Vermont
Vermont Guard celebrates new law aiding veterans exposed to burn pits
![Vermont Guard celebrates new law aiding veterans exposed to burn pits](https://gray-wcax-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/1Xt9sCHldyLWkj3N0I5ss7xydz4=/1200x600/smart/filters:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/FKIKKSJALJDEBORMSFMU6ZIOGM.jpg)
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – The Vermont Nationwide Guard is celebrating a landmark new regulation that expands advantages to army members uncovered to burn pits in warfare zones.
It’s a problem WCAX Information first advised you about.
All the pieces was burned in these pits, together with human waste, medical waste, physique components, trash, tires and extra. They had been torched with jet gasoline.
Troopers breathed within the smoke that hung over the bases. Many Vermonters serving in areas with burn pits received sick and a few died.
The chief of the Vermont Guard, Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, praised the laws that was just lately signed by the president for what it does for his women and men and their households.
“I believe it’s vital for all of our veterans. It expands eligibility, it expands timelines for purposes for advantages. It streamlines the method… It’s a fairly vital funding,” Knight stated.
The final additionally supplied his due to June Heston and Pat Cram for his or her push to get the PACT Act handed. The Vermont ladies are the widows of two Guard troopers who died from burn pit publicity. Heston and Cram attended the invoice signing in Washington, D.C.
Watch the video to see our Darren Perron’s full dialog with the overall.
The Guard will maintain a particular open home on Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. adopted by a remembrance of the Sept. 11 terror assaults. Everyone seems to be invited.
Associated Tales:
Biden indicators ‘burn pits’ assist for veterans; a private win, too
Vermont veterans’ widows grateful for signing of PACT Act
Senate approves invoice to assist vets uncovered to poisonous burn pits
EXPLAINER: How well being take care of vets grew to become struggle in Congress
Burn pits laws fails in Senate procedural vote
Burn pits laws nears end line with Home approval
Spouse of former Vt. normal inspired by Senate motion on burn pits
Congress reaches deal on increasing burn pit advantages to vets
Welch continues push to assist troopers uncovered to warfare zone burn pits
Biden pledges assist to veterans uncovered to burn pits
Battle Over Burn Pits: Vt. soldier in 1st-of-its-kind lawsuit dies of most cancers
YCQM: Might 23, 2021
Battle Over Burn Pits: 1st-of-its-kind lawsuit
Battle Over Burn Pits: New laws might assist vets uncovered to poisonous fumes
Will a brand new technology of Vt. troopers face the Battle over Burn Pits?
Gillibrand enlists Jon Stewart on burn pit invoice struggle
WCAX Information honored with nationwide Edward R. Murrow Award
Gillibrand voices assist for veterans uncovered to burn pits
YCQM Nov. 24, 2019
Scott indicators burn pit registry invoice
Veterans foyer Vermont lawmakers for burn pit invoice
Welch requires motion on burn pits
Supreme Courtroom halts army burn pit appeals
Former Vt. Military Nationwide Guard Commander Michael Heston has died
Police officer provides again to sick youngsters after demise
Perron, MacKenzie win nationwide Murrow Award for burn pit sequence
WCAX wins Murrow Award for burn pit experiences
St. Albans brewery provides ‘Tribute’ to former Guard member
Battle Over Burn Pits, Half 2
Battle Over Burn Pits, Half 1
Copyright 2022 WCAX. All rights reserved.
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Vermont
Vermont takes on 'Big Oil' with groundbreaking bill: 'The stakes are too high'
![Vermont takes on 'Big Oil' with groundbreaking bill: 'The stakes are too high'](https://www.thecooldown.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Vermont-climate-change-accountabilityimage.jpg)
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Vermont will be the first state in the US to hold “Big Oil” accountable with a law requiring payment for damages from the effects of climate change, per a report by CBS News.
Taking on Big Oil
The state’s Republican governor, Phil Scott, sent a letter to Vermont’s General Assembly clearing the way for the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program law (S.259) to pass without his signature.
While he says he believes in the cause, Gov. Scott shared his reservations in the letter. He indicated that Vermont could have benefited from collaborating with other major players like New York and California instead of risking a stand on its own.
“Having said that,” Gov. Scott continued, “I understand the desire to seek funding to mitigate the effects of climate change that has hurt our state in so many ways.”
One Vermont state Representative, Martin LaLonde, released a reassuring statement of his own, clarifying that legal scholars vetted the bill and that they have a solid legal case.
“The stakes are too high — and the costs too steep for Vermonters — to release corporations that caused the mess from their obligation to help clean it up,” he said, per CBS News.
Major polluters should pay
The bill would require entities found to have spewed more than 2.2 trillion pounds of planet-warming gases between 1995 and 2024 to pay up, according to CBS News. Vermont would use that money to deal with the disastrous effects of an overheating planet.
And the industry certainly has the money to pay. In 2022, the U.S. oil and gas industry’s total revenue was $332.9 billion, as Statista reported. While that’s staggering enough, it’s a massive uptick from the $211.2 billion it earned the previous year.
The damage
The rise in global temperatures has led to various severe climate impacts, including more flooding, fires, droughts, and increasingly powerful storm systems.
Big Oil is to blame for much of the damage, with the United Nations stating that the use of dirty fuels accounts for more than 75% of polluting gases. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has estimated that in 2023 alone, climate-related disasters caused $92.9 billion in damage across the U.S., and Vermont was not immune to this damage.
Looking forward
While federal efforts like the Inflation Reduction Act have created green incentives to help address the changing climate, the states must do their part.
The Vermont Natural Resources Council expressed support for the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program, stating, “[It] represents a major step forward in ensuring that responsible parties, like Big Oil — companies like ExxonMobil and Shell that have known for decades that their products are disrupting the climate — be required to also pay a fair share of the cleanup costs.”
Lawsuits are also underway, seeking to hold the dirty energy industry accountable for its actions. More are likely to follow.
Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Vermont
MAP: Where Vermont school districts struggled to pass a budget
![MAP: Where Vermont school districts struggled to pass a budget](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6a13ea7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3056x1604+0+68/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcc%2Fdd%2F4eee15974188b28f55fe30842569%2Fcd-budgetvotes-cropped.png)
Vermont school districts struggled more than usual to convince voters to approve budgets this spring as they faced double-digit property tax increases.
The increase was estimated to be 18.5%, ultimately whittled down to 13.8%.
It all came to a head three months ago when Vermonters in nearly a third of the state’s school districts voted down their school budgets.
Two districts — Enosburgh Richford and Barre Unified Unified Union School District — still haven’t passed their budgets.
Because Vermont’s education funding is statewide, individual budget cuts don’t translate into comparable savings for taxpayers, putting school districts in a bind.
“For every dollar we cut from the school budget, St. Johnsbury saves about 20 cents. The state keeps the rest and uses it to lower taxes in other towns,” said St. Johnsbury School Board Vice Chair Peter VanStraten in a letter to voters before a third (successful) budget vote. “This is not a vote on what is happening in Montpelier. Please keep that for November.”
Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message. Or contact the reporter directly at corey.dockser@vermontpublic.org.
Vermont
Vermont man arrested in Bristol for stolen car and firearms possession
![Vermont man arrested in Bristol for stolen car and firearms possession](https://gray-wfsb-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BMRJAG7OYJENHMD4OQPYCF2Z4Y.png?auth=93f31f51fe3019b23e3cdddce16d921af563880a4679de331cb4a1e676b9d5e9&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
BRISTOL, CT (WFSB) – Connecticut State Police arrested a Vermont man for allegedly stealing a vehicle and possessing firearms on Thursday.
Connecticut State Police Troop H Dispatch received a report of a stolen vehicle from Vermont.
The vehicle was described as a white Ford F-550 truck with a car-carrier towing a GMC SUV.
Massachusetts State Police assisted in the investigation and informed Troop H that the stolen vehicle was last seen on I-91 near Windsor Locks.
Troopers later spotted the described vehicle on I-91 around Exit 34 in Hartford.
The driver, identified as Shawn Carpenter, 47, of Hartford, Vermont, was taken into custody.
During the arrest, troopers discovered two handguns with ammunition and drug paraphernalia in Carpenter’s possession.
Carpenter underwent a Standardized Field Sobriety Test, which he failed.
He refused to provide any information regarding the firearms found.
Upon contacting the registered owner of the stolen vehicle, they denied possessing the firearms and drug paraphernalia.
Carpenter faces multiple charges, including operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, operating without a license, failure to maintain proper lane, two counts of illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon, two counts of illegal carrying of a firearm while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, three counts of first-degree larceny, use of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of carrying a pistol without a permit.
He is currently held on a $150,000 bond and has been transferred to the Connecticut Department of Correction pending his scheduled arraignment at New Britain Superior Court.
Copyright 2024 WFSB. All rights reserved.
-
Politics1 week ago
President Biden had front row seat to dog, Commander, repeatedly biting Secret Service agents: report
-
News1 week ago
171,000 Traveled for Abortions Last Year. See Where They Went.
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump travels to DC to meet with congressional Republicans, speak with nation's top business executives
-
World1 week ago
The far right will probably fall short in French legislative elections
-
Politics1 week ago
Durbin looks to force Supreme Court ethics bill vote amid Alito controversy
-
News1 week ago
Photographer shares ‘magical’ photos of rare white bison calf at Yellowstone
-
News6 days ago
It's easy to believe young voters could back Trump at young conservative conference
-
World1 week ago
Hezbollah rains rockets on Israel after senior commander killed