News | Off Message | Seven Days | Vermont's Independent Voice

Winooski Hires Yasamin Gordon as City's First Equity Director

By Anne Wallace Allen on April 20, 2021 at 4:39PM

Gordon spent four years living in Ireland, where she worked with a refugee resettlement group that was assisting unaccompanied minors. She said many of the obstacles that Winooski residents face are universal to minorities everywhere.

High Schoolers Get Early Access to Register for COVID-19 Vaccine

By Derek Brouwer on April 16, 2021 at 2:23PM

By Monday morning, any Vermont resident will be eligible to receive a vaccine. Vermont is one of the last states to open registration to all because of its age-based approach.

Vermont Extends Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause Through April 23

By Derek Brouwer on April 15, 2021 at 1:13PM

The pause has affected about 5,800 Vermonters who had appointments for the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Anyone with an appointment to receive the vaccine through April 23 will need to reschedule, the state said. The health department said it is opening additional appointments for the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in an effort to minimize delays caused by the Johnson & Johnson pause. The department "expects everyone impacted by this pause will be able to get an appointment by the end of April."

BTV-Based Beta Technologies Inks Deal With UPS for Electric Aircraft

By Derek Brouwer on April 8, 2021 at 2:10PM

“There is a wonderful opportunity for the airplane in many, many different … applications,” he said. Beta has about 200 employees now, up from 75 last June.

Trooper Who Punched Suspect During Shaftsbury Arrest Cited for Assault

By Derek Brouwer on April 7, 2021 at 6:14PM

Zink's is the second misdemeanor assault citation issued this week against a Vermont police officer for force used during an arrest. Tuesday, former St. Albans corporal Mark Schwartz was cited for Tasing a man in February of 2019.

An Interracial Couple Alleged Police Harassment in Bennington. Then the Selectboard Doxxed Them.

By Derek Brouwer on April 7, 2021 at 4:36PM

The report, issued just before Keating and Fowler filed their complaints, also recommended that the town create a civilian oversight board for police. The selectboard has been assuming that function, though its members have received no training on how to conduct police accountability, the HRC complaint states.

Former St. Albans Cop Charged With Assault for Sidewalk Tasing

By Derek Brouwer on April 6, 2021 at 6:43PM

A man who answered the phone for Northern Watch on Tuesday would not put a reporter in touch with Schwartz. The former officer did not immediately return a separate call for comment.

Health Commissioner Mark Levine (left) and Gov. Phil Scott

Scott Unveils Plan to Lift COVID-19 Restrictions in 90 Days

By Derek Brouwer on April 6, 2021 at 2:56PM

Residents age 40 and older are currently eligible for vaccines, as well as those who have high-risk medical conditions or identify as or live with a person of color. The state plans to expand eligibility to those 30 and older on April 12, and to all adults over 16 on April 19.

Al Wakefield in Rutland with the newly installed sculpture of Martin Freeman, the first black president of an American college

Mendon Residents Seek Statewide Inclusion Statement

By Anne Wallace Allen on April 5, 2021 at 6:22PM

The Vermont League of Cities and Towns plans to post a guidebook on its website to help towns discuss declarations of inclusion. The VLCT said several towns including Putney, Hartford and Burlington have created equity committees or the position of equity director to address the issue.

State Settles Court Clerk's Discrimination Claim for $60K

By Derek Brouwer on April 1, 2021 at 9:51AM

The former clerk, Shanda Williams, filed an employment discrimination lawsuit in 2019, claiming she was subjected to a hostile work environment as the only Black employee at the Washington County Courthouse in Barre. Tyda, Williams’ supervisor at that time, would “constantly bully and scream” at her, court filings alleged, while white coworkers purposefully undermined Williams’ work by refusing to help her and, in one instance, hiding a file she needed.

Seven Days

Off Message

» topic: News