Vermont's political leaders visited Burlington High School Monday, highlighting a new initiative between Burlington and Winooski. The state's two most diverse school districts are working together to remodel and rethink their education systems, and they're getting a little help from civic leaders.

Gov. Peter Shumlin said on Wednesday the state shouldn't collect $6 million that the auditor's office says several towns owe to the state education fund.

In March, voters in Burlington will vote on a resolution that would oppose the shipment of tar-sands oil across northeastern sections of the state. Now, environmental activists want voters to put the issue on Town Meeting Day ballots in other towns.

The right to bear arms is the law of the land. But after an unprecedented series of shooting rampages last year, some state and local governments are now considering bans on assault weapons on their streets.

Gov. Peter Shumlin was in Florida most of the day Wednesday to hear how F-35 fighter jets compare to F-16s. Shumlin says he doesn't think the new jet is appreciably louder than the one it would replace at the Vermont Air National Guard.

Governor Peter Shumlin said he was surprised that he didn't think an F-35 fighter jet was much louder than an F-16. Shumlin and the mayors of Burlington and Winooski were in Florida on Wednesday for a demonstration of the two jets.

Gov. Peter Shumlin says he'll travel to Florida next week, where he'll hear first-hand the sound of fighter jets that could soon be based at the Vermont Air Guard in South Burlington, fulfilling a campaign promise that he made to progressive supporters who oppose the F-35 program.

Last week's election energized supporters of marijuana legalization, with Colorado and Washington voters legalizing the drug in their states. In Burlington, voters passed a non-binding­ referendum with 70 percent of the vote in favor of legalizing, taxing and regulating cannabis and hemp.

Cities and towns in Vermont say Washington needs to deal with the coming fiscal cliff quickly because it could hurt their budgets and lead to another recession.

Voters in Burlington have overwhelmingly approved a $9 million fiscal stability bond. Mayor Miro Weinberger sees Tuesday's vote as a green light to fix the city's money woes by re-financing its debt.

Voters in Vermont's largest city will decide on Tuesday whether to support a $9 million fiscal stability bond. Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger has proposed the ballot item to essentially refinance the city's debt, but the new mayor is seeing some new opposition from a conservative super PAC.

The Burlington group BTV Green is hoping voters will approve a city referendum on the legalization and regulation of marijuana and hemp.

Election Day is next Tuesday, but the deadline to register to vote in Vermont is today. It's been a busy afternoon at city and town clerks' offices across the state, as last minute get-out-the-vote drives have overwhelmed town officials with voter registration applications.

The head of the company that put on a dance party at Memorial Auditorium says there's nothing to back up claims by Burlington officials that the event was unsafe.

An investigation is under way into reports of damage to the Burlington city-owned Memorial Auditorium following a weekend party.  And at least 16 party-goers were cited by police on allegations of alcohol-related violations.

A Vermont social media service that used to be free has begun to ask larger municipal governments to buy a subscription for custom access. Town officials need to decide whether the service known as Front Porch Forum is worth paying for to reach constituents.

Robert Stiller says his $10 million donation will improve business education at the college in Burlington. The gift comes just five months after Green Mountain removed Stiller from his leadership role as chairman.

Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger is calling for immediate changes to the way the city reviews requests to use city-owned property.

A report suggests it could cost the University of Vermont more than $100,000 a year to address sexual violence issues following a fraternity rape-survey scandal.

A Burlington doctor has pleaded guilty to one felony count of prescription fraud.

A seemingly routine school-wide assembly turned into the surprise of a lifetime for Champlain Elementary School fourth- and fifth-grade teacher Matthew Hajdun yesterday.

A University of Vermont student has been charged with starting a fire in the hallway of a dormitory over the weekend.

Burlington has mailed corrected city election ballots to 523 voters who asked for absentee ballots or voted early at City Hall.

The School Board in Burlington is reviewing a new policy on diversity and equity and considering a strategic plan to better include ethnic minorities.

The new president of the University of Vermont will be formally installed in a ceremony Friday.