The Frequency: Daily Vermont News

After a rough Election Day showing for Vermont Democrats, new state Senate majority leader Kesha Ram Hinsdale shares how her party will approach the upcoming legislative session. Plus, a Putney affordable housing development is moving forward, Vermont’s attorney general will not prosecute a state trooper who fatally shot a man in Orange this summer, Gov. Phil Scott will ask Democratic lawmakers to dial back statutory emissions-reduction mandates, a new program in Williston will offer mental health support through peer respite, and people have until Dec. 7th to adjust their Medicare coverage after three popular plans are no longer available in Vermont.

Police use of aerial drones is on the rise in Vermont, despite some privacy concerns. Plus, local advocacy groups are holding events for the Transgender Day of Remembrance, Burlington police Chief Jon Murad will not seek reappointment in 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced plans to reduce hours at multiple ports of entry in Vermont, local farms and small businesses are getting federal funding to cut climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions, and the University of Vermont men's soccer team is going to the NCAA tournament for the fourth consecutive time.

How dairy farmworkers in Vermont could be impacted by the re-election of Donald Trump, who has vowed to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Plus, Senate Democrats have a new leader and are pledging property tax reform will be top of the agenda when lawmakers return to Montpelier in January, Burlington's police union says it plans to push back against increased civilian oversight of the department, a 99-room hotel gets the greenlight in Rutland, Vermont’s largest telecommunications company may soon have a new owner and a burn ban for southern Vermont is extended.

A methadone van to help treat people addicted to opioids debuts in western Massachusetts. Plus, police investigate a double homicide in Montpelier, the National Labor Relations Board rules against a Colchester company that fired four employees after they created a salary transparency document, Beta Technologies conducts its first successful flight of a plane built entirely in South Burlington, a new report says Vermont isn’t ready for a statewide program that uses psychedelics for mental health treatment, and authorities warn about a scam telling people they have to pay for missing a court subpoena.

Wrapping up season two of the Vermont Public podcast Homegoings, a show about art and race. Plus, the town of Chester rejects new zoning rules to promote housing development, Barre City passes a new flood resiliency plan, former Gov. Madeleine Kunin reflects on what Kamala Harris’ loss means for the Democratic Party, Vermont Fish and Wildlife offers a $5,000 reward for leads on the shooting of a bald eagle, and permits are now available to harvest Christmas trees in Green Mountain National Forest.

The cost of running two temporary shelters for families evicted from the state’s motel voucher program. Plus, towns and cities damaged by last summer’s floods can now access extra FEMA money due to an enhanced federal match, Vermont saw record participation in the 2024 general election, hundreds turned out in Randolph to support Gifford Medical Center after a state-commissioned report suggested the small hospital scale back some services to control costs, Sen. Welch criticizes a decision not to halt U.S. military aid to Israel, and a southern Vermont campground damaged by floods two years ago will not reopen next summer.

How public access to hundreds of miles of legal trails in Vermont could be limited depending on a case likely to come before the Vermont Supreme Court. Plus, hate crime charges are not expected to be filed against a man accused of shooting three Palestinian college students in Burlington, a new invasive clam is identified in southern Lake Champlain, North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik accepts president-elect Trump’s nomination to serve as next U.S. ambassador to the U.N., state police identify the Shelburne police officer who fatally struck a bicyclist with his patrol car, and cold temperatures allow Killington Ski Resort to make snow in advance of the Women’s World Cup later this month.

How religious institutions in Vermont are getting creative to fill gaps in clergy staffing. Plus, an innovative health care organization that allowed multiple providers to collaborate on care is shutting down at the end of next year, the enrollment period has opened for Vermont’s health insurance marketplace, voters in Bethel and Royalton narrowly reject a nearly $4 million school improvement, a deadline is nearing for Vermonters to apply for FEMA disaster aid, and a local organization offers veterans a space to tell their stories beyond the holiday celebrating their service.

After three devastating floods in rapid succession, Barre City is working on a flood resiliency plan that could be a model for other Vermont towns. Plus, a new UVM program aims to place more than 50 mental health workers in rural schools, changes are ahead for Vermont’s county forester program, amid recommendations to reduce services at some small rural hospitals White River Valley residents are invited to weigh in on recommendations to reduce services at Gifford Medical Center, Sen. Welch urges the Biden administration to provide more U.S. weapons to Ukraine to help in the war effort against Russia, and Burlington’s Roxy Cinema is closing after more than 20 years.

What drove the red wave for Vermont Republicans on Tuesday. Plus, incumbent David Zuckerman formally concedes the race for lieutenant governor to Republican John Rodgers, Colchester voters approved an expensive school bond Tuesday while also electing a Republican to the Senate, parts of southern Vermont are experiencing moderate drought, fans of Coen brothers movies will want to check out the list of Vermont student-submitted state snowplow names, and we preview college soccer playoff action for UVM and St. Michael’s College in our weekly sports report.

The head of the Vermont Republican Party reflects on this week’s GOP victories, which put an end to Democratic supermajorities in the Legislature. Plus, Republican John Rodgers shares how he’d approach working with lawmakers if his victory in the lieutenant governor's race holds,, Sen. Welch says economic worries paved the way to a victory for President-elect Trump, Republican political newcomer Steven Heffernan wrests aa key state Senate seat from a longtime Democratic incumbent , Bernie Sanders will likely have a diminished role in Washington now that Republicans have regained control of the U.S. Senate, more Vermonters voted for Trump this year than in prior elections and the health of Vermont’s moose population has improved.

Breaking down the biggest takeaways from election night in Vermont, including Republican gains in the Legislature.

Races to watch – and answering some last-minute voting questions – on Election Day in Vermont. Plus, efforts to increase student voter turnout at Vermont State University , a new poll reveals Vermonters are concerned about election interference and violence, two state-run shelters for unhoused Vermonters have opened, New Hampshire’s next governor may determine whether the state gets involved with a wind project in the Gulf of Maine, and the Brandon Museum is set to receive upgrades to make its conference space more accessible.

The tricky balance between adapting to the challenges of climate change versus taking more direct action to cut the emissions exacerbating the problem. Plus, the public gives feedback on a major climate policy being drafted, the Northeast Kingdom throws a party to celebrate volunteer flood recovery efforts, a Rutland city police officer pleads not guilty to charges relating to a shooting incident, and the Hartford Police Department adds a crime data analyst to its staff.

How the outcome of the presidential election could alter reproductive freedom and gender-affirming care in Vermont. Plus, Sen. Sanders is trying to convince Trump supporters that Kamala Harris would be a better president for the U.S. economy, FEMA disaster recovery centers will be temporarily closed for Election Day, a late Vermonter’s rare comic book collection takes in more than $5 million at auction, a Vermont scientist says studying decades-old ice sheets from Greenland can reveal clues about the future of climate change, and we recap the wild World Series game that delivered a championship for the L.A. Dodgers in our weekly sports report.

Vermonters sound off on tax increases, fearing the cost of living here could force them to move out of state. Plus, two state shelters for unhoused families are expected to open tomorrow, Burlington will study its local syringe exchange program amid reports of discarded needles in public, three people are arrested in connection with the alleged abduction of a Vermonter in the Philippines, and a committee studies whether Vermont should establish regional governments to help with emergency services and applications for federal funds.

The Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission is tasked with confronting the historical harms the state has perpetrated against marginalized groups, but some worry the panel’s mandate is too broad. . Plus, contingency plans are in place should there be disruptions at the polls on Election Day, Vermont’s House speaker defends her record after an independent representative announced she’ll seek the post, burn permits are put on hold for two weeks following recent reports of wildfires, and the longest remaining stretch of private land on the Long Trail gets permanent protection.

We take you inside a candidate forum held at a Vermont prison in the lead-up to Election Day. Plus, Chittenden County isn’t building enough new housing to meet demand, UVM approves a tuition increase, the state auditor says Vermont’s residential care facilities are in better shape, and state revenues continue to outpace expectations this year.

Delving into the promise and challenges of a new law adding major funding to Vermont’s child care system. Plus, a southern Vermont hospital pushes back on a new report calling for a major overhaul of the health care system, the CEO of Lamoille Health has parted ways with the community health center, Sen. Welch urges Kamala Harris to shift her focus to economic issues in the final days before the November election, a petition on retail cannabis sales in Sharon garners enough signatures to trigger a revote , and public health officials say the state's COVID-19 vaccine program has reached an important public awareness milestone.

Discussions with the two candidates vying for secretary of state. Plus, health care premiums for Vermont schools will rise by double digits for a third straight year, Wolcott is getting its first-ever town sewer system, the Vermont National Guard releases an F-35 noise mitigation plan, some 500 extremely rare and valuable comic books owned by a late Vermont comic book store owner are set to go up for auction, and we preview game one of the World Series between the LA Dodgers and NY Yankees in our weekly sports report.