Christmas did not emerge directly from the biblical record but developed over centuries as Christianity adapted existing winter traditions within the Roman Empire. The December 25 holiday reflects cultural layering—Roman festivals, Christia
During peak shopping seasons, some online scams don’t look like scams at all. In Man-in-the-Middle retail fraud, a third party quietly inserts itself between buyer and seller, allowing purchases to appear legitimate while payment data is mi
Vermont second home owners could see tax bills jump by $5,000 annually under Act 73's new property classification system. The law creates separate rates for vacation properties and short-term rentals starting in 2028, with owners facing new
Vermont second home owners could see tax bills jump by $5,000 annually under Act 73's new property classification system. The law creates separate rates for vacation properties and short-term rentals starting in 2028, with owners facing new
Vermont's fiscal math is unforgiving: state spending grows at 5% annually while the tax base expands at only 2-3%. Property taxes have tripled since 2000, pension obligations rest on optimistic assumptions, and working-age residents continu
Vermont's special education funding gap reveals a broken promise: Congress pledged 40% federal support in 1975 but delivers only 7-10%. Property taxpayers cover the rest—$8.5 million in Rutland Northeast alone. Worse, schools can't bill pri
Vermont funds its schools through a single statewide Education Fund, not separate town systems. Local voters approve school budgets each March, and the Legislature later adjusts statewide property tax and other revenues so the Education Fun
RNESU approved its FY27 budget at a 2 PM “retreat” the same day the Rutland Herald listed the meeting for 5 PM, raising open meeting law questions. Behind the time confusion is a bigger problem: Vermont’s school finance system pushes boards
Vermont spends more than any other state relative to its economy, with 29.4% of its output going to state and local government. Heavy federal dependency and a high tax burden demand urgent reform. Can Vermont reduce spending and grow sustai
Health insurance in the U.S. has shifted from catastrophic coverage to an inefficient catch-all system. By adopting portable HSAs, transparent pricing, and deregulated markets, we can empower individuals and reduce skyrocketing premiums. Th
For much of the 20th century, Christmas in the United States functioned as a shared cultural event rather than a narrowly religious observance. As institutions retreated from seasonal traditions in the name of neutrality, communal rituals f
Former MSNBC host Joy Reid shared a viral video claiming "Jingle Bells" was written to mock Black people, citing a 2017 academic study. But the researcher who conducted that study says her work is being misrepresented. "I never said it was
