>> MAJOR LEGISLATION STARTING TO MOVE IN MONTPELIER IN TIME FOR THE CROSSOVER DEADLINE INCLUDING RULES FOR BUYING AND STORING FIREARMS.

>> WHEN WE LOOKED AT SUICIDE DEATHS THE MOST COMMON METHOD USED ARE FIREARMS.

THAT IS MORE COMMON THAN ALL OTHER METHODS COMBINED.

>> WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE FROM THE STATE HOUSE ON A BUSY FRIDAY.

PLUS THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REACHES A SETTLEMENT WITH A SOUTHERN VERMONT SCHOOL DISTRICT OVER STUDENT HARASSMENT AND A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET ANNOUNCES HIS DEPARTURE, ALL AHEAD ON "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

>> FROM THE VERMONT PUBLIC STUDIO IN WINOOSKI, THIS IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK," MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE LINTILHAC FOUNDATION AND MILNE TRAVEL.

HERE'S MODERATOR I'M KATHARINE HUNTLEY FROM CHANNEL 3 SUBSTITUTING FOR STEWART LEDBETTER THIS WEEK.

AROUND THE TAEUPBL WE HAVE LIAM ELDER-CONNORS, REPORTER WITH VERMONT PUBLIC.

EMERSON LYNN, COLUMNIST WITH THE MESSENGER AND LOLA DUFFORT WITH VERMONT DIGGER.

LOLA, CROSSOVER DAY WHAT.

DOES THAT MEAN AND WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

>> CROSSOVER IS THIS MID SESSION DEADLINE FORMERLY BASICALLY WHEN THEY HAVE TO LEAVE THE COMMITTEE OF JURISDICTION BUT INFORMALLY IT'S WHEN WE FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT LAWMAKERS ACTUALLY MEAN IT ON A PARTICULAR BILL.

RIGHT?

EITHER BILL MOVES FORWARD OR DIES ON THE VINE AT LEAST FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

NOTHING IS FULLY DEAD AT THE STATE HOUSE.

>> THAT'S WHAT CROSSOVER MEANS.

SO IT'S USUALLY A REALLY, REALLY BUSY VERY HECTIC WEEK WHEN MAJOR LEGISLATION ADVANCES AND USUALLY THE HARDEST STUFF GETS LEFT FOR LAST.

IT'S AN INTERESTING WEEK.

>> PROBABLY SOME OF THE BIGGEST LEGISLATION PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS A HOUSING INITIATIVE THAT'S COMING.

SENATE BILL 100 IS A SWEEPING BILL THAT WILL CHANGE PERMITTING FOR NEW HOUSING.

LET'S LISTEN.

>> I DON'T THINK 25 UNITS OF OF HOUSING WITHIN FIVE MILES IS EXTREME OR WILL DAMAGE WHAT WE LOVE OF VERMONT.

WE NEED HOUSING FOR PEOPLE.

>> ENERGY COMMITTEE NARROWED MANY OF THOSE ISSUES IN A FARRYL SIGNIFICANT WAY THAT HELPED TO ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS.

>> SO WE THOUGHT THAT MIGHT MAKE IT TO THE SENATE FLOOR TODAY BUT IT DID NOT.

EMERSON, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT?

>> WELL, THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE MORE CONTENTIOUS BILL.

WHEN IT PASSED SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

IT REALLY STEPPED UP IN TERMS OF DEALING AND RECOGNIZING THE LIMITATIONS OF ACT 250 REGULATIONS IN GENERAL, WHERE YOU COULD BUILD, WHERE YOU COULDN'T BUILD, THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO PETITION AGAINST A DEVELOPMENT.

SO PEOPLE WERE FEELING PRETTY CONFIDENT ABOUT AT LEAST ADDRESSING HONESTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THEN IT GOT TO THE SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, AND MOST OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WERE PARED BACK DRAMATICALLY WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCES INTERPRETATION OF WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN.

THIS DID NO PLEAD PEOPLE LIKE THE VERMONT LEAGUE OF CITIES AND TOWNS BECAUSE BASICALLY THEY WERE MAKING THE CASE THAT WE NEED AN ESTIMATED 35 TO 40,000 NEW HOMES, AND WHEN YOU LIMIT DEVELOPMENT TO JUST SLICES OF VERMONT HERE AND THERE DESIGNATED DOWNTOWNS, DOING REZONING THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SPACE THERE.

IN ALLOWING TEN PEOPLE TO PETITION IS STILL REALLY LOW BAR.

SO THE ISSUE IS WHEN YOU TALK TO DEVELOPERS IT'S AN ISSUE OF SCALE.

IF YOU CAN'T DEVELOP AND DEVELOP AT SCALE YOU CAN'T ACHIEVE THE PRICES.

THE AFFORDABILITY THAT YOU NEED.

IT'S VERY MUCH UP IN THE AIR NOW IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY REPORT OUT.

WILL IT BE DEAL WITH HOUSING OR WILL IT NOT.

>> JUST WANT TO JUMP IN.

THERE'S BEEN THIS RECOGNITION IN VERMONT NATIONALLY AS WELL THAT A BIG PART OF THE HOUSING CRISIS IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOMES AND THAT IN A LOT OF PLACES EASING REGULATORY BURDENS WILL BE NECESSARY TO MEET DEMAND.

THE CONTROVERSY IN VERMONT COMES FROM THE FACT THAT WE HAVE STATE REGULATIONS THEN WE ALSO HAVE MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS AND THE STATE HAS ACT 250, A 50-YEAR-OLD LAND USE LAW, A LANDMARK LAW.

PEOPLE LOVE AND HATE IT.

YOU ALSO HAVE MUNICIPAL ZONING WHICH CAN ALSO BE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT IT WILL AND WILL NOT ALLOW.

YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS WHO ARE PRO ACT 250 WILL SAY THE REAL REASON WE CAN'T BUILD IS BECAUSE OF MUNICIPAL ZONING RULES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHO JEALOUSLY GUARD THEIR LOCAL CONTROL.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON UPDATING THOSE RULES BUT THE STATE IS ALSO GOING TO NEED TO DO ITS SHARE AND LET GO OF SOME OF ITS POWERS.

YOU KNOW.

THE LEAGUE IS I THINK SEEN A POWERFUL LOBBY, SEEN AS A VERY KEY PART OF THIS VERY FRAGILE AGREEMENT THAT WAS ORIGINALLY CRAFTED IN SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OVER, OKAY, THE LEAGUE IS GOING TO GIVE UP SOME POWER FOR EXAMPLE WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE SOME MUNICIPALITIES WILL SAY YOU CAN ONLY BUILD SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

THIS BILL WOULD SAY IF YOU CAN BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY HOME YOU CAN ALSO GO TO A DUPLEX OR IF THERE'S WATER AND SEWER A FOURPLEX.

THAT IS DIFFICULT FOR SOME MUNICIPALITIES TO AGREE TO.

SO THIS GRAND BARGAIN WAS KIND OF CRAFTED.

IT'S POTENTIALLY FALLING APART NOW THAT TENANT NATURAL RESOURCES HAS PULLED BACK, DIALED BACK SOME OF THE PROPOSED REFORM TO ACT 250.

OUT OF CONCERNS THAT THE STATE WOULD BASICALLY BE NOT DOING ITS DUE DILIGENCE ON MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS.

>> WHEN YOU GO OVER THAT, WHICH I THINK YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB ON, WHAT'S THE FEELING IN THE STATE HOUSE IN TERMS OF THE LIKELIHOOD THAT SOMETHING WILL ACTUALLY GET THRAOL THAT'S MEANINGFUL?

YOU EVEN SAID NATURAL RESOURCES IS SUN SETTING THIS THING IN 2026.

>> THE ACTIVE CHANGES, NOT THE MUNICIPAL ZONING CHANGES.

>> IS THERE A REAL CONCERN, THOUGH?

>> SURE.

I THINK YES.

THERE'S CONCERN IF ENOUGH PEOPLE WALK THE WHOLE DEAL FALLS APART BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SEE SOMETHING DONE.

I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR LEADERSHIP.

SO I THINK EVEN IF THINGS GET REALLY WATERED DOWN, SOMETHING IS GOING TO MAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING.

>> IT IS AS EFFECTIVE AS ANYONE WANTS IT TO BE.

>> IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW AT THIS POINT.

>> WHEN IT STARTED OFF IT WAS SO DRAMATIC AND SWEEPING WE KNEW IT WOULD GET TO THIS POINT WHERE SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET NERVOUS ABOUT HOW BIG THE CHANGES WERE.

SO IN SOME WAYS THIS FELT INEVITABLE BUT -- >> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

WHEN SETH BAUM GART PROPOSED THE CHANGE IN LOCAL ZONING THAT SENT A SHOCK TO THE STATE.

REALLY, IN VERMONT YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO INDIVIDUALS AND MUNICIPALITIES AND SAY THEY HAVE TO GET RID OF THEIR ZONING?

THAT WEEKEND ANYTHING ANYONE HAD DONE BEFORE.

WE'RE REALLY IN NEWTER TERRITORY HERE.

>> TO MOVE TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO TO GET THE STATE TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE IN TERMS OF HOUSING.

THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP GOING ON TOO.

>> ANOTHER HUGE TOPIC THAT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT IS THE AVAILABILITY AND PRICE OF CHILD CARE.

SO THERE'S ANOTHER BILL THAT IS IN THE STATE HOUSE RIGHT NOW ABOUT PAID FAMILY LEAVE OR EXPANDED CHILD CARE OR BOTH.

WHERE DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING?

>> REALLY INTERESTING PLACE.

THE SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE WITH JUST MINUTES TO SPARE VOTE THED OUT S56, A CHILD CARE AND PAID LEAVE BILL.

THE DYNAMICS ARE REALLY INTERESTING.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A FULL FISCAL ANALYSIS YET SO I JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE EARLY PRELIMINARY SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

THE PACKAGE THAT THEY VOTED OUT WOULD BE ABOUT $100 MILLION -- 190 MILLION A YEAR.

THAT WOULD PAY FOR INCREASED SUBSIDIES FOR CHILD CARE APPEARED ALSO A SMALL PARENTAL LEAVE PACKAGE.

THERE HAS BEEN THIS BACK AND FORTH ALL SESSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE LEGISLATURE CAN DO CHILD CARE AND PAID LEAVE THIS YEAR.

THE SENATE IN GENERAL HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE -- MUCH MORE RELUCTANT WHEN IT COMES TO THE ISSUE OF PAID LEAVE.

THE HOUSE HAS HISTORICALLY REALLY CHAMPIONED THIS AND WE'RE SEEING THESE DYNAMICS HAPPENING AGAIN THIS YEAR.

THE HOUSE HAS PUSHED OUT THIS MAJOR PAID LEAVE BILL THAT WOULD COST ABOUT $100 MILLION, ESTABLISH ONE OF THE MOST GENEROUS PACKAGES IN THE COUNTRY.

IT INCLUDES MEDICAL LEAVE, CARE-GIVING LEAVE IN ADDITION TO PARENTAL LEAVE.

THE SENATE'S RESPONSE TO THAT HAS BEEN TO SAY WE THINK CHILD CARE SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME PAID LEAVE, JUST DO PARENTAL LEAVE AND TACK IT ON TO THIS CHILD CARE BILL.

THE BENEFITS THEMSELVES WOULD BE LESS THAN WHAT THE HOUSE IS COMPENSATING AND IT WOULD NARROWLY ONLY BE FOR PARENTS ONLY ONE PARENT IN A TWO-PARENT HOUSEHOLD WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY.

SO I THINK WE CAN SAY CHILD CARE AND PAID LEAVE ARE MOVING THIS SESSION.

I THINK THE REALLY INTERESTING THING IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT THE SENATE ADVANCES IT ALL TOWARDS THE HOUSE'S POSITION IN TERMS OF PAID LEAVE.

>> PRETTY INTERESTING WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE HOUSE BILL, IT'S $117 MILLION PRICE TAG, AND IT ACTUALLY IS THE MOST GENEROUS IN THE COUNTRY, NOT EVENING AMONG BUT THE NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS INTERESTING TO ME THAT THEY HAVE -- THIS IS THEIR STRATEGY IS TO FOCUS ENTIRELY ON THAT WHEN MOST OF THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN ABOUT CHILD CARE.

BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BLENDING OR ADDING 117 MILLION PROGRAM WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS EVEN CATCHING THE ATTENTION OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS SAYING, WOW, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

HOW DO YOU HANDLE 117 MILLION FOR A PAID LEAVE THEN ON TOP OF THAT 190 MILLION FOR CHILD CARE.

CARE.

IT'S GOING TO BE FASCINATING TO SEE THE POLITICS THAT PLAY OUT WITH THIS AND WHY DO YOU THINK THIS HAPPENED?

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE HOUSE WAS SO AMBITIOUS, UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO THEM IN THE SENATE?

>> I THINK YOU COULD ASK THE OPPOSITE, WHY IS THE SENATE SO CONSERVATIVE.

THESE ARE JUST DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW.

>> IT'S A LOT OF MONEY BUT YOU HAVE A GOVERNOR THAT YOU KNOW HE'S GOING TO VETO IT SO YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS IN THE SENATE TO SUSTAIN THE VETO.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE DEMOCRATS PROBABLY DO NOT.

I THINK THIS IS WHY THE SENATE POSITION THAT IS ADVANCING IS MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN WHAT THE HOUSE IS ADVANCING.

ONCE YOU REMOVE THE SENATE'S MORE MODERATE OLD GUARD FROM THE 23 STRONG SUPERMAJORITY IN THE SENATE YOU DON'T GET THE 20.

YOU CAN'T OVERRIDE A VETO.

>> RIGHT.

THAT EXPLAINS THE STRATEGY.

>> YES.

IT'S SIMPLE.

>> SPEAKING OF THINGS GOVERNOR SCOTT IS PASSIONATE ABOUT, GUN LAWS.

TODAY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY PASSED OUT A GUN BILL AIMED AT REDUCING VERMONT'S HIGHER THAN AVERAGE SUICIDE RATES.

HERE'S LEER ARE QUOTES FROM A PEDIATRICIAN AND GOVERNOR SCOTT.

>> IN VERMONT WHEN WE LOOK AT SUICIDE DEATHS THE MOST COMMON METHOD USE ARE FIREARMS, AND THAT IS MORE COMMON THAN ALL OTHER METHODS COMBINED.

>> HOW FAR ARE WE GOING TO GO WITH THIS?

THOSE ARE TYPES OF THINGS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ASK AND WONDER DOES THIS GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT THE ABILITY TO COME INTO YOUR HOME TO INSPECT WHETHER YOU HAVE YOUR FIREARMS STORED CORRECTLY?

>> THIS WOULD REQUIRE SAFE STORAGE OF GUNS AND A 72 HOURS WAITING PERIOD.

ATTORNEY GENERAL CLARK FAVORS THIS BUT WILL IT SURVIVE A LEGAL CHALLENGE FROM GUN GROUPS.

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THAT GIVEN RECENT SUPREME COURT RULINGS, THE NATIONAL LEVEL AROUND GUN RIGHTS BEING THE MORE CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED STRIKING DOWN SOME LAWS AND THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT 72 HOUR WAITING PERIOD AND SAFE STORAGE BILL WOULD SURVIVE.

OBVIOUSLY, THE LEGISLATURE'S STILL LOOKING AT PUTTING THOSE FORWARD.

GOVERNOR SCOTT AS WE HEARD SEEMS A LITTLE SKEPTICAL.

MAYBE NOT ALL THAT SUPPORTIVE OF THEM BUT LAWMAKERS ARE REALLY TRYING TO TARGET SUICIDE DEATHS IN VERMONT.

ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

JUST FOR EXAMPLE LAST YEAR MORE VERMONTERS DIED FROM GUNSHOT COUNTS, SUICIDES, THAN ANY OTHER YEAR IN THE LAST DECADE.

SO THIS HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT PROBLEM GUN DEATHS BY SUICIDE AND LAWMAKERS THINK THIS IS ONE STRATEGY TO DEAL WITH THAT.

BUT HARD TO SEE THE GOVERNOR SUPPORTING THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> DO YOU THINK THINGS HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY JUST WHEN THE GOVERNOR FIRST WENT THROUGH HIS GUN CONTROL THING YEARS AGO, STATE HOUSE LAWN WAS FULL OF PEOPLE WHO WERE IN OPPOSITION TO IT.

IS THE OPPOSITION LESS NOW?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THE OPPOSITION IS LESS.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THESE BILLS ARE MAKING IT FURTHER IN THE LEGISLATURE.

I DON'T RECALL THEM EVEN GETTING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK BEFORE OR BEING TALKED ABOUT BUT I THINK MAYBE THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR IS SIGNALING HE'S NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THAT THE OP POSITION IS NOT COMING OUT.

IF YOU REMEMBER BACK WHEN HE WANTED AND SIGNED THOSE INITIAL GUN CONTROL BILLS THEY WERE THERE PRIMARILY PROTESTING HIS DECISION TO SIGN THOSE, NOT SO MUCH -- THE LEGISLATURE TOO BUT THE ENACT HE ACTUALLY ALLOWED THOSE TO GO INTO LAW AND SIGNED THEM.

THE ENACT HE'S SIGNALING HE'S NOT AS INTERESTED IN THOSE IS MAYBE KEEPING THE LARGE PROCEDURE TESTS FROM HAPPENING.

>> THERE WAS A PRETTY BIG DEPARTURE TODAY.

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DAN FRENCH THAT LEFT.

WHAT'S NEXT, LOLA?

>> WELL, SECRETARY, SOON TO BE FORMER SECRETARY DAN TKPREFRPBLG IS GOING TO A NATIONAL EDUCATION NONPROFIT.

I BELIEVE HIS DEPUTY SECRETARY, HEATHER BOUCHER, WILL TAKE OVER ON AN INTERIM BASIS.

HE IS ONE OF MANY KEY CABINET OFFICIALS THAT HAVE LEFT IN THE POST PANDEMIC.

THESE ARE POST PANDEMIC ERA.

THESE ARE REALLY HARD JOBS.

HE'S BEEN THERE SINCE 2018.

SO THIS IS -- I DON'T THINK ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE WAS MORE CONSISTENCY SPECIFICALLY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE STAYINGARY AND WANTED TO SEE IT OUT?

>> I THINK A LOT OF CABINET OFFICIALS STAYED THROUGH THE HEIGHT OF THE CRISIS.

THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL.

IN THE MIDST OF AN HISTORIC CRISIS.

BUT I THINK FIVE YEARS, WHICH IS I BELIEVE ABOUT AS LONG AS HE'S BEEN THERE, IS A LONG TIME TO BE A CABINET OFFICIAL.

>> WE HAVE ANOTHER BIG WEEK COMING UP AT THE STATE HOUSE NEXT WEEK.

SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM NEXT WEEK?

>> NEXT WEEK IS IT CROSSOVER 2.0.

IT'S MONEY CROSSOVER.

SO ALL THE POLICY BILLS HAVE TO ADVANCE THIS WEEK THE MONEY BILL.

THAT'S THINGS WITH APPROPRIATIONS OR NEW TAXES.

THOSE HAVE TO MOVE NEXT WEEK THROUGH THE TAX WRITING AND BUDGET COMMITTEES.

SO WE KNOW WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE ON CROSSOVER.

HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE WILLING TO ASSIGN TO THEM DURING CROSSOVER 2.0.

ALSO VERY REVEALING WEEK.

>> VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

SPEAKING OF ASKS OF THE LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK BURLINGTON BROKE GROUND ON THEIR NEW HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED IN 2025, IF ALL GOES WELL.

BUT THERE WERE CALLS FROM THE BURLINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT ALONG WITH MAYOR WEINBERGER FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO GIVE THEM MONEY TO HELP SIPHON SOME OF THE MONEY THEY PUT AWAY FOR PPB REMEDIATION TO BURLINGTON BECAUSE IT WAS STATE PPB RULES THAT CAUSED THEM TO LEAVE THEIR SCHOOL IN THE FIRST PLACE AND NOW THEY ARE GOING TO SCHOOL IN THE MACY'S BUILDING.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR BURLINGTON?

IS THIS A GOOD DAY?

>> HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO STAY ON TRACK WITH CONSTRUCTION AND FINISH THE HIGH SCHOOL.

IT'S A REALLY BIG, EXPENSIVE PROJECT.

BURLINGTON VOTERS APPROVED A $165 MILLION BOND RECENTLY TO HELP WITH THE PROJECT.

THE CITY IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAYBE SPEND A LITTLE LESS ON THE PROJECT OR HAVE LESS TAXPAYER MONEY GO TO T. THEY ARE SUE MONSANTO WHO PRODUCED PCBs, TO TRY TO GET MONEY OUT OF THIS MASSIVE CORPORATION TO HELP WITH BUILDING AND REMEDIATING, COSTS LIKE THAT.

WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

THERE'S A LOT OF SCHOOLS THAT HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH THIS IN THE STATE.

PCBs WERE USED IN A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS WHEN VERMONT SCHOOLS WERE BUILT SO WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY A STATEWIDE PROGRAM.

>> IT CAN'T ALL GO TO BURLINGTON.

>> NOR A LOT OF FOLKS WOULD SAY NOR SHOULD IT.

THERE'S A LOT OF SCHOOLS AND PLACES IN VERMONT THAT PROBABLY ARE NO -- MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME FINANCIAL ABILITY THAT BURLINGTON HAS.

MAYBE IS BURLINGTON THE ONE THAT NEEDS IT MOST.

I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THAT.

OTHER FOLKS PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

>> YOU CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE PUSH, THOUGH, BECAUSE WHEN THEY APPROVED THE BOND THEY ALSO APPROVED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE POLITICAL PULL TO GET AS MUCH HELP AS THEY CAN PROBABLY GET.

>> YES.

>> OF COURSE BURLINGTON SHOULD ASK FOR THIS.

BUT I THINK THERE IS A CONCERN IN MONTPELIER THAT BURLINGTON COULD POTENTIALLY BE THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG BECAUSE ALL OF THESE SCHOOLS WERE BUILT AROUND THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME MATERIALS.

THERE'S A PCB TESTING PROGRAM THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERING PAUSING.

>> SPEAKING OF OTHER LARGE BURLINGTON PROJECTS THAT WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, THE PODS HAVE BEEN OPEN NOW FOR JUST OVER A MONTH.

I ACTUALLY SPOKE TO A COUPLE OF RESIDENTS OF THE PODS LAST WEEK.

HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

>> WITHOUT THIS I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE AT THIS POINT.

YOU KNOW?

IT'S BEEN TOUGH LIVING ON THE STREETS.

WITHOUT THIS STABILITY, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD I DO DURING THE DAY?

THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN CREATE FOR YOURSELVES, YOU KNOW TO.

HAVE A HOUSE, TO HAVE A PLACE TO ACTUALLY GO IN, IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME.

>> FROM THE PEOPLE I SPOKE TO LIVING THERE THEY ARE VERY HAPPY AND THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THERE'S SOME STABILITY.

ONE PERSON IS ACTUALLY GRADUATED IF YOU WILL OUT OF THE POD COMMUNITY AND IS NOW IN MORE PERMANENT HOUSING.

LIAM, IS THIS A GOOD SIGN FOR BURLINGTON AFTER THEY WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE THIS PROJECT HAPPEN?

>> I'M SURE CITY OFFICIALS IN BURLINGTON ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE WAY IT'S BEEN GOING SO FAR.

BURLINGTON ALL OF VERMONT HAS BEEN STRUGGLING WITH RISING HOMELESSNESS RATES AND THIS PROJECT WHICH IS SOMEWHAT INNOVATIVE IN VERMONT CREATES 30 INDIVIDUAL SHELTERS FOR FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

IT'S MEANT TO GET PEOPLE INTO MORE STABLE HOUSING EVENTUALLY AND THE FACT THAT GENERALLY IT'S FULL.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE WAIT LIST FOR IT, THE FACT THAT THEY ARE EVEN ABLE TO GET MORE PERMANENT HOUSING BEYOND THAT FOR FOLKS STAYING THERE IS A REALLY GOOD SIGN FOR THE CITY AND FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN PUSHING HARD TO MAKE THIS PROJECT A REALITY.

I THINK FOR THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION THEY ARE PRETTY HAPPY WITH THIS FIRST MONTH OR SO OF THE PROJECT.

>> REMARKABLE.

I RAN INTO A MAN WHO WAS VOLUNTEERING AT THE PODS WITH HIS CHURCH.

IT TURNED OUT HE WAS HOMELESS HIMSELF ON THE WAIT LIST BUT HE JUST WANTED TO HELP THE PODS BE SUCCESSFUL AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.

ANY TIME WE CAN MAKE HOUSING I GUESS FOR PEOPLE THAT DESPERATELY NEED IT PROBABLY A GOOD THING.

>> NOW THERE WAS BIG SNOWSTORM THIS WEEK.

WE LOVE THOSE LATE "MARCH" SNOWSTORMS THAT SEEM TO PILE ON.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM AROUND THE COMMUNITIES ABOUT HOW THIS WAS?

>> SKIERS ARE THRILLED.

[LAUGHTER] IT'S BEEN A TOUGH WINTER FOR A LOT OF VERMONT SKI AREAS.

SO TO HAVE A SNOW OF THIS SIGNIFICANCE EVEN THOUGH IT'S LATE IN THE SEASON THEY WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO HAVE IT BEFORE DURING CHRISTMAS WHEN ALL THE PEOPLE WERE THERE, THE PRESIDENTS' DAY WEEKEND.

BUT IT'S STILL SNOW AND IT'S A LOT OF IT SO THEY ARE HAPPY.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE POWER OUTAGES?

ARE PEOPLE STILL BEING IMPACTED?

I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD THE PAST FEW DAYS.

>> TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LOST POWER, WHICH OFTEN HAPPENS IN STORMS LIKE THIS.

IT WAS HEAVY, WET SNOW, HIGH WINDS.

I THINK POWER COMPANIES HAVE BEEN MAKING SOME STEADY PROGRESS BUT FOLKS WERE WITHOUT POWER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS WHICH UNFORTUNATELY TENDS TO HAPPEN.

I THINK IT'S TOO BAD THAT IT OFTEN WILL TAKE A FEW DAYS TO GET THESE THINGS BACK.

SEEMS TO BE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AT THIS POINT.

LIKE EMERSON SAID I THINK FOLKS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ENJOYING THE SNOW AT THIS POINT HOPEFULLY.

>> IS IT TOO LITTLE TOO LATE OR TOO MUCH TOO LATE?

>> NO, YOU STILL HAVE -- VERMONT TYPICALLY OUR SKI AREAS WILL GO THROUGH THE END OF APRIL INTO MAY.

SO IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF TIME LEFT.

>> EVEN IF YOU'RE JUST HOPPING FROM SNOW PATCH TO SNOW PATCH DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, RIGHT?

>> THIS IS HELPING A LOT.

>> THERE WAS ALSO A SETTLEMENT WITH THE TWIN VALLEY SCHOOLS THIS WEEK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

IT WAS OVER STUDENT HARASSMENT.

PEERS WERE HARASSING EACH OTHER AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FELT AS THOUGH THE SCHOOL DOESN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY ENOUGH OR DO ENOUGH SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN THE FUTURE?

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE REST OF THE SCHOOLS IN VERMONT ABOUT TAKING IT SERIOUSLY?

>> IT'S HARD TO MAKE TOO MUCH OF -- TO ZOOM OUT TOO MUCH TO SAY WHAT IT WILL MEAN FOR OTHER SCHOOLS.

IN MY MEMORY I CAN'T THINK OF TOO MANY TIMES THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS DONE AN INVESTIGATION LIKE THIS IN THE STATE OF VERMONT.

WHAT THE SETTLEMENT REQUIRES, IT REQUIRES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CHANGE ITS PRACTICES IN THE WAY THAT IT RESPONDS TO STUDENT COMPLAINTS OF HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION.

AND DO CHECKUPS.

THEY HAVE TO CHECK IN WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE NEW PROCEDURES IN PLACE.

SO THERE'S NOT A TON THAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE SITUATION.

WE DO KNOW THAT THE COMPLAINTS GO BACK TO 2019, 2020, SO THEY ARE A FEW YEARS OLD.

GENERALLY WE KNOW THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH SOME ISSUES OF DISCRIMINATION AROUND SEX AND RACE AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION BUT WE DON'T KNOW TOO MANY MORE DETAILS.

HARD TO SAY.

>> WHAT WE DO KNOW IS WINDHAM SUPERVISOR SAID THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN, WHOING ON THIS THE LAST YEAR OR TWO AS WELL.

>> GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

STEWART WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

THANKS TO OUR PANEL EUFRTS, LIAM ELDER-CONNORS, EMERSON LYNN, AND LOLA DUFFORT P. I'M KATHARINE HUNTLEY.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.