The debate over same-sex marriage may have been emotional, but it’s got nothing on the ongoing disc-golf fracas in Burlington.

Yes, you read it right — disc golf. Not gay disc golf, but disc golf, which entails tossing specially designed Frisbees into a chain basket.... Read more

Just days after the historic veto override that made same-sex marriages legal in Vermont, it was back to business as usual under Montpelier’s Golden Dome.

Legislative Democrats and Gov. Jim Douglas continue to be far apart on how to shore up the state budget — Dems are looking at cuts, layoffs and tax increases, while Douglas is fine with cuts and layoffs.... Read more

Well, there you have it. Vermont has become the first state in the nation — once again — to advance the civil rights of gays and lesbians.

The state that introduced civil unions to a world not ready for “gay marriage” became the first state in the country to enact same-sex marriage without a court order. Hey, Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh: Bring on the boycotts. In the end, love always wins out.... Read more

Can House leaders scare up more than 100 votes in order to override Gov. Jim Douglas’ promised veto of the same-sex marriage bill?

That’s the question of the week, and one that will surely test the leadership of freshman House Speaker Shap Smith (D-Morrisville).... Read more

Vermont’s on the “right side of history.” That was the phrase heard most often under the Golden Dome in anticipation of Monday’s historic 26-4 Senate vote in favor of same-sex marriage.

Nine years ago, throngs of vocal opponents swamped the statehouse email server and crowded its hallways. Monday only a handful of opponents sat somberly in the Senate chamber.... Read more

Plenty of challenges came up at the presidential health-care forum on Tuesday at the University of Vermont’s Davis Center. But here’s an outrage that didn’t make the agenda: Papers filed with state regulators show that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont’s outgoing top exec recently walked away with a golden parachute valued at more than $6.3 million.... Read more

Another Town Meeting Tuesday, another set of election results arriving too late for the “Fair Game” column. You think elections could be held on Sunday or Monday to give Seven Days time to write about them in Wednesday’s paper? Just an idea.... Read more

Election addendum below... Scroll down.

Divestiture from South Africa. Diversity. Livable wages. Union organizing. Hazing. These are some of the issues raised by staff, faculty and students that have tested University of Vermont presidents — and eventually brought down three of them.

Today’s question is: Can UVM Prez Dan Fogel avoid the mistakes that sank his predecessors, as calls increase for top university execs to take pay cuts to avoid layoffs?... Read more

Burlington Democrats are poised to regain control of a city council and mayor’s office snatched from their hands nearly three decades ago.... Read more

He’s been the invisible candidate in Burlington’s mayoral contest — until now.

Last week Jonathan Leopold, who serves as the city’s chief administrative officer and is seen by Mayor Bob Kiss critics as the shadow mayor, raised concerns in a newspaper article that mayoral challenger and Democratic City Councilor Andy Montroll had a potential conflict of interest.... Read more