As we reach the mid-point of the 2015 Legislative Session, there have been a number of issues discussed at the Statehouse. Among them are the $112 million budget gap, education reform, Lake Champlain clean-up, the
Medicaid cost-shift, the sugar-sweetened beverage tax and the reopening of the Vermont State Employees Association contract.

Jay Peak resort has signed a settlement agreement that environmentalists say will improve water quality in streams damaged by development.

For the last decade or more, construction projects at the four-season resort have caused sediment to flow into streams. That's led to violations of state water quality standards.

Vermont writer Jeremy Holt of Middlebury has written a graphic novel in four issues called Southern Dog, which tackles teen angst, the after-effects of a wolf bite and racism in the Deep South.

Holt recently spoke to VPR about where the story elements for Southern Dog emerged, and what fueled the writing process.

The Shelburne Museum has been around for almost 70 years now. Often considered a Vermont treasure, its sprawling campus is home to one of the most important collections of American folk art and artifacts in the country. It has more than 150,000 objects in its permanent collection.

Herbal remedies are rooted in ancient traditions, but as they gain popularity we’re learning more about them. They're also becoming a big business and there's greater scrutiny of the ingredients in herbal products and the science behind their uses.