VPR News

Islane Louis, 44, was visiting the United States as a tourist when the deadly 2010 earthquake hit her home country of Haiti. Under temporary protected status, she moved to Vermont to work as a nurse. Eventually, her family followed, and they now live in Colchester. She’s one of three people VPR spoke with shortly after receiving U.S. citizenship.

Said Bulle moved to Vermont 15 years ago at the age of 15 after growing up in Somalia and living in a refugee camp in Kenya. He lives in Burlington, where he plays in an Afrobeat band called A2VT . He’s one of three people VPR spoke with shortly after receiving U.S. citizenship.

Arunima Dasgupta, 46, moved to Vermont in 2004 from Virginia, where she completed a master’s program. She now works at GlobalFoundries as an engineer and lives in Essex, and she’s one of three people VPR spoke with shortly after receiving U.S. citizenship this year.

As 2019 comes to a close, lots of organizations ask people to consider them for end-of-year giving. Some Vermonters are also making the case to give to local institutions of higher education.

In 2012, when 17-year-old Carly Ferro was struck and killed in Rutland by a driver who was reportedly high, the police, city leaders and local residents turned their anger and heartbreak into community action. They created something called Project Vision : a grassroots group, spearheaded by Rutland’s police department, that includes dozens of nonprofit groups, church leaders, local officials and hundreds of volunteers. More than seven years later, Vision Partners — as members call themselves —

Poets Jericho Brown and Carmen Giménez Smith — both 2019 National Book Award finalists — are among those participating in Bennington College’s Writers Reading series in January.

Brave Little State , VPR's people-powered journalism project that puts listener questions about Vermont at the heart of the story, takes up a pair of question about driving in Vermont: one asking what it will take for Vermonters to drive less, the other about an oft-delayed highway project bogged down in red tape for more than 50 years.

An Upper Valley man has created what is perhaps the longest home model train display in New England.

Last week, eight pallets of Amazon packages were supposed to be brought to the post office in Burlington. Instead, the delivery driver dropped them off half a mile down the road at the Burlington Department of Public Works.

Human Services Secretary Mike Smith is calling for an immediate independent investigation into allegations of sexual abuse and drug use by guards at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility, the state's only prison for women.

Each week, we check in with local newspapers across the region. News editor John Gregg of The Valley News talks about how two New Hampshire communities voiced approval for welcoming resettled refugees.

Less than two years after Halifax and Readsboro approved an Act 46 merger, the two towns have scheduled public votes to dissolve the district. These are the first Vermont towns that are looking to dissolve an Act 46 merger through townwide votes.

What is the state of the judiciary branch in Vermont? And what challenges are on the horizon? Vermont Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Reiber joins us to discuss some of the key issues facing Vermont's courts.

The Brattleboro Museum and Art Center has an ambitious plan to try to raise $30 million for an expansion. The museum is partnering with developers who want to include 24 high-end apartments on the top floors of the new building. All of this comes as online shopping continues to dig into local sales and challenge what a vibrant economy looks like.

Now that the U.S. House has voted to impeach President Donald Trump, a Senate trial is the next step — but Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy says Senate Republicans appear ready to conduct a sham impeachment trial.