Bennington

Vermont woman who shot dog found guilty of animal cruelty

June 19, 2022 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont woman who shot her dog twice and left it chained outside in the snow so severely injured that it was later euthanized has been found guilty of aggravated cruelty and animal torture.

Man arraigned in woman’s murder; faces drug, gun charges

June 3, 2022 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont man pleaded not guilty Friday to second-degree murder in the 2019 death of a woman whose remains were found in a gravel pit in Searsburg.

Deven Moffitt, 32, of Bennington, was also charged Friday with drug and gun felonies, according to the U.S.

Man charged with murder in 2019 death after remains IDed

June 2, 2022 GMT

SEARSBURG, Vt. (AP) — Vermont State Police have arrested a man on a murder charge in the 2019 death of a woman following the identification of her jawbone and other remains found in a gravel pit.

Deven Moffitt, 32, of Bennington was taken into custody on a second-degree murder charge on Wednesday in the death of Jessica Hildenbrandt, 43, of Ballston Spa, New York, police said in a news release.

Planned Parenthood to close 5 centers in north New England

May 13, 2022 GMT

COLCHESTER, Vt. (AP) —

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England will close four health centers in Vermont and one in New Hampshire next month, while also expanding the days of operation at seven other centers in the region.

VT governor signs bill for toxic exposure medical monitoring

By LISA RATHKEApril 21, 2022 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill into law Thursday that will allow people exposed to toxic substances to sue the culpable facility for medical testing or procedures to monitor for diseases from the exposure.

Judge approves $34M settlement over PFOA contamination

By LISA RATHKEApril 19, 2022 GMT

A federal judge has given final approval to a $34 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit against a plastics company over toxic chemical contamination of soil and groundwater in a southern Vermont community.

Judge won’t seal sex assault case after defendant’s death

By WILSON RINGMarch 24, 2022 GMT

A Vermont judge refused Thursday to seal the records from a decades-old sexual assault case that had been scheduled to go to trial this year, but was canceled after the death of the defendant.

In a Thursday ruling, Vermont Superior Court Judge Cortland Corsones said it was in the “interest of justice” to keep open the records in the case of Leonard Forte who was convicted after a 1988 jury trial, but the verdict was overturned after a judge ruled the prosecutor had been too emotional.

New veterans memorial display at Vermont visitor centers

February 27, 2022 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Four visitor centers across Vermont are honoring the state's fallen military veterans with a new display.

The ‘Vermont Remembers: Fallen Heroes Memorial’ was a collaboration between the Office of Veteran Affairs, the Department of Buildings and General Services and Shadows & Light Design, officials said.

2 arrested after police seize $81K in drugs in Bennington

February 23, 2022 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) —

Two Massachusetts men have been arrested on drug charges after police said they seized about $81,000 worth of drugs from a Bennington apartment and vehicle parked outside.

Officials seek opinion on Bennington police review board

February 13, 2022 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A Bennington task force is seeking opinions from the public about a recommendation for a Police Department review board in the southwestern Vermont community.

Bennington’s 10-member Safety and Equity Task Force released its recommendations to the select board last week for the creation of a police advisory review board.

Bennington County sheriff will not seek reelection

February 12, 2022 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The Bennington County sheriff will not seek reelection after nearly 14 years in office.

Judge dismisses old sex assault case after death of suspect

January 19, 2022 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont judge has dismissed a decades-old sexual assault case against a Florida man nearly a month after the suspect died at his home, but prosecutors want to make sure the case isn't removed from the public record.

Police seek driver who hit woman in Bennington parking lot

January 11, 2022 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Police are looking for a driver who hit an elderly woman in a Bennington parking lot and fled the scene on Monday.

Surveillance footage in the Vermont community shows the front end of a white SUV hit the woman around 2:45 p.m.

Judge gives preliminary OK to $34M contamination settlement

January 6, 2022 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A federal judge has given preliminary approval to a $34 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit against a chemical company over contamination of groundwater and soil in a southern Vermont community.

Group seeks to open nonprofit grocery in downtown Bennington

December 27, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A nonprofit group wants to open a grocery store in downtown Bennington and has secured a $200,000 loan from the town to do so.

Vermont police chief says gangs behind drugs, violence

December 3, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A southern Vermont police chief says gangs from Massachusetts are behind more of the recent drug arrests and violence in the area.

Bennington Police Chief Paul Doucette his department is taking the issue seriously and they are working to counter the gang activity with federal law enforcement and police departments in Massachusetts.

Vermont reports record COVID-19 hospitalizations

November 30, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont on Tuesday reported its highest number of hospitalizations from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

A total of 84 people were hospitalized, with 22 in intensive care, according to the Vermont Department of Health.

Contractor to pay $637K for deficient work on bridges

November 30, 2021 GMT

LYNDON, Vt. (AP) — General contractor J.A. McDonald, Inc. has agreed to pay $637,500 to settle allegations of deficient work on federally funded bridge projects in southern Vermont that caused the state to unwittingly present false claims for payment to the federal government, the U.S.

Panel seeks public input on school athletic complex upgrades

November 20, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — After voters turned down a $3.5 million bond to pay for improvements to the athletic complex at the Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington, the committee working on the project wants to come up with a proposal that voters support.

Vermont’s unemployment rate remained at 2.8% in October

November 19, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont's unemployment rate remained at 2.8% in October, unchanged from the previous month, the state Labor Department said Friday.

The national unemployment rate for October was 4.6%, a drop of ten-tenths of a percentage point from September.

New water lines to homes with contaminated wells completed

November 16, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — New pipes bringing water to more than 440 homes near Bennington have finished being installed after chemical contamination was found in groundwater wells in 2016.

Company to pay $34M in chemical contamination lawsuit

November 11, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A chemical company has agreed to pay $34 million to compensate residents of a Vermont town for chemical contamination in groundwater and soil.

School mulls next steps for field after bond vote fails

November 5, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — After voters turned down a $3.5 million bond to pay for improvements to the athletic complex at the Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington, the question remains about what to do with the dilapidated athletic field.

Vermont Tissue Paper will reopen under new ownership

November 4, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A dormant hydroelectric plant in Vermont is planning to reopen under new ownership after its closure in 2018.

According to town property records, the Vermont Tissue Paper hydroelectric plant was sold to North Bennington Hydroelectric for $100,000 on Oct.

Bennington to seek grant for work to explore uses for armory

October 31, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The Bennington Select Board has voted to apply for a grant to pay for work to explore potential uses for the downtown Vermont National Guard Armory building.

Report suggests battery plant could be used for housing

October 31, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A new report looking for possible ways to redevelop the now-closed the Energizer industrial buildings in Bennington says it could be converted into hundreds of units of much needed housing for the community.

Teen taken into custody after report of school threat

October 28, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Police took a 17-year-old male into custody near a Vermont high school after investigating a report of a threat that resulted in a brief lockdown Thursday.

The teen was overheard making a comment involving the safety of students at Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington on Thursday morning, police said in a news release.

Vermont unemployment rate drops slightly to 2.9%

October 22, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont's unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a percentage point to 2.9% in September, the state Labor Department said Friday.

The national rate last month was 4.8%, a drop of four-tenths of a percentage point August.

$11M pilot project to remove lead pipes begins in Vermont

October 19, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — An $11 million pilot project to dig up, remove and replace old lead water pipes from more than 1,500 homes has begun in Vermont.

The state said the federally funded project will begin in Bennington, although it’s likely that there are lead water fixtures in communities across Vermont.

Lincoln statue graffitied, demand for return of native land

October 10, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — An Abraham Lincoln statue at a Vermont museum has been vandalized with the number “38," which police say they believe is a reference to the execution of 38 Native Americans ordered by the former president in 1862.

$3.6M in tax credits goes to downtown, village projects

October 1, 2021 GMT

ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (AP) — More than $3.6 million in tax incentives is going to 28 projects in designated downtowns and village centers around Vermont, Gov. Phil Scott announced.

The awards announced on Thursday are expected to help spur over $83 million in building and public infrastructure improvements, Scott said.

President signs disaster declaration after Vermont storms

September 29, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — President Joe Biden has signed a disaster declaration for damage caused by storms that hit the southern Vermont counties of Windham and Bennington at the end of July, the office of Vermont Gov.

Civilian task force looking at Bennington police on track

September 23, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A citizen task force designing a future panel that will provide oversight of the Bennington Police Department is moving forward and hoping to present a report to town officials by January.

Vermont governor seeking disaster assistance after flooding

September 15, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont Gov. Phil Scott asked the federal government Tuesday to help Bennington and Windham counties recover from summer flooding.

Scott said communities in the two southern Vermont counties suffered an estimated $4 million in damage from flooding that occurred on July 29 and 30.

Bennington, Vermont festival to celebrate all thing garlic

September 4, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Bennington, Vermont will transform into “Garlic Town, USA” on Saturday to celebrate of all things garlic.

Bennington's annual Garlic and Herb Festival is held every year on Labor Day weekend.

Vermont’s July unemployment rate drops slightly to 3%

August 20, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont's unemployment rate decreased slightly in July to 3%, the state Labor Department said Friday.

The rate was a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from June.

Vermont state holiday commemorates 1777 Battle at Bennington

August 16, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A parade, historical re-enactments and other festivities once again marked Bennington Battle Day after a year off because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The events were held during the weekend ahead of Monday, a Vermont state holiday on the anniversary of the Revolutionary War victory over the British at the Battle of Bennington.

Bennington Battle Day celebrated this weekend

August 14, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Vermont's storied Bennington Battle Day holiday is being celebrated this weekend in Bennington.

The events are returning this weekend after most were canceled last year because of the pandemic.

CDC eviction moratorium applies to 5 Vermont counties

August 5, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The extended eviction moratorium mandated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention affects five Vermont counties.

The order that was issued Tuesday applies to areas of the country experiencing high levels of coronavirus spread.

State asking FEMA to assess southern Vermont flood damage

August 2, 2021 GMT

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) — The state is going to ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency to see if the damage caused by flooding in southern Vermont will qualify for disaster assistance.

To qualify, Vermont must show there is at least a million dollars' worth of damage and recovery costs.

‘Big chair’ in front of Vermont bank damaged by vandals

July 30, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A giant ladderback chair that stands 19 feet (5.8 meters) tall may be big but it wasn't tough enough for some vandals.

Damage to the massive “Big Chair” made from 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) of cedar and white pine was captured early Thursday by surveillance video outside a credit union where the chair sits.

COVID case prompts move of Vermont Little League tournament

July 29, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Little League championship series is being moved after a player on one team tested positive for COVID-19.

The positive case on the Bennington team for players ages 10 to 12 forced the team to withdraw from the tournament, which had been scheduled for this coming weekend in Bennington.

Vermont board ponders return of pledge after virus absence

July 23, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont town board is considering whether to revive the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance now that it is holding in-person meetings again after it stopped the practice at the beginning of the pandemic.

Man accused of crashing car into house, injuring couple

July 22, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he crashed a car into a house while driving drunk, injuring a Vermont couple who were sitting in the living room.

The vehicle missed the couple, both 73, “by only several feet" on Tuesday evening, Vermont State Police Trooper Justin Walker said in a statement.

Bennington looking for ideas to reuse closing battery plant

July 8, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Officials in Bennington are looking for ideas about how to reuse a battery manufacturing plant in the southern Vermont community that is closing down.

The Bennington County Regional Commission was hired by the town to produce a detailed reuse plan for the nearly 300,000-square-foot complex now used by Energizer.

Man accused of misrepresenting health claims in sex case

June 30, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A former New York police detective who awaits trial on charges that he sexually assaulted a girl at his vacation home in Vermont in the 1980s has now been accused of misrepresenting claims of poor health and his inability to travel to Vermont.

Bennington group seeks $1 million grant for recovery housing

June 20, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Bennington is applying for a $1 million grant to be used to buy two homes and turn them into housing for people recovering from substance misuse.

The Select Board voted this past week to approve the grant application request from housing developer Shires Housing, the Bennington Banner reported.

Bennington man pleads not guilty to violating conditions

June 2, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont man charged with violating a 2018 state law restricting the size of large-capacity ammunition magazines has pleaded not guilty to violating the conditions of his release.

Safety, equity board proposed in Bennington

May 14, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A new town board has been proposed in Bennington to allow community involvement in decision-making concerning public safety and equity issues.

The Community Policing Work Group of the Bennington Select Board released a draft proposal for the new board on Thursday, the Bennington Banner reported.

Probe: Vermont police endangered Black state legislator

May 12, 2021 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A two-year investigation into a Vermont police department has found that officers failed to adequately investigate alleged threats against former state legislator Kiah Morris due to its racism and prejudice...