AGP Executive Report

Heating Aid: Gov. Phil Scott plans to meet with lawmakers next week about boosting fuel assistance as heating costs climb. Vermont is seeking $6 million more for low-income aid, but current programs may not keep up with demand. School Costs: Vermont spends about $2.5 billion a year educating 73,000 students—roughly $1 billion more than 20 years ago, despite serving 15,000 fewer children. The expense is squeezing funds for other state programs. Election 2026: General election ballots are being mailed to Vermont voters. Voters can find guidance on how to cast their ballots as November approaches. Data Privacy: Live Nation reported that two Vermont residents were affected by a breach involving sensitive information, including Social Security numbers and health records. Woodstock Oversight: The Selectboard hired a forensic accountant to review town and village legal spending after a year in which their bills totaled more than $207,000.

Housing & Homelessness: Putney celebrated the opening of 25 “permanently affordable” apartments on Alice Holway Drive, with units reserved for households experiencing or at risk of homelessness and on-site support through SEVCA and WWHT’s SASH for All. Shelter Model: Brattleboro’s Groundworks is rolling out Hope’s House, a new 40-bed shelter with no set end date and a substance-free approach, with residents paired with case managers. Public Safety: Vermont State Police say a Derby man accused of firing a .22 bullet through an apartment door entered a plea of innocent to felony aggravated domestic assault with a weapon and reckless endangerment charges. Courts: The Vermont Supreme Court upheld the firing of former BUHS principal Steve Perrin, rejecting claims of due process violations and bias. Transportation & Energy Costs: A new report warns heating oil prices are poised to spike this winter, driven by global diesel supply disruptions. EVs & Charging: Vermont’s EV market share rose in Q2 2026, but the state still has fewer public charging ports than the national average. Arts & Community: Bread and Puppet’s documentary “An Artist Responds to War” screens in Brattleboro, followed by a conversation with a Palestinian human rights activist. Health: Vermont’s Department of Health issued updated seasonal flu, COVID, and RSV vaccine recommendations for fall.

Digital Access: Vermont launched VT Speed Check, a new online tool that lets residents test internet speeds and view an anonymous map of results, with guidance on what different speeds can handle and how to troubleshoot slow service. Health Care Funding: UVM received up to $38 million from ARPA-H to build “digital twins” for ICU care, combining immune and neuro measurements with medical records to help predict treatment responses. Higher Ed Pressure: Vermont colleges are adjusting to demographic and financial headwinds, including tuition discounts and benefit cuts, as administrators warn of a shrinking pool of students. Local Housing & Corrections: Rutland City aldermen renewed their push to end the use of 43 Evergreen Ave. for supervised-release housing, citing neighborhood safety concerns and complaints about monitoring. Workforce & Training: Community College of Vermont President Judy says enrollment is up 6% and a new statewide LNA Training Hub is set to launch with a $790,000 grant. Energy Costs: Vermonters are bracing for winter heating sticker shock as oil prices rise, with heating oil closely tied to diesel costs. Community Events: Rock Point School’s Ooky Spooky 5K on Oct. 24 will benefit COTS and support people experiencing homelessness in the Burlington area.

Immigration & civil rights: A new tally says more than 500 U.S. citizens have been detained during Trump’s immigration crackdown, including cases involving handcuffs and guns—raising fresh questions about mistaken identity and the erosion of rights. Vermont politics & economy: A Vermont Public poll finds residents are increasingly pessimistic about whether young people should stay and build a life in the state. Healthcare & community support: Vermont Treasury announced $3.4 million in higher education funding and scholarships, with many recipients first-generation students. Local health care upgrades: Rutland Regional Medical Center will debut the da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system Oct. 10. Cybersecurity: Slate Valley Unified Union School District says a cyber extortion group identified itself as the culprit behind the September ransomware attack. Environment & local leadership: Hinesburg’s Kate Kelly will receive a VNRC inaugural Local Leadership Award for environmental work. Agriculture workshop: NRCS Vermont and Orleans County NRCD will host a free bedded pack manure management workshop Oct. 29 in Greensboro.

Criminal Justice: A new report finds Vermont’s “Raise the Age” law is linked to relatively low reconviction rates for teens in the first years, though researchers flag caveats as the policy expands. Education: Even as Vermont test scores improve overall, new state data shows a widening achievement gap for marginalized students, including students with disabilities and those living in poverty. Courts & Climate: The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Suncor v. Boulder, with justices appearing skeptical of energy companies’ efforts to shut down climate damage lawsuits. Statehouse Politics: Vermont lawmakers face calls to cool down negative campaigning and focus on solutions, with one Franklin County rep arguing political gamesmanship won’t fix affordability. Public Safety: Vermont State Police say an 83-year-old missing hiker in Cavendish, Pieter van Schaik, has been found safe. Community & Health: UVM Athletics is partnering with Float Away Wellness Spa to bring floatation therapy to student-athletes, while North Country Career Center is getting support for its personal care closet and community fridge through a VAHHS service project. Local Infrastructure: Vermont approved renaming a stretch of I-91 for a fallen Border Patrol agent.

Local Governance: Hinesburg voters will decide in November whether to adopt a 1% local option tax after the selectboard schedules an Oct. 7 informational meeting to answer questions about the proposal. Local Governance: Hinesburg’s neighbor Bristol already approved the tax, which funds capital infrastructure, climate resilience, and emergency preparedness. Education & Taxes: A new Vermont Public poll finds Vermonters are unhappy with school performance, with 43% rating statewide schools excellent or good, while many are less ready to change how schools are funded. Elections: Vermont Public is also publishing a tool to help voters look up who’s on their ballot and where to vote for the Nov. 3 general election, including two constitutional amendments. Public Safety: Vermont State Police are searching for an 83-year-old man missing in the Albert C. Lord State Forest. Environment & Agriculture: Vermont’s Farm to School CSA grant applications are open, offering $150,000 for early learners’ CSA shares, with an optional webinar Oct. 7 and a Nov. 12 deadline. Health & Community: Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice received a $7,200 grant to support adult home healthcare, as Medicare reimbursement pressures continue. Sports & Community: Barre’s BOR ice rink is unlikely to open this season after testing found multiple leaks in its aging refrigeration system.

Vermont Politics & Elections: NBC5’s in-depth look at Vermont and North Country voters spotlights the November stakes, with Gov. Phil Scott facing challenger Amanda Janoo and attention on affordability, housing, health care, taxes and energy costs. Voting Access: Vermont officials and advocates are pushing ahead on voting accessibility ahead of the general election, including guidance for nursing home residents and a state task force aimed at people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and incarcerated Vermonters. Criminal Justice: A New Hampshire man tied to a fatal Vermont shooting was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, while a Vermont driver was cited with a domestic assault charge hours after being released following a car fire. Courts & Privacy: A federal judge ruled warrantless searches of Flock location data violated the Fourth Amendment, a decision that could ripple into how surveillance tech is used. Weather & Agriculture: A Dartmouth study suggests Northeast droughts are less frequent and less intense than decades ago, but Vermont farmers still face real drought risk after last year’s losses. Local Life & Business: Breeze Airways launched nonstop service from Burlington to Baltimore, and Vermont Business Magazine highlights community and health-sector grants, including support for home healthcare and student resources.

Vermont Health & Policy: A new national Medicaid study finds kids’ access to pediatric sleep testing is wildly uneven, with where you live—and the racial makeup of your neighborhood—shaping whether children get sleep studies. Local Sports: UVM men’s hockey opened with a 4-2 win over Brock, while UVM women’s hockey fell 3-2 in overtime to No. 7 Minnesota Duluth. High School Sports: Otter Valley shut out Windsor 10-0 on defense, and Otter Valley’s girls soccer beat Randolph 3-2 with a hat-trick by Jada Hughes. Community & Culture: Open Studio Weekend returns for the fall edition, and Pico Ski Club hosts its annual swap and sale to gear up for winter. Remembering & Honoring: Derby Veterans Park added five new monuments to recognize previously unrecognized wars and all who served. Business/Ag & Events: NRCS and local partners are hosting a free bedded pack manure management workshop Oct. 29 in Greensboro. Traffic: Vermont State Police report a crash slowing I-91 NB near MM105 with the passing lane closed.

Privacy & Courts: A federal judge ruled a Tulsa deputy violated a woman’s Fourth Amendment rights by using Flock Safety license-plate tracking without a warrant, calling it “indiscriminate mass surveillance” and ordering suppression of the drug evidence that followed. Border Searches: A 2nd Circuit decision covering Vermont says U.S. border agents can search travelers’ phones and other devices without suspicion. Vermont Healthcare Workforce: Community College of Vermont won a $790,000 grant to launch a statewide licensed nursing assistant training hub, working with UVM Health and Dartmouth Health. Local Health & Community: Vermont health leaders and students supported North Country Career Center’s personal care closet and community fridge through a VAHHS service project. Arts & Culture: The Vermont Historical Society acquired Big Heavy World’s Vermont music archive, preserving interviews, recordings, posters, and more. Community Events: Gallery at the Vault in Springfield hosts a felted acorns workshop Oct. 10. Sports: UVM hosts Queens Sunday at noon, with youth-focused promotions.

Privacy fight in Washington: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are pushing the “Ban Flock Act,” aiming to stop federal use of Flock-style license plate tracking and the data from non-government cameras, arguing it’s turning roads into a surveillance system. Local public safety update: Berlin’s Hospital Hill Road (Berlin State Highway) is closed Saturday morning due to a car fire, with detours posted to reach the Central Vermont Medical Center campus. Vermont politics, on the ballot: In Rutland-2, Democrat Marsha Cassel challenges GOP incumbents Tom Burditt and David Bosch, with affordability and school and infrastructure priorities front and center. Student recovery partnership: UVM Athletics has partnered with Float Away Wellness Spa to bring floatation and vibroacoustic therapy to Catamount student-athletes for training, recovery, and mental focus. Health and community support: A VAHHS service project at Jay Peak helped stock North Country Career Center’s personal care closet and community fridge with toiletries and food for students. Business/transport watch: Vermont’s construction calendar lists statewide line striping and I-89 paving and bridge work that will bring lane closures and delays starting Oct. 5.

Cybersecurity & Schools: Hackers hit Slate Valley Unified School District with a ransomware demand after compromising teachers’ personal data; the district restored systems with help from contractors and says it hasn’t paid. Public Safety: Vermont State Police reported a crash closing both lanes on I-89 S in Colchester near MM92, with delays expected. Immigration Surveillance: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, with AOC and Jeff Merkley, introduced the Ban Flock Act to block federal use and funding for automatic license plate readers. State Politics: Gov. Phil Scott asked President Trump to raise Vermont’s refugee admissions cap, saying the state can resettle up to 300 vetted refugees. Education & Privacy: A student group at CVU is pushing to make women’s history required learning statewide. Transportation: The Vermont Transportation Board approved renaming a stretch of I-91 for Border Patrol agent David Chris Maland. Business & Health: Float Away Wellness Spa announced a partnership with UVM Athletics to offer floatation therapy for student-athletes.

School consolidation: A state-mandated study of potential central Vermont school district mergers is set to kick off next week in Montpelier, with six districts and a consultant team lining up committee work. Budget crunch: Harwood’s FY28 budget preview warns of a steep choice between a likely state penalty for “level-service” spending or major staff cuts, as the district faces a new spending-threshold calculation. Public safety & courts: A Waterbury man, Shaka Joseph Africa, faces life in prison after a habitual-offender enhancement tied to a new cocaine possession charge. Flood recovery: Barre won federal north-end flood funds after the Vermont Community Development Board approved remaining allocations. Local infrastructure: Barre’s BOR ice rink is unlikely to open this winter after refrigeration system failures. Health & community: Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice received a $7,200 grant to support adult home healthcare for more than 1,700 people annually. Vermont politics: A new Vermont Public poll finds 64% support a statewide ban on large data centers. Immigration enforcement: Vermont AG Charity Clark filed criminal trespassing charges against ICE protesters tied to the Williston surveillance facility.

Crash & Safety: Vermont State Police say a Massachusetts man crossed the center line and caused a three-car crash on Route 9 in Marlboro, seriously injuring him and sending another driver to Brattleboro Memorial. Community & Culture: In New Haven, Vermont, Homer Hulbert will be honored with a bust and two monuments unveiling Saturday, marking his work tied to Korea independence. Local Life & Health: Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice received a $7,200 grant from NorthCountry Federal Credit Union to support adult home healthcare for more than 1,700 people yearly. Fall Outdoors: The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is closing a small part of Hatchery Cove on Lake Champlain from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 to protect landlocked Atlantic salmon during spawning. Housing Pressure: A Vermont Public 2026 poll finds 1 in 5 Vermonters struggled to keep up with rent or mortgage payments in the past year. Libraries: Dr. Hannah Miller’s quest to visit all 212 Vermont libraries ends with a final stop at the Rutland Free Library. Public Safety on Water: The DEC urges lakefront owners to remove docks or let them freeze in place and to skip dock aerators that can create unsafe open-water areas.

Medicaid Shake-Up: Vermont is bracing for new federal Medicaid rules starting Oct. 1 that could affect nearly 50,000 Vermonters, with most adult refugees and asylum seekers losing coverage unless they qualify for exceptions. Health Guidance: The Vermont Department of Health released 2026-27 flu, COVID, and RSV vaccine recommendations, urging shots for people starting at age 6 months and emphasizing protection for higher-risk groups. Local Housing Fight: Putney’s Alice Holway Drive affordable housing project is moving forward after years of legal opposition, with residents describing the move from homelessness to stability. State Oversight: Killington is back before the Vermont Economic Progress Council over its TIF accounting, with deadlines still in play after earlier concerns. UVM Breakthrough: UVM received up to $38 million to build an “AI twin” of critically ill patients to help doctors test treatments before clinical trials. Public Safety: Vermont State Police and ANR are investigating a rail-trail litter cleanup incident in St. Albans after hazardous conditions and cleanup costs were reported. Sports: No. 12 Vermont men’s soccer beat UMass 3-0, and field hockey highlights continue across the state.

Home Health Funding: Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice (CVHHH) received a $7,200 grant from NorthCountry Federal Credit Union to support its Adult Home Healthcare program, which serves more than 1,700 people a year with short-term, at-home recovery and chronic-care help. Education & Money Skills: Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation’s Pipelines and Pathways Reality Fair returns Oct. 6 at Leland & Gray High School, using hands-on financial literacy games for more than 250 students. Lake & Safety Rules: Vermont DEC is urging shoreland residents to remove docks or let them freeze in place, and says aeration devices near docks require a Lake Encroachment Permit because they can create unsafe open-water areas. Public Safety on Trails: Vermont State Police and ANR are investigating littering on the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail after someone’s cleanup created hazards and left a costly mess for VTrans to remove. Wildlife Protection: A small Hatchery Cove area on Lake Champlain will close to fishing Oct. 1–Nov. 30 to protect landlocked Atlantic salmon during their fall run. Community Events: Ludlow Auditorium hosts free October events including a candidates forum (Oct. 15), plus jazz and classical performances. Arts Scholarship: Phish fans, through the Mockingbird Foundation, are funding a Vermont music scholarship via VSAC.

Local Tax Planning: Bennington selectboard members and residents wrestled Monday over how to spend money if voters approve a local option tax on Nov. 3, with chair Tom Haley saying people want specifics before they vote. Vernon Energy Proposal: At a community forum, residents pressed PowerTransitions about fire safety, chemical emissions, noise, jobs, and taxes tied to a proposed battery energy storage facility at the Vermont Yankee site. Rail Trail Litter Update: Vermont State Police say piles of trash on the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail in Sheldon were left by a man trying to clean up privately owned woods—he was told to stop and coordinate with town and property owners. Fall Foliage: WCAX reports a big rebound in Vermont colors after last year’s drought, with peak expected across the northern and central Green Mountains this week. Elections—Pawlet/Rutland-Bennington: Two Pawlet residents are running for one Rutland-Bennington House seat, with incumbent Chris Pritchard facing challenger Jessica Van Oort. Primary Care Push: Rural Vermont hospitals are launching new residency programs to address the primary care shortage. Sports & Community: UVM hosts UMass Sept. 29 in Green Out night, and Vermont’s workforce was on display Tuesday at the Workforce in Motion job fair in Essex Junction.