Vermont Edition

October 30th marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most pivotal and divisive moments in Quebec history. On that day, Quebeckers held a referendum on whether or not to secede from Canada.The votes against independence won out by a tiny margin — 50.6% voted "no," while 49.4% voted yes.A new Léger poll shows that Quebecers' attitudes on sovereignty have shifted significantly in the last 30 years. Sixty five percent of respondents said they'd vote 'no' on separating from Canada if asked to vote today. Fifty five percent said they do not believe Quebec has the economic means to become a sovereign nation.On Vermont Edition, two Canadian political science professors shared their memories of the 1995 referendum. Luc Turgeon was a college student at the time at McGill University in Montreal. He is now a professor at the University of Ottawa in Ontario. Antonia Maioni was Turgeon's professor; she still teaches at McGill. Callers from the U.S. and Canada also joined the conversation.

Both the University of Vermont and Middlebury College have new presidents: Marlene Tromp at UVM and Ian Baucom at Middlebury. These new leaders entered their role at a time of heightened federal scrutiny on higher education.Today on Vermont Edition, we’ll talk with these two new presidents of leading higher education institutions. We’ll hear about town-gown relations in both Burlington and Middlebury, and discuss the schools’ role in building housing, employing locals and more. The White House has threatened to take away federal funding from colleges and universities if they don’t fall in line around DEI and other issues. Marlene Tromp and Ian Baucom will weigh in on that delicate balance between protecting free speech and following White House dictum.

Vermont state senator Sam Douglass has resigned, effective today. He participated in a Young Republicans group chat that included racist, misogynist and antisemitic messages.Today on Vermont Edition: the fallout of the group chat in our region. Vermont GOP chair Paul Dame will comment on Douglass’s reputation as a lawmaker, his decision to resign, and political rhetoric in the state at large.Then, the federal government has changed eligibility for food stamps programs like 3SquaresVT. Some previously eligible immigrants, refugees and asylees no longer qualify. The federal government shutdown could also affect food stamps and heating assistance. Reporter Pete Hirschfeld will share what he knows.

For Vermont Edition's new monthly series, Town by Town, we’ll hone in on one of Vermont’s 252 towns or cities and talk to residents, share local history and lore, and learn about what it’s like to live there. At the end of the hour, a guest will help us randomly select our next town by spinning a big Wheel of Fortune style spinner.Today's show focused on Belvidere, in Lamoille County. At the time of the 2020 census, Belvidere had just over 350 residents. It was chartered in 1791 to an Irish lawyer from New York by the name of John Kelly. The theory is that he named Belvidere after a beautiful lake in Ireland. The word itself comes from the Italian for “beautiful view.”A trio of longtime Belvidereans gave us insights into the town and its history: Cathy Manders-Adams, Belvidere's town clerk, her husband Ken Adams, a select board member who has lived there his entire life, and Neal Brown, who grew up in Belvidere and is the organizer of the Belvidere Bluegrass Festival. Tyler Barber, one of the town's newest residents, is helping create a community hub out of the old schoolhouse.We also heard passages from the diary of the late Lena Eldred Rich, a Belvidere resident who recounted details from her life there in the early 20th century.Broadcast live on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Nearly 13,000 Vermonters aged 65 and older had Alzheimer’s disease as of 2020 — 10% of the state's over-65 population. Around each of those people orbits nurses, doctors, home health aides and family members who devote their lives to care. The documentary "Walk With Me" by filmmaker and casting director Heidi Levitt tells the story of her husband Charlie Hess's early-onset Alzheimer's. The film screened earlier this year at the Middlebury International Film Festival, and it will screen again this Saturday at the Vermont International Film Festival in Burlington. Levitt and Hess split their time between Stowe and southern California.While Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease with no cure, there is a lot of positive news right now in terms of research, medications and health guidance that can slow cognitive loss, and supports for caregivers. We discussed these bright spots with Rhonda Williams, the public health program director for the Vermont Department of Health and the director of the Alzheimer’s and Healthy Aging program, and Meg Polyte, policy director for the Vermont chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.The Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline is a free service of support for people living with dementia, caregivers, families and the public. Connect with a live person who can provide information, local resources, crisis assistance and emotional support at 800.272.3900.

Censorship, imagination and healing with Vermont's literary community

Bridget Butler, also known as the 'Bird Diva,' is a naturalist and executive director of Friends of Northern Lake Champlain. She discusses the phenomenal factors behind this year's fall migration, including weather and insect activity. Listeners learn about observing birds at night and the intriguing behaviors of species like noisy blue jays and opportunistic grackles. Bridget shares insights on common nighthawks, the social dynamics of yellow-rumped warblers, and the fascinating interactions between birds and their changing environment.

After nearly two weeks on the picket line, St. Albans dairy processors have signed a new contract with their employer, Dairy Farmers of America, based in Kansas. The St. Albans plant processes Vermont milk for vendors like Ben and Jerry’s, Cabot, and Kate’s Butter. We speak with Curtis Clough, president of Vermont Teamsters Local 597 union, tells us about the negotiations, strike and return to work.About one in ten workers in the United States is part of a union. That's not a lot, if you're comparing it to the height of union membership in the 1950s. One third of the American workforce used to be unionized. In the northeast, the most prominent unions have changed along with the economy. Labor organizers from three different sectors — public school teaching, mental health work, and farm labor — join Vermont Edition to discuss the state of today's labor movement. Nolan Rampy is a clinician at the Baird School, part of the Howard Center in Burlington, and the vice president of AFSCME 1674, a union representing mental healthcare workers. Will Lambek is an organizer with Migrant Justice, which supports immigrant farm workers in Vermont. And Caitlin MacLeod-Bluver is a Winooski High School teacher and a member of the Winooski Education Association, an affiliate of the Vermont-NEA. She was named Vermont’s 2025 Teacher of the Year.

The federal government shutdown is entering its second week. Democrats say they’ll hold the line until health insurance subsidies are renewed.Today on Vermont Edition, Senator Peter Welch will share his perspective on the negotiations underway on Capitol Hill and why Democrats picked this moment to fight. Senator Welch says it’s because millions of Americans could see their health insurance premiums double next year.Then, most of Vermont is experiencing severe to extreme drought. State leaders are asking for federal aid for farms. We’ll hear what it’s been like for two farmers, one in West Corinth and the other in Orwell. Plus, a state forester will explain how drought affects fall foliage and forest fire risk.

'It's an equity issue': Gov. Phil Scott defends his return-to-office order