VPR News Podcast

The late Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead used to name his guitars, and one was known as "The Wolf." He switched to another after 1978, and The Wolf didn't appear on any recorded album since. But now it's back, as Vermont's Zach Nugent of the Nectar's house band Dead Set plays the old instrument on his debut album.

Vermont Wagyu recently held its annual auction, where cattle ranchers from across the country purchased animals raised on the Vermont farm.

Republican Gov. Phil Scott handily won re-election to a fourth term yesterday, grabbing more than 71% of the vote to defeat Democratic activist Brenda Siegel's 24%. But the governor was not celebrating with the state's Republican party.

David Zuckerman will be the second person in state history to serve non-consecutive terms as lieutenant governor. He defeated his Republican opponent, Joe Benning, by a margin of 54% to 43%.

For the first time in the state's 231-year history, Vermont voters have elected a woman to represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrat Becca Balint served in Vermont's Legislature as the state Senate president, and before that was a middle school teacher. When she's inaugurated in January, she'll also be Vermont's first openly gay person to serve in Congress. Balint easily beat Republican nominee Liam Madden, a Marine veteran and a self-described independent looking to disrupt the two-party system.

Democrats will again have strong majorities in the House and Senate, and leaders are expected to consider major new expenditures on child care, paid family leave, and nutrition assistance.

There are 150 seats in the Vermont House of Representatives up for grabs on Tuesday, but one race in the Northeast Kingdom could be especially consequential.As a result of legislative reapportionment, two incumbent lawmakers — one a Democrat, and one a Republican — are vying to represent Albany, Craftsbury, Glover and Greensboro in the Vermont Statehouse. And the race is raising some important questions about the future of rural Vermont.

A record number of mail-in ballots for a non-presidential election have already been received by town clerks across Vermont. It's estimated that as many as 50% of all votes cast for the midterm election will be done by mail this year. But what happens to these ballots when they're sent back to the clerk's office?

Historically, standardized tests have not been considered equitable to all students. In Vermont, education officials are now partnering with a new vendor for statewide testing.

Rob Bahny creates training programs for Vermonters who are looking to earn a license and begin careers in health care and other sectors with a worker shortage. He says significant funding is available to pay for training, but certain barriers keep potential students from ever signing up for class.

The small town of Pownal is known for its horse racing track — even though it's been almost 50 years since the last thoroughbred crossed the finish line there. And even after years of watching it fall into ruin, some locals believe the property still has potential.

There are about 20,000 fewer people working or seeking work in Vermont compared to the months before the pandemic, and the state's aging population could further strain the workforce in the coming years. So how might the two major party candidates running for governor tackle this issue? And how much power does a governor really have to grow the workforce?

Earlier this month nearly 50 volunteers armed with rakes and large pruning tools gathered for the annual spiny softshell turtle beach clean up day. The conservation effort, organized by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, helps ready the beach for hatching baby turtles.

Legal experts, lawmakers and advocates say that Gov. Phil Scott, who's often lauded as being a moderate Republican, takes a more traditionally conservative view on criminal justice issues.

According to a recent study, more than half of Vermont's farmworker housing units are in need of repairs, including for health and safety issues.But even though on-farm housing is technically state-regulated in Vermont, farmworkers do not rely on state agencies for help. Instead, farmworkers use a program they built themselves.

Nightmare Vermont is one of the largest haunted houses in the state. Since opening in Essex Junction in 2004, this all-volunteer Halloween event has provided classic jump scares and an immersive theater experience. And Vermont Public's Marlon Hyde got a behind-the-scenes walkthrough.

A number of pollinating bees are either endangered or threatened in Vermont, and a group of steelpan drummers wants to bring awareness to the dwindling pollinator populations. As Vermont Public's Marlon Hyde reports this group is using music that originates from the Caribbean to make a difference.

This November, Vermonters will vote on whether to enshrine the right to abortion in the state Constitution. The overturning of Roe v. Wade helped spur some voters to advocate for the measure, including a group of friends who hosted a bike ride to fundraise for the campaign.

In essence, University of Vermont scientist Brian Beckage and his team created a model that says as the climate changes, so will human behavior — for the better.

Richmond native Ben Feinson didn't just hike the Long Trail from the Vermont-Massachusetts border up to Canada — he ran it. And he did it in record time. Learn about his incredible journey and the documentary that recorded his history-making run.

A fly fishing guide in Bennington County found a rare fossil while teaching a client.

Can these parasitoid wasps give Vermont's young ash trees a fighting chance against the invasive emerald ash borer? Scientists sure hope so.

Vermont Edition host Connor Cyrus moderated a debate between Republican Joe Benning and Progressive/Democrat David Zuckerman on Thursday, Oct. 20. Here are the highlights.

Five years after Aita Gurung allegedly killed his wife and attacked his mother-in-law, a jury will decide whether he was insane at the time, or whether he should be sent to prison. All the mental health experts who examined Gurung, including one hired by prosecutors, determined he was legally insane, which led Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George to dismiss the case in 2019. The attorney general's office refiled the case after a request from Gov. Phil Scott.

A number of political observers think the race for lieutenant governor this year might turn out to be the most competitive of Vermont's eight statewide contests.

Vermont Edition host Mikaela Lefrak moderated a debate between Republican Phil Scott and Democrat Brenda Siegel on Tuesday, Oct. 18. Here are the highlights.

A release from the Vermont Department of Health last month showed 98% of Vermont schools and child care facilities have completed testing and remediation for lead in their drinking water. And the results showed that one in five taps had lead levels at or above recommended state levels.

GlobalFoundries will use the money to manufacture a new type of semiconductor at its facility in Essex Junction. If the company gets its way, there could soon be much more government money infused into the 65-year-old computer chip plant.

Brenda Siegel says she'll make government work better for the low- and middle-income Vermonters who are struggling to get by.

Students, staff and community are reeling after the community of nearly 5,000 received national attention. That's after a local media outlet reported on a 14-year-old Randolph Union High School trans student and her use of the girls locker room.

Vermont Edition host Mikaela Lefrak moderated a debate between Republican Gerald Malloy and Democrat Peter Welch on Thursday, Oct. 13. Here are the highlights.

Hinesburg resident and author Jane Taylor's new book Spirit Traffic tells the story of her 10,000-mile family motorcycle road trip across the country.

Vermont Edition host Connor Cyrus moderated a debate between Democrat Becca Balint and Republican Liam Madden on Tuesday, Oct. 11. Here are the highlights.

Gerald Malloy bills himself as a conservative Republican. The first-time political candidate won an upset victory in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate, beating moderate Christina Nolan, who was considered the front runner. His political positions revolve around a few themes: limited government, a conservative reading of the Constitution and free-market capitalism.

Eve Jacobs-Carnahan is a former election lawyer. She's also an artist. In her Knit Democracy Together workshops, she invites knitters and crafters to create 3D sculpture while discussing the democratic process.

Reporter Erica Heilman stopped in to visit with dispatchers at the St. Johnsbury Police Department to find out what it takes to be the first stop in an emergency response.

Vermont's Department of Health recently concluded an investigation into a cluster of cases of Legionnaires' disease in and around St. Albans in Franklin County.The state confirmed five cases, including one that resulted in death.

Local evening newscast for Friday, Oct. 7

People living in Richmond, Vermont were surprised to find out that fluoride levels in their drinking water had been dropping to less than half the recommended state levels. They discovered that a town worker had been responsible. Seven Days reporter Kevin McCallum breaks down what happened with Vermont Public's Mitch Wertlieb.

The college is drilling test wells to expand access to geothermal energy to heat and cool buildings on campus. The systems collect thermal energy from below the earth's surface, then run it through heat pumps for air conditioning.

Liam Madden, a first-time political candidate who wants to succeed Rep. Peter Welch, says nothing less than a wholesale reordering of the U.S. political system will save the country from the "catastrophes" at its doorstep.

Vermont has long been a kind of hunter's paradise. But beyond taking a bear, moose or wild turkey during their designated hunting seasons, a first-time children's book author has spun a tale about a kind of hunting — or more specifically, foraging — that can be done almost any time in Vermont's spring, summer or fall seasons.