Vermont Edition

Driving across the Connecticut River between Hinsdale New Hampshire and Brattleboro Vermont just got a whole lot smoother. Last week the two states celebrated the ribbon cutting for a new bridge on Route 119, decades in the making. It’s called the General John Stark Memorial Bridge. we're joined by David Scott who is the the In-house Design Chief of the Bureau of Bridge Design at the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. He discusses the bridge, why it's such a huge deal for the area, and what it takes to be a bridge designer. Originally broadcast at Noon on Wednesday, Dec. 11th

If you have a family member or loved one with Alzheimer’s, you know how devastating the disease can be. It’s a brain disorder that slowly destroys a person’s memory and thinking skills. Its effects are irreversible – the damage it wreaks on the brain cannot be undone. About 50 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer’s. It’s among the leading causes of death in the United States.Researchers across the globe are working to better understand Alzheimer’s, so we can prevent it, or slow its progression. Just recently, St Michael’s College in Colchester and the University of Vermont in Burlington announced a major breakthrough from a team of researchers. By studying spider brains, they’ve gained a better understanding of how Alzheimer’s disease develops in the human brain.We're joined by two of those researchers who tell us about their work and why the specifics of spider brains led to this breakthrough. Our guests are both associate professors of biology and neuroscience at St. Michael's College, Dr. Ruth Fabian-Fine and Dr. Adam Weaver.Broadcast live on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Cold weather means cozying up with a good book. How can a book worm choose when there's so many options? Count on Vermont Edition's winter book show as a guide for some good reads. Claire Benedict, co-owner of Bear Pond Books, along with Randal Smathers, director of the Rutland Free Library, and Megan Butterfield, youth library manager at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, give us their recommendations for the year and suggestions for readers of all ages. Broadcast live on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at noon

To kick off ski season, Vermont Edition broadcast live from Jay Peak Ski Resort in Orleans County, a ten minute drive from the Canadian border.Steve Wright, president and general manager of Jay Peak, and Martin Clements, Jay Peak’s assistant ski patrol director, share updates on snow conditions and how the resort has been preparing for this season. Former World Cup alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist Barbara Ann Cochran talks about her family's skiing legacy and the ways she supports athletes' mental preparedness. Jordan and Momo Antonucci, who run the Miso Hungry food cart at Jay, give an inside scoop on their signature ramen and other après-ski favorites.

Vermont’s Republican state senators have elected Scott Beck of St. Johnsbury as their new caucus leader. Republicans ousted longtime Senator Randy Brock of St. Albans. Beck has served as a state representative since 2015. This comes as Republicans flipped six seats during the November election, which significantly narrowed their margin with Democrats. Beck joins us to outline his goals as lawmakers head into a new session in January.Broadcast live on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.

In November, the University of Vermont Health Network announced cuts to a broad range of patient services. There's a growing consensus that Vermont needs to make major changes to how people get health care in the state, as Vermonters pay among the very highest prices for health care in the country. Science & Health reporter Lexi Krupp shares the latest developments and the impacts they will have on patients and Vermonters.Then, CEO of North Star Health Joshua Dufresne joins us to discuss the decision to close down the Rockingham Health Center in Bellows Falls. The announcement was made on the heels of a statewide report that called for drastic changes to the state’s hospital system to avoid bankruptcies and closures. The report called out some southern Vermont hospitals like Springfield and Grace Cottage which has led to concerns about access to care in the area. Broadcast live on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

On December 1st, 1924 — one hundred years ago yesterday — the Boston Bruins became the first American hockey franchise to take the ice in the fledgling National Hockey League, beating the Montreal Maroons in front of new fans curious about the viability of this Canadian sport.Today on Vermont Edition, guest host Mitch Wertlieb speaks with hockey historian Eric Zweig and sports business expert John Wong to discuss the infancy of the NHL and how it grew in America.

When you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, are you going to be at a table with anyone with really different political views? Instead of fighting or remaining distant, could this be the year to try and find some common ground? Today, we share a recording of a recent live event at Vermont Public’s studios in conjunction with StoryCorp. It’s with Vermonters who participated in our One Small Step program. Each person was matched with a stranger with different views and life experiences. They have a facilitated conversation, and learn how to bridge their divides. They are Chris Sims of Jericho, Judy Scott of St. George, Ramona Akpo-Sani of Orwell, and Beth Howard of Williston. And from Braver Angels, we have Lincoln Earle-Centers of Montpelier and Katherine Cadwell of Fayston.We were also joined by two folks from Braver Angels, an organization with a similar mission of connecting people across political divides, Lincoln Earle-Centers of Montpelier and Katherine Cadwell of Fayston.If you are a part of an organization who would like to take part in One Small Step training, visit https://www.vermontpublic.org/2024-11-26/request-a-training-session-one-small-step-on-the-roadThis event was taped on November 17th

Chittenden County was once home to 28 movie theaters. Many small towns had their own community movie theater that acted as a hub for people to come together and enjoy the latest flick. Today, there are fewer than two dozen movie theaters left in the entire state. With the closing of Merrill's Roxy Cinema, it could be argued that we are witnessing the end of the movie theater era and all of the life experiences that accompany seeing movies with friends and neighbors. To talk about all of this, we're joined by Vermont Public producer Eric Ford and UVM film professor Sarah Nilsen. We'll also hear from Vermont International Film Festival Executive Director Steve MacQueen, and a married couple on a mission to see a movie in every theater in Vermont. Then, Vermont Edition producer Andrea Laurion takes us to Middlebury, where one man is determined to play the national anthem of every nationality represented at the college on the bells that ring out each day over the campus.

President-elect Donald Trump says he plans to deport millions of undocumented migrants living in the United States. Today we look at how his plans at a federal level could affect Vermont's immigration enforcement. Vermont Public reporter Peter Hirschfeld says approximately 1,500 immigrants living and working on Vermont’s dairy farms. He joins us to talk about his reporting, and what he's heard from farm workers and activists in our region. We'll also hear from executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project and immigration attorney Jill Martin Diaz, about they're experience with calls they're receiving from people with legal status. They also share resources and information that you find here.

Vermont's state senate has a new leader. Democrat Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale represents Chittenden Southeast, and is the new Senate majority leader. She was elected over her opponent, the incumbent Majority Leader Alison Clarkson from Windsor County. Vermont Democrats lost their supermajority on Election Day. It comes as Republicans flipped six seats and broke the Democrats' supermajority in the last session. Sen. Ram Hinsdale outlines her visions and goals as we head into a new session in January.Broadcast live on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

St. Negritude discusses his first collection of poetry, "Mountain Spells."

With the colder weather seeping in, it's about time for cozy fall recipes and trying new hot spots. This ski season, our region’s mountain towns are teeming with new and newly reimagined restaurants. Melissa Pasanen, food writer for Seven Days, joins us for a conversation about our region’s food and beverage scene. For more info on Melissa's recommendations: Places to eat near Vermont's ski towns Frankie’s in Burlington is one of Eater’s 14 best new restaurants of 2024Access Cafe opens in Montpelier Dedalus Wine Shop closed in Stowe and BurlingtonMichael's On the Hill adds a wine bar in StowePlus, squash rolls!

For years, Burlington residents have gone back and forth about police oversight in their city. On Election Day, voters approved a charter change that's intended to do just that. Liam Elder-Connors, Vermont Public’s senior reporter on public safety, talks us through the measure and the years of local debate over police conduct and oversight that led to this moment. Michael Moran and Eric Dallamura of the Burlington Police Officers Association discuss their concerns, and Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak explains why she sees the charter change as a promising compromise.

After a failed gubernatorial run in 1982, Madeleine Kunin secured 50% of the vote in her second run in 1984, winning against her Republican challenger. John J. Easton, Jr. Forty years ago, Kunin became the first and only woman to Vermont's highest-elected office. She’s also the first and only Jewish person to serve as Vermont’s Governor."I think the women's movement gave me the idea that women could do anything," Kunin said. "And I wanted to be involved in public events, and being in Vermont politics seemed more accessible. We had a small group of people at that time who encouraged each other to do things larger than their personal lives, and I took that seriously."When reflecting on the career of former Vermont Gov. Madeleine Kunin, it’s natural to focus on her historic “firsts.” Once in office, she appointed the first woman to Vermont's Supreme Court, Denise Johnson, She then appointed Mollie Beattie to the Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation, who would go on to become the first woman Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The influence her leadership has had on generations of women. This legacy continued when, two years ago, Becca Balint was elected as Vermont’s first female representative in Congress. Balint’s election ended Vermont’s distinction as the only state never to have elected a woman to Congress.Broadcast live on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us…

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of his show, "My Place," Joel Najman recounts his long radio career.

Vermont has numerous invasive species, including zebra mussels, Japanese knotweed, false indigo, and golden clams. Invasive species are plants, insects, or other organisms introduced—intentionally or accidentally — from other places. A recent episode of Brave Little State centers on a listener's question about which invasive species has done the most damage in our region. The episode also features Noah Hoffman, invasive species coordinator for Vermont’s Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, who explains the prevention measures the state takes.Broadcast live on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

It’s been almost 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War. The conflict transformed how Americans felt about fighting on foreign soil, and how civilians treat veterans upon their return home. For today's Veterans' Day show, we want to shine a particular focus on Vietnam War veterans.Two local Vietnam veterans share their stories of deployment and their return home. Perry Melvin, Shelburne resident and president of the Vermont Vietnam Veterans State Council, served with the Combined Action Platoon unit 135 as a Navy corpsman with the Marines. Maureen Dwyer served as an Army nurse from 1967 to 1970, stationed for a year at the 67th Evacuation Hospital from 1969 to 1970. She now lives in Essex.The organization Vets Town Hall creates storytelling space for veterans of any era to share their stories at events around the state. Jon Turner, one of the local organizers and board member, served in the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007, and also operates Wild Roots Community Farm in Bristol.Broadcast live on Monday, November 11, 2024, at noon

Elections elicit a lot of strong feelings and reactions, as the results determine the future of our country and our region. So this hour, we opened our phone lines and inboxes to get a sense of how our area is feeling about the outcome of both the national and local races. We're joined by Middlebury College Professor Matt Dickinson for analysis of the campaign and its outcome and to react to your thoughts.Then, But Why host Jane Lindholm discusses how to navigate tough conversations with kids and students who may have many questions following this election season.

Today on Vermont Edition, we'll get a breakdown of the main takeaways from the state's elections with Vermont Public statehouse reporter, Peter Hirschfeld. Then, we speak with winners of major local and statewide races. Republican John Rodgers appears to have won the lieutenant governorship, besting Progressive Democrat David Zuckerman, the incumbent. Republicans flipped six seats in the Vermont Senate, ending the Democratic supermajority. We'll hear from one of those Republican winners, Steve Heffernan of Addison County. And Democratic state senator Thomas Chittenden of South Burlington will tell us about his re-election and gives us his take on why some candidates from his party were not able to hold on to their seats. Lastly, Democratic Congresswoman Becca Balint joins us to give us her thoughts on the results on the national stage, including the re-election of President-elect Trump, and how the changes in congress will affect her work next year.