Education & School Transportation: The Mill River Unified Union School District says it’s still running a reduced bus schedule, with the Tinmouth route canceled while it works to clear a driver, and it’s streamlined the Shrewsbury route to cut travel time. State Education Reform: Gov. Phil Scott urged merger committees and school leaders to focus on what students can gain in Vermont’s education affordability push, warning budgeting will be “brutal” and encouraging shared services. Health Care Access: Vermont doctors say weight-loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic/Wegovy can be hard to get covered, but a new Medicare pilot may open a path for some patients. Public Safety: Vermont’s Division of Fire Safety is touring with an interactive trailer at the Champlain Valley Fair to prevent fire deaths, with more stops planned statewide. Environment & Research: U.S. Forest Service scientists in Vermont are testing whether Dutch elm disease can be beaten by injecting young elms with disease spores to study resistance. Housing: Highgate’s proposed 30-unit senior housing project is paused because a feasible public water system can’t be secured. Local Media: Vermont Community Newspaper Group is being bought by the National Trust for Local News, shifting ownership to a nonprofit model while keeping local editorial leadership. Crime: A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 30 years to life for the 2024 Northeast Kingdom murder of Kayla Wright.