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Rutland cops at fault in trainee’s death PAGE 15
VE R M O N T’S I N D E P E N D E N T VO I C E DECEMBER 10-17, 2025 VOL.31 NO.14 SEVENDAYSVT.COM
On Thursday, April 9, join Seven Days in celebrating the first annual Local News Day. It’s a national day of action connecting Americans to local, independent and trusted news sources. Led by Montana Free Press and 1,000+ newsrooms nationwide — including more than two dozen in Vermont — Local News Day is an opportunity to recognize journalism by and for our communities.
I’m encouraging you to support any news organization that’s dedicated to original reporting. If that’s your local newspaper, terrific — local newspapers in particular need your support.
INTERNAL AFFAIRS
The Cats Whisperer
UVM’s new president, Marlene Tromp, has been delighting students and staff simply by listening to their ideas BY A NNE GA L L OWAY, PA GE 28
SNURF’S UP
PAGE 35
Ski & Snowboard exhibits in Stowe
VE RMONT’ S INDE P EN DE NT VO ICE FEBRUARY 18-25, 2026 VOL.31 NO.24 SEVENDAYSVT.COM
Your neighbors. Your news.
This is A.G. Sulzberger. I’m the publisher of the New York Times. I oversee our news operations and our business. But I’m also a former reporter who has watched with a lot of alarm as our profession has shrunk and shrunk in recent years. Normally, in these ads, we talk about the importance of subscribing to the Times. I’m here today with a different message.
IN THE MARKET
PAGE 40
Kitchen Table expands to S. Burlington
CALENDAR BOYS
PAGE 46
Meet the “Men of the Mad River Valley”
EMPTY
DESKS Enrollment in Vermont’s K-12 schools is dropping at an alarming rate. Communities are on their own to deal with the problem. BY ALISON NOVAK, PAGE 26 • PART 1 OF “GEN ZERO” — A NEW SERIES
WHAT’S THE SKINNY?
PAGE 14
Vermont insurers drop GLP-1 coverage
KEFIR FACTOR
PAGE 34
Inside Burlington’s Fermentation Club
BOOTS AND CATS
PAGE 50
A primer on the BTV EDM scene
Support your local newspaper:
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If that’s another national newspaper, that’s great too. And if it’s the New York Times, we’ll use that money to send reporters out to find the facts and context that you’ll never get from AI. That’s it, not asking you to click on any link, just subscribe to a real news organization with real journalists doing firsthand, fact-based reporting. And if you already do, thank you.
Send checks to: Seven Days c/o Super Readers, PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402. Info: superreaders@sevendaysvt.com, 802-865-1015, ext. 115
April 9 localnewsday.org | @localnewsday
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V ER MONT’ S IND EP EN DE NT VOI CE JANUARY 21-28, 2026 VOL.31 NO.20 SEVENDAYSVT.COM
TEA COZY
Winter Nest inside!
DIVIDING
LINE PROMISED LANDS
PAGE 15
Public property considered for housing
WINTER WARMER
PAGE 30
Weekly dinner and brunch at the Old Lantern
This New York Times audio message aired on recent podcasts and is used with permission here.
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Two years after apprehensions on Vermont’s northern border reached historic highs, fewer people are making the perilous trek. But not all is quiet. BY LUCY TOMPKINS, PAGE 24
ICE JAM
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Did Phish mock feds on NYE?
SEVEN DAYS APRIL 8-15, 2026
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