Over the last couple of years, the Vermont Climate Solutions Caucus has become one of the biggest caucuses in the Vermont Legislature – and the biggest issue-focused caucus in the body. This broad coalition of lawmakers is dedicated to advancing cost-effective and equitable energy policies s…

In 2020, about 315,000 pharmacists in 88,000 retail drug stores dispensed almost 4.5 billion outpatient prescriptions to more than 260 million Americans. These prescriptions covered 50 billion pills, at a cost to the public of more than $350 billion. This represented about 8.5% of total U.S.…

What does the recent Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade mean for Vermont? It does not change anything in our state in terms of our failure to legally protect women and innocent preborn human children from the violence of abortion. Abortion is still protected by Act 47, signed b…

‘If I have seen further, it’s because of my standing on the shoulders of giants.” This famous statement by Sir Isaac Newton in the 17th century is a metaphor for believing progress depends on the creative thinking of others, contemporary or gone before.

As the secretary of the Agency of Human Services, I am listening to what Vermonters want: broader insurance coverage, well-supported health care providers, and a stable health care system. On June 28, Vermont secured federal funding to meet these goals and to support the health and well-bein…

I imagine I am like many Times Argus readers, both overwhelmed and deeply disturbed by recent major news stories: Ukraine; COVID; gun violence; the Jan. 6 Insurrection; ending Roe v Wade; and most alarming to me, the increasing divisiveness and the seemingly lack of any fundamental common va…

I write this in response to an opinion piece “Save VSECU” written by M. Jerome Diamond, Kimberly B. Cheney, Wally Farnum, Robert B. Shattuck and Steven D. Post published June 14 in this paper.

A lot of men have no understanding of the holding in Dobbs that revoked Roe, and, like Judge Alito, they invalidate everything else women have to say on the subject because they can’t get pregnant or give birth. Nor do they suffer from the daily curse of misogyny. And without that lived expe…

Upon some cushions, I’m now relaxing under our silver maple for its pleasant shade. Only one such “rare fine” day, as today, in Vermont, makes it well worthwhile enduring the vicissitudes of winter.

The U.S. Supreme Court June 21 decision in the Maine pupil tuitioning case (Carson v. Makin) brings to a head a long-simmering issue in Vermont education. Under what circumstances, if any, may public money find its way into sectarian elementary and secondary schools?

In 1955, my mother became pregnant with her third child. I was 5 years old and my brother was 10. My brother, Steve, was ill, losing weight and had a racing heartbeat. The doctor’s answer to help him was bedrest, which was the wrong choice. This went on for a year until he was finally sent t…

Some people believe teachers are demons who disparage American greatness in their classrooms. Under the lightning rod Critical Race Theory (CRT), they claim young minds are being poisoned by distorted history and literature.

A very long time ago, I first got to visit Fort Ticonderoga. Included in the museum’s collection was the saber of Ethan Allen, which had a fierce looking dog’s head on the pommel. In Ethan’s most famous statue, he wears that sword on his left hip, while his right hand is (according to the sc…

Bernie: Before Biden goes to Saudi Arabia, introduce your Yemen War Powers Resolution.

Chief Justice John Roberts didn’t join his conservative colleagues in overturning Roe v. Wade in a vote of 5-4. He wrote that there was no need to overturn the broad precedents to rule in Mississippi’s favor. Meaning that to uphold the Mississippi law, the court did not even have to visit Ro…

In a study funded three years ago by the National Institute of Justice, the research wing of the Department of Justice, Jillian Peterson and James Densley, two college professors in the criminology field, compiled a data base of mass shootings (four or more of us killed) since 1966 and publi…

In a week in which Gallup released a report showing a record low level of confidence in the Supreme Court, we saw the issuance of two decisions that help explain the public’s concern: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen and Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

Act 135 marks significant step forward toward surface water resiliency in Vermont.

The evolution of care management as a critical primary care service in Rutland County has illuminated how prevention has become a key opportunity to improve outcomes. While that might seem obvious, the complexities and cost of delivering health care have overshadowed the importance of preven…

Today in Carson v. Makin, the U.S. Supreme Court, by a 6-3 vote, roundly rejected the Vermont Supreme Court’s erroneous 1999 decision in Chittenden Town School District v. Vermont Department of Education. This is the most culturally significant court decision in many years for our community.

What does every small town or medium city (such as Syracuse, Rochester, Plattsburgh, Cincinnati, Pittsfield, Brattleboro, Bennington and others) in the U.S. say they want? Millennials.

The document that expresses Gov. Scott’s goals for spending the federal “rescue” money uses the word transformational as part of its title. In the designated areas of funding allocations (one of which is future business and economic growth), his intention is to develop and underwrite project…

I was disappointed to read the Vermont Natural Resources Council has appealed the new Rutland Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) operating permit. The basis for the appeal — the fact combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are not regulated through the permit — is wrong on every level.

On Saturday, June 11, in Rutland, families gathered to play (at concurrent event “Just Play, No Way” with Building Bright Futures) and to honor and stand with parents who have experienced mental health challenges connected with childbearing and family building. This took place at the Climb O…

Aug. 9 will be here much sooner than we think and the primary election this year is very important. Two years with COVID and with the virus now considered endemic, it is more important than ever to be sure you are registered at your current address, even if it is only a move within your same…

It’s always funny to see the reaction on someone’s face when you declare your support for funding an agency that regulates your industry. It usually results in a pause, a thoughtful look and ends with a variety of questions about my reasoning. As the CEO of the trade association representing…

I hope John Nassivera’s valuable column on “post modernism” will be read and shared by all your readers. As he wisely understands, in our country today, the words “freedom” and “Christian” have been either misunderstood or weaponized.

Two major reasons why young millennials are not rushing to become Vermont residents are that there are no worthy jobs here and no places to live. No moderately priced houses and the lack of worthy employment will continue to be barriers. This reality portends a dire economic future for curre…

“LaRose dismissed at Mt. Abe” — The Rutland Herald reports

Summer is finally here and with it all the fun activities associated with the season. Unfortunately, due to the fact a gallon of gas currently costs the equivalent of a car payment, the vacation road trip might be limited to a family ride downtown to explore the nuts and bolts selection at t…

The news is full of summertime woes. Currently, it is wildfires threatening sections of Arizona. In Montana, sections of Yellowstone had sustained heavy rains that caused flooding, providing dramatic footage of homes falling into rushing rivers.

Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of the Vermont Climate Council’s urgently desired tax on heating oil for homes, businesses, churches, schools and government buildings stopped that plan dead in its tracks. That’s the good news.

Less than seven hours to give away 75 years — more reasons to reject the proposed VSECU/NEFCU merger.

High school graduation season is here.

To quote Maya Angelou, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”

The scorching hot summer nights stretched to nearly 10 p.m. in the midwestern town I grew up in. But who was watching the clocks, anyways, what with the boisterous play of neighborhood boys and girls on a nearby field or on the dead-end street. Whether a game of baseball, a foot race or a ro…

In Vermont and across the country, citizens have been running for city councils and school boards in an attempt to overturn policies and practices they believe are contrary to their interests. Flags and civil rights curriculum are at the top of their agendas. However, many of these citizens …

The scorching hot summer nights stretched to nearly 10 p.m. in the midwestern town I grew up in. But who was watching the clocks, anyways, what with the boisterous play of neighborhood boys and girls on a nearby field or on the dead-end street. Whether a game of baseball, a foot race or a ro…

My dear friend, Virginia, passed away earlier this year of a broken heart and other complicating factors. Her heartbreak had much to do with the state of the environment. She was a naturalist who ached over every human action that has damaged our Earth and its beings. She did all she could t…