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The inpatient psychiatry unit at Central Vermont Medical Center recently stopped admitting new patients. At the end of January, it will close altogether in an effort to save the hospital system money.

The president and CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont described the insurer's alarming state of finances in a letter this week.

Checking in on the recently merged Vermont State University, after its composite campuses had long faced money and enrollment woes. Plus, a winter shelter is opening in Burlington, a member of the Green Mountain Care Board is stepping down, Vermont’s new payroll tax has generated a big pot of money for child care, and the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs has a new vacancy.

After getting sick of all the negativity in the news, a Westminster man started writing feel-good profiles about the working people of southern Vermont for his local newspaper. Plus, the Burlington Housing Authority is suspending rental vouchers in anticipation of federal funding cuts, COVID-19 appears to be on the rise in Vermont after the holidays, a legislative committee is against allowing naturopathic physicians to prescribe end-of-life medication, and the Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission will take public testimony on identity-based discrimination tied to state policies.

In his fifth inaugural speech this week, Republican Gov. Phil Scott pledged to fix a “broken and failingâ€� education system â€� and the rising costs associated with it. Democrats in the Legislature seem receptive to the broad strokes of Scott’s preliminary proposals, despite butting heads in prior sessions. ¿ªÔÆÌåÓý’s Lola Duffort will break down it all down in this week’s edition of the Capitol Recap.

We speak to 2025 Rhodes Scholar and Shelburne native Lena Ashooh, who’s interested in animal ethics and legal philosophy. Plus, Gov. Scott reiterates the need to make Vermont more affordable during his inaugural address, Republican John Rodgers is Vermont’s new lieutenant governor, a national cyberattack may have compromised local school district data, and Vermont health care providers are building an informal network to support intuitive eating habits.

The Vermont Supreme Court has re-opened public comment on a natural gas pipeline in Addison County, following years of fighting by neighbors. Plus, Vermont lawmakers elect a House speaker for the new legislative session, Senate leadership says the chamber will focus on property tax relief and reforming the education system this year, a former Addison County sheriff accused of sexual assault wants to change his plea, Vermont will receive millions in federal funding for long-term flood recovery, and officials are warning southern Vermont residents about rabies.

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý’s Peter Hirschfeld breaks down the politics of climate policy in Montpelier, with Republicans potentially poised to block a sweeping energy proposal that would reduce Vermontersâ€� use of fossil fuels to heat their homes. Plus, the fossil fuel lobby is suing Vermont in a first-of-its-kind case, Vermont’s top federal prosecutor is stepping down, and Vermont’s AI czar is looking for new ways to streamline government interactions.

The cancer-causing chemicals TCE and PCE have been found at dozens of sites in Vermont that were home to dry cleaning businesses, auto shops, and manufacturing plants.

"You don't get up at 7 o'clock in the morning and spend the whole day stomping around outside, freezing to death or getting soaking wet, unless it's something you're really committed to," said Sally Laughlin, who has organized the Christmas Bird Count in Woodstock for 50 years.