Le Journal

Why health care costs are driving education spending through the roof. Read the story on VTDigger here: Flor Diaz Smith: You don’t balance a budget by ignoring the biggest expense.

Legilslative pages sit in chairs in the well of the Senate chamber at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/senate-pages-1-20260107-300x200.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/senate-pages-1-20260107-1200x798.jpg" /> Vermont’s state senators lounge in cushy, black leather. But the legislative pages who aid them on the floor have long had to settle for less. Read the story on VTDigger here: How a middle-schooler got the Vermont Senate to upgrade its seating.

Photo via Adobe Stock A professional physician in a white medical uniform talks to discuss results or symptoms and gives a recommendation to a male patient and signs a medical paper at an appointment visit in the clinic. Health care, hospital, doctors, nurses, medicine, medical, physician, primary care " data-image-caption="Photo via Adobe Stock " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Doctor-Patient-Medicine-300x200.jpeg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Doctor-Patient-Medicine-1200x800.jpeg" /> The new reality of marketplace insurance without federal subsidies may leave Vermonters feeling like, "I have insurance and I can't afford to use it," state health care advocate Mike Fisher said. Read the story on VTDigger here: Early numbers show many Vermonters dropping their insurance for 2026.

Melissa Bounty. Photo courtesy of Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation " data-image-caption="Melissa Bounty. Photo courtesy of Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Melissa-Bounty-CVEDC-1-300x214.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Melissa-Bounty-CVEDC-1-1200x857.jpg" /> Melissa Bounty was charged with stealing more than $70,000 from the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation to pay for personal expenses, such as buying meals at restaurants and renting luxury vehicles. Read the story on VTDigger here: Economic development leader denies embezzling as court records reveal new details of probe .

A sign marks the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital campus on Belmont Avenue. Photo by Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger. " data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/VTD-Bratt-hospital-8-300x225.jpg" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/VTD-Bratt-hospital-8-1200x900.jpg?crop=1" /> The Federation of Nurses union is upset Brattleboro Memorial Hospital pulled a set of proposed raises from contract talks after projecting a $14.5 million annual operating shortfall. Read the story on VTDigger here: Brattleboro hospital nurses threaten strike amid budget woes.