Vermont Edition

The road from addiction to long-term recovery can be arduous. Recovery professionals have tried lots of different approaches, but substance use remains a public health crisis in the region. Peer support can play an important role in substance use recovery.Danielle Wallace leads the Peer Recovery Center of Addison County and she's in long-term recovery herself. Her past experiences inform her work helping others in Addison County. We’ll also discuss Vermont’s hub-and-spoke model, and the unique needs of rural residents in recovery.

About 200,000 people rely on Lake Champlain for drinking water. But if you go down to the lake in the summer, you might see something that does not make you want to drink up — blue-green algae.The 2015 Clean Water Act promised to limit pollution and fund cleanup for waterways that flow into the lake. But 10 years and nearly a billion dollars later, the pollution still flows and the algae still blooms.Seven Days and ProPublica spent months investigating Vermont’s plans and how they have fallen short. We speak with John Dillon, a consulting editor for Seven Days, and environmental journalist Jonathan Mingle about their ongoing reporting.Plus: State climatologist Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux discusses current drought conditions facing the region.For more information about the details of Vermont's drought, visit here.Broadcast live on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Plastic is an incredibly helpful material, especially in the kitchen. But when we throw these plastic items away, they don’t go anywhere good.Today on Vermont Edition: author and scientist Rachael Zoe Miller of Granville. She aims to help consumers make smart purchases to keep their bodies safe and the earth clean. Her latest book is Decision-Making in the Age of Plastics: Kitchens.Do you wonder if your trusty plastic cutting board is still safe? Do you hesitate before microwaving plastic Tupperware? Do you dream of upgrading your kitchen tools, but can’t find a budget-friendly option? Our guest has the guidance you need.

A huge night for Democrats -- a renunciation of Trump. In Vermont, the country’s most popular governor, a Republican, wins a sixth term.On Vermont Edition: we recap the midterm results, with a focus on our region. You’ll hear from Vermont’s top-of-the-ticket winners – Congresswoman Becca Balint, Governor Phil Scott, and Lieutenant Governor-elect Molly Gray.On the national stage, Democrats see massive gains.Boston Globe editor James Pindell talks us through relevant regional results, from Maine, New Hampshire, and more.Broadcast live on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Turn in your ballot and grab an “I Voted Sticker.” It is Election Day in the United States.Today on Vermont Edition, we check in with senior reporter Bob Kinzel in Montpelier. Every election, he keeps a close eye on his “mirror towns.” The results from these three Vermont towns always mirror the statewide results for governor.Positions like governor and state senator are very familiar at this point in the election cycle, but there are still oddities of local government to explore. A recent Brave Little State episode is all about obscure government roles, like “weighers of coal.”

Election Day is just about here. At this point, you might be battling some political news fatigue. There are constant spam calls and texts, news headlines about races in other states and attack ads on TV. Today on Vermont Edition: we face the news fatigue with Ripton’s Bill McKibben. Even though he’s a career activist, he deals with it too. He’s found some ways to push through it.News fatigue affects kids. And when adults lash out at each other because of politics, that affects kids too. UVM child psychiatrist Steven Schlozman sees this in his practice. The good news is, there are ways to help kids through. Broadcast live on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

In the days before Halloween, some are focused on finishing up their costumes. Others of us are more focused on the candy — Reese’s cups, Sour Patch Kids, Tootsie Rolls, and whatever else crosses our paths during spooky season.In Vermont Edition's (first annual?!) Halloween candy special, we explore the history of trick-or-treating with food historian Susan Benjamin. The Bennington College graduate is the founder of True Treats Candy and a food historian and author. She's extensively researched the history behind some of the most popular candy that ends up in the Halloween hauls of today.We also talk with two local candy purveyors about current candy trends and what it's like to enter their busy season. Sheena Smith is the director of retail at the Vermont Country Store, and Kaisa Eaton is the manager of Whizbang’s Candy Lab on Church Street in Burlington.Broadcast live on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

This Vermont town has fewer than 700 residents. It borders both Lake Champlain and Otter Creek. And it has rich soil, perfect for farming. Know what it is?Today on Vermont Edition, we're focusing on Panton, in Addison County. It’s the latest stop on our Town by Town tour of the state.We’ll hear from a trio of local town officials – the former and the current selectboard chair, and the town moderator. A Panton farmer produces cured meats inspired by the flavors of her home country, Italy. And a musician plays with a bunch of different groups, including at Middlebury College. He’s fallen in love over the decades with Panton’s agricultural traditions and its beautiful night skies.At the end of the hour, we’ll randomly select the next stop for Town by Town. We just might head to where you live next.

Vermont has the reputation of being a climate refuge. But the state is actually warming faster than the global average.On Vermont Edition: the latest climate assessment from the University of Vermont. It shows how climate change is impacting specific regions in the state. We’ll talk with two of the co-authors.Then – are lending programs to help people of color buy homes a thing of the past? Vermont used to have a couple of these home equity programs.Now these lines of credit have gone away. We’ll find out what’s going on, with Vermont Public’s business reporter Derek Brouwer.Broadcast live on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Come New Years Day, millions of Medicaid beneficiaries in the U.S. will have to prove they work 80 hours in a month. That’s just one of the changes coming to the federal healthcare program in 2027.These changes are largely the result of HR.1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Trump signed it into law last July. It represents the largest-ever clawback of federal health spending.So, what are the new rules that govern Medicaid eligibility? How will these change affect Vermonters? And what do you have to do in the next few months to make sure you have coverage in 2027? Vermont Health Care Advocate Mike Fisher and Marjorie Stinchcombe, the helpline director for Vermont Legal Aid, answer your questions.Broadcast live on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.