Vermont
Vermont Lawmakers Chose New Sergeant at Arms in Close Vote
The deputy director of the Office of Professional Regulation narrowly beat out Mike Ferrant, the current director of legislative operations, for the $120,000-a-year post. Kessler received 84 votes to Ferrant’s 82 during a secret ballot election of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Kessler will replace Janet Miller, who has served in the role for a decade and is retiring.
The sergeant at arms is an influential position in the Vermont Statehouse. In addition to ceremonial duties, the person is responsible for booking meeting rooms, managing the page program and overseeing the small Capitol Police force.
Sen. Russ Ingalls (R-Essex) praised Ferrant for his dedication, patience and calm demeanor in helping lawmakers deal with everything from computer questions to reimbursement forms.
Kessler worked in a legislative operations role until 2017 and has maintained close relationships with veteran lawmakers and former Statehouse colleagues.
Rep. Diane Lanpher (D-Vergennes) praised her “vast experience” in the Statehouse and state government and her warmth as a person. “Her humility, kindness and diplomatic nature set her apart as an outstanding candidate for this important role,” Lanpher said.
The 41-year-old Barre resident will be in charge of running a building steeped in tradition but also one in transition.
A third of the lawmakers are new, following a historic exodus last session. A new police chief, John Poleway, the former chief of Larchmont, N.Y, starts his job March 18.
And the historic building, which is effectively a living museum, requires significant ventilation, accessibility and security upgrades in coming years.
GREENWICH, N.Y. (WNYT) – A Vermont man is accused of forcibly touching a child in a sexual manner.
Michael J. Lohnes, 42, of Rutland, was charged with misdemeanor counts of forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said.
The alleged incident happened back in the spring, and Lohnes knew the victim, according to investigators.
He was arraigned in Greenwich Town Court earlier this fall and the case is still pending.
BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – Weather conditions this morning have left many without power across Vermont.
Data indicates that over 10,000 customers are impacted by outages as of 11:16 a.m. The most impacted areas include Middlebury, Burke and Cambridge.
To stay up-to-date on local outages, check out the VT Outages page, Green Mountain Power and follow us for more details on myChamplainValley.com.
A significant outage was previously reported about earlier this month. For more coverage on that, check out this video:
VERMONT (WRGB) — Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark will host a free criminal record clearing clinic on Thursday, January 15, 2025 in Brattleboro, the first to be held in the state since new expungement laws changed in July.
Sealing a record allows an individual to wipe from their criminal record specific convictions and dismissed charges after a certain period of time has passed, including records relating to contact with the criminal justice system, like arrest or citation, arraignment, plea or conviction, and sentencing. Under Vermont’s updated law, most misdemeanors, various non-violent felony offenses, and all dismissed charges can be sealed. The free clinic will focus on sealing criminal charges and convictions from Windham County, and will be open to the public by appointment only.
“For many years, my office has assisted Vermonters with clearing old criminal records that are holding them back from securing stable housing, getting better jobs, and participating fully in their communities,” said Attorney General Clark. “These clinics are a way for us to help Vermonters who have paid their debt to society and stayed out of trouble get a fresh start and strengthen the community as a whole. I want to thank Windham County State’s Attorney Steve Brown, Interaction, and the Brooks Memorial Library for their assistance in hosting this clinic.”
Attorneys from the Attorney General’s Office will offer free assistance with petitions for Vermont-specific “qualifying” criminal convictions and dismissed charges. Appointments will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Vermonters must schedule appointments in advance by calling the Attorney General’s Office at 802-828-3171 or emailing AGO.Info@vermont.gov by Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Eligible participants will be given an in-person appointment at the Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro, Vermont, on the day of the clinic.
More information on sealing and expungements generally is available at Vermont Legal Aid’s website at www.vtlawhelp.org/expungement.
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