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Sunshine Week is a time to celebrate one of our nation’s most basic values, the public’s “right to know.” Our very democracy is built on the idea that our government should not operate in secret. James Madison, a staunch defender of open government, whose birthday we celebrate each year during Sunshine Week, wisely noted that for our democracy to succeed, people “must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives.” Transparency enables the American people to hold their government accountable

Thirteen Vermont cities and towns will receive more than $4 million in grants to make them more resilient, affordable, and accessible, Gov. Peter Shumlin announced last week. The municipalities will use the funds to build and improve affordable housing, complete disaster repairs, make public spaces accessible to all residents, and revitalize community centers.

The municipalities will use the funds to build and improve affordable housing, complete disaster repairs, make public spaces accessible to all residents, and revitalize community centers.

The Senate Tuesday morning began debate on legislation approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation, a form of modern day slavery that affects thousands of people every day. 

As the Senate prepares to consider legislation to combat human trafficking as soon as next week, Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is urging lawmakers to support meaningful legislation to prevent vulnerable youth from becoming targets of trafficking and sexual exploitation

 Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) Wednesday announced $1.5 million in grants to revitalize communities and support access to affordable housing across Vermont. 

In 2014, the Lake Chamber of Commerce, through its Burlington Young Professionals group, created the Young Professionals Advocacy Task Force with a specific focus on housing issues in and around Burlington. The Task Force compiled a survey to better understand the needs and concerns of Vermont's young workforce.

Gov. Peter Shumlin issued the following statement as the Legislature worked to wrap up early session efforts in advance of Town Meeting week. “I want to thank the House and the Senate, and especially Speaker Smith and Senate Pro Tem Campbell, for the hard work so far this session

With a growing number of communities having experienced water main breaks over the past week and other communities reporting frozen underground water pipes affecting a number of individual customers, Vermont state agencies are ready to provide assistance to communities that may need resources, Gov. Peter Shumlin and Public Safety officials announced today

Highgate & Berkshire —Three farms were recently conserved in Franklin County: the Bernard and Sue Rainville farm in Highgate and two farms in Berkshire owned by John and Margie Barabe. The families conserved their properties with the Vermont Land Trust, which will ensure that the land will always be available for farming and forestry. Both families protected the land by selling a conservation easement—a legal tool that limits subdivision and development. The proceeds from the sales will help the Rainvilles and the Barabes transfer their farms to the next generation

Standing on the front porch of the recently rehabilitated St. Albans House, Gov. Peter Shumlin today signed into law three bills to address the critical issues of jobs and community revitalization, housing affordability, environmental protection and transportation investment

COTS hosts inaugural “What the Fix” Slam from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, May 12, at Arts Riot (400 Pine St., Burlington). The WT(Fix) Slam was created by the COTS leadership team with the goal of developing innovative initiatives to further COTS’ mission. COTS frontline staff – who help Vermonters who are at risk or homeless every day – will present the three proposals at Monday’s community event.

Gov. Peter Shumlin today signed into law a mid-year budget adjustment bill. In addition to increasing reserve funds, the bill provides funding to expand opiate and heroin addiction treatment, emergency housing services, homeowners and renters rebates, pesticide cleanup work in Rutland County, mental health services and more

Vermont’s Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program helps income-eligible residents, particularly older Vermonters, people with disabilities, and families with children, to save fuel and money by improving the energy efficiency of their homes.

Gov. Peter Shumlin and Public Service Commissioner Chris Recchia today announced that the state would invest $670,000 to leverage up to $6.5 million in funds to expand thermal efficiency in Vermont homes and clean heating technologies

The potential for housing policy transformation rests in understanding how proximity to other land uses and land users affects value, and is the subject of an annual lecture on planning and the law to be held at Vermont Law School on Thursday, Feb. 13. The event is free and open to the public and press

Money is once again available for Vermont communities for the purpose of mitigating the effects of future disasters on public infrastructure and some private property. The Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) is now accepting a new round of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) applications from towns and agencies in all Vermont counties

The Chittenden County Continuum of Care, and the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness (the Balance of State Continuum of Care) are joining efforts for the eighth statewide Point-in-Time Count on January 28-29, 2014. The Continuums of Care are comprised of homeless and human service organizations as well as housing agencies and other partners that strive to eliminate homelessness throughout Vermont. These efforts will be supported by the Agency of Human Services, the City of Burlington, the Vermont State Housing Authority, and United Ways of Vermont.