The Frequency

Why health care workers at a handful of Vermont hospitals are unionizing. Plus, the state government is evicting more people living in motels as it scales back the emergency housing program, police are investigating three deaths in Pawlet that are considered suspicious, an EPA representative says Vermont needs to rethink how it regulates water, and the Scott administration is providing funds to clean up two brownfield sites and build housing.

What’s needed over the next five years to resolve Vermont’s severe housing shortage. Plus, Vermont gets another disaster declaration from the federal government to help recover from flood damage in Lamoille County, the only school district in Vermont yet to pass a budget makes a fourth attempt to do so tomorrow, a new report says adhering to the clean heat standard passed by lawmakers last year could cost upwards of $9 billion, New Hampshire’s governor signs a bill requiring proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote, and Phish will play concerts next month to benefit an addiction recovery center in Ludlow.

A bar in Colchester challenges customers to finish a massive bacon cheeseburger and fries in under 30 minutes. Plus, new limits on Vermont’s emergency motel housing program will push out hundreds of households over the next several weeks, Republican Gov. Phil Scott praises Vice President Harris’ debate performance against former President Trump but stops short of endorsing her, Vermont’s congressional delegation welcomes the arrival of more than $50 million to help with repair reimbursement from last year’s flooding, a new mental health urgent care center prepares to open in Burlington, the owner of a Killington bakery tries to make the world’s largest whoopie pie, and we parse over the chances of the Red Sox actually getting into this year’s playoffs in our weekly sports report.

An update on the only Vermont school district still without a school budget ahead of its fourth attempt to pass one next week. Plus, Vermont’s Roman Catholic Diocese is facing new child sex abuse lawsuits, one year after catastrophic flood damage Montpelier is still without a fully functioning post office, one of Vermont’s oldest buildings reopens for visitors after undergoing extensive renovations, the owner of a controversial military-style training camp in West Pawlet has been arrested again, and a couple in Worcester is hoping for the return of a T-Rex sculpture that’s gone missing from their front lawn after being a fixture there for two decades.

A proposed locked juvenile facility in Vergennes is stirring up memories of a former youth detention center with a problematic history. Plus, Vermont veterans are encouraged to become poll workers for the presidential election, state election officials say Vermont’s voting systems are secure, public forums will be held to try and shore up Vermont’s statewide emergency communications system, teachers and administrators at many of the state’s public schools are struggling with increased behavioral problems among students, and a New Hampshire radio station continues reporting on addiction issues amid a federal indictment against four men charged with harassing their reporters.

Concerns that artificial intelligence use in politics could undermine public trust in government. Plus, the EPA says Vermont needs to change how it regulates farm water quality, an investigation begins into a plane crash in Ferrisburgh that killed four Connecticut residents, Rutland City officials court New England housing developers, a proposed development in the Upper Valley is facing some local opposition, dog trackers are available for hunters who have wounded an animal but can’t follow the blood trail to recover it, and applications are open for hunting coyotes with dogs.

Going out in the field with agriculture officials collecting mosquitoes to find out if they’re carrying Eastern equine encephalitis. Plus, support staff at Central Vermont Medical Center have voted to unionize, federal financial aid may be available for Vermonters who saw damage to privately owned infrastructure during early July flooding, a nonpartisan group that trains elections officials finds poll workers are increasingly subjected to harassment and abuse, enrollment is up at Vermont State University, and free insect repellent is being made available to unhoused Vermonters to help protect against EEE.

Joining an elderly couple who celebrate their birthdays each summer by taking a cruise along the Connecticut River. Plus, Sen. Welch discuss FEMA reform legislation on the Weather Channel, low-income Vermonters may get some financial help hooking up their homes to the state’s high-speed fiber network, physicians urge parents to make sure their kids are up to date on vaccinations as they head back to school, a new book makes the case for protecting Vermont’s old growth forests, Vermonters got a sneak peek at the new Beetlejuice sequel filmed partially in Orange County, and we preview the WNBA playoffs on the weekly summary sports report.

Charting the changes in the health of the Connecticut River over time in the second part of a special series from the New England News Collaborative. Plus, why the next month or so could be critical for farmers hoping to salvage crops from the July floods, updated COVID-19 vaccines are now available in Vermont, an expert recommends ways older people can minimize the risk of debilitating falls, the Burlington Electric Department gets a federal grant for building out new electric vehicle charging stations, and Burlington’s Oktoberfest has been canceled due to concerns over eastern equine encephalitis.