BURLINGTON — When Fletcher Allen Health Care announced in September that it would be axing the Claire M. Lintilhac Nurse Midwifery Services, the news took patients and nurses by surprise. Even the program’s namesakes didn’t see it coming. The decision meant that FAHC would no longer provide 24-hour nurse-midwife services to several dozen expectant mothers.... Read more

VERMONT — Vermont’s primary elections are usually an afterthought in terms of presidential politics. But with no clear frontrunner apparent in key early-primary states — in either party — could this be the year Vermont is a factor in the race?... Read more

In recognition of the Winter Reading issue, this week’s column is devoted to nine Vermont books that we’d not had a chance to read, or review, until now. But before we get to them, congratulations are in order to New Yorker and Seven Days cartoonist-illustrator Harry Bliss: Time magazine has named his book Diary of a Fly, with writer Doreen Cronin, one of the top 10 children’s picture books of the year.

Props to all the Vermonters who published books this year; just getting the words onto the page is a feat. We can relate.... Read more

BURLINGTON — If you thought the Church Street smoking ban debate was over, think again. One city councilor is floating the idea of putting the decision in voters’ hands.... Read more

BRATTLEBORO — Small-town rumor mills have always churned out juicy gossip. But when these often-personal grumblings make their way into the local media, they can sometimes turn into lawsuits. And while traditional newspaper editors are well acquainted with the line between lively and libel, bloggers typically aren’t. A lawsuit filed recently against the popular website iBrattleboro.com suggests citizen journalists may have to think twice about letting it rip.... Read more

With all the border bashing going on in Vermont lately, one might think there isn’t a single soul in the Green Mountains with something nice to say about Customs officials. Not so fast. One group of men and women — who probably cross the border more times in a year than most Vermonters do in their entire lives — say things are looking up. Who are these border groupies? Truckers!... Read more

BURLINGTON — With gas prices, global temperatures and pump-and-run shoplifting on the rise, two local business owners have a plan to lower fuel costs, curb global warming and assist environmentally conscious, cash-strapped drivers.

“All we are saying is give grease a chance,” say Mike Rimoin and Benjy Adler, both Burlington residents and part owners of The Skinny Pancake restaurant on Lake Street.... Read more

MIDDLEBURY — We all want to reduce our carbon footprint. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s as easy as swiping your credit card.

Two Middlebury College graduates have teamed up with a former professor to launch Brighter Planet, a company dedicated to providing consumers with a way to fight global warming. Starting November 29, the company will offer a Visa card that purchases carbon credits with every purchase. For instance, $400 worth of charges offsets about a half-ton of carbon dioxide.... Read more

VERMONT — There was a time when working at an abortion clinic necessitated wearing a bulletproof vest. Or stepping over chained protestors blocking the front door. In some cases, it meant giving your life. Is the past repeating itself at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England? Not quite, but employees say patients and staff are increasingly being harassed and intimidated at clinics in Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire.... Read more

BURLINGTON — “Get a life. Get off the streets. Go to school. Get a job. Do something with your life.” That’s the advice 75-year-old Burlington resident Jane Dworshak has for the punk police say stole her car last Thursday morning.... Read more