The Frequency: Daily Vermont News Vermont Public

Retiring after a nearly 30-year career with the Vermont Superintendents Association, Jeff Francis talks about the value and cost of providing high-quality public education in Vermont schools. Plus, the Vermont ACLU files a lawsuit alleging a local sheriff’s department has violated the state’s public records law, the state prepares to impose annual fees on electric vehicles, Gov. Phil Scott appoints a new top prosecutor for Lamoille County, a new resource to help the state’s dairy farm workers understand housing and employment rights, and a bear is successfully freed after getting a milk can stuck on its head.

Searching for a site where former patients of a state psychiatric facility were buried in unmarked graves. Plus, Gov. Phil Scott is urged to sign legislation that would force social media companies to make their sites less addictive to kids, longtime Bennington County Sen. Dick Sears died over the weekend, Vermont’s Senate is undergoing big changes with the passing or retirement of several long-serving members, and Vermont’s health commissioner says there’s little cause for alarm despite a new COVID variant appearing in the state.

Vermont’s largest public transit provider is dealing with tough financial challenges and declining ridership. Plus, Gov. Phil Scott signs a flurry of bills into law, including one that establishes the first-ever statewide regulations on new development in river corridors, home sales in Vermont continue declining, creating gridlock for those seeking new places to live, Burlington’s police chief is reappointed to the post by the city’s new mayor, and Rep. Becca Balint remarks on the jury verdict finding former president Trump guilty of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records.

Visiting a Franklin County kitchen that’s helping reduce food insecurity by teaching people how to raise rabbits for meat. Plus, Sen. Peter Welch reacts to the felony convictions handed down against former president Trump, Gov. Scott vetoes a bill a bill that would allow for the state's first overdose prevention center, just a handful of statewide races will have contested primaries, Vermont’s largest hospital seeks approval for a new outpatient surgery building, an island in the Northeast Kingdom becomes part of Brighton State Park, and the Castleton Library will be wheelchair accessible for the first time in its nearly 100 year history.

A day in and out of court for a Vermont man struggling with substance abuse. Plus, Gov. Phil Scott indicates support for legislation making it easier for towns to impose local option taxes, the state sends staff to help a Windham school district deal with turnover in top administrative positions, two new bills become law, but without the governor’s signature, Vermont receives $6 million in U.S. EPA grant money to clean up brownfields, and state wildlife officials offer tips on keeping bears looking for food away from residential areas.

The multiple factors contributing to a backlog of cases in Vermont’s judicial system. Plus, area high school students urge Gov. Scott not to veto bills dealing with climate change, Montpelier’s new fire chief is announced , a new approach to assessing and providing wellness for Black artists in Vermont, a plant not seen in Vermont in a century is rediscovered, and a train platform in Montpelier gets an upgrade to bring it into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.