass at the back post from Livvy Dewar. This goal marked the beginning of a standout performance for Pellerin, who would go on to record her second career hat trick, and first in a UConn uniform.
Both teams continued to trade shots, but the Huskies maintained their 1-0 lead going into the first intermission, with shots favoring UConn, 17-8.
During the second period, UConn extended their lead with a series of effective plays, leading to goals. Pellerinonce again found the back of the net, marking her fourth goal of the season, putting UConn up 2-0.
Shortly after, UConn doubled their lead as Brooke Campbell added another for the Huskies with a re-directed shot in front of goal, making it 3-0.
The Huskies advantage grew to four when Pellerin completed her hat trick on the power play, going bar down from a near impossible angle. UConn maintained a commanding 4-0 lead going into the final period. Shots favored the Huskies in the second period, 13-3.
UConn maintained their four-goal lead throughout a scoreless third period. Despite multiple shot attempts from both teams, neither side could find the back of the net in the final 20 minutes. The period concluded with the Huskies securing a 4-0 victory to open the weekend series.
Up Next
UConn will conclude the weekend series with Vermont on Saturday, November 22. Puck drop is set for 2:00pm at the Toscano Family Ice Forum. TICKETS
Vermont
Springfield man charged with fentanyl trafficking in Vermont
WESTMINSTER, VT. (WWLP) – Two suspects, including a man from Springfield, were arrested in Vermont in connection with drug possession and trafficking.
Vermont State Police stated that at approximately 12:37 p.m. on Thursday, a trooper observed a motor vehicle violation on I-91 in Westminster and conducted a traffic stop. It was discovered that the passenger, identified as 48-year-old Kenneth Piller of Los Angeles, California, was wanted for drug-related offenses.
The driver, identified as 21-year-old Chantz Dudley of Springfield, Mass., was also detained, and both suspects were brought to the State Police Barracks.
Troopers seized the vehicle and executed a search warrant, during which time they located suspected crack cocaine and fentanyl. Piller was turned over to Rutland City Police custody, and Dudley was sent to the Southern State Correctional Facility in place of $30,000 bail.
Dudley was charged with possession of cocaine 1oz+, fentanyl trafficking, and transporting fentanyl into the state.
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