Mitch Wertlieb

Touring a factory that's home to the world's oldest maker of musical cymbals. Plus, a judge rules a state lawsuit filed against major oil companies can proceed, Vermont and New Hampshire show a recent spike in pneumonia cases, the health department has a new plan for urging young adults to get a flu shot, St. Michael's College announces undergrad students whose families make $100,000 or less won't pay tuition in 2025, and why some Vermont universities are telling international students traveling over the holidays to return to the U.S. before President-elect Trump takes office.

A conversation with the new chief diversity officer for Vermont State University, who's starting work amid nationwide efforts to roll back diversity, equity , inclusion and belonging initiatives. Plus, the state sees a 60% jump from last year in wages paid to workers under investigation for alleged misconduct, a meeting for Bennington property owners about harmful chemicals in private wells has been rescheduled, the state is seeing an uptick in fraudulent business filings, Vermont's outdoor recreation economy is on the rise, and we've got a preview of hockey action following the NHL Christmas break along with the latest off-season moves made by the Boston Red Sox in our weekly recap of sports.

Burlington launches an initiative allowing first responders to give opioid addiction treatment at the scene of an overdose. Plus, a flock of birds in Franklin County tests positive for bird flu, the most recent statewide survey on youth mental health shows levels have not rebounded from the COVID pandemic, a commission charged with overhauling Vermont's school system issues its first report without any specific recommendations, Dartmouth Health tries to raise the number of behavioral health workers in the region by expanding student training opportunities, and officials report a hike in ridership out of airports in Rutland and Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Visiting Woodstock for the National Audubon Society's annual Christmas Bird Count, a citizen science project used to track the health of different species. Plus, the Agency of Agriculture begins testing Vermont's milk supply for bird flu, the Scott administration considers allowing Vermonters to play the lottery online, a long-serving member of Burlington's city council will not seek reelection, developers of a new ski village at Killington hope to begin construction next year, why the Dartmouth men's basketball team has dropped its attempt to unionize, and we preview the meaningful games that will round out the NFL's regular season in our first weekly sports report of the new year.

We speak with Vermont's lone congresswoman Becca Balint about what she learned from her first term in the U.S. House, and the challenges ahead as she begins her second. Plus, Franklin County Republican Randy Brock is challenging Democrat Phil Baruth to lead the Vermont Senate, Sen. Peter Welch joins the powerful Senate Committee on Finance, a new federal rule will largely ban two toxic chemicals often used in dry cleaning businesses, and the Vermont State Colleges System ratifies a four-year contract with its staff union.

For the first time ever, the state is offering financial incentives for upgrading electrical systems to help reduce Vermont's carbon footprint. Plus, there's an effort to get more Vermonters to run for their local school board, more than 3,500 scams were reported to the state Attorney General's office in 2024, Rutland city officials seek public input on a proposal to move the library and city hall to a more modern building, and a no-cellphone policy goes into effect at Twin Valley Middle High School.

People around the world welcomed news that Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement after months of negotiations.

The importance of creating an advance directive to help loved ones make decisions about your end-of-life care. Plus, remembering former Democratic Gov. Tom Salmon, Vermont's senators react to the news of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Gov. Scott says Vermont isn't being tough enough on repeat offenders, a dead racoon infected with rabies is found in Quebec near the Vermont border, and Dartmouth researchers are looking into whether zooplankton can help remove climate-warming carbon from the atmosphere.

Checking in on the state's efforts to help people who develop gambling problems, after one year since online sports betting was legalized in Vermont. Plus, the Public Utility Commission recommends nixing the clean heat standard, some lawmakers in Montpelier want to exempt more Vermonters from paying state income taxes on Social Security, an outdoor clothing outlet in Essex will close a little more than a year after opening, the state director of the U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency prepares to leave his post as a new presidential administration takes over in Washington, and we make predictions for this weekend's NFL divisional playoff games in our weekly sports report.

How Vermont schools are trying to protect students who may not have legal status as Donald Trump begins his second term as president, and how the new Trump administration's promise to conduct a mass deportation campaign could impact Vermont's dairy industry. Plus, Vermont's Department for Children and Families allegedly tried to illegally take custody of a woman's child, Vermont moves closer to qualifying doulas for Medicaid coverage, UVM gets $24 million in federal funding to invest in semiconductor research, and the head of Vermont's largest insurer says the state's health care premiums are failing to cover the cost of care.