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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Revealing the finalists for this year’s Vermont Book Awards. Plus, Copley Hospital gets approval for a rare mid-year service price increase, Gov. Scott vetoes a bill to ban flavored tobacco and vaping products, strategies for getting kids to wear safety glasses during the eclipse, and the state Senate moves a bill to screen students earlier for learning differences like dyslexia. -
Prepping pets for the total solar eclipse, and helping the visually impaired experience the historic celestial event. Plus, the state Senate approves a bill to create a new disaster mitigation fund, Vermont moves closer to a statewide vote that would protect the rights of workers to organize and collectively bargain, how New England power grid operators are preparing for the solar eclipse, and a plan to turn the former campus of Green Mountain College into condos and a destination hotel.
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Sometimes students with dyslexia need extra help in school. Senate bill 204 would guarantee kids between kindergarten and third grade get screened for any learning differences they might have. -
Democrats in the Vermont House have passed three bills that would raise taxes and fees by $130 million per year, and Republican Gov. Phil Scott is sounding the alarm. We'll break down that dynamic for this week's edition of the Capitol Recap, and share how it could impact local elections in November.
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A couple from Craftsbury has been planning for years to get married on the day of the total solar eclipse. Plus, a major Act 250 overhaul bill appears headed to the state Senate, House lawmakers vote to indefinitely pause Vermont’s PCB testing program for schools, two state police troopers accused of using excessive force have their cases transferred to diversion, a college professor’s quest to visit as many Vermont public libraries as possible while on sabbatical, and a new rescue vehicle for the Swanton Village Fire Department.
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Brave Little StateTwo Abenaki First Nations headquartered in Canada are contesting the legitimacy of Vermont’s state-recognized tribes. How are Vermont lawmakers responding? -
The outgoing mayor of Vermont’s largest city reflects on his 12-year tenure. Plus, Vermont House lawmakers approve a bill that would reduce out-of-pocket health care costs for low-income seniors, Addison County’s top prosecutor moves the case of a 14-year-old charged with murder to juvenile court–a decision made two days before the Vermont Supreme Court suspended her law license, Rep. Becca Balint officially announces she’ll seek a second term in the U.S. House, and thoughts on the Boston Red Sox as the 2024 MLB season gets underway.
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A woman from Calais laments rising taxes and fuel costs that led her to sell off land she’s lived on for more than three decades. Plus, more on taxes, as Vermont House lawmakers prepare bills that would raise rates for high-income earners and corporations, the Burlington City Council gets pushback after approving rezoning measures they say will create hundreds of new homes, a bill is moved allowing medical cannabis stores to provide special services and products, the Vermont senate backs legislation that lets the state study the possible health benefits of psychedelic drugs, and Vermont companies brace for changes now that the conglomerate that owns Ben & Jerry’s has announced it’s spinning off its ice cream divisions.
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Odanak and Wôlinak First Nations have asked for an investigation into Vermont’s state recognition process, which lawmakers approved in 2010. And last month, the First Nations also sent a letter to Vermont educators, requesting that they stop using information sourced from state-recognized tribes. -
Where Vermont lawmakers stand on calls to investigate the state’s recognition process for native tribes. Plus, Vermont House lawmakers move a bill to give people more control over their private web data, Central Vermont Medical Center staff are among the latest health care workers to unionize, Northfield police settle in a case alleging officers used excessive force against a woman with physical disabilities, and prepping for reliable cell phone service on the day of the solar eclipse.This story has been updated to more accurately reflect the response of Vermont's state-recognized tribes to scrutiny of the state recognition process and whether they have demonstrated their Abenaki ancestry. Additional context has also been added about genealogical documentation cited in – but not made public with – state recognition applications.
