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Will the next member of ‘The Squad’ come from Vermont? – The Boston Globe

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Will the next member of ‘The Squad’ come from Vermont? – The Boston Globe


The present congressional delegation has served a median of 32 years and has a cumulative age of 237. Senator Pat Leahy is 82. The “junior” senator, Bernie Sanders, turns 81 in September. At 75, Consultant Peter Welch is the newborn of the bunch.

Final 12 months, after Leahy introduced he wouldn’t run for re-election, and Welch stated he would run for Leahy’s seat, a half-dozen ladies, and some males, threw their hats into the ring for Welch’s seat. The final consensus amongst political observers is that the 2 favorites heading into the Aug. 9 major are each Democrats, Balint and Lieutenant Governor Molly Grey.

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The latest ballot reveals Balint with a commanding lead.

Each Balint and Grey are proficient fund-raisers, elevating practically $1 million for his or her campaigns. It was an absence of cash that led one other candidate, Sianay Chase Clifford, a former aide to Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, to drop out of the race.

Grey has denounced the PAC cash backing Balint, however them’s the breaks.

Vermont Lieutenant Governor Molly Grey.Wilson Ring/AP Photograph/Related Press

Working as a progressive, Balint has racked up endorsements from a number of the motion’s commonplace bearers: Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Consultant Pramila Jayapal of Washington, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

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Whereas Grey touts having labored for each Leahy and Welch, they usually have appeared in her TV advertisements that are virtually as ubiquitous as Balint’s, each have consciously prevented endorsing anybody. Leahy’s spouse, Marcelle, a lady held in excessive regard all through the state, and Madeleine Kunin’s, the previous and solely feminine governor of Vermont, endorsed Grey, who’s liberal however extra politically reasonable than Balint.

There isn’t a dwelling soul who is aware of extra about Vermont politics than Garrison Nelson, the Elliott A. Brown Inexperienced and Gold Professor Emeritus of Regulation, Politics and Political Habits on the College of Vermont. Grey is a former scholar, and whereas Nelson is keen on her, if he had been a betting man he’d wager on Balint going to Washington. He stated the Sanders endorsement is large in Vermont.

“Balint’s advertisements are higher,” Nelson stated. “There’s some gravitas there. Becca talks about what she’s executed. Molly is speaking about what she’ll do.”

Nelson additionally believes the conservative majority of the Supreme Court docket, and the sudden menace to marriage equality rights that has emerged after Roe v. Wade was overturned, has handed Balint one other edge.

Balint is a lesbian, elevating two youngsters along with her spouse, Elizabeth Wohl. Balint has pores and skin within the struggle to guard marriage equality in opposition to authorized assaults that goes far past rhetoric and resonates deeply in Vermont. Certainly, most of the new plethora of TV advertisements endorsing Balint are paid for by the LGBTQ Victory Fund Federal PAC.

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Nelson believes that if, as he expects, Balint wins the first and trounces whoever emerges because the Republican candidate, the menace to marriage equality is a matter that might propel Balint right into a a lot increased profile than a typical first-term member of Congress.

“She may very well be the most recent member of ‘The Squad,’ ” he stated, referring to the group of progressives that originally was comprised of Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib.

That will fly in Vermont.

Correction: A earlier model of this story incorrectly characterised the endorsement of Sianay Chase Clifford. Clifford has stated she has no plans to endorse a candidate within the race. The Globe regrets the error.


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Kevin Cullen is a Globe columnist. He may be reached at kevin.cullen@globe.com.



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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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