The VTDigger newsroom is covering this historic general election with reporters, editors and photographers across the state. Find all of our stories from Tuesday, Nov. 5, below. This post will be updated through Wednesday, Nov. 6.

• PHOTOS: Winners, losers and election night watchers — As results trickled in through the evening, photographers Glenn Russell and Josh Kuckens followed candidates and voters across the state. (Nov. 6, 2:38 a.m.)

• Democrats lose supermajority in the Vermont House — and a pair of committee chairs — Diane Lanpher and Mike McCarthy, leaders of the chamber’s appropriations and government operations committees, lost reelection bids Tuesday as Republicans wiped out a Democratic supermajority in the House. (Nov. 5, 11:49 p.m.)

• Burlington residents approve police oversight item as Vermonters cast their votes for town ballot items — Be it multimillion-dollar infrastructure projects, citizen-led petitions around firearms or a school district bond vote, there were plenty of local items on residents’ ballots. (Nov. 5, 10:04 p.m.)

• Vermonters on edge as they await presidential election results — At a campus pub at the University of Vermont, students pecked at their dinners and colored in election bingo cards as they watched C-SPAN with apprehension. (Nov. 5, 9:41 p.m.)

• John Rodgers unseats David Zuckerman as lieutenant governor of Vermont — Rodgers, a Republican from the Northeast Kingdom who served in the state Senate as a Democrat, received strong backing from GOP Gov. Phil Scott. (Nov. 5, 9:20 p.m.)

• Republicans flip multiple seats in Vermont Senate, shattering Democratic supermajority — The party scored multiple upset victories, including unseating Sen. Chris Bray, D-Addison, the chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. (Nov. 5, 9:14 p.m.)

• Most statewide officeholders in Vermont cruise to victory — The incumbent secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer and auditor — none of whom faced competitive challengers — easily won reelection Tuesday evening. (Nov. 5, 8:17 p.m.)

• Gov. Phil Scott easily wins reelection to a 5th term — and breaks the Democratic supermajority  in the Legislature — The Republican emerged victorious thanks to legions of vote-splitters who also voted for Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee. (Nov. 5, 7:44 p.m.)

• Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Becca Balint coast to reelection — The results of congressional races throughout the country may challenge Sanders’ and Balint’s ability to work effectively in Washington D.C., during their next terms. (Nov. 5, 7:06 p.m.)

• Kamala Harris takes Vermont — The Associated Press called the race for the Democratic presidential nominee shortly after polls closed. (Nov. 5, 7:02 p.m.)

• Phil Scott votes for Kamala Harris for president — The Vermont Republican made national headlines when he voted for Democratic President Joe Biden in 2020. This year, he promised again to buck his party and not to vote for former President Donald Trump but kept his choice quiet until late on Election Day. (Nov. 5, 5:57 p.m.)

• PHOTOS: Voters head to the polls throughout Vermont — Photographers Glenn Russell, Josh Kuckens and Caleb Kenna were stationed throughout much of the state — from Cornwall to Plainfield to Greensboro — to capture the action.
  (Nov. 5, 2:46 p.m.)

• Vermonters take to the polls on a historic Election Day — Some voters said they were turning out to vote in the bitterly contested presidential race. Others said they were motivated by state issues. (Nov. 5, 11:46 a.m.)

Read the story on VTDigger here: Read all of VTDigger’s 2024 General Election Day coverage.

Election Day has arrived, and Vermonters have been taking to the polls. Photographers Glenn Russell Josh Kuckens and Caleb Kenna traveled across the state — from Cornwall to Plainfield to Hardwick — to capture the action.

Updated at 4:45 p.m.

Read the story on VTDigger here: PHOTOS: Voters cast their ballots throughout Vermont.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl battered central and northern Vermont with rain late Wednesday through early Thursday — killing at least two people, leading to more than 100 rescues, flooding homes and damaging infrastructure. 

Throughout the day Thursday, VTDigger reporters crisscrossed the region to cover the storm’s impact on Vermonters. They traveled to many of the hardest-hit towns and cities, including Barre, Plainfield, Lyndon, Moretown, Barnet, Williamstown and Hinesburg. Here are their stories:

2 dead, more than 100 rescued after heavy rains inundate Vermont — Towns and cities from Addison to Caledonia counties were hit with 3 to 5 inches of rain late Wednesday, with some totals exceeding 6 and even 7 inches.

Body of 73-year-old man recovered in Lyndonville, marking 2nd known death in Vermont storm — John Rice, of Concord, was swept away by an overflowing Passumpsic River as he drove across a flooded street, according to local police.

Peacham man drowns after getting caught in floodwaters while driving UTV, police say — Dylan Kempton, 33, was found dead early Thursday morning near South Peacham Brook. Surging water had rushed over the road and swept his vehicle away.

PHOTOS: Vermont responds to effects of overnight flooding — Our reporters and photographers were around the state — from Barre and Plainfield to Barnet and Hardwick — to capture the scenes.

Where in Vermont did the most rain fall during Wednesday’s storm? — Half a dozen towns saw 6 inches of rain — and one town 7 inches.

Resources for Vermonters affected by Wednesday’s floods — Who you can call and what you should do, and not do.

In a familiar scene, Scott administration officials address Vermont’s latest round of flooding — Before it could fully rebuild from last summer’s devastation, the state is back in flood-response mode.

Flooding ravages Plainfield — Michael Billingsley, the emergency management director for Plainfield, said Thursday morning that the whole center of town had essentially been “washed out.”

‘A cruel twist of fate’: Barre City is back in flood recovery mode — “I think it’s demoralizing,” the city manager said. “People aren’t fully recovered, and yet they are hit again before they are able to fully get back on their feet.”

‘Beyond my wildest dreams’: In hard-hit Lyndon, residents grapple with flood aftermath — It was the third time in 20 years that the Gervais’ auto shop had flooded, but this was by far the worst.

Hundreds of Moretown residents stranded in their homes — “There’s no danger, but they can’t go anywhere,” said the selectboard chair.

Battered by the storm, Barnet neighbors take stock of damage — Spared by last summer’s floods, the town faced a far worse fate on Wednesday.

Flooding leaves Barre coated in mud and debris — Residents and business owners were employing shovels, rakes and hands to clear walkways of mud and debris, which was several inches thick in some areas.

Storm cut off road access and power to Williamstown village, now largely restored — As a whole, the Orange County town appeared to escape the worst effects of the flooding.

Flood recovery begins again in Waterbury — “I guess this is an annual thing now,” said one village resident as he and his neighbors pulled out their shop vacs and water pumps to suck water from basements, and a few first floors, for the third time in a year.

Rains wreak havoc on Hinesburg roads — The water washed away a culvert, isolating the town garage, but road crews were still able to begin work starting at around 9 a.m.

In Montpelier, Julio’s Cantina employees breathe sigh of relief — “This is the best-case scenario,” they repeated to each other as they cleaned up the flooded basement. “We’re really lucky.”

High waters imperil homes, infrastructure in Starksboro and Huntington — The Huntington town administrator estimates that the town has sustained more than $1 million in damage to town infrastructure — about half of the town’s annual budget.

Winooski River jumped its banks in Richmond — Commuter cars and a town park were struck by floodwaters.

Huntington family spends a harrowing night stranded at home — “My granddaughter, she was crying. We just kept an eye on it and tried to keep her safe,” said David Denton.

In Johnson, cautious optimism Thursday afternoon as Lamoille appears to crest — The river topped out at just under 18 feet as the floodwaters passed through town, roughly three feet lower than the highest point during the flooding last year.

SHARE: How have you been affected by Vermont’s rainfall and flooding? — We want to hear from you. Share your experience with the storms and flooding.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Under water: Read VTDigger’s full coverage of Vermont’s latest flooding disaster.

The federal government has made additional funding available to Vermont for flood debris cleanup.

The money can be used to pay for debris removal stemming from severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred from July 7 to 21, according to a news release issued Tuesday by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

By amending the state’s disaster declaration, President Joe Biden authorized the federal cost-share to be increased from 75% to 100% for a 30-day period of the state’s choosing within the first 120 days from the start of the incident period. 

The major disaster declaration made federal funding available for public assistance, individual assistance, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and other needs.

State contractors removed thousands of tons of flood waste from public rights of way throughout Vermont in the weeks following July’s flooding.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Vermont receives more federal funding for flood debris cleanup .

As Vermonters surveyed the damage on Tuesday, VTDigger photographers and reporters criss-crossed the state gathering information and images, and speaking to the people who were affected.

Click on any of the smaller photos below to enlarge. View our photos from around the state on Monday or the capital on Tuesday. Submit your own photos and videos. And follow our latest coverage.

Read the story on VTDigger here: PHOTOS: Vermonters navigate the damage on Tuesday.

VTDigger reporters and photographers captured scenes in the flooded capital on Tuesday, as many waited anxiously for news of whether floodwaters would recede, or whether Wrightsville Dam would pass its capacity and send more water into the city.

Click on any of the smaller photos below to enlarge. View our photos from around the state on Monday or Tuesday. Submit your own photos and videos. And follow our latest coverage.

Read the story on VTDigger here: PHOTOS: Vermont’s capital under floodwaters.

As rain pummeled Vermont on Monday, VTDigger reporters and photographers traveled around the state to capture the scenes. The team gathered information and captured images in Bridgewater, Montpelier, Proctorsville, Rochester, Stockbridge, Waitsfield, Weston, Woodstock and more.

Click on any of the smaller photos below to enlarge. View our photos from Tuesday, including in the capital and around the state. Submit your own photos and videos. And follow our latest coverage.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Jeff Mills’ name in a caption.

Read the story on VTDigger here: PHOTOS: As rain swamped the state on Monday, Vermonters responded.

BRATTLEBORO — Groundworks Collaborative, a local agency for people who are hungry or without housing, is set to receive help from other providers this month as it regroups after last week’s killing of a shelter coordinator.

“It is clear that our entire staff needs a pause in order to come together to grieve, work together toward healing and figure out our way forward,” executive director Josh Davis said in a written statement.

Groundworks runs the 30-bed Morningside House shelter on Royal Road, where social worker Leah Rosin-Pritchard was murdered — allegedly by a resident — April 3.

The nonprofit also operates a daytime drop-in center and 34-bed overnight shelter on South Main Street and the region’s most-used food shelf, located on Canal Street.

Until May 2, shelter residents are expected to move to the state’s hotel-housing program through funding from the Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity and with management support from the local organization Health Care and Rehabilitation Services, Groundworks said in its statement.

The food shelf is scheduled to remain open with help from volunteers.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital plans to coordinate medical issues as a part of Groundworks’ Healthworks partnership with the Brattleboro Retreat and Health Care and Rehabilitation Services.

And Brooks Memorial Library is receiving and distributing client mail.

Groundworks relocated Morningside House residents immediately after the killing but continued to operate its other programs, even as media coverage heightened when Zaaina Asra Zakirrah Mahvish-Jammeh pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge last Tuesday and was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.

“While we’ve met every day,” said Jessica Guardado, director of supportive services, “we’ve only been able to plan for the next 48 hours or so.”

During its break, Groundworks plans to take time to coordinate a reopening while caring for Rosin-Pritchard’s family and friends.

“Now that we’ve secured support to continue services throughout the pause,” Guardado said, “we can begin to plan for our group process in healing.”

Read the story on VTDigger here: As Brattleboro shelter regroups after a killing, other agencies to care for clients.

The bus driver, Kimberly Winter, 53, of Brattleboro, told the troopers she had stopped the bus before the railroad crossing on Newton Road so she could listen to see if a train was coming, according to a press release.

Police said a Toyota Tundra driven by Jessica Baldwin, 35, of Vernon came up behind the bus, sidewiped it, then went off the road and slammed into a tree.

Baldwin, who police said was not wearing a seat belt, was suspected to be under the influence of drugs when troopers met her at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. She was issued a citation for suspicion of DUI.

— Juliet Schulman-Hall

Read the story on VTDigger here: Vehicle sideswipes school bus at rail crossing; no injuries.

Peatman was shot and killed at his own home on Griggs Road the night of Dec. 1, state police said. Officials have said they believe the people responsible for the shooting fled the scene, though have not publicly named any suspects.

The shooting appears to be targeted and officials do not believe there is a broader threat to public safety, state police said last week.

— Shaun Robinson

Read the story on VTDigger here: State police identify victim in fatal Eden shooting.

Department of Corrections staff found Mould in his cell early in the morning on Nov. 30, according to a state police press release, and he was pronounced dead at the prison. 

Mould was held in the infirmary unit at the time of his death. Rachel Feldman, a corrections spokesperson, said she could not share why he had been under medical care.

Mould had been incarcerated since 2008, serving a 40 years-to-life sentence for convictions including repeated aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault on a child under 10 years old and lewd and lascivious conduct with a child, according to the release from state police. 

Six people have died at the Springfield facility this year. 

—Ethan Weinstein

Read the story on VTDigger here: Autopsy reveals incarcerated person at Springfield prison died of natural causes.

The clearcutting began on Rabbit Hill Way near Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in May, according to neighbors Howard Krum and Mary Margaret Sloan. Although a permit was issued in June by the town’s zoning administrator, the neighbors allege it was not properly posted and that it should have required conditional approval from the town’s development review board.

The neighbors’ appeal to Woodstock’s development review board was denied last month. Although the board acknowledged hiccups related to posting the permit, it ultimately decided that Krum and Sloan had waited too long to appeal the initial permitting.

Steven Bauer, Woodstock’s zoning administrator, did not immediately respond to a request for comment about how the town will handle the appeal. 

—Ethan Weinstein

Read the story on VTDigger here: Neighbors appeal Woodstock clearcutting decision to environmental court.

Duffy, 40, of Stoneham, Massachusetts, currently serves as that town’s accountant, overseeing a budget of about $100 million — 10 times that of Woodstock. 

“It’s almost been a running joke that my ideal job would be town manager of Woodstock, so as this job came up it almost seemed too good to be true,” Duffy told the Valley News. “As I went through the process, met with the board and the citizens, they really showed the sense of pride they have in the community and the way they want to improve and provide services for the right kinds of businesses and the community as a whole. I really align with that, so I am very excited.”

Duffy will be the fourth person to hold the position since the 2019 death of longtime town manager Phil Swanson, who served in the role for 34 years. William Kerbin Jr. subsequently held the role for just over two years, but was placed on paid leave in April and eventually reached a separation agreement with the town. 

—Ethan Weinstein

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated Eric Duffy’s current town of residence.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Woodstock hires new town manager.

Claudio Fort, president and CEO of Rutland Regional Medical Center, has resigned after more than four years in the role, according to an announcement from the hospital Tuesday.

Fort will leave the hospital at the end of December, board chair Mark Foley Jr. said in the press release. 

Prior to joining Rutland Regional in April 2018, Fort spent roughly 10 years as CEO of North Country Hospital in Newport. At Rutland, Fort replaced Tom Huebner, who had retired after leading the hospital since 1997.

According to the announcement, Fort told hospital staff in an email Tuesday that he was resigning for personal reasons. 

“I have come to a personal decision that I need to make some definitive changes, which includes stepping down from my role as CEO to take some extended time off and focus on my health,” he said.

Judi Fox, the hospital’s chief financial officer and vice president, will step in as interim president and CEO, according to the press release. Fox has spent six years as CFO and another 26 years of her career at Rutland Regional, in addition to serving on the board of directors of the Brattleboro Retreat and United Way of Rutland County.

“The hospital is important to our community, and we will work to ensure that our patients continue to have access to timely high-quality care while maintaining Rutland Regional’s reputation as a great place to work,” Fox said.

Foley said that he appreciated the “dedication and leadership” Fort has shown and that he is grateful to Fox for stepping in during the transition. According to the press release, the board of directors has formed a search committee and plans to hire a firm to recruit the next CEO.

— Erin Petenko

Read the story on VTDigger here: Rutland Regional Medical Center CEO resigns.

Deon Mitchell, 19, of Winooski, was arrested Monday and charged with accessory after the fact for first-degree murder, police said in a Monday press release. Mitchell’s residence in Winooski is alleged to have been the “starting and ending point” for Abdiaziz Abdhikadir, who was charged last month with first-degree murder in the killing.

In court documents, police allege that Abdhikadir left Winooski and entered Burlington’s Old North End via train tracks. Police allege he then shot Mubarak on Luck Street before returning to Winooski.

Police on Monday said evidence related to the homicide was found at Mitchell’s residence. He was released on court conditions after an arraignment Monday.

— Patrick Crowley

Read the story on VTDigger here: 2nd arrest made in connection to July shooting in Burlington.

Authorities allege that Elliot Russell, 46, killed Ulysses Ivey, 39, at a Green Mountain Power substation in Bennington on the night of Oct. 26. He was arrested in the neighboring New York village of Hoosick Falls the following day but has yet to appear in Vermont state court to answer to the charge.

Bennington police allege Russell shot Ivey, then fled, according to a police statement of probable cause in support of the murder charge. Before Ivey died at the substation, investigators said, he made a 911 call in which he said he’d been shot in the head and named “Elliot Russell” as the shooter.

The motivation for the shooting is unclear.

Police said a surveillance camera at the power plant recorded the incident — showing Ivey’s car pulling in, followed by a Honda SUV, before two shots were fired by an occupant of the SUV.

Investigators said the Honda SUV matched the description of a vehicle that Russell was driving Oct. 4, when police conducted a traffic stop. The SUV is registered to the mother of Russell’s girlfriend, Erin Wilson, and Wilson was in the vehicle with him during the traffic stop, according to the affidavit.

Hours after the shooting, in a conversation with police, Wilson apparently told them she and Russell had been in Hoosick Falls when Ivey was shot. But the affidavit indicates Wilson’s mother told investigators Wilson had admitted to a family member that she’d seen Russell fatally shoot another man that night.

Wilson, 29, has been charged with being an accessory after the fact. She pleaded not guilty Oct. 31 in Bennington Superior criminal court and has not been taken into custody, provided she abides by court conditions.

Her charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. Second-degree murder is punishable by up to life in prison.

— Tiffany Tan

Read the story on VTDigger here: Bennington shooting suspect accused of second-degree murder; girlfriend implicated.

Kim Carson gained final approval to become Burlington’s next head of racial equity, inclusion and belonging on Monday night. The City Council vote was unanimous.

“Kim has charisma,” said Ali Dieng, I-Ward 7. “She also has the professional experience and the know-how that will heavily invest in the much needed work to rebuild the REIB department and to do its important work of leading efforts of creating a more just Burlington.”

Mayor Miro Weinberger said in a memo Carson will begin in her new role Tuesday. Weinberger announced Carson’s appointment during a press conference on Friday and he introduced her to the council on Monday night.

“With Kim’s leadership, I’m confident that the city of Burlington will be well equipped to continue the urgent work of ending racial disparities and fostering a sense of belonging in Burlington.”

Carson, 48, was previously the director of education and human capital development at the Iowa Judicial Branch. She was in attendance on Monday for her formal nomination.

“I just really feel called to the city of Burlington,” Carson told the council. “I brought my children here and they love it. And so I’m really, really excited to have the opportunity to integrate with the community and be a part of the committee that I think is primed and ready for change.”

The city office was created in 2019. Tyeastia Green, who previously led the office, resigned in February.

— Patrick Crowley

Read the story on VTDigger here: Burlington City Council approves new racial equity director.

A sentencing hearing for a former St. Albans police officer who faces potential jail time for punching a handcuffed woman in the face has been delayed for the second time in about a month.

The hearing for Jason Lawton had initially been set in Franklin County Superior criminal court in St. Albans for Sept. 28, but was continued after the parties met with Judge Martin Maley behind closed doors just before its start time with no indication why.

That hearing was rescheduled for Monday. Lawton’s attorney filed a notice asking that the sentencing be continued again because a mental health expert the defense intended to call to testify was unavailable until later in the month.

According to the defense filing, the Vermont Attorney General’s Office, which is prosecuting the case, did not object to the judge granting the latest delay. 

In a deal with prosecutors, Lawton, 34, pleaded guilty in May to a misdemeanor charge of simple assault for striking Amy Connelly of Highgate in March 2019 at the St. Albans police station. 

The agreement called for a contested sentencing hearing, with the prosecution allowed to seek a jail term of up to six months while Lawton’s attorney could argue for a lesser sentence. 

According to video of the March 2019 encounter, Connelly had been in a holding cell at the St. Albans police station with her hands cuffed behind her back.

At one point she stands up, appearing to raise a leg toward Lawton. The video shows Lawton pushing her onto a bench inside the cell, grabbing her shirt near her neck, and punching her in the face. 

Lawton was later fired from the police department.

— Alan J. Keays

Read the story on VTDigger here: Sentencing delayed again for ex-St. Albans police officer in assault case.

Police said Joyce Weld died “due to the extent of the injuries sustained during the crash.”

Weld was a passenger in a two-car crash on Oct. 24. She was wearing a seatbelt, sustained serious injuries and was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center where she initially was listed as critical, according to press releases from Vermont State Police.

The accident was reported around 5:30 p.m. near the intersection of Route 105 and Woods Hill Road in Sheldon. Emergency personnel responded and found a Toyota Camry and a GMC Acadia with significant front end and back end damage respectively.

Investigation revealed that the Camry, traveling eastbound on Route 105, rear ended the Acadia while it was waiting to make a left turn. The driver in the Acadia sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Northwestern Medical Center. The driver of the Camry was not injured but Weld was, police said in the release.

– Auditi Guha

Read the story on VTDigger here: Woman dead almost 2 weeks after Sheldon car crash.

An elementary school janitor in Morristown was arrested and charged Friday with promoting and possessing child sexual abuse material, Vermont prosecutors said.

Levi Gamble, 40, of Wolcott, pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of promoting a recording of child sexual conduct, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. He also denied a misdemeanor charge of possessing child sexual abuse material, the Vermont Attorney General’s Office said in a news release.

His charges stem from a cybertip that the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, indicating that Gamble possessed and promoted a file of suspected child sexual abuse material on the messaging platform Discord.

A police review of the file showed child sexual abuse material, according to the police statement of probable cause in Gamble’s case.

Gamble works as a night custodian at Morristown Elementary School, said Lauren Jandl, spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office. The school is part of the Lamoille South Unified Union School District. 

In response to questions, Superintendent Ryan Heraty told VTDigger that the school district hired Gamble in July 2014. Heraty declined to comment further, but forwarded an email he sent to families in the school district on Friday afternoon. 

The message said Gamble has been put on leave and there’s no indication he’d victimized a local student. “According to law enforcement, at this time there is no indication that any Lamoille South student was a victim, nor is there evidence of criminal activity on school grounds,” Heraty wrote.

Investigators searched Gamble’s home Friday morning, when they seized multiple devices and arrested him, according to the affidavit. The devices will be forensically examined, the Attorney General’s Office said.

Following the hearing at the Lamoille Superior criminal court, Judge Scot Kline ordered Gamble released on a $5,000 unsecured appearance bond. He was released on conditions that include restricted access to minors and devices that are capable of accessing the internet, the Attorney General’s Office said.

— Tiffany Tan

Read the story on VTDigger here: Elementary school janitor charged with promoting, possessing child sexual abuse material.

The Covid pandemic is still leaving its mark on one of Vermont’s most beloved and well-attended events: the Darn Tough sock sale. 

The yearly two-weekend event has been postponed for the third year in row, said Courtney Laggner, the iconic company’s brand and community marketing manager. 

“It’s of the utmost importance for us to keep our employees safe, so we have made the decision to forgo the sock sale again this year as Covid (unfortunately) is still looming,” Laggner said. “That said, we are happy to be donating more socks than ever to those in need here in Vermont and around the country.”

The sale, held every year until 2019 at the company’s Northfield factory, draws thousands of holiday shoppers. 

As for next year?

“We’ll cross the bridge when we get there,” said Laggner. 

— Fred Thys

Read the story on VTDigger here: Darn Tough sock sale is canceled for 3rd year in a row.

The turbine will form part of Burlington’s plan to produce as much energy as it consumes by 2030. It will be the first such turbine built by ARC and will be used to demonstrate the feasibility of rooftop wind turbines.

“Burlington already generates the most solar energy per person of any city in the Northeast, and rooftop wind is an exciting new frontier in renewable energy,” Weinberger said in a statement.

After one year, the Burlington Electric Department will have the option of buying the turbine, extending the contract with ARC or removing the turbine. 

The turbine produces 3 kilowatts of power, enough to power 1.5 homes. 

The airport also has a 500-kilowatt solar array. 

In 2014, Burlington became the first city in the United States to source 100 percent of its power from renewable generation. 

The announcement at Burlington Airport on Wednesday was the official launch of ARC’s small rooftop turbine. The generator, called the orb, looks very different from wind turbines deployed across the world. Instead of having giant propeller blades, it looks more like the tip of a screwdriver. 

The company claims its design will deter wildlife from approaching the blades, create less noise than those huge turbines, and require little maintenance. The turbine is only about eight feet tall and six feet in diameter. 

— Fred Thys

Read the story on VTDigger here: Burlington to place ‘leading-edge’ wind turbine at airport.

In addition, the University of Vermont Medical Center is getting nearly $2 million in reimbursements for the cost of hiring temporary staff to handle increased patient loads during the pandemic.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced the grants Wednesday.

Vermont will get $13.2 million in reimbursements for the most of testing Vermont residents and public employees for Covid, including tests required for safe opening and operations of state facilities between May 2021 and March 2022 — including prisons, schools, state buildings, nonprofit long-term care facilities, and public and nonprofit summer camps.

The money comes from FEMA’s public assistance program, intended to help states and communities recovering from federally declared disasters or emergencies. So far, Vermont has been awarded more than $413 million in FEMA reimbursements for pandemic-related expenses.

Also announced on Wednesday:

• $3 million toward the cost of buying personal protective equipment, warning signs, cleaning services, plexiglass barriers and other items intended to minimize the spread of Covid-19.

• $1.8 million channeled through the state government to reimburse UVM Medical Center for hiring temporary staff between June 2020 and January 2022. That covers 17,710 hours worked by registered nurses, licensed nurse practitioners, certified nursing assistants and respiratory therapists — caring for patients, testing 93,391 people for Covid and administering 13,304 vaccinations.

— Tom Kearney

Read the story on VTDigger here: $18 million coming to Vermont for Covid costs.

Jonathan Farrell will take over as the committee’s new executive director beginning Nov. 17, according to a press release issued Monday. Farrell takes the top spot after 11 years with COTS, most recently serving as its operations director, the release stated.

“Jonathan was a clear standout during the search process, and we are confident in his ability to advance our organization,” Kurt Reichelt, COTS’ board vice chair, said in the release. Farrell previously served as facilities director and housing resource center coordinator at the organization.

COTS is the largest service provider for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in Vermont. Markley announced her retirement earlier this year after working at the agency for 30 years.

“Leaving COTS is bittersweet, but it makes it easier to leave knowing that our leadership team is strong and extraordinarily talented, our board and volunteers are deeply committed to our mission and our new Executive Director, Jonathan Farrell, will bring a breadth of experience in housing and social services,” Markley said in the press release.

— Patrick Crowley

Read the story on VTDigger here: COTS names Jonathan Farrell as new executive director.

Gordon Horner, 21, of Johnson, and Dominic Lewis, 21, of Winooski, were arrested and charged with aggravated assault with serious injury and simple assault, police reported.

At about 2 a.m., police received several calls about a fight near City Hall on Church Street. Dispatch reported the victim was unconscious and that the two suspects were being held down by residents.

Preliminary investigation revealed there was a fight among three people. Two of them reportedly assaulted a third by kicking him “in the head multiple times causing serious bodily injury,” causing the victim to become unconscious. When the suspects tried to stomp on the victim’s head, residents tackled and held them down, police said in the release.

The victim was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center’s emergency department with serious head trauma and was reported to be in critical condition Sunday morning. Horner also bit the arm of the person restraining him which required medical treatment, police said.

Each suspect was arrested and held at Northwest Correctional Facility on $5,000 bail, according to the release.

– Auditi Guha

Read the story on VTDigger here: Man in critical condition after assault in downtown Burlington.

Both the prosecution and defense made their closing arguments on Friday after three weeks of evidence and testimony in the jury trial of Aita Gurung.

Judge John Pacht said he anticipated sending the case to the jury for deliberation early next week.

The attorneys’ closing arguments echoed what jurors had already heard in the case, with much of the argument centered on whether or not Gurung was insane at the time of the attack.

Gurung is being tried on a charge of first-degree murder for killing his wife, Yogeswari Khadka, at their Burlington home in October 2017. Gurung is also charged with attempted murder of his mother-in-law, Thulsa Rimal, who was severely injured in the same incident. Gurung used a meat cleaver in the attack on both women.

State prosecutors told the jury Friday that the evidence shows Gurung was aware of his actions when he attacked his wife and mother-in-law.

“He did not lack the capacity due to a mental disease or defect to appreciate criminality,” Assistant Attorney General Sophie Stratton told the jury on Friday.

Gurung’s attorneys closed by relying heavily on his medical records and psychological evaluations, asking the jury to find him not guilty by reason of insanity. They said he was hearing voices and has a “serious psychotic disorder.”

“The state would have you gloss over the seriousness of Mr. Gurung’s disorder,” defense attorney Sandra Lee said.

The trial is set to resume on Monday.

— Patrick Crowley

Read the story on VTDigger here: Attorneys make closing arguments in meat cleaver murder trial.

Updated at 7:39 p.m.

A 67-year-old Rutland man was found dead in his cell Tuesday at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, according to a state police press release.

The Vermont State Police are investigating the death of Dan Griswold, who was found unresponsive in his cell at about 11:05 a.m. Tuesday. Police said emergency medical care was unsuccessful and he was declared dead at 11:30 a.m.

According to police, early investigation shows no indications that the death is suspicious. 

Griswold has been incarcerated since 1998, serving 40 years to life for aggravated sexual assault, police said. At the earliest, he could have been released in December 2025.

An autopsy will be performed at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington to determine cause of death. Detectives from the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations will continue their death investigation. 

Griswold is the seventh incarcerated person to die in the state’s prison system this year, including five at the Springfield prison. Fifteen people died in state prisons from 2017 to 2021, according to the corrections department, including 12 at the Springfield prison.

— Jeralyn Darling

Read the story on VTDigger here: Man serving up to life in prison dies in cell in Springfield.

Miguel A. Perez-Agramonte, 18, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was held without bail on charges of aggravated assault, possession of cocaine, trafficking fentanyl and conspiracy. Police said Perez-Agramonte told them that he had been involved in recent shootings on Barber and Main streets in Bennington, using one of the guns police recovered Thursday.  

Three men were charged with possession of cocaine, trafficking fentanyl, and conspiracy. Bail was set at $25,000 for Gabriel Lebron, 32, of Florence, Massachusetts, and Peter Aleksonis, 55, of Bennington, and at $15,000 for Cristian Y. Torres-Santiago, 20, of Springfield, Massachusetts.

Brian Dillard, 36, of Bennington was also arrested at the scene on a warrant charging him with petit larceny. He had failed to appear for his court arraignment Oct. 3. Dillard posted $200 bail, police said.

All five were due for arraignment Thursday in Bennington County Superior Court. Police said more information in the case would be disclosed in court.

Investigators from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security joined Bennington police in executing the search warrant at 546 Main St. in Bennington, where Aleksonis lives. Bennington police said this was the third search warrant they’d served at that location for narcotics trafficking.

Police said they forced open the front door of the apartment while the people inside tried to flee out the back door. Seven people were taken into custody, police said.

In searching the apartment and the people inside it, police said, they found three firearms, more than $7,000 in cash, and about 7,200 bags of heroin, marijuana, prescription tablets and crack cocaine.

Police said the investigation is continuing and they expect more arrests in coming weeks.  

Earlier in the week, Police Chief Paul Doucette told the Bennington selectboard at its regular meeting that 17 gunfire incidents had been reported so far this year in Bennington. He said town police were working with state and federal agencies, and with assistance from the community, “to curb some of this violence.”

As reported by the Bennington Banner, Doucette told the board he believes that in time the tide can be turned against drug trafficking, which is at the root of the sharp increase in gun violence.

— Tom Kearney

Read the story on VTDigger here: Suspect in 2 recent shootings arrested during Bennington drug bust.

Leddy Beach in Burlington reopened on Wednesday after being closed due to a chemical spill nearby three weeks ago.

Tests done last week show that the chemical styrene is no longer detected near Lake Champlain, according to Robert Goulding, spokesperson for Burlington’s Department of Public Works.

The spill occurred on Sept. 21 when a pipe-lining contractor accidentally discharged about one gallon of styrene mixed in with around 50 gallons of steam condensate into a storm drain. The drain leads into a stream which then flows to the lake. The beach was closed while water testing was done by the city.

The first tests to come back to the city after the spill showed “relatively high” levels of styrene, Goulding said. While he noted there is no established standard for levels of the carcinogenic chemical in water, it was out of caution that the beach was closed.

“Keeping the beach closed was the most prudent thing to do in the interest of public health,” Goulding said.

Various points in the stream were tested, Goulding said, and the most recent tests showed that everything approaching the lake was at “non-detectable” levels of styrene, but that levels were still elevated in a pool of water where the spill originated.

Goulding said while the beach is safe and is reopened to recreation, one sign will remain up by that part of the stream to notify the public of the continuing presence of styrene at that site.

— Patrick Crowley

Read the story on VTDigger here: Leddy Beach reopens following chemical spill.

Jason St. Pierre, 48, from Enosburg, was driving a 2000 Jaguar sedan with passenger Cody Sheperd, 30, at about 11 p.m. when the crash occurred just before Abbey Restaurant, according to a press release from Vermont State Police. 

A nurse at the scene determined that St. Pierre had died at the scene, police said. First responders attempted to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead from his injuries. 

The cow died at the scene, police said. Police did not indicate whether Sheperd suffered any injuries, but said he spoke to investigators after the collision. 

State police are continuing to investigate the crash, including who owned the cow.

— Juliet Schulman-Hall

Read the story on VTDigger here: Driver and cow killed in car crash on Route 105 in Sheldon.