AGP Executive Report

Public Health & Safety: A new review links pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to higher risks of childhood leukemia and brain tumors, with the strongest signals around prenatal exposure. Housing & Community Growth: A coalition of Vermont business and civic leaders argues the state can’t “stay the course” on aging, shrinking, and a severe housing shortage, calling for an Abundance-style growth agenda. Local Economy & Infrastructure: More than $8 million in federal grants is headed to Vermont, including $3 million for Newport’s downtown water/sewer upgrades and streetscape work, plus support to move the long-vacant “pit” toward redevelopment. Justice & Civil Rights: A federal judge cleared the way for a jury trial in a Burlington nursing home case alleging racial harassment of black staff. Culture & Faith: Rabbis are demanding the release of Palestinian Muslim community leader Salah Sarsour, held in ICE detention. Outdoors & Lifestyle: Vermont’s jumping worms are spreading; UVM Extension offers guidance for identifying them and managing garden impacts. Arts & Theater: Dorset Theatre Festival opens its season with “Deceived,” a thriller adaptation of “Gas Light.”

Grants & Local Growth: More than $8 million in federal funding is headed to Vermont, including $3 million for Newport water/sewer upgrades and downtown streetscape work, plus $500,000 to help move the long-vacant “pit” redevelopment site forward. Courts & Civil Rights: A federal judge has set a jury trial for a Burlington nursing home civil rights case alleging racial harassment of black staff, with the trial slated to begin Dec. 7. Health & Daily Life: Vermont health officials are urging people to “ease into” summer heat after the first warm stretch, warning about dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke—especially for kids. Community & Culture: Rutland is hosting World Cup watch parties to build a local match-day vibe beyond the usual sports-bar scene. Education & Sports: Schools across Vermont are combining to field teams, with examples ranging from shared lacrosse/football programs to returning softball at Green Mountain Union. Agriculture & Disaster Relief: Vermont’s agriculture agency has unlocked $31.7 million in USDA timber disaster assistance for farmers and producers hit by severe storms and flooding in 2023–2024. Literary Vermont: The Vermont Writers’ Prize 2026 winners were announced, with top honors going to a Westford short story and a South Burlington poem.

Public Health: A new review links pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to higher risk of childhood leukemia and brain tumors, with the strongest signals around prenatal exposure. Food Security: Vermont anti-hunger groups released a plan to end childhood hunger by 2035, calling for tighter coordination across state agencies and smarter use of federal nutrition programs. Border & Community Life: The Haskell Free Library in Derby Line reopened a permanent Canadian entrance after a costly redesign, restoring easier cross-border visits. Education & Youth: Milton Elementary students painted a Vermont-themed mural that doubles as a farewell gift for their graduating class. Local Governance & Quality of Life: St. Albans City Council spent much of its meeting on downtown noise and ongoing odor complaints tied to the Dairy Farmers of America plant. Health Research: Migraine with aura is associated with higher ischemic stroke risk in older adults, according to new findings. Civic Tech & Elections: An AI-generated Vermont congressional race video is raising questions about election disclosure rules and free speech limits. Arts & Culture: Burlington’s river cruise season is ramping up with scheduled Viking stops and volunteer-led welcomes.

Public Safety & Equity: Burlington will pay $150,000 to settle an ACLU lawsuit over excessive force against a Black teen with disabilities, after police pinned him down and EMTs used ketamine during a 2021 incident. Immigration & Activism: Vermont student activist Mohsen Mahdawi faces a new deportation order to Jordan as his legal fight over his 2025 arrest continues. Health & Care Access: Gifford Medical Center in Randolph will let patients start extended-release buprenorphine (Sublocade) in the emergency department, aiming to make opioid treatment easier to access. Local Culture & Community: Milton Elementary students painted a Vermont-themed mural that will outlast their time in the building, leaving a “Class of 2034” legacy. Arts & Summer Life: Taconic Music launches its 10th summer festival with chamber, jazz, and a pops concert featuring a full orchestra. Education & Brain Science: UVM researchers report menopause can significantly change resting brain activity, linking hormonal shifts to brain function. Grants for Families: Make Way for Kids awarded $264,500 to expand infant and toddler care, including new support for Brattleboro providers. Weather Watch: Burlington issued cooling-site guidance as a heat advisory brings dangerous heat index values. Juneteenth in Bennington: A free Juneteenth Freedom Day celebration returns June 19 with music, food, and community resources. AI & Politics: Bernie Sanders keeps pushing public ownership and a moratorium on AI data centers, arguing for worker and environmental protections.

Health & Safety: A new review links pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to higher risks of childhood leukemia and brain tumors, with the strongest signals tied to prenatal exposure. Local Economy & Community: Smugglers’ Notch names Brandon Swartz its new general manager, bringing a long Vermont ski background back to the Northeast Kingdom. Education Watch: Vermont’s Kids Count score slips to 4th overall (756), with education still a weak spot even as health and family/community remain comparatively strong. Healthcare Workforce: UVM Health plans to eliminate 142 positions (76 permanent), prompting union warnings that more cuts could follow. Culture & Pride: The Pride Center of Vermont is relaunching as an online organization, aiming to act as statewide infrastructure for queer Vermonters and improve access to services. Border Life: Haskell Free Library reopens a permanent Canadian entrance after a costly, long-running fix—symbolically “inside we are only one.” Sports & Youth: Vermont places second at the Tri-State women’s golf matches, while Vermont Envirothon crowns a team to represent the state at nationals. World Cup in Vermont: Vermont’s Congolese community is gearing up for the tournament, with local stores selling jerseys and World Cup excitement building fast.

Children’s Literature & Community: Jason Chin, the Caldecott Medal-winning author/illustrator, is coming to Richland Library in Vermont for a free family event June 17 (6–7 p.m.), sharing how he blends science, nature, and storytelling. Education Leadership: Union Memorial School principal Chris Antonicci is retiring after 25 years, marking the end of a long run of “joyful leadership” in Colchester’s early grades. Local Culture & Arts: Bennington Theater is launching its first fully realized year-round season, with four major productions plus ongoing music and community programming. Tech & Privacy: Vermont’s new data privacy law is headed to Gov. Phil Scott, but advocates say it won’t do enough to rein in Big Tech. Family & Child Care: Make Way for Kids grants are sending $264,500 to 20 Vermont child care programs to expand infant and toddler capacity. Health & Caregiving: A free Alzheimer’s educational conference is planned for Burlington July 15, with memory screenings and caregiver resources. Environment & Health: A new review links pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to higher risks of childhood leukemia and brain tumors.

Maine Politics: Graham Platner clinched the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination and will face Sen. Susan Collins in November, with the campaign’s controversies still set to dominate the general-election fight. Vermont Education & Community: Vermont students picked this year’s Youth Book Award winners—Red Clover, Golden Dome, and Green Mountain—showing how statewide reading programs keep kids at the center. Broadband & Daily Life: Fidium expanded 100% fiber service in Shelburne, bringing faster, more consistent internet to more homes and businesses. Health & Aging: UVM researchers report that menopause can rewire brain activity, adding to growing work on midlife cognitive change. Public Safety: A Stowe police officer shot a black bear after repeated cooler break-ins at a restaurant. Culture & Outdoors: Bellows Falls hosts a Smithsonian traveling exhibit, “Spark! Places of Innovation,” starting June into July. Local Crime: A Bellows Falls man was arraigned on felony child sexual abuse material charges.

Education & Kids: Vermont tackles chronic absenteeism with a new law aimed at bringing students back into classrooms, after pandemic-era attendance drops left learning outcomes at risk. Health & Aging: UVM research links menopause-related estrogen changes to shifts in brain activity, offering clues to why women face higher dementia risk later in life. Work & Family: A new WalletHub ranking spotlights the best states for working dads, with Vermont included among the top contenders. Higher Ed & Community: CCV will keep tuition flat for 2027–28, while Vermont State Colleges also granted emeritus status to longtime geology professor Dr. Helen Mango. Public Safety & Justice: Vermont Supreme Court backs Green Mountain Power in a lawsuit over a child’s burns at a locked substation. Immigration Policy: Vermont bans immigration civil arrests in sensitive places like schools and hospitals, even as other enforcement limits shift. Local Life: Milton’s July 4 celebration returns with a parade, live music, and fireworks. Arts & Pride: A Pride reading list spotlights queer and trans artists, books, and photography.

Maine Politics: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is putting his muscle behind Graham Platner as Democrats head to the polls Tuesday in Maine’s key Senate primary—an effort to unseat Susan Collins amid fresh controversy and voter soul-searching. Juneteenth & Local History: The North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association is staging its “Juneteenth Colors of Freedom in the Adirondacks” tour June 20, starting at Ausable Chasm and ending at the Plattsburgh Public Library. Disability & Work Skills: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH wrapped up with eight graduates, including a Burlington-area student who gained real workplace experience and more independence. Health & Caregiving: A free Alzheimer’s educational conference is coming to Burlington July 15, aimed at families and caregivers. Education in Vermont: Rutland City Public Schools is preparing for state-driven regional cooperative service areas and a required merger study. Sports & Community: Burlington’s Discover Jazz Festival keeps rolling with standout performances, while Vermont track and lacrosse updates highlight local athletes and coaching changes. Immigration & Work Visas: A federal judge struck down Trump’s $100,000 H-1B fee as an unlawful tax, with states and attorneys general celebrating the win.

Disability & Work Skills: UVM Medical Center’s Project SEARCH wrapped up with eight graduates, including Juno, who built real workplace experience and more independence while managing Type 1 diabetes. Health & Safety: Vermont health officials urge residents to “ease into” summer heat as the first hot stretch hits, warning about dehydration and heat illness and pointing to cooling resources at HealthVermont.gov. Local History: A new roadside marker in Salisbury honors Ann Story, the “Mother of the Green Mountain Boys,” with a ceremony spotlighting her Revolutionary War role as a spy and refuge for militia. Arts & Community: St. Albans hosted a Vermont Creative Sector Convening focused on “Hands-On,” bringing artists and organizations together to strengthen the creative economy. Culture & Pride: Tillie Walden’s “Charity & Sylvia” spotlights a 19th-century same-sex couple, with a Vermont Humanities connection and an author talk tied to the book’s release. Public Health Watch: A new national report says measles cases are surging again, with most infections tied to unvaccinated people. Access to Justice: The Vermont Bar Foundation announced its biggest FY27 grant investment yet to expand legal services and community support statewide. Summer Theater: Dorset Theatre Festival returns with “Summer Magic” at the Dorset Playhouse. Business & Innovation: Beta Technologies’ electric aircraft push continues as it scales production at its Burlington facility. Mental Health Care: Spring Lake Ranch added Dr. Dustin Dippen to its psychiatric team, expanding care for adults in its therapeutic community model.

Workforce & Disability Inclusion: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH wrapped up with a June 3 ceremony celebrating eight graduates, including Juno—who has Down syndrome and Type 1 diabetes—using real workplace rotations to build independence and job-ready skills. Health Care Politics: A new open letter argues that “Medicare for All” is the only credible way to beat corporate-backed politics and the growing pull of authoritarianism. Cannabis & Public Health: A Connecticut mom’s story spotlights how high-potency cannabis can spiral into severe cannabis use disorder, psychosis, and long-term treatment. School Safety: Parents and advocates are pushing Vermont and other states to strengthen anti-bullying enforcement, training, and follow-through after reports of underreporting and weak investigations. Local Education Governance: In Peacham, voters approved transferring ownership of the elementary school building to the town for $1, keeping it as a community asset if district mergers happen. Environment & Community Stewardship: Lewis Creek Association’s “steward program” highlights ongoing work to slow aquatic and terrestrial invasive species spread in popular Vermont waters. Arts & Reading: A review of Sarah Beth Durst’s new YA fantasy, “The Faraway Inn,” points to Vermont as a magical setting for readers. Nature Events: Merck Forest & Farmland Center’s Hike-a-thon returns with multiple routes, live music, and a community fundraiser in Rupert.

Disability & Workforce Training: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH wrapped up with a June 3 ceremony for eight CCV grads, including Juno (Down syndrome, Type 1 diabetes), who spent the year rotating through real hospital departments to build workplace skills and independence. Local Education & Community Assets: In Peacham, voters unanimously authorized the select board to buy the town’s elementary school building for $1, keeping it as a community-use asset if district mergers happen. Arts & Community in Burlington: The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival kept the city moving with events that brought jazz into unexpected places, including a skatepark “Skate Jam” blending local artists, student musicians, and visitors. Outdoor Culture: Merck Forest & Farmland Center announced its Oct. 3 Hike-a-thon in Rupert, with four route options and a community celebration at the Sap House. Public Health & Food Safety: A CDC-linked salmonella outbreak tied to backyard chicken flocks has reached multiple states, with Vermont among those reporting cases. Parenting & Tech Debate: A new look at school tech rollouts highlights parents’ alarm at what kids are handed in early grades and the broader pushback against classroom devices. Sports: Vermont Green FC women beat New England Mutiny 2-1, with Neve Renwick scoring the game-winner in the 83rd minute.

Disability & Employment: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH wrapped up with eight graduates, including a Burlington High School alum with Down syndrome and Type 1 diabetes, highlighting real workplace rotations, independence, and diabetes self-management. Arts & Community: The Latchis Theatre in Brattleboro leans into cinema nostalgia this summer, with “Casablanca” drawing near-capacity crowds and more big-screen sequels on deck. Food Systems: Vermont’s local-food momentum gets a boost as Vermont Business Magazine spotlights Farm to School grants and agritourism marketing, while a New Hampshire report looks at the processing and distribution gaps that keep local food from scaling. Public Health: A CDC-linked salmonella outbreak tied to backyard chicken flocks is reaching multiple states, with Vermont among those reporting cases. Politics & Policy: A federal judge temporarily blocked USDA SNAP conditions tied to gender and immigration requirements, while Vermont’s Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a data center law aimed at protecting residents from higher bills and pollution. Culture & Sports: Burlington’s Discover Jazz Festival continues with Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Mavis Staples, and VGFC women won 2-1 over New England Mutiny on Renwick’s late goal.

Disability & Work Skills: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH wrapped up with a June 3 ceremony for eight graduates, including Juno—who has Down syndrome and Type 1 diabetes—showing how structured workplace rotations can build independence and real job readiness. Local Governance & Energy: Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a data center law meant to protect Vermonters from unchecked development, drawing sharp criticism over potential utility bill hikes and pollution. Community Reentry: The Community Restorative Justice Center’s Circles of Support and Accountability program is helping people leaving incarceration rebuild basics like housing, IDs, and health care. AI & Public Wealth: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met as politicians from Sanders to Trump rally around the idea of the public owning a stake in AI companies. Sports & Community Life: Northfield’s Summer Road Race Series kicked off its 15th season with a weekly 5K that welcomes runners and walkers. Culture & Summer Plans: Burlington Wine & Food Festival returns June 27 on the waterfront, and the Manchester Music Festival debuts its “Sounding America” theme for a “Summer of Discovery.” Public Safety: A Woodstock resident was charged with luring a child and possessing child sexual abuse material.

AI Wealth Plan: Sam Altman met with Sen. Bernie Sanders after Sanders floated a public 50% stake in AI companies, while Trump also signals interest in an equity-sharing approach that could seed dividends for Americans. Digital Life & Privacy: A new survey finds many people show up on the first page of Google when searching their own names, and most don’t realize how AI tools can surface personal details. SNAP Fight: A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from enforcing new SNAP funding conditions, pausing requirements that states say could disrupt help for low-income families. Vermont Community & Work: UVM Medical Center’s Project SEARCH celebrated graduates with disabilities, highlighting real workplace skills and independence. Local Justice & Safety: A Woodstock man was arraigned on charges tied to luring a child and possessing child sexual abuse material. Education & Transition: Otter Valley Union High School’s work-based learning coordinator retires after 27 years, marking a major shift for student internships and job pathways. Health Research: UVM researchers report new findings on how menopause may change brain function. Arts & Culture: Weston Theater Company kicks off its 90th season with a return of “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash,” and Manchester’s festival debuts “Sounding America.” Food & Fun: Burlington Wine & Food Festival returns June 27 with tastings, seminars, and local makers.

Disability & Work Skills: UVM Medical Center’s Project SEARCH wrapped up with a June 3 ceremony for eight graduates, including Juno, who gained real workplace rotations and more independence while managing Type 1 diabetes. Public Health & Families: Dartmouth Hitchcock plans to use $900,000 in federal funds to create an inpatient substance use treatment program inside its birthing pavilion, redesigning two suites for safer withdrawal management and staff training. Community Safety: Vermont officials say “swatting” bomb threats are becoming more common, after AI-generated hoax calls cleared multiple schools and sent students home. Local Environment: Vermont Fish & Wildlife is urging anglers not to disturb spawning sea lamprey in the Connecticut River and tributaries. Health & Equity: A Texas report links Parkinson’s risk to pesticide exposure, spotlighting farmworkers and nearby communities in the Rio Grande Valley. Culture & Community Events: Colchester’s June calendar highlights line dancing, trivia nights, community meals, and the 1815 Log Schoolhouse museum hours. Fundraising for Kids’ Literacy: VTDigger’s member drive is in the final stretch—on June 6, donations are matched to send children’s books through CLiF.