Vermont politics & civic life: Vermont voters head toward the fall election with a slate of statewide races and two proposed constitutional amendments on labor rights and equal protection, while a separate national spotlight lands on Massachusetts’ Democratic Senate primary—Ed Markey vs. Seth Moulton—where the fight is framed as progressives vs. moderates and incumbency vs. generational change. Public health: UVM’s Vaccine Testing Center is recruiting Vermonters age 65+ for a Phase 3 trial of an investigational vaccine aimed at preventing C. diff, a hospital-linked infection that hits older adults hardest. Environment & outdoors: Scientists in Vermont are using Dutch elm disease to restore American elms, injecting young trees to test resistance and building a breeding program for future replanting. Local community & culture: Equinox Preserve marks 30 years with family-friendly trail activities and updates, while Bennington Rotary’s Sept. 4 talk spotlights sheep-to-shawl fiber farming. Sports: Vermont Green FC celebrates a major season milestone as USL W League New Organization of the Year, and the week’s “High Five” also notes UVM momentum and a rough Red Sox weekend. Housing & services: St. Johnsbury is moving to expand emergency shelter capacity, with plans to convert a former Moose Lodge into a low-barrier site for more beds and eventually a family-focused shelter. Tech & privacy: Vermont’s broader debate over automated license plate readers continues as lawmakers push limits, reflecting growing privacy backlash.