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Vermont Public Radio has won three regional Edward R Murrow Awards, including recognitions for Continuing Coverage, Writing and Website from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA).

“As a public broadcaster, we are accountable to the community we serve,” said VPR News Director John Dillon. “We are honored to receive these awards because they go to the heart of VPR’s mission to provide an essential and trusted independent voice for news and information in our region.”

The winning coverage includes:

Continuing Coverage of drug addiction in Vermont.

Website, for VPR.net’s overall news content.

Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce today released a report that documents a long-term process of constructive engagement efforts to address environmental, social and governance issues related to climate change. The report details actions taken and planned next steps in the administration of state funds and pension fund investments under the custody of the Treasurer’s office.

“As State Treasurer, it’s important to me that we meet our investment targets while ensuring that our partners live up to the Vermont values of corporate and social responsibility,” said Pearce. “The report released today demonstrates how Vermont has used its position as an investor to engage with national and global businesses on the critical issues related to climate change. My hope is that this report will stimulate further discussion of ways Vermont may constructively engage with our partners.”

United Way of Chittenden County notified 27 agencies that the United Way grants supporting their local community programs will be sustained for FY2015. This continued funding commitment begins the second year of a new three-year funding cycle that United Way launched last year. The announcement is a result of a successful 2014 Community Campaign that raised $3.85 million from which United Way is investing $1,845,615 to support local programs in 2015. United Way leverages program funding with advocacy, volunteer recruitment and management and by uniting nonprofits, businesses and community leaders to collaborate.

Norwich University’s graduating future officers will hear remarks from a fellow alum at this spring’s joint services commissioning ceremony. Brigadier General Raymond R. Descheneaux ’87, United States Marine Corps Reserve, Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation (Mobilization), returns to the Norwich campus to speak to ROTC commissioning officers during a formal ceremony to mark the occasion on Sunday, May 10 at 9 am.

Descheneaux will speak about the value of Norwich leadership in its unique setting, which embraces all four ROTC branches plus civilian students.

“The Norwich experience uniquely prepares future officers for joint, coalition, and inter-agency operations in the 21st century” says Descheneaux.

Fairfield maple sugarer Harvey Bushey is planting a new crop on his farm, a community solar array. A longtime resident of Franklin County, Bushey has meticulously tended to his sugarbush by boiling sap every spring for his business, Log Cabin Maples. On a recent afternoon, Bushey and his wife, Mary, were found enjoying the bucolic Vermont tradition alongside the state’s promising new future of solar energy. As Bushey stoked the fire and drew the syrup from this year’s maple crop, a SunCommon solar install crew planted a 150kw community solar array in the field just outside the sugarhouse window.

Political commentator and critically acclaimed author David Brooks will deliver the main address at Dartmouth’s 2015 Commencement exercises on Sunday morning, June 14, on the Green. Since September 2003, Brooks has written an op-ed column for The New York Times that has helped shape important conversations of the day, from the future of the Republican Party to the dangers of what he sees as the moral relativism of modern society.

The Vermont Arts Council is accepting applications for three grant programs: Cultural Facilities, Creation, and Project Grants. Artists, cultural/community organizations, and municipalities throughout Vermont are encouraged to apply.

Cultural Facilities Grants help Vermont nonprofit organizations and municipalities enhance, create, or expand the capacity of an existing building to provide cultural activities for the public. The deadline for Cultural Facilities Grant applications is May 1.

Creation Grants help Vermont artists purchase materials, rent equipment or space, and compensate for time in order to create new work. The deadline for Creation Grant applications is May 8.

Burlington College has announced that award-winning film director, producer, and writer Jay Craven will be the speaker and honorary degree recipient during the 34th Annual Commencement Ceremony on May 16, 2015.

by Elizabeth Hewitt vtdigger.org As the Senate Appropriations Committee hones in on a final version of the General Fund budget package for fiscal year 2016, things are tight. “Our options are very, very limited,” Senator Jane Kitchel, D-Caledonia, said Friday. The committee aims to pass the budget bill out on Monday, and plans to get the bill through the Senate by the end of next week. The House General Fund budget totaled $1.47 billion.

But committee members still have decisions to make, and Kitchel said the fate of H.490 depends on what the Senate Finance Committee does with the revenue package.

The House of Representatives has passed bipartisan legislation authored by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) to combat prescription drug abuse by improving the distribution process for prescription drugs. The legislation, which was unanimously approved on a voice vote, was cosponsored by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

The Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act (H.R. 471) enhances collaboration between drug suppliers and regulators ensuring a more secure supply chain that protects the legitimate medication needs of patients.

“Prescription drug abuse is a major problem that has claimed and ruined many lives in Vermont and across our country,” said Rep. Welch. “This practical legislation will help keep dangerous drugs out of the wrong hands, while ensuring that seniors, cancer patients, and chronically ill individuals get the medications they need in a timely manner.”

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims rose again for the week of April 18, 2015, and are near 1,000 for the first time in nearly two months. The transition from the end of the winter recreation season is resulting in a seasonal increase in unemployment claims. There were 980 new, regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont, an increase of 213 from the previous week's total, but 125 fewer than they were a year ago.

Altogether 7,014 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 66 from a week ago but 1,196 fewer than a year ago. The Department processed 0 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), the same as the previous week.

Caledonia County Republicans have registered their strong opposition to any broadening of the Vermont sales and use tax to include services. The Caledonia County Republican Committee took the action unanimously at its monthly meeting on April 20. The action was prompted by the April 15 advocacy of the sales tax extension by Democratic/Progressive Senator Tim Ashe, Chair of the Vermont Senate Finance Committee.

Such a tax extension could require Vermonters to pay a sales tax on services offered by doctors, dentists, barbers, cosmetologists, electricians, plumbers, painters, architects, lawyers, auto mechanics, small engine repair shops, butchers, seamstresses, home health aides, farm services, snow plowing and landscape firms, pet care businesses and veterinarians, and many more.