Emma Cotton

Lawmakers proposed an update to the law following a 2021 high-profile lawsuit in which neighbors of a large dairy farm in Addison County sued the farm over damage to their property and won.

A small addition to a bill on reorienting energy efficiency goals does the job.

“Farmers thrive on predictability,” said Anson Tebbetts, secretary of the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. “But we're not in that space right now. So I think everyone is taking it day to day.”

“I think, frankly, the environmental community and the Democrats in the supermajority overestimated what they thought was doable. And now I fear that they're going to go completely the other way and say, ‘Well, nothing's doable.’”

“We don't have anything like a flood watch out at this moment,” said Jessica Storm, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Burlington. “We are just letting people know to use caution around these waterways.”

While Scott said his proposal would reduce the costs of climate policies, early reactions indicate that many of his ideas are not likely to gain support from Democrats.

“This population, their rights are being violated,” said Jill Martin Diaz, executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project. “Now, we're really seeing a systematic dismantling of the people available to help.”

Attorneys and advocacy organizations are navigating an increase in federal immigration arrests — and rampant rumors and misinformation.

“The grid will remain reliable,” newly appointed Department of Public Service commissioner Kerrick Johnson told House lawmakers on Tuesday afternoon. The big question, he said, is “what’s the price?”

The confluence of very cold weather, reduced federal funding and high need among Vermonters has made an emergency heating program especially busy.