Vermont reporters provide a roundup of ongoing local coverage of the coronavirus, a measure that would include Abenaki place names on signs in Vermont state parks, and more for Friday, July 17.
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Vermont Department of Health reports nine new cases of COVID-19
The Vermont Department of Health reported nine new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total number of cases identified to date to 1,334. Of the new cases reported Friday, seven were identified in Chittenden County, one was identified in Rutland County and one was identified in Windsor County.
There are currently 105 people being monitored by the state as close contacts of confirmed cases. To date, the state has tested 88,246 people for COVID-19.
There are currently four people hospitalized with a confirmed case, and 29 people are hospitalized with symptoms under investigation.
- Abagael Giles
Health Department has only confirmed two cases in Manchester
The Vermont Department of Health said the reported outbreak in the Manchester area may not be as severe as initially feared. Department officials said Friday they had only confirmed two cases of COVID-19 among nearly 60 potential positive tests in the Manchester area.
A clinic in the town reported 59 positive antigen tests this week, a different test than the state uses to confirm cases.
Health Commissioner Mark Levine said contact tracers have reached most of the people who had positive antigen tests. Levine said of those the health department had reached, 17 were tested using the state's method, and only two were positive.
"We are learning more about antigen tests and they are a useful tool for screening patients who do have symptoms," Levine said. "But our recent PCR results are showing us why they needed to be confirmed so we have a more accurate picture of the current infections in patients."
However, Levine said the state treats positive antigen tests as presumptive positive cases, and is in the process of confirming those tests.
"We continue to investigate the situation and are treating all positive antigen tests as a positive case, reaching out to each person, giving them guidance to isolate, trace their contacts and above all, recommending they get a confirmatory PCR test," Levine said.
The health department said that 405 people in the region were tested at a pop-up site this week, and all those tests were negative.
- Liam Elder-Connors
At debate, Siegel calls for education reform, calls Act 46 'a disaster'
Brenda Siegel, a Newfane activist and candidate for lieutenant governor, said the coronavirus should spur Vermonters to rethink how they fund schools.
She said the pandemic highlights why consolidation as a result of of Act 46 has been "a disaster" for struggling Vermonters.
"We do not have equitable schools. While some of our school systems are very strong, in the top five school systems in the country and carry the weight for the others, other school systems are leaving people of color and folks who are low-income behind," Siegel said. "Our children do not have broadband access, so they cannot do their homework. And our teachers are not able to teach, especially during this pandemic."
Siegel supports requiring towns to have an affirmative vote before a local school could be closed. She is one of four Democrats seeking the party's nomination for the state's second-highest office in the Aug. 11 primary.
Watch or listen to the full debate, here.
- Matthew Smith
VPR will be speaking with candidates running for office or nomination in August over the next few weeks. Look out for more coverage, as well as ways to participate and view live debates.
In debate, Ingram says she supports a statewide mask mandate
A Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor said she's had a change of heart when it comes to the coronavirus and masks.
Debbie Ingram has represented Chittenden County in the state Senate since 2017.
The Williston Democrat said listening to Vermonters is how she'll address key issues like affordable housing and economic dignity.
It's an approach that she said recently changed her mind around masks during the pandemic.
"I didn't favor a mandate," Ingram said. "I've been listening to people on the ground and I really now do think a mandate would be really helpful."
Ingram is one of four Democrats seeking the party's nomination in the Aug. 11 primary.
Watch or listen to the full debate, here.
- Matthew Smith
VPR will be speaking with candidates running for office or nomination in August over the next few weeks. Look out for more coverage, as well as ways to participate and view live debates.
In debate, Ashe calls for a work program to restore Vermont's economy, workforce
A state senator running for lieutenant governor said that something similar to Great Depression-era work programs may be necessary to rebound from the coronavirus-related economic downturn.
Tim Ashe, a democratic progressive from Burlington, has served in the state Senate since 2009 and is currently Senate President Pro Tempore.
Ashe said responding to the pandemic means investments in state infrastructure and housing, but may require thinking bigger.
"Or whether it's betting big on the future of Vermont with something akin to the Civilian Conservation Corps, but with a youth conservation corps-style program where we enlist hundreds if not thousands of young people in meaningful work experiences that get them money and skills and rebuilds our workforce," Ashe said.
Ashe is one of four Democrats seeking the party's nomination for lieutenant governor in the Aug. 11 primary.
Watch or listen to the full debate, here.
- Matthew Smith
VPR will be speaking with candidates running for office or nomination in August over the next few weeks. Look out for more coverage, as well as ways to participate and view live debates.
Molly Gray calls for change in state government
A Democrat running for lieutenant governor said the precarious situation of the state colleges points to a need for change in the state's second-highest office.
Candidate Molly Gray of Newbury works as an assistant attorney general for the state.
Gray said elected officials have failed to prioritize state schools for years, decisions that, back in April, threatened to close three state college campuses.
Gray, who's never held elected office, said changes are needed.
"This is another example where, if we elect the same leaders, we'll see the same outcomes. We basically let our state colleges fail, not only because of a lack of funding, but because of a lack of leadership and a lack of strategy," Gray said.
Watch or listen to the full debate, here.
- Matthew Smith
VPR will be speaking with candidates running for office or nomination in August over the next few weeks. Look out for more coverage, as well as ways to participate and view live debates.
Vermont's unemployment rate dropped more than 3% last month
The unemployment rate dropped more than three percentage points last month.
The Labor Department said Friday that the unemployment rate fell from 12.8% percent in May to 9.4% percent in June.
More than 12,000 people returned to work, as hospitals, restaurants and hotels reopened.
Labor Commissioner Micha Harrington said while the news was good, it will still be a long time before Vermont's economy is back to normal.
"There are still a large numer of people collecting unemployment, and it'l be a slow process over the coming months as those people are able to go back to work," Harrington said.
There were still a little more than 32,000 people out of work last month, which is about four times as many as last year.
- Howard Weiss-Tisma
Health Department approves camp license for group housing 350 youth at Rutland hotel
Vermont's Health Department has approved a children's camp license for a New Jersey area Jewish group that's using a Holiday Inn in Rutland to host more than 350 teenagers.
The arrival of the campers angered many locals because the hotel was breaking health guidelines by accomodating more than its 300 guest limit.
With a children's camp license, however, the group can utilize up to 75% of the hotel's beds, and no children will have to be relocated or leave.
Joshua Terenzini, chairperson of the Rutland Town select board said locals remain concerned about having so many state visitors in one part of town, and he's frustrated by the state's willingness to bend public health rules.
"I hope this worry is all for nothing and the campers have a great time down there, but what's the difference between calling it a hotel and allowing 50% occupancy and calling it a camp and allowing 75%?" Terenzini asked. "[Especially] shen it's the same facility in our same community."
After a scheduled inspection of the hotel Thursday, members of the state's Food and Lodging program said no executive order violations were observed.
More from VPR: Rutland's Holiday Inn Warned For Hosting Too Many Campers
- Nina Keck
13 Democrats vie for six Senate seats in Chittenden County
There are 13 Democrats in Chittenden County vying for six state Senate seats in the August primary.
The crowded field is due, in part, to two incumbent senators stepping down to run for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, leaving two vacant spots.
Middlebury political science professor Matt Dickinson said when vacancies open in such a large district, like Chittenden County, it draws a lot of interest from candidates.
"Incumbents are difficult to defeat in the state Legislature, so when there's an opportunity, I think if you're a candidate who's politically ambitious, this is a time to take advantage of it," he said.
Dickinson said he expects the four incumbents to keep their seats. But he said the rest of the Democratic field is wide open.
"You're going to be splitting the vote among many qualified candidates who I think all have pockets of support, so just getting turnout, getting people to respond here I think is going to be crucial. This is going to come down to literally hundreds of votes for these seats," Dickinson said.
2020 is also the final year that Chittenden County's Senate delegation will be so large. A bill passed last year will split the county during redistricting in 2021.
- Liam Elder-Connors
Quebec reports 141 new cases of COVID-19 Friday
As Quebec sees a steady increase in COVID-19 cases, Premier Francois Legault said he does not plan to close bars in the province.
According to CBC News, Quebec reported 141 new cases Friday. After speculation that bars were behind the increase, provincial officials concluded that private gatherings were causing the spike.
There have been over 800 new cases of COVID-19 in Quebec since July 10.
- Karen Anderson
Gov. Scott reiterates his opposition to statewide mask mandate
Gov. Phil Scott said he still doesn't think the state should mandate masks, though he said everyone should be wearing them.
Scott has said repeatedly he's wary of putting in place the measure if there's not a good way to enforce it. He also said that, given Vermont's generally low rates of the virus, he doesn't think a mask mandate is necessary.
"[With] what I'm seeing across the country and certainly what's happening as it migrates across the Northeast, it's another measure measure that we could put in place if we have to, and we might just have to, but again, no disagreement on the use of masks," Scott said. "I think everyone should be wearing a mask."
A number of states, including Massachusetts, Kansas and North Carolina, require residents to wear masks in public spaces.
More from Vermont Edition: How A Statewide Mask Mandate Is Playing Out In Massachusetts
- Liam Elder-Connors
State officials say new composting laws are not to blame for increased bear activity
Vermonters are reporting more bear encounters this summer, but wildlife officials say the state's new composting laws aren't to blame.
As of July 1, Vermont homes and businesses must dispose of food scramps by either backyard or commercial composting.
Forrest Hammond, a biologist leading the state's black bear management program, told Vermont Edition something else usually brings the bears to the yard first.
"Many people who say the bear got into their compost also say the bear got into their bird feeder first," Hammond said. "So it's usually something else that brought the bear there first. Plus, composting, if done right, shouldn't be giving off any odors at all."
Hammond encourages pairing kitchen scraps in your compost with three times as much yard debris or shredded paper to minimize it's attractiveness to bears.
Listen to the full conversation on Vermont Edition.
- Matthew Smith
New Hampshire passes statewide criminal justice reform law
New Hampshire's Republican governor has signed into law a bill on criminal justice reform that comes almost two months after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked widespread protests.
The bill signed by Gov. Chris Sununu would prohibit the use of chokeholds by law enforcement, ban private prisons in the state and require police officers to report misconduct. It also provides municipalities with funding to psychologically screen candidates for law enforcement jobs.
New Hampshire is among several states enacting measures to reform their police departments and provide greater accountability in the wake of Floyd's death.
- The Associated Press
Tribal leaders push for measure to add Abenaki place names to signs in Vt. state parks
Tribal leaders in Vermont are pushing for a measure that would add Abenaki place names to signs in state parks.
Under a bill passed by the House this session, the Abenaki names would be added to new or replacement signs in all state parks.
Don Stevens is chief of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation.
"The language shows that we're still here, the Abenaki people are still here, and there are actually place names from before the English terms were there," Stevens said. "So it shows and promotes our culture."
The bill passed the House in June. It's now before the Senate, which is set to reconvene in late August.
- Henry Epp
