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Education and Enrichment for Everyone: Artificial Intelligence - The Birth of a New Era 04/05/2024

Presented by Sergio Tenreiro de Magalhaes, PhD, Chief Learning Officer, Associate Professor and Chair of Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics, Champlain College.

For more information visit: eeevermont.org

Total Solar Eclipse in Vermont 2024: Totality Talks: Omens from Above - A Curious History of Eclipses as Signs 04/05/2024

From OBSCURA:

Exploring the history of solar eclipses across time and space, this illustrated lecture by UVM's Paul Deslandes discusses the many ways in which natural phenomena might be read culturally as signs of divine displeasure, as portentous omens, or as curious strokes of luck. Ranging chronologically from the ancient Greek world to the present, this lecture examines how reactions to solar eclipses in the past provide us with intriguing glimpses into belief systems, historical worldviews, and the human relationship with the natural world.

For more information visit: https://loveburlington.org/obscura-burlington/

Total Solar Eclipse in Vermont 2024: Totality Talks: Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Eclipses 04/04/2024

From OBSCURA:

An eclipse is as much a socio-cultural phenomenon as it is a natural one. From portents of evil and chaos to causes for celebration or consumer marketing opportunities, the cultural meanings of eclipses have varied widely across time and place, reflecting variations of world view and religion, celestial knowledge, social relationships, and preoccupations of the moment. In this engaging lecture, UVM environmental anthropologist and professor, Luis Vivanco, explores the powerful role of cultural meaning and social context in shaping human experiences of eclipse.

For more information visit: https://loveburlington.org/obscura-burlington/

CCTV Archives: 40 Year Anniversary Compilation of the Fletcher Free Library 04/03/2024

A brief look through archival footage of the Fletcher Free Library over the years.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - Walkthrough of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 04/03/2024

Walkthrough of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law at the House Committee on Government Operations.

On Wednesday, the House Government Operations and Military Affairs committee had a walkthrough of S.55 from legislative counsel and began taking testimony on the bill. During the bill walkthrough, Representative Hango asked many questions about hybrid meeting requirements, in person location requirements, and how the bill would practically be put into effect. The committee then took testimony from Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State; Ted Brady, League of Cities and Towns; Carol Dawes, Clerk-Treasurer of Barre City; Catherine Dimitruk, Vermont Association of Planning & Development Agencies; Devon Neary, Rutland Regional Planning Commission; and Wendy Mays, Vermont Association of Broadcasters. Each witness largely supported the bill as passed by the Senate but expressed a desire to refine certain language (testimony linked below outlines exact asks - Lauren Hibbert did not submit testimony). Chair McCarthy said the committee would continue to take testimony on the bill next Tuesday, including diving into sections related to the working group. He also said the committee may choose to break into smaller working groups or subcommittees and do outreach to other stakeholders - he anticipated the committee would continue doing work on this bill for many coming weeks. Below are links to the bill as passed, a chart showing requirements for the different kinds of public bodies, written testimony, and a start of walkthrough and testimony.

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

Protest Aid To Israel at Representative Becca Balint's Office 04/03/2024

Community member Duncan Nichols and others host a three-day demonstration - sleeping outside in tents for three days in front of Representative Becca Balint's office - to protest aid to Israel.

Governor Phil Scott: Press Conference - State's Preparations for the Solar Eclipse 04/03/2024

From the Office of Governor Scott:

Governor Phil Scott and Administration officials hold their weekly press conference.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Floor - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 04/02/2024

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

On Tuesday, on the House Floor the bill passed on a voice vote with an amendment from Representative Simms.

H.657, As Passed by House:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/H-0657/H-0657%20As%20Passed%20by%20the%20House%20Unofficial.pdf

Simms Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/H.657~Committee~Sims%20Amendment~4-2-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Republican Caucus - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 04/02/2024

Discussion of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees at the House Republican Caucus.

On Tuesday, the House Republican Caucus met and briefly discussed Representative Peterson’s amendment.

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

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 04/02/2024

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

On Tuesday, Rep. Peterson offered an amendment to H.657 in House Ways & Means and House Energy & Environment, to offer more protections to phone company copper lines that might be affected by the bill’s Right of Way charges on internet service providers (twisted pair copper lines would be exempt under the amendment, as opposed to coaxial cable or fiber optic lines). The amendment was found unfavorable by HWM (7-2-3) and HEE (10-1-1), but they did decide to offer a new, separate floor amendment in the House to change an instance of wording in the bill, to clarify language that the Right of Way fee is charged on all physical infrastructure (changing “DSL,” which is a service, to “twisted pair copper,” which denotes the physical lines). The HWM vote on this change was favorable 9-0-3.

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

Featured Story

CCTV Receives NEH Grant to Support Community Archives

CCTV Center for Media & Democracy is pleased to announce receipt of a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grant alongside 32 peer archival institutions across the country. This $49,927 grant award will support efforts to preserve and expand access to audio/visual community history materials in the CCTV Archives. Read more about this opportunity here!