Now that summer is here, the Fourth of July is right around the corner. While this is generally a favorite holiday for people, it can be very stressful and dangerous for pets. Firework shows, barbecues and heat of day can all pose issues for our companion animals.

Hunger is a solvable problem, yet in the federal debt limit deal, one of the negotiated “tradeoffs” is to take food off our neighbors’ tables. People over age 50 and under 55 who receive SNAP benefits, known in Vermont as 3SquaresVT, will now have to prove they either worked or volunteered f…

April 24 was National Bucket List Day, a time to remember it’s never too late to set new goals, try new things, and pursue your dreams. Since becoming aware of this designated date, I have been thinking about my own bucket list. I have decided one thing I would like to do in my lifetime woul…

I hadn’t realized how frightened I’d been about the debt-ceiling situation until I found myself sleeping well the night after the House approved the Biden-McCarthy deal. I wasn’t sure the Senate would pass it, but this was a good sign.

John Nassivera’s “On Faith” columns in The Times Argus and Rutland Herald are, as a rule, thoughtful, scholarly and enjoyable reflections, written from a Roman Catholic perspective, on the role religion might continue to play in modern lives. But Nassivera’s May 20 entry, “Heaven, Hell and u…

In this era dominated by aggressive steps to deal with “climate change,” it’s worth inquiring into what the climate activists are working to install in our public school system, presumably to lead their pupils into supporting a long list of policies on the climate change agenda.

When Gen. Dwight Eisenhower spoke at the third anniversary of the D-Day June 6, 1944, invasion, he praised the bravery of American soldiers. The D-Day invasion of Nazi German-occupied France led to the liberation of Europe and victory in World War II.

Here in Vermont, right around the time when we become aware of the world, we learn about Town Meeting. Town Meeting Day is that blessed day in early March when all Vermonters who are able and care enough to get up off the couch will join their fellow residents and discuss the town’s business.

The 2023 legislative session has been underscored by new and increased taxes and fees on both individuals and businesses, leading to $150 million of likely cost increases for Vermonters. This significant burden is particularly concerning given the ongoing economic pressures of high inflation…

Here in Vermont, U.S. Census Bureau data shows 5,342 babies were born between July 2021 and July 2022, meaning thousands of our state’s families are coping with perinatal mental health (PMH) challenges today. Pregnancy and childbirth are expected to be times of joy and excitement, and so the…

In Vermont, coyotes are subject to hunting 365 days a year. Coyotes are killed any time, day or night, using high-tech, game-calling devices and thermal night scopes, oftentimes by brutal methods. We’ve seen photos posted by Vermont hunters displaying dead coyote pups strung from utility pol…

One of the proven ways to tackle the climate change crisis is “electrifying everything.” From the cars we drive to how we heat our homes, we are moving away from polluting fossil fuels to electricity. Therefore, it is even more crucial that this electricity comes from cleaner, stably priced,…

Al Wakefield is one of the originators of the Vermont Town Inclusion Agreement. And currently, among so many others, is actively involved in Vermont’s “welcoming and belonging” initiative.

While I do not meet the criteria for true Vermonter status, I have been in Vermont for … a good while, long enough to have witnessed dozens of spectacular foliage seasons and snowstorms. Yet, June holds a special place in my heart. Spring is in its full glory, with flowers in brilliant bloom…

In 10 short years, the United States will have more people older than 65 than those under 18. We will join Japan, Italy, Singapore and South Korea facing a weakened workforce, too few citizens to support their safety net for children and the elderly, and shuttered schools.

A bill is introduced in a state to tax citizens to support the teaching of the Christian religion. Opponents circulate a petition opposing the measure. The petition’s author says no politician is a competent judge of religious truth, every citizen has the right to religious freedom according…

In June, legislators will gather to make the final decision regarding Gov. Scott’s veto of the Legislature’s 2024 state budget. It’s rare that Vermont voters have the opportunity at a single point in time to provide guidance to those they’ve elected. Yet, Vermont fiscal history during the pa…

In the United States, there are currently 73 million baby boomers. Of course, this will not be true tomorrow, but I will use that number as a baseline. This year, the oldest boomers will turn 77 years old; the youngest will turn 60.

Most of our Legislature did not work hard this session, Democrat Rep. William Notte.

Help is available for parent mental health concerns of pregnancy and postpartum.

It’s no joke.

‘Memorial Day honors the sacrifices made for a more peaceful world.”

On behalf of Boys & Girls Club of Rutland County, and in advance of the summer months, I would like to share some exciting news, and make a public plea. But first, the facts:

Recently, I addressed the graduating classes of Castleton University, Northern Vermont University and Vermont Technical College. These are the institutions that will become Vermont State University in July. I welcomed the many thousands of guests who joined us to celebrate the achievements o…

The other day, I noticed a heart-shaped, iridescent sticker at a local café that read: “Dump your Republican boyfriend.” My first reaction was, I wonder how the boyfriend would feel about that? My second reaction was astonishment at the immaturity, callousness and even cruelty embodied in su…

One interest group fared extraordinarily well during the just-completed legislative session. That’s the interest group comprised of representatives and senators. Unlike other interest groups, who have to lobby legislators for the benefits they want, the legislators themselves get to vote on …

I’m feeling especially grumpy today, a perfect mood to complain once again about the overuse of pointless expressions in our everyday conversations.

Your Legislature worked hard all session, but especially so in our final week. Bills flew back and forth between the House and the Senate, and we passed important legislation on housing, child care and a comprehensive state budget that will have positive impacts on Vermonters for generations…

What will happen with the debt ceiling is the most significant political story of the past few months. President Biden demands Republicans acquiesce to a “clean” debt limit increase. At the same time, Republicans seek lower spending to address the worsening national debt.

The United States is fast approaching the debt ceiling, an arbitrary and arcane cap on how much the government can borrow to pay its bills. If the ceiling doesn’t get lifted periodically, the country defaults and catastrophe follows.

Leaders at the G7 Summit this weekend in Japan (May 19-21) must take action to fight global hunger and jumpstart nuclear disarmament. The G7 includes the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

By definition: “A carbon tax is a tax levied on the carbon emissions required to produce goods and services.” Carbon taxes are intended to make visible the “hidden” social costs of carbon emissions. Businesses are encouraged to seek remedies to reduce the burden of paying the tax. Essentiall…

When the Vermont House of Representatives took up the veto override of S.5, the Affordable Heat Act, I joined the majority of my colleagues to override this veto on a 107 to 42 vote.

A week that included the Herald editorial “Good for all,” about Vermont’s progress toward diversity, equity and inclusion, and Gov. Scott’s bills to protect medication abortion and gender-affirming rights, was almost marred by the bad and the ugly.

Vermont has the opportunity to lead the nation in our response to the housing crisis by building housing for all. But instead, Vermont policymakers may cause a humanitarian disaster that threatens to undermine our collective recovery by passing a budget that evicts more than 2,800 individual…