Each year, Vermont towns vote on municipal budgets to outline their spending for the coming year. But in Brandon, this process is at an impasse. Last week, voters rejected Brandon’s town budget plan for the fourth time.

Lee Kahrs, Editor of the Brandon Reporter, spoke with Vermont Edition about why the budget has been so difficult to pass.

The Waitsfield Community Solar Project got a big boost Tuesday, in the form of an $80,000 grant from the state's Clean Energy Development Fund. Neighboring Warren was also granted $80,ooo for its community solar project, going up near the town's elementary school. These are just two of nine grants Gov. Peter Shumlin announced during his "Summer Solar Tour." All the grants were issued to community solar projects in Vermont.

When scientists need massive volumes of data or they need data collected over a huge geographic range, they often turn to well-trained citizen scientists for help. From counting the populations of species, to monitoring water quality, citizens scientists are contributing to research and learning about science in the process. Wednesday at noon on Vermont Edition, we dive into some of the research projects in Vermont that are boosted by citizen-gathered data.

After having spent years forcing my younger sister to play student with me as the teacher, it came as no surprise to my family when I decided to go to law school to become a professor. I was so excited when I finally got to meet with the faculty advisor for those of us who wanted to teach. For now, I’ll just call him Professor Kingsfield, for reasons that will become apparent.

So Professor Kingsfield met with me, asked a couple of questions, and after just a few seconds said, “I don’t think you’re law professor material.” Just like that. “Not law professor material.”

Vermont sends nearly 500 prisoners to privately run out-of-state facilities in Kentucky and Arizona. The contract with the company that operates these jails, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), comes up for renewal next year.

Now, a group of concerned Vermonters is proposing that room be made here to return these prisoners to the state.

Flash flooding closed roads in Chester and Andover yesterday. The Red Cross set up an evacuation shelter at the Chester Fire Department to support first responders and people who may have had to move to safety.

Rising floodwaters blocked roads for a time on Routes 11 and 103, but both roads have re-opened as of this morning.

The Red Cross says that one Chester woman’s home was devastated by flooding, and was possibly destroyed.

The shelter closed last night, and Vermont State Police say no one spent the night there.

There are signs that after years of decline, manufacturing is making a comeback in the United States. One global company based in the Upper Valley has been adding so many workers so fast that it’s had to create its own on-site academy.

Hypertherm, in Hanover, makes high-tech machines that use laser and water to cut metal. On a summer day perfect for swimming, in a factory built just for training, about a half dozen young men are hard at work, gathered around a drill press.

In Burlington today, Muslims celebrated the end of Ramadan with communal prayers and celebrations. This year’s celebration shows the growth and diversity of the Islamic community in Vermont.

Two thousand worshipers gathered at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

This marks the end of month-long period during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset.

And it begins the Eid ul-Fitr or “feast of fast breaking” holiday, where Muslims exchange social visits and celebrate.

Vermont Law School professor Cheryl Hanna, a longtime VPR commentator, died Sunday.

The announcement was made in a news release from the law school. No cause of death was given. 

Hanna was remembered as an engaging professor with a passion for gender equity. 

She said she knew at a young age that she wanted to teach, and eventually she settled on law school, where she would study to become a professor. 

As colleagues, students, family and friends mourn the death of Vermont Law School professor and VPR commentator Cheryl Hanna, we present a collection of the commentaries — both legal and personal — that Hanna contributed to VPR over the years.