Vermont Edition

This September 11th marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Firefighter Michael Donovan served at Ground Zero that day. He lost many friends and colleagues.On Vermont Edition: Captain Michael Donovan of Ludlow. His new memoir commemorates the 25th anniversary from a firefighter’s perspective.Plus, a member of Vermont’s Nepali community is trying to support his friends and family from afar. They’re recovering physically and emotionally from the recent devastating floods. We’ll share ways for you to help.Broadcast live on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

For all you game show nerds, tonight’s a big night. It’s the "Jeopardy! Masters" final. If that means nothing to you, here’s the deal: high-ranking Jeopardy champions compete against each other for a $500,000 prize, a $100,000 donation to a charity of their choosing, and the illustrious Trebek Trophy."Jeopardy!" is one of the most beloved and longest-running shows on American television. We're joined by three former champions from our region, and hear stories from listeners who were also contestants on trivia's big stage, including Vermont Public music manager and classical music host Helen Lyons.David Madden of Montpelier competed on the show four separate times. He won 19 games in 2005, and he now runs academic quiz tournaments for kids through his company International Academic Competitions. Jakob DeArruda is a three-time champion and quarter-finalist in the Tournament of Champions in 2023. He grew up in the Okemo Valley and now lives in Ithaca, New York. Susan White lives in Norwich, where she runs the online bookseller Sutton Books. She was a "Jeopardy!" champion in 2019.Broadcast live on Monday, Sept. 8, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Dinner table scenes. Soldiers deploying to war. Kids with scuffed knees and dirty socks. The quintessential American illustrator Norman Rockwell painted them all. Many were created while he lived and worked in Vermont for more than a decade. Today on Vermont Edition: Norman Rockwell in the Green Mountains. We'll hear stories from his granddaughter, the writer and translator Daisy Rockwell, as well as the executive director of the Shelburne Museum. The exhibit, “Norman Rockwell: At Home in Vermont,” is on view this fall and it celebrates his most iconic artwork, like his Saturday Evening Post covers. Then: The Kelly Brush Foundation marks 20 years of advocacy for safe ski racing. Its founder, Kelly Brush, reflects on her last two decades, and shares her vision for the future of ski racing and adaptive sports.

School is back in session. This is the first year that students across Vermont are banned from bringing cell phones. Today on Vermont Edition: the reasoning behind the cell phone ban, and what it’s like on the ground, trying to enforce it. We’ll talk with the principal of Rutland High School and the Dean of Students at Sharon Academy. This episode of Vermont Edition also includes a conversation with Seven Days food writer Jordan Barry. With summer in full swing, Jordan shares her favorite fair food, and current restaurant opening and closings. Broadcast live on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

It’s early September and the water’s warm in our region’s lakes and ponds. That means some fish are under stress, while many native species are in their element.Today we explore the underwater world of so-called “trash fish.” These ancient, native species are often dismissed by anglers. But the members of our panel catch, release and celebrate these species. Master Angler Drew Price leads the fly fishing guide service Master Class Angling. Master Angler Chelsea Rapin shares photos of her catches on her Instagram account @fishyourpark.There’s work underway to add protections for native fish species. Shawn Good, a fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife, discusses those proposals and Vermont’s master angler program.

Based on the data, just one or two people live in most of Vermont's homes, that's Roughly 70 percent of the state's houses. The state has one of the country’s smallest average household sizes in the country.As we try to solve the state’s housing crunch, this component should play a key role in the conversation. That’s a big takeaway from recent reporting Carly Berlin. She’s Vermont Public’s housing and infrastructure reporter. She has an in-depth story on this subject, and she joins us today to tell us more about what she found when she dug into the data around population decline, household size and housing stock. We also have Maura Collins with us. She’s the executive director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency. The organization finances and promotes housing for low and moderate-income Vermonters.Then; Vermont is in the midst of implementing a bold new vision for reducing health care costs. It’s called reference based pricing, and it’s the most expansive law of its kind in the country.The goal is to reduce hospital costs. They’re a major driver of our high health insurance premiums. Services at all Vermont’s hospitals will be standardized instead of being left to the hospitals and health insurance companies to negotiate independently, which is what they do now.This is happening because of a law the Vermont legislature passed last year, Act 68. It directs the independent Green Mountain Care Board to implement reference based pricing by fiscal year 2027. Owen Foster is the chair of the Green Mountain Care Board joins us to explain.Broadcast live on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Our August 2026 Town by Town stop is Chittenden in Rutland County. This town has the distinction of being the largest municipality in Vermont by area, though its population hovers around 1,200.Each month for Town by Town, we spend an hour together learning about one of Vermont’s 252 towns or cities. At the end of the hour, we randomly select our next town using a big spinner.Guests for our live broadcast: Vermont Public reporter and Chittenden resident Nina Keck; sugarmaker Bob Baird; longtime selectboard member and farmer Dave Sargent; Kim Moyer, who worked on a play about Chittenden's psychic Eddy Brothers; and Shane Hanlon, manager of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Fish Hatchery in North Chittenden.Broadcast live on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Proposed federal changes to historic preservation sites–including what qualifies for protection and who makes those decisions–has experts around the country on edge. Today on Vermont Edition: What’s behind the move to make changes to a federal legal requirement known as Section 106.That law mandates federal agencies to assess and evaluate the impact of projects on historic and cultural properties around the country, including in Vermont. Two local preservation experts will discuss what could be vulnerable if the federal alterations go through. Later in the show, we’ll speak with the Vermonter who was crowned this year’s Miss Black USA. Harmony Edosomwan is a TV host, philanthropist, and food justice advocate who established a Winooski soul food catering company called Harmony’s Kitchen. We’ll find out how it feels to win the pageant and what comes with the honor.

Every year, little old Vermont produces big new names in the writing world. A Booker Prize nominee. A poet published in the New Yorker. A professor with a thrilling new mystery out. On today's Vermont Edition, we talk to Wyn Cooper, Miciah Bay Gault and Makenna Goodman. Broadcast live on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

New federal regulations surrounding hemp products are expected to have huge ripple effects on the industry. Guest host Jenn Jarecki hosts a panel of guests to discuss these changes and how they potentially impact growers, sellers, and buyers of CBD in the state. They'll also discuss some recent changes at the federal level, and what the future of growing and selling cannabis in Vermont looks like moving forward. We're first joined by James Pepper, the Chair of Vermont’s Cannabis Control Board. Then, we chat with Sam Bellavance, Founder and CEO of Sunset Lake CBD and Cannabis, Kris Brown, who hosts the podcast Cannasations and is a grower himself, and Scott Sparks, Owner of the Bud Barn dispensary in Brattleboro. They'll give us their respective takes on the state of recreational cannabis in Vermont.Disclosure: Sunset Lake CDB is a Vermont Public business partner. Broadcast live on Monday, August 24, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

It's Vermont Edition's annual creemee show, where each summer we talk with maker's and lovers of Vermont's most famous delicacy. This year, speak with Adam founder of the Vermont Creemee Passport, a physical booklet that allows you to track your travels to Vermont’s 180-plus creemee stands. We also are joined by two creemee makers to get their take on what makes for a great creemee. Rebecca Freedner, owner of Holy Halvah in Bristol, which combines the Vermont tradition of creemees with the Middle Eastern, tahini-based dessert called halvah, and Henry Mizrahi, owner of Mr. Creemee, the newest creemee spot in Burlington.

Amanda Janoo, Molly Gray, and Gerald Malloy discuss their campaigns, and reporter Lola Duffort breaks down the results. Then: it’s been nearly five years since the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan. Vermont now has one of the largest per capita populations of Afghans in the U.S. The head of the Vermont Afghan Alliance will tell us about the challenges they still face. Broadcast live on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Vermont might be far from the ocean, but that's not an issue for local scuba divers. The waters of Lake Champlain are dark, deep and perfect for underwater adventure.Matt Cetin is the owner and captain at Dive One LLC, the only dive charter company in Burlington. Kreig Pinkham is the Training Director for the Waterfront Diving Center in Burlington. They tell us about the historic shipwrecks and aquatic life to be found below the surface.Then, we get our heads above water with members of the Women in Wind sailing program, run by the Community Sailing Center in Burlington. Eva Sullivan is the sailing center's education coordinator, and Roxanne Tena-Nelson is a board member.Broadcast live on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Vermont’s primary election is Aug. 11. About 3.1% of registered voters cast their ballots early, according to the Secretary of State's office. The rest of Vermont's 500,000 or so registered voters will need to go to a polling station to cast their ballots.Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas joins the show to discuss primary day logistics, Vermont's campaign finance laws and election security. Then, Vermont Public reporters Liam Elder Connors and Peter Hirschfeld talk us through the candidates in federal, statewide and county races that will appear on ballots.Check out Vermont Public's primary election guide for information on your polling place and candidate debates and interviews.Broadcast live on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

President Trump's policies and posture towards Canada have upended our country's relationship with our neighbor to the north. His recent announcement of 50 percent tariffs on some Canadian goods has further ratcheted up tensions between the two nations. To discuss the impact of this announcement on our two nations, Vermont Edition combined forces for a joint broadcast with CBC's Radio Noon in Quebec, hosted by Shawn Apel. Our conversation focused on trade and the effects of tariffs on commerce, supply chains, and business relationships. Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak and Quebec's Minister of International Relations Christopher Skeete kicked off the hour talking about Vermont and Canada's long trading history. Quentin Abraham Desrosiers, general manager of PlastiCompetence, an association that represents the plastic industry in Quebec, shared his experiences. We also heard from both Vermont and Quebec listeners who have felt the effects of tariffs. Broadcast live on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Every year, the Vermont Edition team heads out to a Vermont fair to bring you the sounds and voices of our states favorite summertime traditions. Today we come to you live from Addison County Fair and Field Days in New Haven. This hour we’ll get to know the fair’s history, talk with 4-H members and animal experts, and get a little taste — literally — of what the fair has to offer. We're joined today by a host of guests that bring different energies and expertise to the fair-going experience. Benj Deppman is a fair board member whose roots run deep at the Addison Fair. We're also joined by Scythe Sister Michaela Stickney to learn about hand mowing competitions. Sugarhouse manager Andrew Rainville brings some of the fairs blue ribbon winners in the maple contest. Ethan Gervy coordinates the fair's demolition derby and is joined alongside Dylan Mason who has participated in the derby for the past two years and is competing this year as well. Dairy superintendent Stephanie Pope joins us alongside 16 year old 4-H competitor to talk about showing dairy cows. We hear from children's performer Pirate Man Dan who tells us what makes Addison County's fair distinct from the many others he performs at around the country. And board member Meghan Sutton tells us about the home and garden barn. Broadcast live on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

As alcohol consumption decreases in younger generations, Vermont winemakers are looking for federal recognition for the Champlain Valley of Vermont. It would help them market their products nationwide and could also increase agritourism to the Champlain Valley.We’re joined by three wine producers in the Champlain Valley region. Deirdre Heekin is the founder of Domaine La Garagista farm and winery and vice president of Vermont Grape & Wine Council, Camila Carrillo is founder of La Montañuela wine and owner of the 10 Green Street wine bar in Vergennes, and Kenneth Albert is founder of Shelburne Vineyard. They tell us about the grapes they grow, and how they plan to gain traction in the wine industry.Broadcast live on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Blackface performance – or minstrel shows – might seem like relics of the 19th century. But these racist traditions stuck around much longer, including at the University of Vermont.Today on Vermont Edition, we'll listen back to our conversation from April with the scholar Rhae Lynn Barnes. Her latest book is “Darkology: Blackface and the American Way of Entertainment.”Barnes spent more than a decade gathering material for the book. She uncovered evidence of blackface performance from nearly every corner of the country…lasting all the way through the mid 1900s. In her book, she takes us to the campus of the University of Vermont. UVM fraternity members donned blackface during winter carnival, in a tradition lasted more than 70 years.

This summer’s already seen a number of big blockbuster movies – The Odyssey, the new Spiderman, Toy Story 5. You can reliably catch all these movies at theaters across our region. But there are also many opportunities this summer to see movies produced, directed, or curated by your neighbors.This hour we’ll preview a number of the upcoming film festivals that highlight new and up-and-coming filmmakers in Vermont, and the ways in which Vermonters can get started on their filmmaking journeys. We're joined by Jay Craven, filmmaker and curator of the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival which begins on August 26th. Also joining us is Emma Schlenoff, producer of the film The Obelisk, a board member of the Vermont Production Collective and founder of Witness Oak Productions, and Dillon Tanner, founder of the Mothership Monthly Film Fest which features the films of many first time filmmakers. Broadcast live on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Every month, Vermont Edition spends an hour learning about a different municipality in the state for our monthly series, Town by Town. Today, we'll learn about Guilford, in Windham County. Guilford was once the most populous town in the state. It doesn’t hold that designation anymore, but it’s home to a bustling community center, local businesses and a rich history. We’ll talk with a local poet, a town historian, and the co-founder of the Guilford Gazette. We’ll also hear about a legendary recording studio in town. Artists like the Pixies and Noah Kahan have made records there.At the end of the hour, we’ll spin a big wheel to select our next town. 

Are you classical-curious but don’t know where to start? Our roundtable of experts share some tips on where to start.Broadcast on Tuesday, Jul. 28, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Local business leaders want Vermont to adopt the "abundance agenda." Remove administrative burdens so we can build more housing, and attract more working age people.Today on Vermont Edition: the abundance agenda. We’ll break down exactly what this buzzy phrase means and the challenge it poses specifically to liberals and progressives.Then: Vermont’s primary is about two weeks away. Two people are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House. We’ll hear from one of the candidates today – Gerald Malloy. He’s an Army vet and defense contractor. He hopes to take on Congresswoman Becca Balint in the general election.

 Vermont Edition's Mikaela Lefrak moderates a debate between the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Vermont's next governor, Amanda Janoo and Aly Richards. Broadcast on Thursday, Jul. 23, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Many of us dream of learning another language. But becoming fluent as an adult is so hard that it can feel impossible.Here's some good news: our region is full of linguaphiles who have cracked the code on achieving fluency in multiple tongues. We discuss the different methods of language learning with: linguistics professor Thor Sawin, the Associate Dean of Curriculum for Middlebury Language Schools; Gabe Wyner, a four-time graduate of Middlebury Language Schools, author of Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It, and creator of the Fluent Forever app; and Eric Agnero, a journalist and French tutor with Alliance française.Broadcast on Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Vermont Edition host Mikaela Lefrak moderates a debate between the three Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor: Esther Charlestin of South Burlington, Molly Gray of Burlington and Ryan McLaren of Essex Junction. Broadcast on Tuesday, Jul. 21, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

The Ben and Jerry’s Foundation announced it will shut down by the end of the year. It’s the latest update in a legal dispute with Ben and Jerry’s parent company, Magnum. Today on Vermont Edition, we learn what’s going on at Ben and Jerry’s with co-founder Ben Cohen. He’s leading a charge to buy back the ice cream company from its corporate owners. We'll also hear from Tim McQuiston with Vermont Business Magazine and the president of the Ben and Jerry’s Foundation, Liz Bankowski. Then, UVM Health is trying to cut costs. Its support staff want job security and good wages. A union rep will tell us about the upcoming negotiations.

Vermont has six correctional facilities located across the state. Together these prisons house more than 1,500 incarcerated Vermonters.  On Thursday, Vermont Edition, Department of Corrections Commissioner Jon Murad on corrections staffing levels, the department’s overtime spending, and overcrowding in some of the state’s prisons. Plus, with the Seven Days staff writer Colin Flanders on the Chittenden County state’s attorney race.

The popular service Front Porch Forum celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. For many Vermonters, it’s a beloved way to connect with neighbors, share local news and find lost cats. The company’s also faced criticism for how it moderates content.Today on Vermont Edition, we're joined by the founders of Front Porch Forum, Michael and Valerie Wood-Lewis. They’ll tell us about some of the very best posts they’ve read over the last two decades. We’ll also discuss how their team moderates posts, especially about politics.Then: hot weather draws crowds to local rivers, lakes and streams, but every year, tragedies occur on the water. Vermont’s search and rescue coordinator will share important information on how to stay safe on the water this summer.

Rodeo culture is alive and well in Vermont, thanks in part to Pond Hill Ranch, a 2000-acre family-run business in Castleton, VT. It’s the largest horse leasing service east of Mississippi, and has been hosting professional rodeos for over 50 years. Every summer, bronc riders and barrel racers come from around the country to compete at the ranch.  It’s where novices come for practice and experience, and where pros come to get points before nationals. We’re joined by Harry O’Rourke, the head of Pond Hill Ranch. Vermont High School Rodeo Association started in 2020, competing at local jackpot events. Over the years, they’ve gained more members, and with that have started expanding events, including: barrel racing, goat tying, pole bending, breakaway roping, and light rifle shooting. At the end of the season, the top competitors get to go to their respective national competitions. This year, Junior High Nationals were held in Oklahoma, and High School Nationals are happening later this month in Nebraska. We chat with the High School President of the team, Erin Hance and  Junior High President, Peyton NicholsThen, we spoke with novelist Meg Richardson. Her new book, Paradise Pawn, centers around two best friends who work with their dads at a pawn shop in Cherry Beach, Florida. Early on in the story, they learn that Kayla’s family can’t afford to send her to a private school, but Jackie’s can. So they hatch a plan to embezzle from their families’ business. It’s a story about family, friendships, and class.

On Monday, Vermont Edition aired interviews with the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Vermont state auditor. Political newcomer Nicholas Graeter is running against the current deputy state auditor and former state senator, Tim Ashe.The Republican candidate for auditor, H. Brooke Paige, is running uncontested. The primary election is on Aug. 11, and early voting is already underway. 

On Monday, Vermont Edition aired interviews with the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Vermont state auditor. Political newcomer Nicholas Graeter is running against the current deputy state auditor and former state senator, Tim Ashe.The Republican candidate for auditor, H. Brooke Paige, is running uncontested. The primary election is on Aug. 11, and early voting is already underway. 

With America’s 250th, there’s been a lot of focus on Vermont’s early history. You can always read about it in a book, but historical reenactors are out there bringing those stories back to life.Today on Vermont Edition, we go back in time with two members of Whitcomb’s Rangers. These Revolutionary War reenactors portray an actual Continental Army Ranger unit. They’ll tell us about their upcoming annual event marking the Battle of Hubbardton.Then: Vermont Human is a new video series that slows down and explores the lives of your neighbors. Creator David Littlefield will pull back the curtain on his work, just for us.

Summer in our region provides many opportunities to see live music outdoors. This year, Montréal’s summer festival season is more packed than ever.Vermont Edition’s managing producer Jon Ehrens sits down with Seven Days music editor Chris Farnsworth to discuss the Montreal music scene writ large, and some of Chris's favorite new acts. We also explore the curious case of the anonymous duo Angine de Poitrine. They’ve gone viral in the last year, and they recently drew a crowd of 70,000 to Montreal’s Jazz Fest. Dr. Robert Zattore, a cognitive neuroscientist and professor at McGill University's Montreal Neurological Institute, tells us why he thinks Angine de Poitrine tickles the brains of listeners. He’s the author of the book "From Perception to Pleasure: The Neuroscience of Music and Why We Love It."We also hear about the annual African and Caribbean music festival Nuits d'Afrique, which runs through Jul. 19th. It celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The festival's co-founder Suzanne Russeau tells us about the festival's past and present, and about some of the notable acts performing this year.Broadcast on Wednesdau, Jul. 8, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital plans to close its labor and delivery unit within the next year. As other rural hospitals scale back on maternity care, what will fill in the gap? Today on Vermont Edition: the cost — and curtailing — of rural maternity care. In the last 5 years, around 140 rural hospitals nationwide have stopped delivering babies, including Copley Hospital, in Lamoille County.We'll hear from a nurse midwife who used to work there. She’s now the co-founder of a new non-hospital birth center in Waterbury. The top OB/GYN at Dartmouth Hitchcock understands the financials behind rural obstetrics. She says we need to completely rethink how maternity care is funded.Broadcast on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Vermont’s dairy industry has constricted dramatically over the last decade. According to data from UVM Extension, there were 838 dairy farms a decade ago. That number dropped to 414 at the start of this year. Current projects indicate that another 50 will close by the end of this year. The processing sector is consolidating, too. Last month, Franklin Foods announced it’s closing its dairy processing facility in Enosburg Falls. The month before, the infant formula maker Perrigo laid off more than 160 people from its soon-to-be shuttered plant in Georgia. In April, the HP Hood dairy processing plant in Barre closed for good.This hour we look at dairy industry consolidation from local, state and national perspectives. Guests include: Anson Tebbetts, Vermont’s Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Kevin Kouri, chair of the Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance and the nutrition and sales director at Phoenix Feeds and Nutrition; and Claire Kelloway, the food systems program manager at the Open Markets Institute, a think tank focused on the negative impact of monopolies on the economy and democracy.We also talk with Jon Ovitt, the longtime plant manager at Franklin Foods in Enosburg Falls. The plant is set to shutter in August, but Ovitt has plans to reimagine the business and reopen it this fall.Broadcast on Monday, July 6th, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

About 150 Vermonters are incarcerated in Mississippi. Brave Little State explains why.

Today is the latest installment in our monthly series, Town by Town. Each month, we hone in on a different town or municipality in the state. This month, we're shining a light on Middlesex in Washington County. Fitting for a town with the word “middle” in its name, Middlesex is in central Vermont along I-89 and Route 2. It has a reputation as a commuter town where lots of people who live there work in Montpelier or elsewhere.Middlesex is situated on a bend in the Winooski River. That location in a floodplain led to major flooding in 1927. Middlesex now borders the Wrightsville Reservoir and the town co-manages Wrightsville Beach, a popular place for swimming, picnicking and hiking.To tell us all about Middlesex are Sarah Seidman and Patty Wiley, the co-founders of the Middlesex Historical Society and co-authors of the oral history Middlesex in the Making. Russ Bennet, founder and owner of NorthLand Visual Design and Construction, told us about developing property in Middlesex, including Camp Meade. We also heard from best selling-author and former Middlesex town clerk, Sarah Strohmeyer. Broadcast on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

UVM Health, Vermont’s largest health care provider, needs to reduce expenses by at least 300 million dollars over the next three years. That's the recommendation an independent liaison team sent to the hospital network and state regulators in May.  This comes on top of major revenue losses due to Medicaid changes.  This past month, 76 jobs were permanently eliminated earlier this month at UVM Health as part of an effort to reduce costs. Employee unions are concerned about providing adequate care and more reductions are likely.  Dr. Stephen Leffler, CEO of UVM Health and the president and COO of UVM Medical Center, joined Vermont Edition to talk about those job cuts, price increases and more. We also talked with the chair of the Green Mountain Care Board Owen Foster, who oversees the regulation of hospital budgets and health insurance premiums. 

This hour, Vermont Edition brings you the stories of three creative people in our region and their new projects.We begin with Richard Hawley of Ripton. He recently celebrated the publication of the seventh volume of his series On My Way Out: A Reflection on Closure. A mixture of memoir, diary and philosophical musings, the book explores such topics as mortality, retirement and friendship.Musician and Champlain College art professor Al Larsen reunited his band Some Velvet Sidewalk for the first time in 30 years. The band, woven into the fabric of the Pacific Northwest's '90s grunge scene, has released a new album, Critters Encore. A month-long show of Larsen's artwork is also now on display at the Champlain College Art Gallery. Artist and organizer Katherine Leungof Milton makes zines and other art that explore her Cantonese and Jewish identities. Leung is the creator of a new, six-part podcast called Ritual about Asian Jews in Vermont. The podcast was created with the support of Vermont Folklife, where Katherine is one of their inaugural communities fellows. Broadcast on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

As it turns out, many people visit the Green Mountain state just to tee off here. We’ll parse over the numbers, and discuss how the golf industry is attempting to counter perceptions that it's not ecologically friendly and a sport just for the elite. Joining us to discuss the sport are David Jankowski, president of the Vermont PGA, and Mark Finch, director of grounds at Country Club of Vermont and the vice president of the Vermont Golf Course Superintendents Association.If trying to get a small round ball into a cup isn’t quite your cup of tea, there’s also disc golf. Two of the premier courses in the country are in Vermont. To tell us more is Jeff Spring, the head of the Pro Disc Golf Tour, who also designed the Brewster Ridge course at Smuggler's Notch, and Aidan Trombley, the resort's manager of disc golf operations.Smuggler's Notch is a Vermont Public business sponsor.Broadcast on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

In the latest installment of our series, Vermont Edition At Home, we head to the Montpelier home of writer Katherine Paterson. The award-winning author has written more than 40 books, including The Great Gilly Hopkins, Jacob Have I Loved, Bread and Roses Too, among many others. Her best-known book, Bridge to Terabithia, was adapted into a Hollywood movie in 2007. Paterson is one of only six American authors to receive the Hans Christian Andersen Award. The Library of Congress named her a ‘Living Legend’ in 2000.Paterson tells us about her early life in China as the daughter of missionaries, grappling with the rush of success and making writer friends in Vermont. We’ll also hear how she balanced motherhood with a burgeoning literary career.

Earlier this year, Vermont’s first director of animal welfare, Lisa Milot, released a report on how the state responds to animal welfare and cruelty cases. She discussed plans to modernize the system, emphasizing the need for clearer standards, stronger enforcement and additional resources.We also heard from Medora Plimpton, who runs Howling Mountain Wildlife Rescue from her home in Starksboro. She is one of only a few people in Vermont licensed to work with rabies-vector species such as foxes, skunks and raccoons. Plimpton also shares what to do if you encounter an injured or baby animal.

A new graphic novel tells the story of Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake, two seamstresses in 1800s Addison County. The two women lived together as a couple for nearly half a century, and they were accepted and beloved by their community. They're buried under the same gravestone in Weybridge.Norwich cartoonist Tillie Walden tells this love story in her new historical graphic novel 'Charity & Sylvia.' Walden is the former Vermont cartoonist laureaute and the author of more than a dozen books.We also talk with Coco Moseley, executive director of the Henry Sheldon Museum in Middlebury, which holds Charity and Sylvia's archives. And Vermont Humanities executive director Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup helped bring the story to Walden's attention. Vermont Humanities will distribute thousands of copies as this year's pick for the Vermont Reads program. (Note: Vermont Public is the media sponsor of Vermont Reads.)

This Friday is Juneteenth, a holiday marking the date that some of the last enslaved people in the Confederacy received word that they were free. Juneteenth celebrations date back to the 1860s, but it didn’t become a federal holiday in 2021. Now, communities across our region mark Juneteenth with storytelling events, speaker series, community meals and music.The Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro will host Singing a Journey of Freedom: Songs of Slavery and Emancipation on Friday. The program began as a research project by Mat Callahan, a musician and author currently residing in Bern, Switzerland. He uncovered songs composed and sung by enslaved people and abolitionists that had been buried by history. Callahan then teamed up with Dr. Kathy Bullock to bring this music to life. Bullock is a visiting professor of music at Bennington College, as well as a singer, arranger and choral conductor specializing in gospel, spirituals and classical works by composers from the African diaspora. We are also joined by Rev. Leon Dunkley, an ethnomusicologist and a minister at the North Chapel in Woodstock.Then, Joan Gorman of the Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh shares the history of the museum, which used to be a stop on the Underground Railroad. 

The FIFA World Cup is underway in stadiums across the US, Canada and Mexico. Toronto and Vancouver in Canada are two of the World Cup host cities. For Vermonters, the closest place to see a match is Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. It’s been temporarily renamed Boston Stadium for the duration of the Cup, on FIFA’s insistence.Giving us the lowdown on Boston is GBH News reporter Esteban Bustillos. In addition to the Boston matches, he's been covering celebrations from local immigrant communities and the residence of the French national team at a nearby university. For a Vermont perspective, we brought together a trio of Englishmen with a deep love of the game: Tyler Caton and Riley Moloney, two members of the Vermont Green FC; and Joseph Fox, owner of the SLIDE IN Pub in Shelburne, Vermont's first soccer bar. 

Burlington High School says goodbye to its Macy's location

Howard Dean is a former Vermont governor, presidential candidate and Democratic National Committee chair. But before all that, he was just a local physician who really wanted Burlington to have a bike path.In the latest installment of our occasional series Vermont Edition At Home, Howard Dean invites us into his living room in Burlington. He talks candidly about his upbringing in New York and his ongoing grief over his brother’s early death. We also hear his thoughts on the current political climate and Vermont’s struggle to provide affordable healthcare to all residents.Broadcast on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

The U.S. Mint ceased making new pennies in November. Our humble, one-cent, copper-and-zinc coin can still be used as currency, but its circulation will dwindle in the years ahead.Vermont's first coin — before it became a U.S. state — was also made of copper. These coins date back to days of the Green Mountain Boys, when Vermont was its own republic. Historian Jon Mathewson of Middletown Springs shares the history of Harmon's mint in Rupert. Joe Watkins of Vermont Coin & Jewelry in South Burlington gave us his coin collector's perspective on how to make a pretty penny from collecting rare pennies.For insight from the banking world, we talk with Jennifer Smith, a regional leader with Union Bank in Morrisville. We also hear from Matt Cota, managing director of the Vermont Retailers & Grocers Association. He tells us about a new state law that creates a system for rounding cash purchases up or down at the register.When it comes to idioms and common English phrases, the penny punches above its weight: penny pincher, a pretty penny, penny-wise, a penny saved and so many more. Helping us make sense of the penny's place in language is Maeve Eberhardt, associate professor of linguistics at the University of Vermont.

Need a book recommendation? Check out Vermont Edition's summer reading list

Battery energy storage systems — BESS — are popping up across the country. They strengthen the electrical grid by storing energy and releasing it at high demand times, and can lower energy costs for customers. But some neighbors of some proposed facilities have concerns about safety and aesthetics.In Vergennes, residents are pushing back against plans by the company Lightshift to build one on Panton Rd. But local officials and Lightshift representatives say the worries are unfounded.We talk through how these systems work with Cyril Brunner. He works in the energy sector — currently for Texture, which builds software to operate the grid, and formerly for Vermont Electric Cooperative. We also talk with Vergennes property owner Carrie Hathaway, a vocal opponent of the proposed battery energy storage site. Adirondack Explorer reporter Gwendolyn Craig fills us in on similar debates over battery storage that are currently underway in Adirondack Park.A representative from Lightshift shared a statement from the company with Vermont Edition ahead of today's show:“Battery energy storage is playing an increasingly important role in advancing Vermont's renewable energy goals, strengthening grid reliability, and helping manage electricity costs. The proposed Panton Road facility uses lithium iron phosphate batteries, a technology widely recognized for its strong safety record. The proposed footprint is approximately 0.17 acres in an industrially zoned site near other larger commercial businesses. Lightshift has met with local officials and residents to present the project and answer questions, and local fire officials have stated they have no safety objections.If approved, the project will provide important benefits to the state and ratepayers. It will help lower energy costs, decrease fossil fuel reliance, and strengthen grid resilience during periods of severe weather and system stress. The project is designed with multiple layers of safety protection, will meet all required safety codes, and does not present a greater safety risk than other types of industrial businesses in the area. The noise level will be studied and mitigated if necessary to ensure no undue adverse impact. The project’s aesthetic impact will also be studied and mitigated if necessary to thoughtfully complement its surroundings.Our focus is on providing clear information about battery storage technology and safety, continuing to engage openly with residents and local officials, and participating fully in Vermont's rigorous regulatory review process. We are committed to ensuring that the process is guided by facts and grounded in a shared commitment to Vermont’s energy future.It is important to recognize that we are in the early stages of development. We look forward to continuing to engage with interested parties, including the town and residents, to try to incorporate community input as much as reasonably possible.”Broadcast live on Monday, June 8, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.