After spending four weeks back in your home state, you’ve got some catching up to do on Vermont news. Here’s a roundup of some of the most notable changes in the Green Mountain State from the close of 2015 through the first weeks of 2016:

 

• Vermont senate introduces a bill to legalize growing and using marijuana recreationally starting in July 2016, and buying marijuana in clubs and stored the following year.
• There was a fatal shooting on December 27^th on lower Church St., Burlington, outside of Zen Lounge, a popular nightclub. The incident occurred after an argument between two men began within the club. While reasons for the dispute are unclear, the shooter was tipped off to be a New York gang member with a hefty criminal history. It is suspected that the victim was involved with drug trafficking. Zen lounge is now under scrutiny for its historical lack of cooperation with Burlington Police.
• Vermont Gas Systems got the green light to build a controversial 41-mile natural gas pipeline from Colchester to Middlebury, VT. Opponents of the pipeline are asking the state Public Service Board to reconsider.
• Vermont utility regulators signed off on a 1,000 megawatt transmission line to be run underneath Lake Champlain, connecting Canada’s renewable electricity to southern New England.
• Vermont Governor, Peter Shumlin, 59, married partner, Kate Hunt, 31, in a small ceremony in their home. The couple announced their engagement in September.
• Franklin County Sen. Norm McAllister was suspended from the Vermont senate over sexual assault charge. He is currently awaiting trial.
• The Vermont Comedy Club opened on Main St. in Burlington this past November, and has since proven to hit the ground running, drawing sold-out crowds, commencing weekly open mic nights, and even having nationally-recognized comics, such as Gilbert Gottfried and Rachel Feinstein.