The Frequency

A tour of Vermont’s only women’s prison – a half century old and in need of replacement – and the problems associated with trying to build a new one. Plus, Gov. Scott says he’ll veto a bill that would set up a safe injection site in Burlington, pro-Palestinian student protesters take down their encampment at UVM, the Slate Valley Union School District prepares for a third round of voting on its yet-to-pass school budget, a consumer protection warning is issued for cannabis sold at a Northeast Kingdom dispensary, and the Vermont Senate passes a bill increasing penalties for repeat shoplifting convictions.

Child advocates try to revise a public safety bill they say could result in more juveniles winding up in adult prisons. Plus, a bill to set up a safe injection site in Burlington gets final approval, state budget writers lift the cap on households that can access Vermont’s emergency motel voucher program during winter, Vermont’s home market remains tight, the Vermont Book Award winners are announced, and House lawmakers consider a bill to lower the age for children to confidentially access public library materials.

Remembering a beloved New York state forest ranger who was a trailblazer in the LGTBQ outdoors community. Plus, Sen. Bernie Sanders announces he’ll seek a fourth term, pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Middlebury College take down their encampments after reaching an agreement with school administrators, UVM begins conduct processes for some students who took similar actions at the Burlington campus, the Vermont House passes a climate superfund act, and Gov. Phil Scott appoints a new state representative.

Civil rights advocates push to add an equal protection clause to the Vermont Constitution. Plus, a COVID-era law that changed Vermont’s open meeting statute is set to expire, state recovery officials say last summer’s flood victims still need more help despite money raised from special license plate sales, Vermont House lawmakers are moving a bill that gives primary health care providers more flexibility to order tests and procedures and another that bans exposed polystyrene foam in new floating docks, and a poetry festival will replace the canceled Bookstock event in Woodstock.

A lot of the activity in Montpelier is framed around tension between Democrats in the Legislature and Republican Gov. Phil Scott. But policy disagreements between Democrats in the Vermont House and Senate are now dominating the final weeks of the session. In this week’s edition of the Capitol Recap, we’ll break down why the Senate is rejecting tax increases proposed by the House.

The University of Vermont is one of the college campuses most impacted by a nationwide problem of declining enrollment among men. Plus, police arrest multiple pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Dartmouth College and the University of New Hampshire, Vermont’s senior senator makes a speech to his colleagues defending the rights of peaceful protesters, the first woman to be president of Middlebury College says she’s stepping down, and the Vermont senate approves a bill allowing the use of safe injection sites.

Delving into the local custom of waving to drivers you pass on rural Vermont roads. Plus, why Gov. Scott says he’s leaning towards running for another term, UVM says it will publicly release its endowment investments in response to pro-Palestinian demonstrators, the potential benefit for Vermont cannabis growers if the federal government changes its classification, the state distributes and thousands of gun safety locks acquired last year, and Vermont has a new poet laureate.

How small, independent transit services are helping fill in travel gaps for Vermonters in hard to reach areas. Plus, the Vermont Senate rejects Gov. Scott’s pick for education secretary, a communications union district is having financial issues building out broadband infrastructure, a bill to discourage speeding in highway construction zones gets strong House backing, and a St. Johnsbury teenager prepares to compete in a national poetry competition.

An excerpt from the Vermont Public podcast Homegoings, featuring a unique idea of elder care. Plus, University of Vermont and Middlebury College students camping out on campus in support of Palestinians say they’re in it for the long haul, former Gov. Howard Dean teases another run for the state’s top leadership post, current Gov. Phil Scott signs into law a policy expanding access to breast cancer screening, and a Bennington state representative pleads not guilty to a drunken driving charge.

Vermont has more than 80 cold cases, which present unique challenges for police. Plus, the Vermont Senate supports a cap for the emergency motel housing program, lawmakers advance a ban on pesticide-coated agricultural seeds, the city of Burlington faces a larger-than-expected budget deficit, U.S. Rep Becca Balint tours a redevelopment project in Bennington, and state lawmakers are collecting public testimony on a proposed constitutional amendment.