Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 20th of September.
Good morning, Burlington.
🏘️ Community
Burlington's new bike park has opened beginner flow trails and a jump line—drawing dozens of local bikers who rode there on Friday and after school today.
The park is the first phase after a decade of planning and will have an opening ceremony on Oct. 25 as more features are planned.
💼 Business
Downtown Burlington business owners are losing sales because Main Street construction — which they say is needed for a more walkable area—has disrupted their operations.
Some shops have closed permanently while other owners have changed their business models to cope, and the project will finish in November 2026.
🎭 Culture
Hayley Morris, a Warren animator, won a Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Motion Design for her work on the Amazon docuseries Octopus, with the Television Academy informing her team before the ceremony.
She will use the Vermont Creation Grant funds to start a new clay animation project in Vermont+ drawing on natural materials from nearby woods.
The Center for Community News at UVM will launch its Arts & Life initiative this fall to let student journalists cover art & culture in Vermont and across the country.
The project is supported by $500,000 from donors including Lyman Orton & Janice Izzi to expand multimedia reporting.
📰 Economy
Today, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that August data show the state’s unemployment rate fell to 2.5%—a drop of one-tenth from July—despite a labor force decline of over 900.
The report noted that job changes varied by sector with health care adding around 600 positions while state government lost about 500 jobs.
Vermont weekly unemployment claims for the week ending September 13 stayed near this year’s low level with 217 new claims—a drop of 7 from the previous week and 17 more than last year.
Manufacturing claims made up 21 percent of the total, and the Unemployment Trust Fund holds $327.7 million to cover benefits.
New U.S. Census data show that Vermont’s median income dropped to $82,730 last year after strong gains following COVID—making it one of only six states with a decline, while employment fell to 343,482 in August after peaking in January.
The data mark the seventh straight month of job losses, with levels last seen in early 2023.
🏛️ Government
Vermont officials said that the state’s prisons are over capacity—some inmates sleep on plastic beds on the floor, and the women’s facility holds far more people than it was built for.
They are opening new prison units soon and may send more men to a private prison in Mississippi to help ease the overcrowding.
🏥 Health
Mary Beth Brigham—an Essex Junction woman battling terminal brain cancer since her 2022 diagnosis—ran the Boston Marathon last year and is now training for the New York City Marathon in November to raise $26,200 for Dana-Farber.
This effort is part of her bucket list created after her diagnosis.
In September during National Recovery Month, Beth Churchill—who has been sober for three months—is using her experience to help Vermonters at the Turning Point Center in Burlington, which offers free recovery coaching to more than 40,000 people.
The center supports those facing addiction by providing a safe space to begin their path to recovery.
Health officials reported that mosquitoes from Swanton and Vergennes have tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE) in Franklin, Addison, and Orleans counties, and a horse in Brownington is suspected of having the virus.
Officials urged Vermonters to take steps to prevent mosquito bites as the risk for infection may increase into late summer and early fall.
The Vermont Department of Health expanded access to the COVID-19 vaccine by issuing a standing order on Sept.
18 that lets pharmacies give shots without a prescription for the 2025-2026 season — parents have reported challenges getting vaccines for children under five, with doctors expected to have them by mid-October. Experts such as Dr. Lindsay Smith stress that the vaccine helps lessen severe illness and prevent hospitalizations while insurers continue covering the costs.
📰 Lifestyle
Vermont Public released a guide detailing ten favorite fall foliage drives with stops for food and hiking across Vermont—subscribers to the Out There newsletter can get early access to the guide, which includes a Google map for each route.
The guide is sponsored by Adagio Chocolates from Middlebury.
🏈 Sports
UVM men's soccer head coach Rob Dow reached his 100th career win when his team beat Hofstra University by a score of 2 to 1 on Tuesday, marking their fifth win of the season.
Dow said the Catamounts will try for their first road win today at Fairfield University—game scheduled for 6 p.m.
🎉 Burlington Events
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Matt Heckler Live Performance
7:30-9 p.m. — Higher Ground — Tickets from $75 — Experience an unforgettable night with Matt Heckler in South Burlington.
Lucero Live Concert
7-8:30 p.m. — Higher Ground — Tickets required — Celebrate 20 years of 'Nobody's Darlings' with Lucero performing the album in full plus more hits.
Logan Guntzelman Comedy Show
7:30-9 p.m. — Vermont Comedy Club — Tickets available — Experience an evening of laughs with Los Angeles-based comedian Logan Guntzelman.
Panchiko Concert
8:00 – 9:30 PM — Higher Ground — All Ages — Experience the ethereal rock sounds of Panchiko as they transition into their rockstar lives.
Neighbor Concert
8:00-9:30 p.m. — Higher Ground — $55 — Catch a last-minute chance to enjoy an electrifying live performance by Neighbor.
Kevin James Live Comedy Show
5:00-6:30 p.m. — The Flynn — Ticket prices vary — Experience the hilarious observations and physical comedy of Kevin James, known from The King of Queens.
Mipso Concert
7:30-9 p.m. — Higher Ground — All Ages — Experience the captivating harmonies of North Carolina's Mipso in an intimate setting.
The 502s Concert
8:00-9:30 p.m. — Higher Ground — Tickets from $58 — Catch The 502s live in South Burlington with a night of energetic music.
Deltron 3030 Concert
7-9:30 p.m. — Higher Ground — $101-$126 — Experience an unforgettable night with Deltron 3030 at Higher Ground Ballroom.
7th Burlington Hardware Meetup
5-8 p.m. — Hula — Free entry — Network over drinks and delicious food while sharing your hardware innovations and insights.
🏠 Burlington Real Estate
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