Mitch Wertlieb
Senior Host and CorrespondentA graduate of NYU with a Master's Degree in journalism, Mitch has more than 20 years experience in radio news. He got his start as news director at NYU's college station, and moved on to a news director (and part-time DJ position) for commercial radio station WMVY on Martha's Vineyard. But public radio was where Mitch wanted to be and he eventually moved on to Boston where he worked for six years in a number of different capacities at member station WBUR...as a Senior Producer, Editor, and fill-in co-host of the nationally distributed Here and Now. Mitch has been a guest host of the national NPR sports program "Only A Game". He's also worked as an editor and producer for international news coverage with Monitor Radio in Boston.
An avid Boston sports fan, Mitch has been blessed with being able to witness world championships for two of his favorite teams (and franchises he was at one time convinced would never win in his lifetime): the Boston Red Sox in 2004, 2007, and 2013, and in hockey, the Boston Bruins, who won their first Stanley Cup in 39 years in 2011.
Mitch was known to play a music bed or two during Morning Edition featuring his favorite band The Grateful Dead. He lives in South Burlington with his wife Erin, daughter Gretchen, and their dog Fezzik. He (Mitch, not Fezzik) was host of Morning Edition on Vermont Public from 2003 until 2023. He now serves as the Senior Host and Correspondent.
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A new court docket in Chittenden County meant to address criminal offenders with five or more pending cases hits a two-week benchmark. Plus, the director of Vermont’s Refugee Office says the Trump administration’s decision to prioritize refugee status for white South Africans will mean less room for other population groups to find refuge in the United States, many towns across the state have scheduled special bond votes on whether to support flood resiliency projects, and we have some news about future changes for the Frequency that are starting today. -
Another state senator has announced he’s resigning from office, the second Republican to step down this month. Plus, Rutland Regional Medical Center announces it will cease operating inpatient pediatric beds, a former Essex Junction math teacher introduces an app that emphasizes understanding math concepts over memorization, Mad River Valley Arts prepares to open a new multimedia exhibition, time to set the clocks back an hour this weekend, and in our weekly sports report we chronicle the amazing turnaround by the Toronto Blue Jays as they hope to complete a World Series comeback victory over the LA Dodgers in Ontario tonight.
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Gov. Scott and legislative leaders approve a plan to continue federal nutrition benefits for Vermonters who rely on them during the current government shutdown. Plus, health insurance premiums for Vermont teachers could rise by about 7% on average next year, the UVM Children’s Hospital receives a $25 million donation, the co-founder of Ben and Jerry's says the company’s owner is preventing it from developing a flavor in solidarity with Palestinians, and a former Democratic state senator and business owner from Rutland has died.
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The latest on the search for a new developer to build a juvenile detention center in Vermont after a project slated for Vergennes was scrapped. Plus, Vermont joins with 24 other states to sue the Trump administration in an effort to restore federal food benefits, Democratic Sen. Peter Welch supports a bill backed by some Republicans that would maintain those benefits during the government shutdown, a new CEO has been named to lead Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, and Burlington will expand its homeless shelter capacity in time for winter.
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Examining a Texas company’s plan to build a large-scale energy battery storage system at the site of the former Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. Plus, Gov. Scott wants Vermont to team up with other states to sue the Trump administration in an effort to restore federal food benefits, Vermont’s Sec. of State has a plan for increasing voter turnout in next year’s elections, the Vermont DMV says upcoming service disruptions will ultimately result in improved customer service when computer upgrades are completed, and officials with Vermont Fish and Wildlife update the health of the state’s bat population amid International Bat Week.
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Grading a Vermont elementary school for its efforts to reduce potential asthma attacks for students. Plus, some safety concerns emerge as a Texas company looks to build a large scale battery storage center at the site of the former Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, Vermont House leaders push for full state funding to cover federal food and heat benefits at risk due to the federal government shutdown, some state food shelves report more people needing their help than usual, and a museum in Middlebury is again teaming up with Porter Medical Center to host a community altar to honor loved ones who have died.
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Why food benefits could expire for thousands of Vermonters if the federal government shutdown continues into next month. Plus, Vermont is still short of money needed to fund its Low Income Home Energy Assistance program, Gov. Scott introduces a short-term plan to address public safety concerns in Burlington, three northeastern projects receive grant money to advance indigenous forest research, and we preview the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers that begins tonight in our weekly sports report.
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The impact being felt among immigrants, refugees, and people granted asylum in Vermont since the federal government cut off their supplemental nutrition benefits this month. Plus, a former Addison County Sheriff gets two years probation after pleading guilty to lewd and lascivious conduct and simple assault, St. Albans officials set up a tip line to collect information about a foul smell coming from a milk processing plant, why the Green Mountain Club wants Long Trail hikers to use a detour along the Winooski River in Bolton this month, and it’s been confirmed that state senator Sam Douglass has officially resigned after his participation in a racist and antisemitic text group chat was made public.
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A conversation with the chair of Vermont’s Republican party about why he was against the pending resignation of a GOP state senator who participated in a racist text group chat. Plus, the new president of UVM says the school will increase its tuition rates next year, the Public Utility Commission opens a probe into financial difficulties at the Hyde Park Electric Department, the Vermont DMV plans to shut down for a few days next month for computer upgrades, and a Democrat from Orleans County says he’ll run for the seat vacated by the state senator who recently said he'd resign from that office.
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How the toxicity infecting our current national politics is also affecting local government and limiting access to Vermont’s elected officials. Plus, the chair of Vermont’s Republican party addresses the resignation of a GOP state senator who took part in a racist and antisemitic text group chat, two environmental non-profits accuse a Panton farm of violating the federal Clean Water Act, Dartmouth college says in order to retain its academic independence it is rejecting a compact with the Trump administration, and why on-line sports betting saw a surge in Vermont in September.
