🌱 Champlain Parkway + VT Bill For 'Personal Amounts' Of Drugs

Happy Saturday, neighbors! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

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First, today's weather:

Cold. High: 18 Low: 13.

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Here are the top three stories today in Burlington:

1. The Burlington City Council recently amended the city's Prequalification of Construction Contractors Ordinance to include wage and labor standards for city-funded construction projects and their workers. Said City Council President Max Tracy, "This change will raise standards for contractors and ensure workers are paid wages that will allow them the opportunity to live in the community in which they work." (vtdigger.org)
2. After repeated delays, the city of Burlington is hoping to finally start construction on the Champlain Parkway project this summer. The project would link downtown Burlington to Interstate 189 and is slated to improve transportation in the south end for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers. The city announced its plan yesterday after the project was approved to go forward by the Federal Highway Administration. (WCAX)
3. A prospective Vermont bill could soon decriminalize "personal amounts" of drugs, the amount by which would be determined by a board of experts. Possession of drug quantities under the threshold would be a civil penalty, which would be waived should the individual seek treatment. Backers of the bill are aiming to shift substance use to a public health lens, rather than a criminal one. (WCAX)

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Today in Burlington:

• Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas - ECHO Lahey Center for Lake Champlain (10:00 AM)
• Animal Demo - ECHO Lahey Center for Lake Champlain (11:00 AM)

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From my notebook:

• Has the omicron variant peaked in Vermont? New data suggests cases could finally be on the decline. (WPTZ)
• From outdoor heaters to fire pits, the team at Hotel Vermont has redesigned their outdoor space to keep it open year-round. (CoStar Group)
• The University of Vermont and Vermont Gas Systems are joining together to combat climate change as the "Vermont Hydrogen Partnership." (Local 22/44 News)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you soon.

— Danielle Fallon

About me: Danielle Fallon is a writer who loves using her creativity to fuel her passion for communication. She is an employee of content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.