Vermont Edition

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UVM's chief of child psychiatry discusses youth mental health and antidepressants Feb 25, 2025

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Earlier this month, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for a study on the effects of antidepressants and antipsychotics on children. He established the Make America Healthy Again commission to examine childhood chronic diseases, including mental health disorders. This comes as new U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. argues that antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are overprescribed to children.Dr. Steven Schlozman, chief of child psychiatry at the University of Vermont Medical Center, explains how these medications work, and how they are prescribed, and answered listener questions.Broadcast live on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

The legislative battle over Vermont's Global Warming Solutions Act Feb 25, 2025

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Gov. Phil Scott wants to roll back some of Vermont’s key climate laws, arguing they are too costly to implement. Lawmakers are debating whether to stay the course on climate action. Vermont Public’s Peter Hirschfeld breaks down this debate over the Global Warming Solutions Act. He also looks at how legislators are preparing for Town Meeting Day and navigating uncertainty around federal funding. Catch up on everything happening at the Statehouse with Capitol Recap, released every Friday.

Vermont's treasurer, Senate minority leader and a fired USDA employee on Trump's economic agenda Feb 24, 2025

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Among DOGE's federal funding cuts, tariffs, and proposed cuts to Medicaid, there is a lot of change happening in the federal budget. Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Senate minority leader Scott Beck, and a recently-fired USDA worker give us their thoughts.

Romantasy: Romance meets fantasy in Vermont Feb 20, 2025

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Romantasy books are booming. Vermont authors and readers understand the appeal.

Black History Month: Running a Black-owned business in Vermont Feb 19, 2025

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Across Vermont, Black entrepreneurs are running successful businesses that serve both Black Vermonters and the broader population. This is the third installment of our Black History Month series, where we explore different aspects of Black life in our region. They discuss the ups and downs of being entrepreneurs.Leroy Nedd, owner of Hair R Us in Burlington, specializes in wigs, weaves, extensions, and other hair products. Restaurateur Leslie McCrorey Wells co-owns Sotto Enoteca, Pizzeria Verita, and Trattoria Delia in Burlington, as well as Lovestock Farm in Grand Isle. She has served on numerous boards, including the University of Vermont’s Fleming Museum of Art, the Flynn Center, the Intervale, and a three-year appointment on Vermont’s Future of Agriculture Commission. BJ Robertson also joins the conversation. After playing basketball in high school and college in Vermont, as well as for the Vermont Frost Heaves, he founded Blueprint Basketball, a mentorship and training program for young athletes.

The complex backstory to the fatal shooting of a US Border Patrol agent Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

In January, a U.S. Border Patrol agent was shot and killed in Coventry during a routine traffic stop. Two others were shot, and two people died. In the weeks since, it has emerged that those involved were followers of a fringe ideology known as Zizianism, which has been linked to multiple killings across several states. VTDigger’s Peter D’Auria and his colleagues have been covering the shooting, its aftermath, and the broader connections that have emerged.

How the DOGE effect is being felt in Vermont Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

In the name of government efficiency and cutting foreign spending, the Trump administration is freezing funds and furloughing workers at many federal agencies. Billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake. Leaders of organizations in our region that receive federal funding join us to discuss the local impact.We’ll hear about the major changes to institutions like USAID when we speak with Eric Postel* of Bennington, a Senior Advisor at DAI, Inc., and a USAID political appointee during the Obama and Biden administrations, and Nazgul Abdrazakova, President and CEO of Resonance Global, based in Winooski. Their organizations both receive USAID funding. The Vermont Afghan Alliance receives funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support Afghan refugee resettlement. Executive director Molly Gray and Yassin Hashimi, who leads the organization's employment program, explain the uncertainty caused by the funding cuts. Then, we're joined by Jack Glaser, a local biomedical researcher whose organization, MBF Bioscience in Williston, receives federal grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). *Eric Postel spoke to Vermont Edition a personal capacity and not on behalf of DAI, Inc.Broadcast live on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Celebrating friendships and chosen families this Valentine's Day Feb 13, 2025

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Forget the flowers and candy — let's shine a light on our friends!

Vermont's elected officials on Trump's first month Feb 12, 2025

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It's been nearly a month since President Trump has taken office, and he's moved quickly in implementing some big changes in the Federal Government. On today's show, we hear from Vermont elected officials about their reaction to the Trump administration's early days, and what they're doing in response. First, we'll hear from Senator Bernie Sanders. Then, a conversation with Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark and Solicitor General Jonathan Rose, who have been a part of many efforts to stall some of Trump's biggest initiatives. Plus: a Northfield author, Nathaniel Ian Miller recently published his second novel. It tells the story of a young man returning to his family farm.

Black History Month: Black politicians shaping local government Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

In 1988, Louvenia Dorsey Bright made history as the first woman of color elected to the Vermont legislature. Her son, Bill Bright, reflects on her accomplishments and what it was like to watch her break barriers. The Friends of the Vermont State House is raising funds to commission her portrait.Then, we hear from three black politicians in our region — State Sen. Joe Majors who represents Windsor, Winooski Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner, and former Burlington City Councilmember Zoraya Hightower. They share their political inspirations, what motivated them to run for office, and the roles they see for themselves in local and state government.

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