.David Zuckerman tells supporters he's made a concession call to Phil Scott for Vermont, and congratulated him on his victory

Bradford Rep. Sarah @copelandhanzas says she 'will likely step forward to run for Speaker,' if Mitzi Johnson's narrow defeat stands after a recount in Grand Isle-Chittenden district. Copeland Hanzas is first House lawmaker to announce intention to run #vtpoli

Hey #VT! @vprnet is working on a story about workplace safety in the age of COVID-19. If you’ve experienced unsafe working conditions at your job, I’d love to hear your story. Please message me here, or give me a text/call at 734-3749.

Heavy police presence in Montpelier today, where Governor Phil Scott will be sworn in on the Statehouse steps 30 minutes from now. Cruisers have blocked all vehicle traffic from streets abutting the Statehouse lawn, and dozens of law enforcement officials are patrolling the grounds

A little before 10 here at the Statehouse, and not a soul in sight yet. I’m guessing no one’s happier about the 6+ inches of heavy snow that’s fallen in central Vermont over the last 24 hours than Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling...

Inbox: Governor Phil Scott, Commissioner of Health Mark Levine, and Commissioner of Financial Regulation Mike Pieciak have all tested negative for COVID-19. Negative tests mark end of quarantine for all three, who’d been isolating since potential exposure at COVID briefing last Tuesday

NEW: After massive outcry from #VT's largest labor unions, House Speaker Jill Jill Krowinski says lawmakers' are postponing controversial pension reforms until 2022. Krowinski says Legislature will assign task force to develop a plan for lawmakers to consider next session #vtpoli

Just days into the school year, and COVID is already disrupting in-person learning at some #VT schools. According to an email sent to families yesterday, East Montpelier Elementary School will go to remote learning for rest of the week after 2 COVID cases identified at the school

.VT Dept of Health now reporting 174 cases of COVID ‘while infectious’ in k-12 schools over the past 7 days. That’s the highest weekly total in #VT schools since the beginning of the pandemic, and 50% more cases than the previous weekly record of 115, which occurred back in April

The view from the press section at Room 11 in the #VT Statehouse right now, where Sen. Patrick Leahy will announce his political plans at 10 a.m. this morning. You can listen live to Leahy’s speech @vprnet

A rundown on Sen. Patrick Leahy’s media plans for the day, from his staffers:

Now official: Sen. Patrick Leahy will not seek a 9th term in the U.S. Senate

.Sen. Patrick Leahy says it’s ‘time to put the gavel down... It’s time to come home.’

He’s said it before and he’ll probably have to say it again, but Governor Phil Scott’s spokespeople said today that there is zero chance that Phil Scott runs for US Senate or US House in 2022

.Governor Phil Scott has signed legislation passed by the Legislature yesterday that allows #VT municipalities to enact local mask mandates

Decent turnout for Becca Balint election night party in downtown Brattleboro. Supporters increasingly amped as results roll in, and Balint herself will deliver a speech after the race is called

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Gerald Malloy has arrived at the VTGOP’s election night party at the Elks Lodge in Barre. Malloy’s hoping his endorsement from former President Donald Trump will energize the MAGA base in VT

No one’s dancing at the VTGOP’s election night shindig YET. But the DJ is doing his absolute damndest to make it happen.

VT lawmakers asked the RAND Corporation to figure out how much more public funding the state would have to contribute to ensure that every family has access to high-quality, affordable child care. In a report out today, RAND pegs cost at $179M-$279m a year rand.org/pubs/research_…

We’ve got some great candidates in the current voting round for Brave Little State. Should we tackle flood recovery? Or the recruiting crisis at local EMS agencies? Or how many VTers make a living off YouTube? Please let us know what you think! vermontpublic.org/podcast/brave-…