Education

Under the Dome: Healthcare: Expansion of Medicaid & Dr. Dynosaur, Addiction Recovery, Mental Health Resources, Flavored Tobacco (Senate) 05/13/2024

Host Bobby Lussier, CCTV's Development Director, speaks with Senator Virginia "Ginny" Lyons and Senator Martine Gulick about healthcare.

To contact your local representative, you can find their contact information on the State's website.

Under the Dome: Healthcare: Expansion of Medicaid & Dr. Dynosaur, Addiction Recovery, Mental Health Resources, Flavored Tobacco (House) 05/13/2024

Host Bobby Lussier, CCTV's Development Director, speaks with Representative Daisy Berbeco, Representative Rey Garofano, and Representative Alyssa Black about healthcare.

To contact your local representative, you can find their contact information on the State's website.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Government Operations - Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 05/10/2024

Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law at the Senate Committee on Government Operations.

On Thursday, the Senate Government Operations Committee was scheduled to meet to go over the bill, but they could not get a quorum because most of the members were on conference committees that were meeting at the same time. However, Chair Ruth Hardy and Senator Tanya Vyhovsky met unofficially (and thus, not streamed) to get a walkthrough of the House changes to the bill. Senator Vyhovsky was very upset with a few of the changes and asked if they could have a conference committee. However, they did not want the bill to die because of there not being enough time. Senator Hardy agreed to find out if a conference committee was possible, with the back-up plan of accepting the House changes in order to get the bill all the way through to final passage. On FRIDAY, the Senate concurred officially with the House proposal of amendment, so this bill will be headed to the Governor’s desk sometime soon.

S.55 as Passed by the Senate:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/S-0055/S-0055%20As%20Passed%20by%20the%20Senate%20Unofficial.pdf

All of Us Journey Community Event 05/10/2024

Meghan O'Rourke, CCTV, interviews Jennifer Reyes, Outreach and Engagement Manager at the All of Us Research Program. The All Of Us Research Program is a National Institutes of Health Initiative, with the goal to diversify health research and help create a future where health care is tailored to individuals.

The traveling exhibit, the All Of Us Journey, will be at the Fletcher Free Library from June 4-7, 10:00am to 4:00pm daily.

Learn more at: www.joinallofus.org/learn-more

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Ways and Means - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 05/09/2024

Discussion of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees at the House Committee on Ways and Means.

On Thursday, the House Ways & Means Committee reviewed the Senate’s proposal of amendment, and voted unanimously to concur.

Then also on THURSDAY, the House Floor voted to concur with the Senate’s proposal of amendment, sending the bill to the Governor.

H.657 Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/H.657~Gabrielle%20Stebbins~Stebbins%20Amendment~3-26-2024.pdf

Moments with Melinda: Interview with Chas Eller 05/09/2024

From Melinda Moulton:

Chas Eller has been in the recording industry for over 40 years. During that time he has recorded or produced hundreds of LP's and CD's for numerous independent and major record labels. In the process he has received three INDIE Awards for his recording production work, and has engineered two GRAMMY nominated projects. Chas is also a gifted and accomplished keyboard musician.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Appropriations - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 05/08/2024

Discussion of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees at the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

On Wednesday, the bill had second reading on the Senate floor - Senators Chittenden and Wrenner offered amendments. Senator Chittenden’s amendment was adopted and third reading was ordered on a voice vote. The bill now includes an inventory for the right-of-way in Vermont, but scaled back dramatically from the level of thoroughness and detail the Finance Committee had been considering, due to cost and cybersecurity concerns. The updates to the USF fund and the per line charge remain intact.

H.657: Senator Chittenden Amendment Draft 1.1, 5-6-2024:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Finance/Bills/H.657/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20Other%20Legal%20Documents/H.657~Maria%20Royle~%20Senator%20Chittenden%20Amendment%20Draft%201.1,%205-6-2024~5-7-2024.pdf

On THURSDAY, the Senate passed the 3rd reading of H.657 on a voice vote, sending the bill back to the House as amended.

Side-by-Side of House/Senate versions:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/W~Maria%20Royle~H.657%20House%20Senate%20Comparison~5-9-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Caucus of the Whole - Discussion of VAN FY25 Request 05/08/2024

Discussion of VAN FY25 Request at the House Caucus of the Whole.

On Wednesday, during the House Caucus of the Whole, Representative Burrows asked whether $1million for VAN is new money or if it was funded by the general fund previously. Representative Lanpher said the House had it as a one time investment via the Secretary of State but that the Senate found $1million more in base moving forward - she said it was a very good thing.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Appropriations - Discussion of VAN FY25 Request 05/08/2024

Discussion of VAN FY25 Request at the House Committee of Appropriations.

On Wednesday, Emily Byrne, JFO, was in House Appropriations to give the entire committee a walkthrough of the conference committee’s changes to the House version of the budget. Byrne confirmed that the streaming tax revenue was not in the budget. Later in the conversation, Representative Lanpher gave an explanation about how VAN money ended up in base funding.

Team Yap: The Pokémon Podcast: Episode 4 - Yap-ology Continues 05/08/2024

In episode 4 of Team Yap: The Pokemon Podcast, co-hosts Emily and Chris keep the yapping going in this riveting podcast installment. They discuss what's new in Pokemon Go, their favorite Pokemon outside of the mainline games, and then things get DEEP! Would Pokemon exist without consumerism? What are the psychological effects of finding shiny Pokemon? Is raiding in Pokemon Go the same thing as gambling? How do mobile games relate to community media? What is the importance of free "third spaces"? Emily and Chris discuss this and more - tune in! A fun disclaimer: Emily and Chris are just yapping! We sometimes have no idea what we are talking about, so take what we say with a grain of salt. Or don't! It's up to you.

Featured Story

Applications Now Open for the Spring 2025 Cohort of the Neighborhood Community Media Internship Program

Town Meeting TV is excited to announce that applications are now open for the Spring 2025 cohort of the Neighborhood Community Media Internship program. Join up to 8 other youth to engage in interesting media making projects! This paid media internship opportunity is designed for youth aged 16-20 who are eager to gain professional experience in the audio-visual field and develop a deeper understanding of their local community. The group will meet under the leadership of Town Meeting TV's Travis Washington from the end of January 2025 to the beginning of June 2025, on a schedule agreed upon by the whole cohort. Click here to apply!