Vermont
Vermont's youngest delegate at the DNC: 'This is my future. I want to have a say in it.'
The Democratic National Convention opens in Chicago today, and Vermont’s delegation is one of the youngest in the country.
Nine of the 14 voting delegates are under the age of 37 — and four are under 26.
The youngest Vermont delegate in Chicago is Addie Lentzner of Bennington, who will be entering her sophomore year at Middlebury College. She’s been a political activist in Vermont for several years.
Vermont Public’s Bob Kinzel had a chance to talk with her before she left about how she sees her role at the convention.
This interview was produced for the ear. We highly recommend listening to the audio. We’ve also provided a transcript, which has been edited for length and clarity.
Bob Kinzel: Addie, Vermont has one of the youngest delegations at the Democratic National Convention this year. What do you see as the significance of that?
Addie Lentzner: I think it’s it’s hugely significant. A lot of times, politicians will talk so much about how they love getting out the youth vote and how much they support youth vote and how much they need the youth vote, but when it comes to actual politics and actual being in the room, a lot of times, youth aren’t there. And so I think having the youngest delegation coming from Vermont and having such such young young people involved is so powerful, and it sends a message that young people are not just receivers, but we want to be part of the solution too, and we want to be part of the journey to bettering politics.
Bob Kinzel: Does it indicate to you that there’s a new, younger wave of people getting interested in political issues in Vermont, almost a passing of the torch from one generation to another?
Addie Lentzner: Definitely, I have definitely seen that with even just in schools and in my college and my high school, and through organizations that I’m a part of with other high schools, there are so many young people who care deeply about the world we live in and our state and want to make a difference in it. And that’s been really, really energizing for me to see. So I think this is part of a wave in Vermont of young people coming up and saying, Hey, this is my future. I want to have a say in it.
Erin Hooley
/
Associated Press
Bob Kinzel: You’ve been active in political issues for a number of years. Have you had to deal with some people who might downplay some of your concerns and thoughts because they feel, hey, you don’t have enough experience?
Addie Lentzner: Oh, definitely. I have heard from, I mean, I’ve heard it from superintendents. I’ve heard it from many people who are saying, “Oh, you, what? You’re 18, 19, 17, you shouldn’t be making these decisions. You shouldn’t be having this voice, and you don’t understand what the real problems are. You don’t have that experience.” And to that, I say, well, that’s why we need to work together — but we as young people, I am a young person, have special experience and a perspective that adults don’t have. And so if I’m not part of this conversation, then things aren’t going to get better. And that, you know, it’s really discouraging to hear that, but I also think it’s so much part of our society that youth are more of the receivers than the ones acting, and I think that’s something that needs to be changed. And slowly it is changing.
Bob Kinzel: So tell me, why did you want to be a delegate at the Democratic National Convention?
Addie Lentzner: That is a good question. So I initially, like, a year ago, I had no idea what, like — I was involved in the Democratic Party. I had been since I was little, but I didn’t know much about the convention. I didn’t know that it was a possibility for me to join. And I found out more about it, and decided to put my name in, and ended up — I’m going. I think it’s really important for young people to be going, because especially with this election, we’re facing two choices, and bringing young people into this is really important. So when I was going into the DNC, I had no idea it was gonna, like — I had no idea it was going to be this consequential, really. And now I’m super excited.
I had no idea it was going to be this consequential, really. And now I’m super excited.
Vermont DNC delegate Addie Lentzner
Bob Kinzel: Is this convention also an opportunity for you to meet with some young people from other states and talk about some of the issues that you have in common?
Addie Lentzner: Oh yeah, we actually already have a Discord with like 150 of us who are under like 30 going to the convention. And we talk about all sorts of policy issues, which is really cool.
Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message.
Vermont
Women’s Lacrosse Bested in Burlington by Vermont – University at Albany Great Danes
Score: UAlbany 4, Vermont 14
Location: Virtue Field | Burlington, Vt.
Records: UAlbany (10-5, 5-1 America East) | Vermont (8-6, 4-1 America East)
Short Story: UAlbany women’s lacrosse fell to the Vermont Catamounts on Saturday afternoon.
Key Stats
- Grace Cincebox recorded a total of 14 saves with 13 goals allowed for a .565 save percentage.
- Ravan Marsell led the Great Danes with two points on one goal and one assist.
- Four different UAlbany players scored in the contest.
- Reggie Williams was the team’s leader with three ground balls.
- Delilah Mile caused a team high three turnovers.
How It Happened
- The Catamounts came out of the gates hard and heavy, scoring all three goals between both sides in the first quarter.
- Vermont would take an 8-0 lead in the second quarter before Amanda Williamson found the back of the net on a women-down goal to put the Great Danes on the board and make it 8-1.
- The Great Danes would allow one more goal in the first half to trail 9-1 after 30-minutes of play.
- Grace Cincebox would enter the half with 10 saves.
- Riley Forthofer started the Great Danes off in the second half to make it a 9-2 game, before Vermont put up three more goals to take a 12-2 lead entering the final quarter of play.
- Mya Carroll and Ravan Marsell both scored on back-to-back free-position goals to make it a 12-4 game.
- The Catamounts finished the game with two more goals to take the win 14-4.
Up Next
The Great Danes will next have a bye week and wait to see the outcome of next week’s Vermont vs UMass Lowell game to see who will host the America East Tournament.
Social Central: Stay up to date with UAlbany women’s lacrosse by following the team on Instagram (@UAlbanyWLax), Facebook (UAlbany Women’s Lacrosse), and X (@UAlbanyWLax) for all of the latest news and highlights throughout the year.
Vermont
Vermont lands two cities in America’s top 15 happiest list
Is creativity the missing key to better health?
Research suggests creative activities like art, music and crafts may benefit mental health as much as other key health habits.
Here’s another reason Vermont is the best New England state: It’s home to one of the top 5 happiest cities in the United States.
Plus, it has another within the top 15.
Massachusetts, on the other hand, doesn’t even break the top 50. Nor, does Connecticut or Rhode Island.
The personal finance website analyzed 182 of the largest cities in the country, and ranked Boston 63rd overall. Although the city is home to some of the nation’s top universities, high-ranking hospitals, and well-regarded companies, it didn’t break the top 50.
To get the rankings, WalletHub compared the cities using 29 metrics, including life-satisfaction index, depression rate, poverty rate, job security, and acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, and cities were assigned an overall happiness score.
Here’s a look at how the cities ranked.
South Burlington is No. 4 happiest city, Burlington is No. 11
South Burlington came on top for Vermont in WalletHub’s list of the happiest cities in the United States, ranking at No. 4. In scored very high for emotional and physical well-being coming in at the No. 4 spot, which made up for coming in No. 48 for community and environment. It was No. 9 for income and employment ranking. That gave it a total happiness of score of 70.15
Burlington wasn’t far behind at all, taking the No. 11 spot on the list and a happiness score of 67.54. It’s highest score was for income and employment ranking where it came second. It ranked No. 13 for community and environment and No. 21 for emotional and physical well-being.
Happiest cities in the US, per WalletHub
Here are the 25 happiest cities in the U.S., and their happiness scores, according to WalletHub’s 2026 list:
- Fremont, California – 74.09
- Bismarck, North Dakota – 73.11
- Scottsdale, Arizona – 71.36
- South Burlington, Vermont – 70.15
- Fargo, North Dakota – 69.36
- Overland Park, Kansas – 68.45
- Charleston, South Carolina – 68.44
- Irvine, California – 67.99
- Gilbert, Arizona – 67.96
- San Jose, California – 67.79
- Burlington, Vermont – 67.54
- Madison, Wisconsin – 66.35
- Columbia, Maryland – 66.28
- Chandler, Arizona – 65.69
- Seattle, Washington – 65.62
- Plano, Texas – 65.34
- San Francisco, California – 64.99
- Lincoln, Nebraska – 64.90
- Portland, Maine – 64.59
- Tempe, Arizona – 64.30
- San Diego, California – 64.30
- Raleigh, North Carolina – 63.47
- Peoria, Arizona – 63.38
- Durham, North Carolina – 62.84
- Huntington Beach, California – 62.80
Least happy cities in the US, per WalletHub
Here are the 25 least happy cities in the U.S., and their happiness scores, according to WalletHub’s 2026 list:
- Detroit, Michigan (#182 overall) – 29.55
- Memphis, Tennessee (#181 overall) – 34.39
- Shreveport, Louisiana (#180 overall) – 34.93
- Cleveland, Ohio (#179 overall) – 36.50
- Huntington, West Virginia (#178 overall) – 37.20
- Toledo, Ohio (#177 overall) – 37.21
- Augusta, Georgia (#176 overall) – 38.24
- Fort Smith, Arkansas (#175 overall) – 38.66
- Dover, Delaware (#174 overall) – 39.08
- Akron, Ohio (#173 overall) – 40.11
- Baltimore, Maryland (#172 overall) – 40.28
- Birmingham, Alabama (#171 overall) – 40.37
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana (#170 overall) – 40.47
- Columbus, Georgia (#169 overall) – 40.61
- Montgomery, Alabama (#168 overall) – 41.35
- Gulfport, Mississippi (#167 overall) – 41.65
- Charleston, West Virginia (#166 overall) – 42.18
- Jackson, Mississippi (#165 overall) – 42.60
- St. Louis, Missouri (#164 overall) – 43.53
- Knoxville, Tennessee (#163 overall) – 44.04
- Wilmington, Delaware (#162 overall) – 44.34
- Little Rock, Arkansas (#161 overall) – 44.48
- Mobile, Alabama (#160 overall) – 44.85
- New Orleans, Louisiana (#159 overall) – 45.19
- Tulsa, Oklahoma (#158 overall) – 45.33
Where New England cities ranked
Here are the 12 happiest cities in New England, and their happiness scores, according to WalletHub’s 2026 list:
- South Burlington, Vermont (#6 overall) – 70.15
- Burlington, Vermont (#11 overall) – 67.54
- Portland, Maine (#19 overall) – 64.59
- Nashua, New Hampshire (#27 overall) – 62.49
- Manchester, New Hampshire (#51 overall) – 59.10
- Boston, Massachusetts (#63 overall) – 56.88
- Warwick, Rhode Island (#66 overall) – 56.59
- New Haven, Connecticut (#95 overall) – 54.14
- Bridgeport, Connecticut (#96 overall) – 54.01
- Providence, Rhode Island (#98 overall) – 53.52
- Worcester, Massachusetts (#116 overall) – 50.12
- Lewiston, Maine (#145 overall) – 47.28
Vermont
Tornado with winds up to 90mph touches down in Vermont amid storms
A tornado touched down in Vermont Thursday, when a strong storm system moved through the area, the National Weather Service said.
Winds are believed to have hit 90 mph when the tornado churned through Williamstown at about 9:15 p.m., the agency said Friday. That makes it an EF1 tornado on the Fujita Scale, which goes from 0 at the weakest to 5 at the strongest.
Lasting three minutes, the twister traveled for more than four-tenths of a mile, with a maximum width of 100 yards, according to the National Weather Service’s preliminary assessment. It damaged a pair of buildings and numerous trees, shearing tree tops. Golf ball-sized hail was also reported in the area.
Severe thunderstorms popped up across the North Country Thursday night, including in central Vermont — Williamstown is south of Montpelier.
The town thanked its road crew, firefighters and locals who spent hours in the wake of the storm cleaning up.
“We appreciate all that you do to keep the town functioning though an emergency situation,” the town said.
People in the area told NBC affiliate WPTZ that the storm was shockingly powerful, and National Weather Service staffer Marlon Verasamy said that while tornadoes in Vermont are rare, they’re even rarer in this part of the state.
“Generally, when we do see tornadoes around the area that they’ve been in Addison County and not here, so it make it really, really unique to get a tornado in this kind of terrain in this part of the state,” Verasamy said.
-
Maryland3 minutes agoMaryland Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for April 18, 2026
-
Michigan9 minutes agoQ&A: Jocelyn Benson on her tenure as Michigan’s secretary of state
-
Massachusetts15 minutes agoPolice shoot and kill man armed with knife in Lexington, DA says
-
Minnesota21 minutes agoBoldy, Eriksson Ek help Wild cruise past Stars in Game 1 of Western 1st Round | NHL.com
-
Mississippi27 minutes agoGeorge County High School senior killed in Highway 26 crash, MHP says
-
Missouri33 minutes ago
Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for April 18, 2026
-
Montana39 minutes ago
Montana Lottery Powerball, Lotto America results for April 18, 2026
-
Nebraska45 minutes agoGallery: Huskers Run-Rule No. 12 USC to Take Series