T.J. Donovan

A Vermont judge upheld an $850 fine for a businessman who violated the state’s emergency mask mandate when he refused to wear a mask in his former Newport print shop during the peak of the pandemic. In a Thursday order, Superior Court Judge Mary Miles Teachout upheld the fine against Andre Desautels that was sought by Vermont Attorney General...

Vermont’s attorney general is pointing to a landmark settlement which he says could provide a pathway to future enforcement actions against robocall scammers. T.J. Donovan, a Democrat, said Vermonters received roughly 5 million robocalls in March 2021 alone. Many calls impersonate real government agencies and make threats trying to get victims to cough up cash. “Through this settlement, I believe…

Last month alone, Vermont residents received about 5 million unwanted robocalls.

A Maryland-based business will never operate in Vermont again and will pay $120,000 under a settlement with the state over what Attorney General T.J. Donovan called “deplorable” conduct and violations of state consumer protection laws. The managers of what was known from December 2014 to April 2018 as Spring Village in Essex Junction advertised they could take care of people…

A former Vermont police officer was in a St. Albans courtroom Monday, pleading not guilty to an assault charge stemming from the way he handled a handcuffed suspect in March. Defense attorney Rebecca Otey entered a not guilty plea on behalf of her client, Jason Lawton, 31, of Cambridge.

Vermont’s attorney general Wednesday urged people across his state to speak out against a proposal by the White House and USDA to change rules around eligibility for nutrition benefits—once known as food stamps, now called 3SquaresVT in Vermont.

Vermont’s statewide Catholic diocese Thursday released a list of priests credibly accused of sexually abusing young parishioners who trusted them. There are 40 names on the list, but the number could grow, should more survivors of abuse come forward.

State and federal prosecutors say they are cracking down on child pornography in Vermont. Officials announced Wednesday that charges have been filed against eight individuals for the possession and promotion of child pornography.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott and Attorney General T.J. Donovan are going to be providing an update on the settlement in the chemical contamination of more than 150 private wells in Bennington. Scott and Donovan are scheduled to provide the update Wednesday, along with legislative leaders from Bennington.

Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan is reminding Vermonters eligible for payment as part of the VW diesel emissions case that their claims must be postmarked no later than Thursday. Last spring the state reached a settlement with Volkswagen to resolve violations of the Vermont Consumer Protection Act. VW agreed to pay Vermont consumers $2.9 million, up to $1,000 for every...

Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan is reminding Vermonters eligible for payment as part of the VW diesel emissions case that their claims must be postmarked no later than Thursday. Last spring the state reached a settlement with Volkswagen to resolve violations of the Vermont Consumer Protection Act. VW agreed to pay Vermont consumers $2.9 million, up to $1,000 for every...

A self-described white nationalist who prompted Vermont’s only female black legislator to resign is facing a charge he possessed illegal, large capacity gun magazines. State Police say 36-year-old Max Misch, of Bennington, was arrested Wednesday after troopers searched his home and found evidence he had purchased large capacity ammunition feeding devices. He’s due in court Thursday.

After several years of starts and stops on legislative discussions of marijuana legalization in Vermont, there’s a new push in the Vermont Senate to regulate the legal sales of cannabis and cannabis products to any adult. The move would be on top of sales to people already approved to buy cannabis specifically for medical use—from dispensaries that are currently in...

A new lawmaker took his seat Wednesday in the Vermont House of Representatives in Montpelier, after Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, appointed him to fill a vacancy serving the city of Winooski. In an interview with necn, Rep. Hal Colston, D-Winooski, called it an honor to become the House’s first African-American man from Chittenden County—Vermont’s population center.

A tax examiner for the state of Vermont is accused of stealing public money to pay her own bills.

Vermont’s governor and attorney general have called on residents to commit themselves to treating others better and more respectfully, and to do more to support people of color.

The Vermont attorney general’s office is announcing a new statewide system for reporting bias after finding a former state representative was racially harassed until she quit her job last year. Attorney General T.J. Donovan said the new reporting system will push prosecutors and law enforcement to share reports of bias incients with the state attorney general’s civil rights unit. He...

Vermont’s attorney general is warning consumers of an apparent uptick in scams targeting people who have student loans. T.J. Donovan said Tuesday that his office, and colleagues around the country, have been hearing from borrowers who thought they were dealing with debt relief companies or paperwork completion providers that turned out to be fraudulent.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is planning to make information public about priests accused long ago of sexually abusing their parishioners. Bishop Christopher Coyne said Wednesday it is part of an effort to restore trust and transparency in the church.

With two new restrictions on Vermont gun owners taking effect soon, some sportsmen are stocking up on gear and Vermont State Police are readying for an equipment take-back effort, statewide. For R&L Archery in Barre, and other gun dealers across Vermont, the clock is ticking.