The leftist organization Antifa did infiltrate the January 6 attack on the Capitol in Washington, D.C. – but only to monitor, not to instigate violence, a Northeast Antifa spokesperson told The Commons weekly newspaper in Brattleboro.

As many of you are aware, there was a Resolution passed by the House and Senate this week to which I voted no, the only one in the Senate to do so.

Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today announced organizational changes to modernize the State’s public safety and select permitting and regulatory functions to better serve Vermonters, increase efficiency and improve these systems.

When Ben Franklin exited the room where the future of the United States was being decided, he was asked what kind of government we would have. He answered "a Republic, if you can keep it." More than 200 years later, Just days ago, we witnessed a challenge to that democratic Republic. Fascists, at the direction of Donald Trump, attempted to subvert our Republic by legislative process and by violence in the streets and in the halls of Congress. That coup was defeated.

Last Wednesday, Jan. 6, we saw a sharp contrast between legislative life in Vermont and in the Congress in Washington, D.C. This contrast couldn’t have been more stark — one: unusually quiet, orderly and historic but subdued, and the other: noisy, chaotic and shockingly violent. One affirming and one rocking our firm faith in the sanctity of our democratic process.

Editor’s note: Green Mountain Transit has begun a pilot door-to-door public transportation system in Washington County. Rather than go to the bus stop and climb aboard an often-empty bus, public transportation riders now may get Uber-like rides (free for now) on demand, from door-to-door. At the same time, some bus routes have been cut back. Here, Tom Evslin describes this ‘new normal.’

Tax increase unlikely
New bills promote renewable energy, local food independence
Senate re-introduces gun control bills

Late last evening, prior to the anticipated conclusion of the investigation into his conduct related to the Capitol insurrection, Lucas Hall resigned his position, the Vermont Department of Public Service reports. His unconditional resignation was immediately accepted. The details of the investigation will be forwarded to the Vermont Criminal Justice Council pursuant to Act 56 for consideration of sanctions, including decertification.

Today I saw a picture of a busload of Vermonters on their way to Washington, D.C. They were Donald Trump supporters who remain convinced his election was stolen. I want to believe that all of them on that bus were heading down for a peaceful protest. But after witnessing several different news reports, and listening to the speeches of President Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Rudy Giuliani urging them to go to the Capitol, I have to wonder whether anyone in that group got duped into joining the assault of that beautiful and historic building.

The following letter is a response by Wallingford resident Lynn Edmunds to a Jan. 8 letter by Sen. Joe Benning (R-Caledonia) in the Rutland Herald.