The Frequency

A huge rebuild may be needed at Hartford’s high school due to PCB contamination, and we hear more from Vermont-based musicians who submitted entries to this year’s NPR’s Tiny Desk contest. Plus, Rutland teachers reach an agreement with school board members to avert a strike, the $9 Billion state budget sent to Gov. Scott includes $100 Million in reserves to deal with potential loss of federal revenue from congressional cuts, all Vermont Rite Aid pharmaceutical stores will close as the chain goes through bankruptcy, and an annual 5K race in Montpelier being run today is expected to cause traffic delays.

Why Vermont is in dire need of a new residency program to train primary care doctors, and we hear from two more Vermont-based musicians who competed to win this year’s NPR’s Tiny Desk contest. Plus, Sen. Welch urges president Trump to take an active roll in getting Republicans to support a bill lowering the cost of prescription drugs, Gov. Scott issues an executive order pausing electric vehicle sales requirements, Morrisville residents rally to keep the birthing center at Copley Hospital open while officials consider closing it as a cost-saving measure, and Vermont lawmakers renew a bill approving to-go alcohol purchases.

We continue our series showcasing Vermont musicians who entered this year’s NPR Tiny Desk contest with the Hokum Brothers and Wes Pearce. Plus, the Trump administration terminates a federal grant aimed at helping low income and aging Vermonters better utilize the state’s high speed broadband network, federal grants have also been scrapped for Vermont arts and culture organizations, several Vermont political leaders visit Quebec to offer apologies for the actions taken by president Trump, and the Granite State’s legal community reacts to the death of former Supreme Court justice and New Hampshire Attorney General David Souter.

We hear from Vermont-based musician Sarah Bell and the band Miles of Fire as they compete to be winners of NPR’s annual Tiny Desk Concert. Plus, the Trump administration sues Vermont and three other states over their climate superfund laws, the state gets some good news regarding the safety of its milk supply from bird flu virus, a funding boost should help more low-income Vermonters connect freely to the state’s high speed fiber broadband network, Quebec sees near record population growth mostly due to a recent influx of immigrants, and the Notch road between Stowe and Cambridge has been reopened after its annual winter closure.

Lawmakers in Montpelier scramble to finish a bill aimed at alleviating Vermont’s housing crisis.

Speaking with the designer of a highly reviewed video game called Wanderstop that infuses parts of Vermont’s largest city into the action. Plus, a legal defense fund is created to help non-citizen Vermonters targeted by federal immigration officials, lawmakers in Montpelier float a bill to keep education property taxes nearly flat by relying on $118 Million in surplus funding, the winners of the 2024 Vermont Book Awards have been announced, we’ll preview events happening in Castleton this weekend to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Green Mountain Boys’ defeat of the British at Fort Ticonderoga, and discuss why the favored defending NBA champion Boston Celtics find themselves in a two games to none playoff hole against the New York Knicks in our weekly sports report.

A conversation with Vermont’s Agriculture Secretary about the federal government’s crackdown on immigration and the effect it may have on the future of the state’s dairy industry. Plus, three migrant workers arrested at Vermont’s largest dairy farm have been deported to Mexico, a bill giving the Governor more decision power over whether local or state police can enter into federal immigration enforcement pacts gets initial House approval, House lawmakers give final approval to a bill laying groundwork for a new state office to help immigrants, and Vermont will get more than $20 Million as part of a national tobacco settlement dating back to the 1990’s.

In his first interview with local media since being released from prison, Moshen Mahdawi speaks about his detention by immigration authorities and the message of hope he’s trying to send now. Plus, House lawmakers in Montpelier advance a bill including an income tax exemption on military pensions, Vermont joins a lawsuit trying to block Trump administration cuts to federal Health and Human service programs, a minister at St. Michael’s College discusses the conclave to choose a new pope, and a Real ID requirement starts today for Americans and permanent residents to pass through airport security.

Lawmakers, union leaders and administration officials all agree that the shortage of prison workers in Vermont is a major problem, but there’s no agreement about how to address the issue. Plus, racial disparities persist in police traffic stops, a technical glitch delays a vote on an Amazon warehouse project, a judge orders the state to give homeless Vermonters notice before ending motel shelter benefits, and Fish and Wildlife wants feedback on new proposed deer hunting regulations.

The challenge facing state lawmakers as they try to craft a budget with uncertain projections on how much federal revenue will be available.