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Vermont Democratic Attorney General candidates debate

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Vermont Democratic Attorney General candidates debate


Democratic candidates for Vermont Legal professional Basic debated once more on Wednesday.

The hour-long digital debate introduced collectively Democrats Charity Clark and Rory Thibault.

Clark has been an assistant legal professional common for the final seven years, the final 4 as chief of workers, till she left to marketing campaign for legal professional common. Thibault has been a JAG legal professional and since 2016 he has served as a deputy state’s legal professional, an assistant legal professional common and in 2018 he grew to become the Washington County State’s Legal professional.

The duo disagreed in a number of coverage areas. Requested about investigations by the Legal professional Basic’s workplace into the usage of lethal power by regulation enforcement officers, Clark responded she wouldn’t change the method.

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“We did in 2020 I imagine change the usual of overview and that went into place final yr I imagine so it’s been a couple of yr that that new customary has been in place and I feel it’s in all probability early nonetheless to see if any further adjustments have to be made to that,” mentioned Clark.

“I disagree,” responded Thibault. “I don’t assume the system is working. I don’t assume Vermonters believe in how our regulation enforcement or prosecutorial businesses are responding to the overview of officer concerned shootings. One factor I promise to enhance is lowering the time by which it takes to course of that.”

A number of years in the past debate sponsor VTDigger broke a narrative a couple of fraud case involving the previous homeowners of a ski resort that concerned misuse of federal EB-5 funds. The net newspaper requested how the general public can consider the actions of state officers since lots of the information have but to be launched. Clark mentioned she believes in transparency however the legal professional common’s workplace is representing the state in ongoing lawsuits.

“We have now stress between this worth of transparency and the worth and moral obligation that we have now with attorney-client privilege,” Clark mentioned. “That mentioned there’s a plan in place to launch these information when the lawsuit is over and I completely will adhere to that plan.”

Thibault was then requested if he agreed with the strategy the Legal professional Basic’s workplace has taken relating to launch of EB-5 information.

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“I’m significantly involved about withholding paperwork which have already been disclosed in both federal courtroom or in public someplace else,” Thibault mentioned. “There’s no purpose to proceed withholding these information after they’ve already been made public in a technique or one other. I see a profound want for the Legal professional Basic’s workplace to have a Chief Info Officer.”

Each candidates agreed that within the wake of the Supreme Courtroom overturning Roe v. Wade they’d work to guard not solely Vermonters but in addition these crossing state strains searching for abortions. Thibault mentioned Vermont should be prepared to affix with different states to protect girls’s rights.

“We are able to’t sacrifice Vermont girls and people with a uterus for the sake of proper wing extremism within the courts or within the legislature,” mentioned Thibault.

“You already know when the Dobbs choice got here out a proper was stripped from me personally,” Clark responded. “I as Legal professional Basic will combat as onerous as doable to make sure underneath all circumstances that our values of bodily autonomy and private freedom are protected right here in Vermont.”

VTDigger didn’t schedule debates with the Republican or Progressive Legal professional Basic candidates prematurely of the state main August ninth as a result of there is just one candidate in every of these races.

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Vermont

Vermont H.S. sports scores for Saturday, Jan. 11: See how your favorite team fared

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Vermont H.S. sports scores for Saturday, Jan. 11: See how your favorite team fared


The 2024-2025 Vermont high school winter season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from basketball, hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, Nordic/Alpine skiing and other winter sports.

TO REPORT SCORES

Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.

►Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter:@aabrami5.

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►Contact Judith Altneu at jaltneu@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.

SATURDAY, JAN. 11

Boys basketball

Games at 2:30 p.m. unless noted

Hartford at Middlebury, 12:30 p.m.

Missisquoi at Lake Region, 1:30 p.m.

Milton at BFA-St. Albans

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Williamstown at Northfield, 6:30 p.m.

Girls basketball

Games at 2:30 p.m. unless noted

Danville at Winooski, 11 a.m.

Spaulding at Milton, 11:30 a.m.

Mount Mansfield at Colchester, 12:30 p.m.

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Otter Valley at Mount Abraham, 12:30 p.m.

Montpelier at Stowe, 1 p.m.

Richford at Enosburg

Peoples at Twinfield/Cabot

Brattleboro at South Burlington

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Burr and Burton at Champlain Valley

Rutland at St. Johnsbury

Williamstown at BFA-Fairfax, 3:30 p.m.

Boys hockey

Essex at Hartford, 2 p.m.

Burlington at U-32, 2:30 p.m. 

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Mount Mansfield at St. Johnsbury, 3 p.m. 

Milton vs North Country at Jay Peak, 4 p.m. 

Harwood at Stowe, 4:15 p.m. 

South Burlington at Champlain Valley, 4:45 p.m. 

Brattleboro at Woodstock, 6:45 p.m. 

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Rice at Burr and Burton, 7 p.m. 

Spaulding at Middlebury, 7 p.m. 

Rutland at Colchester, 7:30 p.m. 

Girls hockey

Spaulding at Rutland, 11 a.m. 

Woodstock at Brattleboro, 4:45 p.m. 

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Harwood at Burr and Burton, 5 p.m. 

Rice at Burlington/Colchester, 5 p.m. 

Stowe at Middlebury, 5 p.m. 

Essex at BFA-St. Albans, 7 p.m. 

U-32 at Kingdom Blades, 7 p.m. 

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Gymnastics

Harwood at Burlington, 2 p.m. 

Montpelier, St. Johnsbury at South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. 

Wrestling 

Michael J. Baker Classic at Essex 

MONDAY, JAN. 13

Boys basketball

Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Randolph at North Country, 6:30 p.m.

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Harwood at U-32

Winooski at Twinfield/Cabot

Northfield at Milton

Brattleboro at Champlain Valley

Thetford at Williamstown

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Oxbow at Hazen

Girls basketball

Vergennes at BFA-Fairfax, 7 p.m.

Essex at Burlington, 7:30 p.m.

(Subject to change)





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Scott’s plan to cut school spending worries some educators

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Scott’s plan to cut school spending worries some educators


MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont educators are leery of plans from Gov. Phil Scott to control costs in Vermont’s education system. In Thursday’s inaugural address, Scott pitched sweeping plans to rein in spending which has led to skyrocketing property tax rates.

Last year, one-third of Vemont’s school budgets failed and voters sent more Republicans to Montpelier in years in what some dubbed a tax revolt.

Democrats say everything should be on the table to fix the tax troubles, but some in the education community remain wary.

In his address, the governor outlined a multiyear plan to overhaul how we fund public schools and rein in the cost of spending which has skyrocketed to $2.3 billion.

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“In too many districts, teachers aren’t paid enough, administrators are tied up in bureaucracy, schools have too much empty space and many are in disrepair,” said Scott, R-Vermont.

He proposes consolidating dozens of school districts and supervisory unions, putting guardrails on local school spending and completely rewriting the school funding formula with the aim of cutting back on staff and the 80% of school costs that go to wages and benefits.

But some in Vermont’s education community see it another way.

“We have to be clear what is the problem we’re trying to solve. We’re not spending too much money in public education; we’re having a difficult time funding it,” said Don Tinney the executive director of the Vermont NEA.

The Vermont teachers union contends the state has enough taxing capacity to fund schools and students’ complex needs. But they say the state should instead fund schools through state and income tax instead of a property tax.

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“We believe the income tax is the fairest way of doing that because people are paying what they can afford to pay,” Tinney said.

As for the funding formula, Scott argues more affluent towns that can afford higher property taxes spend more and approve their local budgets, which drives up costs in the statewide education fund.

“Those higher spenders can actually increase the rates of those districts whose kids and teachers are getting less,” Scott said.

The governor is expected to introduce a formula where districts are paid a flat rate and any additional spending would have to be raised locally.

But some worry that will lead to inequitable opportunities for kids.

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“There are states that use foundation formulas to keep poor people poor and drive down public education costs and allow for more opportunities for private schools and school choice schemes. I can’t see Vermont allowing that to happen,” said Jay Nichols of the Vermont Principals’ Association.

Vermonters are still staring down a 6% property tax increase if school budgets as drafted pass on Town Meeting Day.

Scott says in the weeks ahead, he will unveil ideas to hold taxpayers harmless and keep taxes flat.



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Vermont expected to get light snow Saturday. Here’s the forecast

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Vermont expected to get light snow Saturday. Here’s the forecast


Wintry weather spreads across the South

Significant snow and icy precipitation are moving from Texas to the Carolinas.

Following a week of cold temperatures and harsh winds, this weekend will see light snow across New England, including Vermont.

While the snow is expected to cover the entire state of Vermont, this weekend’s snowfall will be calm, with no strong winds to create a storm and only a small amount of accumulation.

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Here’s what to know about the timing, location and effects of Saturday’s snowfall in Vermont.

Where in VT will it snow Saturday?

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) of Burlington, light snow is expected throughout the day on Saturday, with the greatest chances of snow in the morning. Most areas of the state will see one inch of snowfall, with two inches possible in the middle region of the state.

While Vermont has seen extremely strong winds over this past week, the wind is expected to die down Friday night and stay mild throughout the snow Saturday. As of right now, the NWS has not issued any hazards or warning for Saturday, as the snowfall is expected to be calm.

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VT weather next week

Temperatures will stay in the 20s throughout the weekend, with slightly warmer temperatures coming in next week. Snow showers are expected overnight from Monday to Tuesday.



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