The Frequency

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.

A discussion with the incumbent Democratic state Treasurer Mike Pieciak, and his Republican opponent, Joshua Bechhoefer. Plus, why some health care providers are urging lawmakers to boost Medicaid payments to hospitals, a southern Vermont provider is closing a clinic to cut costs, UVM will consider raising in-state tuition for the first time in five years, the Democratic candidate for governor says incumbent Republican Phil Scott has failed Vermonters, a longtime independent state representative from Dover announces her candidacy for House Speaker, and a deadline’s approaching for Vermonters impacted by July’s severe storms to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.

We hear from the two candidates vying to be Vermont’s next state auditor. Plus, Burlington is set to open a walk-in clinic for people experiencing a mental health crisis, older Vermonters reveal some of their biggest concerns at a recent political forum in advance of the November election, Barre is hosting a community forum to help draft a flood resiliency plan, the number of Vermonters now immunized against COVID-19 hovers well below initial vaccination rates, and researchers in Vermont and Maine are looking into whether they can manage invasive plant species to reduce the risk of tick-based illnesses.

Breaking down Vermont’s complex system of education funding. Plus, the lead author of a report recommending radical changes to Vermont’s health care system owns up to several errors, why Sen. Bernie Sanders has been campaigning for Democratic senate candidates in tight national races, a judge reopens foreclosure proceedings on a former military-style training property in West Pawlet, the candidates for Vermont attorney general discuss legal action against social media giant TikTok, and a musical with roots at Dartmouth College opens the season for an off-Broadway theater in New York City.

Exploring whether Vermont could use revenue from retail cannabis sales to help fund education and reduce property taxes. Plus, the Vermont Supreme Court will consider whether to reverse the controversial interim appointment of the state’s education secretary, researchers discover evidence of the elusive short-nose sturgeon in Vermont waters, a multimillion dollar investment for new housing in central Vermont, preparing for Election Day with a potluck and square dance in Townshend, and pets rescued from southern states devastated by Hurricane Helene are up for adoption in Rutland.

The future of Vermont’s energy policy lures out-of-state political action committee money into state legislative races. Plus, advocates for \ Vermonters evicted from the motel voucher program say three emergency family shelters are coming too late, state incentives for buying electric vehicles get put on hold, town clerks urge Vermonters to ask about an accessible voting tablet system, Vermont’s historic sites are set to close for 2024 by the end of October, a local nonprofit that supports people in addiction recovery celebrates its 10th anniversary, and and we find out about Vermont's new ABA basketball team in our weekly sports report.

A sampling of sounds from annual fall harvest festival activities happening around Vermont. Plus, three emergency family shelters are being set up to help people recently evicted from the state’s motel voucher program, early mail voting gets off to a strong start, Woodstock’s police chief is the subject of a criminal investigation, Vermont is getting a $400,000 settlement from Amazon for its failure to prevent illegal sales of tobacco products, and the award-winning Broadway musical Hadestown has returned to Vermont.

Two exhibitions at the Fleming Museum showcase dynamic and sometimes surprising quilt subjects. Plus, overdose reversal meds are distributed as a precaution to town clerks after he Secretary of State’s office received a suspicious package, gubernatorial candidates debate the best ways to deal with climate change, police investigate an apparent drowning death in Williamstown, a new report posits Vermont could spend hundreds of millions less on schools if districts were configured differently, and the Agency of Education will hold public listening and engagement sessions in the coming weeks.