Renters — who often foot the bill for utilities — have a lot to gain from things that save money and reduce emissions like weatherization, switching to electric appliances and other upgrades. So why is it so hard to do this work in rental properties?Από τον Abagael Giles

Two Abenaki First Nations are continuing to call for Vermont institutions not to work with state-recognized tribes, and to reconsider the process that led to the state recognizing those groups as Abenaki tribes. Those nations — Odanak and Wôlinak — are receiving a mixed response. 2024-04-02: This story has been updated to more accurately reflect th…

JAG Productions, a Black theater company based in the Upper Valley, shares work that reflects and deconstructs racial, gender, sexuality and class hierarchies. After months of fundraising and planning, the company a new artist showcase called JAG Underground.Από τον Mary Williams Engisch, Adiah Gholston

Every year, lawmakers must pass a bill that sets the property tax rates necessary to pay for school budgets. For this week’s edition of the Capitol Recap, we explore how lawmakers in the House want to use this legislation to respond to double-digit property tax hikes.Από τον Lola Duffort, Mary Williams Engisch

Roughly one in three school budgets failed in Vermont on Town Meeting Day this year. School districts across the state are now entering second and third voting rounds to get budgets approved by voters.Από τον Lola Duffort, Jenn Jarecki

Two young citizens of Odanak First Nation described what they call Indigenous identity theft, particularly in Vermont, at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The Abenaki Councils of Odanak and W8linak and the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador bought a billboard in Times Square to highlight the topic.…

The Made Here film Seeds of Change: Breaking Free from the Prison Food Machine follows an organic farmer in Maine who set out to transform the prison food system with an organic gardening program.Από τον Mary Williams Engisch

Amid the bleak reports about a precipitous loss in numbers and types of birds around North America and the rest of the world is a glimmer of hope in Maine's North Woods.Από τον Susan Sharon

The Vermont Language Justice Project’s funding is an open question. But according to testimonials from people working in Vermont’s health, refugee resettlement and equity organizations, the project’s services are vital — and there would be a void without them.Από τον Elodie Reed

The House wants to set up another decade of major spending on the housing crisis — and taxes to go with it. The Senate and the governor would rather focus on regulatory changes.Από τον Carly Berlin

Bram Kranichfeld, a veteran prosecutor and ordained priest, took over as Franklin County state’s attorney after his predecessor resigned amid an impeachment inquiry. Kranichfeld was permanently appointed about three weeks ago, and will serve until January 2027.Από τον Liam Elder-Connors

The 23-year-old folk artist grew up in Norwich and you can hear the Upper Valley's influence in his music. His debut EP "More Than One Way Home" was released in March.Από τον Ari Morris

Robin Allen LaPlante moved to Vermont in 2018. She shares some of what she's learned during her first seven years — featuring mud roads, trips to the trash transfer station and being a "flatlander."Από τον Erica Heilman

"I was in perfect … synchronization with the sun and the moon. And it feels so good, right?" Julio Desmont said. "I’m so happy. The eclipse is something else."Από τον Elodie Reed

The Vermont Senate has lost one of its most respected and influential members, and his departure signals a potentially generational change in the chamber.Από τον Peter Hirschfeld

The parking lot of the Green Mountain Mall in St. Johnsbury was opened up to eclipse watchers, including some RVs that were parked there overnight.Από τον Howard Weiss-Tisman

Thousands of visitors came to northern Vermont to see the eclipse under mostly clear skies, many having changed their plans at the last minute.Από τον Mark Davis, Vermont Public Staff

Vermont towns in the path of totality have a unique and, for some, daunting opportunity to capitalize on the thousands of visitors who will be visiting to see the April 8 eclipse. The small border community of Alburgh is taking a chance and throwing a big party.Από τον Sabine Poux

Around 3:25 this afternoon northwestern Vermont will be plunged into darkness for about three minutes as the moon completely covers the sun. State officials estimate that 160,000 people could come to Vermont to view this once-in-a-generation celestial event.Από τον Liam Elder-Connors

For months, Vermonters have been firming up plans for Monday’s total solar eclipse — it’s for many folks a once-in-a generation event that won’t happen again in North America until 2044. Others, including Dartmouth College astronomer John Thorstensen, have been down this celestial road before. He spoke to Vermont Public's Mitch Wertlieb about his e…

John Harrison traveled Vermont as a preacher in the 1880s. A racist name in town records preserved his memory. Note: This story contains sensitive material, including racial slurs. Please listen with care.

Ashley Messier is the co-chair of the Corrections Monitoring Committee in the Vermont Legislature, and she’s the reentry services program manager for Vermont Works for Women. She grew up in Essex with an abusive father and with little money, and she found herself repeating the cycle in early adulthood. This is a story about multigenerational povert…

Many people don’t want to talk about class, because class differences are the source of cultural division and tension. In this story, Erica talks with old friend Susan Randall, a private investigator based in Vergennes, about the luxuries of growing up upper middle class. "What class are you?" is an occasional series from Vermont Public reporter Er…

In 2023, around 70% of the total wealth in this country was owned by the top 10% of earners. The lowest 50% of earners only owned 2.5% of the total wealth. In this story, Vermont writer and poet Garrett Keizer, who has written extensively on the history of labor unions, talks about what happens when we address gender and race equity, but we ignore …

Stephanie Robtoy works as an account manager at Working Fields, a staffing agency that helps people with barriers gain and maintain a job. She grew up in St. Albans in a huge family of Robtoys, some of whom are pretty notorious in town for criminal activity. In this story, Stephanie talks about what it was like to grow up poor, with a last name tha…

Irfan Sehic and his family fled the war in Bosnia and arrived in Barre when Irfan was 17. He worked a number of jobs, went to college and started his own insurance agency, which he still runs out of his house. And for the last few years, he's been a club soccer coach. Irfan lives with his wife and son in Milton, and in this story, he describes the …

Who gets to decide who is Abenaki? Vermont’s four state-recognized tribes — and the state recognition law — have different definitions and criteria for what it means to be Indigenous than many Indigenous Nations. In this episode, we look at this disconnect, and lay out what’s at stake, including power, money and authority. This is Chapter Three of …

After the original group of self-proclaimed Vermont Abenaki failed to gain federal recognition, Vermont lawmakers created a state recognition process of their own. One theory in particular informed the state’s consideration: that Abenaki peoples hid in Vermont to avoid persecution, including statewide eugenics policies. In this episode, we look at …

Two Abenaki First Nations in Canada contest the legitimacy of the four groups recognized by the state of Vermont as Abenaki tribes. This is a dispute that goes back at least two decades, and has gained more prominence in recent years. In this episode, we trace Abenaki history up to 2003, when Odanak First Nation first denounced Vermont groups claim…

University of Virginia researchers say the complaint line run by the grassroots workers’ rights program Milk With Dignity improves conditions for both farmworkers and farm owners. But the program currently only covers one-fifth of Vermont’s dairy industry. Read more from Vermont Public's Elodie Reed.…

Giuliano Cecchinelli is part of a long legacy of Italian stone carvers in Barre, craftsmen whose skill transformed an industry and made the small central Vermont town the “Granite Capital of the World.” In the early 20th century, Barre was a booming industry town. Thousands of workers spent their days making monuments. The railroad chugged into tow…

How the events of last year changed Vermont schools and law enforcement. Also - where's Jack?

How do you know if a young person is plotting a school massacre? And what do you do then?

How a Republican governor who had been rated "A" by the NRA decided that Vermont, one of the most gun-friendly states in the nation, needed gun control laws.

When does planning a school shooting become attempted murder? The question went all the way to the Vermont Supreme Court.

Jack Sawyer’s journal contained a startling confession. It landed him in jail, and sent shockwaves through the state of Vermont.

Who is Jack Sawyer, and why did he want to kill his former classmates?

Coming September 6 from Vermont Public Radio.