University of Vermont

A Vermont experiment involves infecting 5,300 American elms with Dutch elm disease to identify disease-tolerant trees, aiming to restore the endangered species and support ecosystems and flood mitigation. The project, led by the Nature Conservancy and University of Vermont, could produce the largest genetically diverse population of resistant elms in over a century.

A proposed Office of Management and Budget rule could jeopardize federal funding for research and programs in Vermont, including medical research at the University of Vermont and rural hospital funding. The rule would subject federal grants to review by political appointees aligning them with presidential priorities, potentially disrupting peer-reviewed processes and impacting over one-third of Vermont’s state budget reliant on federal funds.

Kevin Bloom, a music studio operator with no law enforcement background, challenges Dan Gamelin, a former deputy with over 40 years of experience, in the Chittenden County sheriff Democratic primary. Bloom criticizes traditional sheriff duties and seeks to redirect the role toward unpaid public service, while Gamelin emphasizes expanding his department's size and revenue.

Natural causes, particularly insects, disease, and extreme weather, now surpass logging as the primary driver of tree mortality in Northeastern forests, including Vermont, according to a University of Vermont study. Insects like the emerald ash borer, which damages ash trees, have become a significant threat, exacerbated by climate change. Forest health experts emphasize management strategies to mitigate these impacts.

Emily Bruce's lab at the University of Vermont discovered that the Rab11B protein is critical for H3N2 flu virus infection, challenging the long-held belief that sialic acid is the primary binding point. This accidental finding could lead to more targeted antiviral treatments for influenza.