>> AS RECOVERY EFFORTS CONTINUE VERMONT OFFICIALS WANT MORE FROM FEMA.

STATE OFFICIALS WANT ADDISON COUNTY ADDED TO THE FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION AND A MORE ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF HOMES DESTROYED.

>> THIS IS A NEW NORMAL.

SO WE HAVE TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO SUPPORTING A YOUR WITH RISK MANAGEMENT TOOLS.

>> IN OTHER NEWS VERMONT STATE UNIVERSITY NEEDS MORE STUDENTS.

LUDLOW NEEDS TO REOPEN BEFORE THE SNOW FLIES AND BURLINGTON NEEDS UVM TO BUILD MORE HOUSING.

ALL THAT AND MORE AHEAD ON "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

>> FROM THE VERMONT PUBLIC STUDIO IN WINOOSKI, THIS IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK," MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE LINTILHAC FOUNDATION AND MILNE TRAVEL.

>> WELCOME BACK.

I'M MARK DAVIS.

IT'S FRIDAY, AUGUST 18.

IT'S BEEN ANOTHER VERY BUSY WEEK IN VERMONT.

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PANEL.

JOINING US FROM SEVEN DAYS, EDITOR SASHA GOLDSTEIN.

FOR WCAX, REPORTER CALVIN CUTLER, AND MAKING HER FIRST APPEARANCE, CARLY VERMIN, A REPORTER FROM VERMONT PUBLIC AND VTDIGGER.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

EVENTUALLY WE WILL START A SHOW WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE FLOOD BUT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING TODAY.

CALVIN, A LOT GOING ON THIS WEEK INCLUDING SOME CONCERN FROM ADDISON COUNTY.

>> THERE WAS ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO THERE WAS BIG FLOODING ACROSS THE STATE BUT IN ADDISON COUNTY A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THEY EXPERIENCED THEIR OWN DELUGE, HAD BIG WASHOUTS, ROADS AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

ADDISON COUNTY CAN GET PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE AS OF YET.

THIS WEEK FEMA HAS DETERMINED THAT THE COUNTY WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE HOME INNERS WON'T GET THAT, THOSE INDIVIDUAL PAYMENTS FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

THAT'S A REAL BIG CONCERN FOR STATE LEADERS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE.

GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT IS APPEALING FOR THEM TO REOPEN THAT INCIDENT PERIOD.

HE SAYS IT WAS THAT WHOLE WET PERIOD THAT WE HAD OVER THE COURSE OF THREE WEEKS TO A MONTH AND HE'S APPEALING TO FEMA BUT IF THAT IS NOT GRANTED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO FALL ON THE STATE TO MAKE SOME HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES WHOLE.

>> TIMING WAS TERRIBLE FOR ADDISON COUNTY.

THEY WERE THE EPICENTER OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

IN RECENT WEEKS IT'S BEEN STORM AFTER STORM AND THEY SEEM TO BE BEARING THE BRUNT OF IT.

IF IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN A TIGHTER TIME FRAME THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF IN TERMS OF WHAT FEMA THINKS, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S HOW THEY VIEW THESE THINGS.

WHAT IS THE INCIDENT PERIOD.

IT HAPPEN IN ONE DAY OR TWO DAYS, LIKE TROPICAL STORM IRENE, THAT CAME VERY QUICKLY.

CAME AND WENT.

THIS STORM SYSTEM WAS A LOT DIFFERENT WHERE IT CAME OVER THREE DAYS AND THEN WE HAD MORE RAIN AND MORE RAIN.

SO FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S EYES THIS DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

IT'S A CONCERN OF STATE LEADERS RIGHT NOW.

>> THERE'S A SENSE THAT SOME OF THESE STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS MAY NOT OPEN FOR QUITE A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, PERHAPS LONGER THAN WE WOULD HAVE INITIALLY ANTICIPATED.

>> ALL OF MONTPELIER WAS REALLY IMPACTED.

THE STATE BUILDINGS, CAPITAL COMPLEX, THE STATE HOUSE WASN'T AFFECTED BUT STATE EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING REMOTELY IN MANY OF THOSE BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN UNDERNEATH THE CAPITAL COMPLEX.

>> THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT SIX-MONTHS, NINE MONTHS TO A YEAR FOR THE VERMONT SUPREME COURT BUILDING FOR THE PAVILION OFFICE BUILDING, WHICH IS WHERE THE GOVERNOR AMONG OTHERS WORKS.

ADDISON COUNTY, MONTPELIER HAS NOT SEEN THE STORMS THAT ADDISON HAS BUT THE NEWS FROM MONTPELIER, THE IDEA THAT WE COULD BE LOOKING AT A YEAR, PRETTY STRIKING INFORMATION.

THERE'S NEWS OF A CLEANUP DAY COMING UP IN THE GRAND VERMONT GREENUP DAY TRADITION.

CARLY, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME OTHER CONCERNS ON THE FEMA FRONT.

THE STATE SEEMED TO BE PLEASED WITH THE EFFORT FEMA WAS MAKING.

WE'RE THEY'RE START TO CHANGE AND WE'RE HEARING SOME CONCERN I THINK ABOUT THE WAY FEMA IS COUNTING AND TALLYING DAMAGED HOMES.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?% >> FEMA SO FAR HAS GIVEN OUT OVER 13 MILLION TO MORE THAN 2400 VERMONTERS AFTER THE FLOODING IN JULY.

BUT THE NUMBER OF FEMA APPLICANTS WHOSE HOMES HAVE BEEN DEEMED DESTROYED IS RELATIVELY LOW.

CALVIN AND I WERE AT A HEARING IN MONTPELIER EARLIER THIS WEEK ALL ABOUT IMPACT TO HOUSING FROM THE FLOODS AND STATE HOUSING COMMISSIONER JOSH HANFORD SAID THAT SO FAR FEMA HAS ONLY DETERMINED NINE HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY JULY'S FLOODING ALONG WITH TWO RENTAL PROPERTIES.

THERE'S ANOTHER COUPLE HUNDRED PROPERTIES THAT HAVE SEEN MAJOR DAMAGE BUT OVER ALL, YOU KNOW, FEMA SAYS THE DAMAGE IS MINOR TO ALL OF THESE HOMES.

HANFORD SAID THAT'S CONCERNING BECAUSE IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MATCH UP TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE GROUND.

NUMBER OF RED TAGGED BUILDINGS THAT STATE FIRE MARSHALS HAVE BEEN TALLYING AS WELL.

THE STAKES ARE WHEN TPE THAT DETERMINES A BUILDING IS TOTALLY DESTROYED APPLICANTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MORE MONEY COMPARED TO IT JUST BEING DEEMED REPAIRABLE.

HANFORD ADDED THAT FEMA HAS ONLY APPROVED 21 MAXIMUM AWARDS TO VERMONTERS AFTER THE FLOODS.

THAT'S 4 TKR ARE $41,000 FOR HOUSING.

>> I HAD TO READ THE REPORTING MULTIPLE TIMES.

WE HAVE COUNT OF NINE HOMES DESTROYED.

I'M SURE ALL COMBINED HAVE INTERVIEWED HOMEOWNERS THAT WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN NINE.

YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN MOBILE HOME PARKS CONDEMNED.

AREN'T THOSE HOMES ALONE ISN'T THAT MUCH BIGGER THAN NINE?

>> EXACTLY.

HANFORD MADE THAT POINT TUESDAY THAT 52 MANUFACTURED HOMES HAVE BEEN CONDEMNED TO BE DESTROYED.

THAT NUMBER REALLY ISN'T SQUARING.

HE ADDED THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE CHANGING EVERY DAY.

WE GOT THESE FEMA TALLIES TUESDAY.

I'M SURE THEY ARE SHIFTING AS THE AGENCY DOES APPEALS AND CONTINUES TO DO INSPECTIONS BUT JUST THAT GLARING GAP SO EARLY ON.

>> I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE THE STORY HEADING INTO THE FALL AND INTO THE WINTER.

WHERE DO WE PUT PEOPLE?

WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND SAFE, STABLE SHELTER THAT'S NEAR THEIR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.

THE STATE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH FEMA TO POTENTIALLY ROLL OUT THE FEMA TRAILERS.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY WE WILL NEED OR WHERE EXACTLY THEY WILL BE PUT.

BUT THEY CAN'T BE PUT IN SOME OF THESE EXISTING MOBILE HOME AND MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS BECAUSE MANY OF THESE ARE IN THE FLOOD PLAIN.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT FROM FEDERAL REGULATION STANDPOINT.

>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, CALVIN.

THE ISSUE WE'RE AT NOW IS SOME OF THE ADRENALINE OF THE EARLY FLOODING HAS WORN OFF.

WE'RE IN THE BUREAUCRATIC STAGE WHERE IT'S LIKE A LOT OF PAPERWORK, THINGS THAT NO ONE HAS EVER DEALT WITH BEFORE.

SO A LOT OF OUR REPORTING WE HAVE TRIED TO TALK TO THE ACTUAL PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THIS.

IT'S JUST HEARTBREAKING TO HEAR THESE STORIES OF PEOPLE NOT HAVING HOMES, NOT KNOWING WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO GO ESPECIALLY WITH THE WEATHER GETTING COLD THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN THAT THE MONEY IS NOT GOING TO COME IN QUICK ENOUGH.

YOU'RE WAITING ON FEDERAL AGENCIES INCLUDING FEDERAL AGENCIES NOW TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO OTHER DISASTERS.

>> HAWAII.

>> WE HAVE HAWAII.

I KNOW THERE'S A BIG STORM BEARING DOWN ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NOW.

IT'S JUST LIKE A LITTLE CONCERNING FOR VERMONTERS, FOR STATE OFFICIALS, FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED THAT THE ATTENTION IS KIND OF GOING TO GO ELSEWHERE AND PEOPLE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.

>> OF COURSE THE OTHER WRINKLE IS WHERE TO REBUILD, THERE ARE PLACES WE SHOULDN'T.

WE HAVE THIS CLIP OF THE GOVERNOR TALKING ABOUT THAT NOW.

>> GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE REALLY TOUGH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT JUST THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS.

THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT SHOULD NOT BE BUILT IN.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL.

THIS IS WE HAVE SEEN THESE CATASTROPHIC STORMS NOT ONCE IN A CENTURY BUT ONCE IN A DECADE.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

WE SIMPLY NEED TO PREVENT SOME OF THESE CATASTROPHIC LOSSES AND DOWNTOWN MONTPELIER, FOR INSTANCE, DOWNTOWN BARRE.

WE NEED MORE STORAGE CAPACITY.

WE NEED TO ALLOW FOR THE STOCKPILING OF WATER DURING THESE EVENTS SO IT DOESN'T COME ALL AT ONCE.

SO AGAIN, THERE ARE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES TO DO THAT AND WE HAVE TO CONTEMPLATE THEM.

>> WELL, THAT'S THE STORY ON THE DAMAGED HOMES AND DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES.

CALVIN, THIS WEEK YOU DID A LOT OF REPORTING LOOKING AT DAMAGED FARMS.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

>> THIS WEEK WE HAVE KNOWN THAT FOR MANY WEEKS THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MANY OF OUR FARMS.

THERE'S A USDA UNDER SECRETARY CAME AND TOP BIDEN ADMINISTRATE OFFICIAL SURVEYED THE DAMAGE TO HEAR FIRST ON THE GROUND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR FARMERS, FOR FOOD SECURITY.

MANY SO FAR THERE'S BEEN ABOUT $13 MILLION TALLIED IN DAMAGE FOR FARMS.

ABOUT 18,000 ACRES IMPACTED.

WHICH IS A LOT.

THERE'S BIG CONCERN, MANY, RIGHT, BUT FARMERS THAT GROW THEIR OWN CORNW CORNWALL AND WH, YOU CAN'T TAKE A TRACTOR OR COMBINE INTO A FIELD BECAUSE THERE'S DEBRIS OUT THERE.

A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED OR TOUCHED BY THIS TOXIC FLOOD MUD.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT EFFECT THAT HAS ON DAIRY.

SO IT REALLY DOES AS WE JUST HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR TALKING ABOUT EXISTENTIAL QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR DOWNTOWN THERE'S BIGGER QUESTIONS ABOUT RESILIENCY OF AGRICULTURE, OF OUR DAIRY INDUSTRY, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND HOW DO WE MAKE OUR AGRICULTURE SECTOR MORE RESILIENT IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> WELL, A LOT OF FUN THINGS TO START THIS SHOW.

WE DID GET A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS, CARLY, FROM MOBILE HOMES, HELP TO REMOVE SOME DAMAGED BY THE FLOODING?

>> ON TUESDAY IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT SOME FUNDING FROM SUBARU OF NEW ENGLAND WILL GO TOWARDS DECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM FOR MANUFACTURED HOMES DESTROYED BY THE FLOODING.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SIMILAR TO A PROGRAM THAT WAS STOOD UP AFTER TROPICAL STORM IRENE WHEN GOVERNOR SCOTT WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THAT.

BASICALLY IT WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR HOMES TO BE REMOVED FROM AT NO COST TO RESIDENTS.

THIS IS CERTAINLY GOOD NEWS.

I KNOW A LOT OF MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN WAITING ON ANY INDICATION OF WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR HOMES.

I'M ALSO HEARING THAT MANY ARE STILL GING THROUGH THE FEMA APPEALS PROCESS AND ARE BEING TOLD DON'T CHANGE THE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR HOME BEFORE YOU GET A FINAL DETERMINATION FROM FEMA.

DON'T GET RID OF IT YET.

SO PEOPLE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THAT INFORMATION BEFORE THEY TAKE THAT BIG STEP OF HAVING THEIR HOME REMOVED.

>> THAT IS A BIT OF AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION FOR THOSE POOR PEOPLE.

CERTAINLY STAY ON THAT STORY.

ONE MORE BIT ON THE FLOOD.

IT'S DOWN IN LUDLOW, ONE COMMUNITY HARDEST HIT BY THE FLOODING FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THEY ARE RACING TO REBUILD AND CALVIN THEY HAVE SOMETHING OF A LOOMING DEADLINE TO GET UP.

>> WE TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER WILL GET COLDER.

WE NEED TO BUTTON UP HOMES.

LUDLOW AND SURROUNDING AREA NEEDS TO REBUILD.

WE TALK ABOUT OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY OUR SKI INDUSTRY IS A HUGE ECONOMIC IN THE LUDLOW AREA.

IT BRINGS FROM 30 TO 40,000 PEOPLE EACH SKI SEASON TO THE AREA.

IT'S A HUGE ECONOMIC DRIVER.

THEY ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO REBUILD BUSINESSES, REBUILD ROADS.

GET THEIR WASTEWATER PLANT BACK ONLINE.

LAST WE HEARD IT'S OPERATING ABOUT 50% CAPACITY.

BUT AS WE CONTINUE TO TALLY THE TRUE COST, WHAT IMPACT THIS FLOOD IS GOING TO HAVE ON VERMONT, THE SKI INDUSTRY I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE FINGERS CROSSED THIS COMING YEAR.

>> THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR SCOTT WAS TALKING ABOUT TUESDAY TOO.

THIS GREENUP DAY.

THE FLOOD CLEANUP DAY, RATHER.

THE IDEA OF CLEANING UP PUBLIC SPACES TO MAKE 14UR THINGS LOOK GOOD AS WE HAVE FALL FOLIAGE SEASON COMING.

THERE'S THIS IDEA OF WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO REBUILD FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE WE ALSO HAVE TO CLEAN UP FOR THIS REALLY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF VERMONT, WHICH IS TOURISM.

>> CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE ALREADY HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THAT, LEAF SEASON AND SKI SEASON.

NONETHELESS.

LET'S MOVE ON FROM THE FLOOD FOR NOW.

IN BURLINGTON THIS WEEK THE BIG NEWS WAS AN AUDIT OF THE CITY'S RACIAL EQUITY DEPARTMENT.

THAT AUDIT FOCUSED ON SPENDING FOR THE CITY'S JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS IN 2021 AND 2022.

IT FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF THEFT OR FRAUD BUT DID FIND MISMANAGEMENT OR CARELESSNESS IN SPENDING FOR THE 2022 EVENT.

SASHA, THE BIG CONCERN FOR MANY WHO SPOKE OUT THIS WEEK, IT WASN'T ABOUT WHAT THE AUDIT FOUND BUT RATHER WHY IT WAS COMMISSIONED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THIS WAS AN AUDIT DONE OF A DEPARTMENT THAT WAS ONLY CREATED I THINK IN 2019, AND THE WOMAN WHO RAN IT, TYISHA GREEN, LEFT I THINK TWO YEARS AGO, TO GO TAKE A SIMILAR JOB IN MY POLICE, WHICH IS WHERE SHE'S FROM.

WHAT SPARKED THIS AUDIT WAS ISSUES SHE HAD HAD AT HER NEW JOB IN MINNEAPOLIS BURLINGTON MAYOR DECIDED MAYBE IT'S TIME TO LOOK BACK AND SEE HOW THE EVENTS IN 2021 AND 2022 WENT UNDER HER WATCH.

THAT IDEA OF TARGETING AND LOOKING AT A BLACK WOMAN WHO HAD RUN THIS DEPARTMENT AFTER HER DEPARTURE REALLY RUBBED PEOPLE THE WRONG WAY AS WE SAW WITH SOME PROTESTS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

THERE WERE SOME OF THE PEOPLE MENTIONED THAT THERE HAD BEEN OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS ACCUSED OF FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT INCLUDING GENE RICHARDS, WHO WAS AT THE BURLINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR MANY YEARS, ACCUSED OF USING THE GAS STATION TO FILL UP HIS PERSONAL CAR.

I THINK THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THAT THERE WAS BIAS, THAT REALLY THE MAYOR OWED TYISHA GREEN AN APOLOGY FOR ACTUALLY CONDUCTING THIS AUDIT.

THERE WAS SOME FINDING OF MISMANAGEMENT OR CARELESSNESS, SOBU THE OTHER POINT BEING THAT GREEN HAD LEFT FIVE -MONTHS BEFORE THE SECOND EVENT WAS HELD.

THE FIRST EVENT THAT SHE WAS THERE FOR WAS UNDER BUDGET.

AGAIN, THAT'S THE SORT OF ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP AROUND THIS AUDIT.

>> MAYOR WEINBERGER CAME IN FOR CRITICISM BOTH DURING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND AT A PROTEST OUTSIDE CITY HALL MONDAY.

>> THEY USED A LAWYER.

WHY DO YOU USE A LAWYER?

BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN AGENDA.

WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN SHE GOT INTERVIEWED I LISTENED.

AS BLACK WOMEN WE CAN'T TRUST THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR BACKS.

SO I'M TELLING YOU THAT IN THAT REPORT THERE ARE THINGS SHE DID NOT SAY.

IN THAT REPORT THERE ARE THINGS THAT SHE SHE DID SAY THAT THEO MITTED.

WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEED TO SIGN OFF ON CHECKS, REALLOCATE THINGS AT THE END OF A FISCAL YEAR?

IT DOES NOT FALL ON JUST THE DIRECTOR OF A DEPARTMENT.

>> MAYOR WEINBERGER BASICALLY SAT QUIETLY DURING THE MEETING MONDAY.

HE GAVE A STATEMENT TO WCAX, IN PART HE BELIEVES SOME OF THE ACCUSATIONS WERE ABHORRENT, PERSONAL ATTACKS.

THE MAYOR SAID TO WCAX, I'M AWARE THERE ARE SOME TRYING TO USE THIS REPORT TO ADVANCE THEIR OWN VILE AGENDAS AND I CONDEMN THAT.

I REJECT THAT.

THAT'S FROM THE MAYOR TO WCAX, COUPLE DAYS LATER.

>> SASHA, SEVEN DAYS THIS WEEK HAD A FASCINATING LOOK AT THE VERMONT STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH BUDGET DEFICITS, DECLINING ENROLLMENT.

THEY DESPERATELY NEED MORE STUDENTS FOR THIS ACADEMIC YEAR.

thS NOT LOOKING SO GOOD.

>> IT'S NOT.

YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT THIS IS A TREND WE HAVE SEEN FOR YEARS.

EVERYONE WILL READILY ADMIT THAT OUR IN-STATE POPULATION IS DWINDLING.

OUR POPULATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IS DWINDLING.

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO FILL THE SEATS, ESPECIALLY OF A VERMONT STATE COLLEGES SCHOOL WHICH RELIES HEAVILY ON IN-STATE STUDENTS.

SO THIS NEW VERMONT STATE UNIVERSITY WHICH ONLY WAS ESSENTIALLY REBRANDED ON JULY 1, NOW IS HEADING INTO ITS FIRST SEMESTER, THEY ARE LOOKING AT ENROLLMENT FIGURES ABOUT 20% LESS THAN THEY WERE LAST YEAR.

THAT'S A 5400 STUDENTS ENROLLED AT FOUR DIFFERENT CAMPUSES.

THAT'S A PRETTY SHARP DECLINE.

WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THAT THE STATE IS KICKING IN A LOT OF MONEY TO KEEP THE UNIVERSITY AFLOAT, BUT THOSE FIGURES ARE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE.

WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO DEPEND ON ARE STUDENTS.

SO THE SCHOOL IS MAKING EFFORTS TO FIND THOSE KIDS.

KIND OF EXPANDING WHERE THEY ARE DOING OUTREACH, BUT IT'S KIND OF TOUGH TO TELL AS WE PUT IT, IT'S THE BIG FIRST TEST FOR VERMONT STATE UNIVERSITY.

>> WE'RE ALL GETTING USED TO THE CONCEPT OF VERMONT STATE.

THIS IS THE FORMER COLLEGE THAT LYNDON JOHNSON RANDOLPH IN CASTLETON.

THE CONCERN HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS THAT SOME OF THESE CAMPUSES MIGHT END UP HAVING TO CLOSE, RIGHT?

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE HEARD WARNINGS ABOUT THIS.

>> NO.

THE FORMER CHANCELLOR, JEB SPAULDING UGGS, WAS ESSENTIALLY RUN OUT OF TOWN FOR HIS OPINIONS.

I THINK HE WAS PRESCIENT IN A WAY THIS MIGHT BE THE REALITY.

I THINK WE'RE SEEING SOME WAYS THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS TRYING TO CUT COSTS.

WE SAW THEM SELL A RADIO LICENSE RECENTLY.

WE SAW THEM SELL PART OF THE CAMPUS TO THE VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD WHICH I THINK WILL GENERATE SOME MONEY BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT ENOUGH NECESSARILY TO RAISE THE MONEY NEEDED.

OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING AT FACULTY AND STAFF REDUCTIONS.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REDUCTIONS BY ATTRITION BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE MAJOR CUTS TO FIGURE THIS THING OUT.

THEY DO -- THE UNIVERSITY AFTER KIND OF A PUBLIC RELATIONS NIGHTMARE WITH THIS LIBRARY ISSUE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WELL REPORTING EARLIER ON, THE PRESIDENT THEN RESIGNED AND THE STATE HAS SINCE TURNED TO VERY FAMILIAR FACE, MIKE SMITH, WHO IS KNOWN AS THE FIXER IN CHIEF.

HE HAS SAID REPEATEDLY THAT HE'S NOT PLANNING TO STAY BEYOND NOVEMBER.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE AS THIS SCHOOL YEAR GOES ON HOW IT DOES.

>> PERHAPS WE SHOULDN'T BE SO SURPRISED THAT A STATE THAT STRUGGLED WITH DECLINING K-12 ENROLLMENT FOR MANY YEARS IS SEEING IT TRICKLE UP TO THE COLLEGE SYSTEM.

>> A LITTLE HAPPY NEWS FOR THE HIGHER ED WORLD THIS WEEK.

CALVIN, SOME STUDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF VERMONT WILL BE PAYING A LOT LESS IN TUITION.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROGRAM I'M THINKING OF PART OF A STATE GRANT PROGRAM THAT THE LEGISLATURE I BELIEVE APPROVED THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN AN EFFORT TO NUMBER ONE GET MORE PEOPLE IN THE DOOR, GET MORE PEOPLE INTO THE TRADES, HELP OUR STATE COLLEGES AND ALSO GET PEOPLE AS I SAID INTO THE TRADES, HEATING, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, A LOT OF THESE REALLY CRITICAL CAREERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED IN THE STATE GOING FORWARD, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A PRETTY BIG BOON.

WE'LL SEE.

AS SASHA JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE TO WHAT DIFFERENCE AND WHAT DEGREE THAT WILL MAKE.

>> LET'S HEAR FROM LESLIE JOHNSON.

>> WE KNOW THAT FOLKS WHO WORK IN THESE FIELDS ARE MAKING WAGES THAT ARE NOT THE HIGHEST.

AND PART OF THE EQUATION TO INCREASING THOSE WAGES IS HIGHER EDUCATION.

STUDENTS, VERMONTERS, THEY ARE STAYING IN VERMONT.

SO THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS INVEST IN THEM AND HELP THEM BECOME REALLY GOOD EMPLOYERS.

THEY ARE NOT COMING IN FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND LEAVING.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, QUITE A HIGHER ED MENU FOR YOU TODAY.

ONE LAST STORY, BURLINGTON OFFICIALS HAVE LONG WANTED UVM TO DEVELOP MORE STUDENT HOUSING TO HELP EASE THE ACUTE HOUSING IN BURLINGTON.

>> I THINK ALL THESE ISSUES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE PART AND PARCEL FOR SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THE STATE IS FACING.

UVM IS BUILDING SOME HOUSING DOWN BY THE HIGHWAY THERE.

I GUESS THE EAST SIDE OF THE CAMPUS.

THEY ARE EXPECTING THAT THIS NEW BUILDING THAT THEY ARE PUTTING UP WILL HOUSE 540 UNDERGRAD STUDENTS.

BUT YES, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG-STANDING ISSUE WITH UVM, BURLINGTON, UVM STUDENTS MUST LIVE ON CAMPUS IN THEIR FIRST YEAR BUT MAYBE SECOND YEAR, BUT AFTER THAT THEY SORT OF OFF INTO BURLINGTON AND AS WE HAVE SEEN THAT'S REALLY CRUNCHED THE HOUSING STOCK.

THE CITY HAS FOR A LONG TIME URGED UVM TO BUILD MORE HOUSING ON ITS CAMPUS.

LOOKS LIKE THAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

ANOTHER INTERESTING THING THERE IS THAT UVM WANTS TO RESEASON ITS TRINITY CAMPUS SO IT CAN BUILD MORE HOUSING THERE AS WELL, WHICH YOU WOULD THINK THE CITY WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF.

THERE'S A CONCERN THERE THAT THEY WOULD BUILD THAT AND THEY WOULD OFFER IT FOR FIRST AND SECOND YEAR STUDENTS WHO WOULD THEN MOVE OFF CAMPUS INTO THE CITY PROPER.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE REALLY INTRICATE ISSUES THAT THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR FOR A LONG TIME.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOWERING ENROLLMENT AT SOME OF THE OTHER COLLEGES.

UVM'S IS GROWING SLIGHTLY EVERY YEAR.

THEY ARE RELYING MORE ON OUT OF STATE STUDENTS, HUGE NUMBER.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT 80% OF UVM IS OUT OF STATE STUDENTS.

BUT THIS HOUSING NEWS OBVIOUSLY THE CITY IS EXCITED ABOUT IT.

I THINK UVM IS AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CARLY, BRIEFLY, JUST IN TIME FOR THE START OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN COVID.

>> IT'S TRUE.

THE STATE JUST RECORDED OVER 1,000 DEATHS FROM COVID SINCE "MARCH" OF 2020.

THAT NEWS CAME THIS WEEK.

FOUR OF THOSE WERE REPORTED JUST THIS AUGUST.

WE'RE SEEING A RISE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS AS WELL AS THE STATE HAD 25 COVID HOSPITAL ADMIN IS IN THE PAST WEEK UP FROM 16 THE WEEK BEFORE.

SEVEN TO TEN IN THE WEEKS PRIOR TO THAT.

THERE'S A NEW VARIANT CIRCULATING.

I KNOW ANECDOTALLY I'M HEARING MORE FOLKS -- >> MORE COWORKERS, PERHAPS?

>> NO, IT'S TRUE.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S GUIDANCE, WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AN UPTICK OR A TREND.

IT SURE SEEMS LIKE IT'S BACK.

WE ARE GOING TO END THIS SHOW TODAY WITH A REMEMBRANCE.

AHMED OMAR WAS THE YOUNGEST OF 14 CHILDREN.

HE SPENT SIX YEARS OF HIS CHILDHOOD IN A REFUGEE CAMP IN KENYA AFTER HIS FAMILY FLED SOMALIA DURING A CIVIL WAR.

IN THE EARLY 2000s OMAR ARRIVED IN VERMONT AND HE NEVER STOPPED WORKING.

HE LEARNED ENGLISH.

HE GOT A JOB AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT IN BURLINGTON.

HE TOOK COOKING CLASSES, HE WORKED IN CATERING, HE GOT INTO CULINARY SCHOOL AND IN 2019 OPENED A RESTAURANT.

IT'S RIGHT UP THE ROAD FROM OUR STUDIO.

OMAR SERVED ITALIAN INFLUENCED SOMALI FOOD WHICH CUSTOMERS ENJOYED ALMOST AS MUCH AS GETTING TO SPEND MOMENTS WITH HIM.

HE DIED UNEXPECTEDLY THIS WEEK.

HE WAS 36.

HE LEAVES BEHINDS A WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN.

OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THEM.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO OUR PANELISTS, SASHA GOLDSTEIN FROM SEVEN DAYS.

CALVIN CUTLER FROM WCAX.

CARLY BERLIN FROM VTDIGGER AND VERMONT PUBLIC.

I'M MARK DAVIS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.