Burlington's Old North End is full of restaurants and shops opened by refugees. Our environmental reporter is Mike Polhamus. Employees at Ben & Jerrys Burlington store celebrate companys commitment to fair union negotiations, Rachel Smolker: PUC snuffs out a chance to weigh in on a flawed pipeline, Kelsey Wentling: What FirstLight wont be doing for the next 10 years, Jennifer Durgin: Climate activists and evangelicals can be allies. ", Although Louras said the planning "maybe could have been handled a little better," he insisted that if he could do it all over again, he wouldn't change anything. A key part of the plan is allowing refugees from Syria and other Middle East countries to infiltrate America, confiscate land, and set up fundamentalist Islamic control. Louras wielded an "AR-15-style" gun, Trudeau said. "Ten years in office has tempered my style a little, and it hasn't tempered Chris," said Lauzon, adding that he would have handled the refugee situation differently. He's loved by his girl friend, Lauren Stacey; mother Crystal King; sister Hannah Lamarche; father and stepmother Chris and Judy Louras; brothers Augie, Ian and Justin Louras; and grandparents Ruth and Gus Louras and Mary King. Kelly Clarkson's Home Collection Is Up to 74% Off During Way Day Deals, The Best Wayfair Way Day Deals 2023 Starting at $30, Wayfair's Way Day Sale Includes Up to 60% Off Outdoor Furniture Here's What to Shop ASAP, Amazon Has So Many Good Mother's Day Gifts on Sale Right Now. "Not a lot I can learn from that guy!" Before he got into politics, he was in the Army. Andrew Todd, now with the Vermont State Police, also accused Rutland police officers of racially profiling drug suspects, carrying on inappropriate relationships with female confidential informants and drinking on duty. But that didn't mean they understood why 55-year-old Louras would risk his reputation, and possibly his job, for this. These days, however, politics are notably absent from his private sector job managing a local distribution business. Footage from a police cruisers dashboard camera, obtained by NECN Tuesday, shows a chase through a popular shopping areas parking lot in downtown Rutland on Oct. 8. The Vermont State Police responded to the scene to continue the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. This, along with support from the local fire department who had their own beef with Louras was enough to oust the incumbent mayor in March 2017. Critics worried about how the city would pay for a large influx of new residents. There's an internal report documenting problems in the Rutland Police Department, but Louras did not release it to the public when news of Todd's lawsuit broke. justified under the states self-defense rules, which consider someone Champlain St. Ste. And thats where I went.". Like his predecessors dating back to the 1970s, Louras has focused on Rutland's economy, which started declining when local industries mills, quarries and a railroad shut down. "I have to imagine there's at least one or two people considering a run against him, thinking he's shot himself in the foot here, either for bringing in the refugees or the close-to-his-chest nature," predicted Notte. For that, I am eternally grateful to these officers and thank them for their actions, Kennedy said. "Now should I be looking at the positive? Louras is adamantly opposed to a vote. Louras alleges that many of those finding fault with the "process" are being disingenuous: Their real objection, he said, is to the idea of welcoming refugees to Rutland. The discovery came as investigators followed up on a police shootout in Rutland earlier that day, that left his cousin, Christopher Louras, 33, of Rutland, dead. Louras makes $72,000 a year compared to Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger's $94,000. VRRP never announces refugee arrivals in Burlington or Winooski. 255 So. At 91, he still goes to work every day at Sam Frank Distributors in downtown Rutland. You have permission to edit this article. He keeps a model of the chopper in his city hall office along with a crushing amount of paper piled on the desk, floor and coffee table and couch. 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After Alderwoman Sharon Davis slammed him and the crowd erupted in applause, he assured a reporter, "Nothing I haven't heard before.". Mayor Allaire voiced his full support for the men and women of the Rutland Police Department, and thanked them for their work in a high-stress and highly dangerous situation to prevent further loss of life. Need more info? Investigators concluded all four officers acted appropriately. 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There is no bigger advocate for the city of Rutland." Louras emitted a high-pitched laugh as he watched, shaking his head. Separately, Chris Louras mother, Crystal King, told NBC5, that she and Chris grandmother, Mary, loved the young man dearly and miss him every day. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "Agenda 21," Louras casually explained to a puzzled visitor. I can't get past the recognition of how much more it could have impacted Rutland had it continued," Louras said. Louras' right forearm sports a red cross with a blood drop the result of a promise he made in 2013 to get a tattoo if Rutland broke the national record for one-day donations to a Red Cross blood drive. Cindy Seager. Other communities, large and small,. Donovan and Rutland County States Attorney Rose Kennedy both said they wont charge the four officers who returned fire. When he was still mayor in April 2016, Louras announced the city would become Vermonts newest resettlement community and welcome 100 mostly Syrian refugees, with more expected to follow. Make a one-time, tax-deductible donation to our spring campaign by May 12. People take that for what it is genuine.". With the crisis in war-torn Syria, which has prompted millions of displaced people to flee to Europe, the VRRP is upping that number to 400. The Vermont State Police learned that a mans body was discovered off of Vermont Route 53, also known as Lake Dunmore Road, in Salisbury. Two Buildings That Straddle the Canadian Border Bedevil Tenants and a Health Inspector, 7. Chance of rain 80%. More than 30 languages are spoken in Winooski, and more than 40 percent of Winooski High School students were born outside the U.S. Smathers, who is now the director of the Rutland Free Library, said he fully supported the idea of bringing in refugees. 2023 Once you open that door, thats it, we're going to have to take hundreds of them, said Dave Trapeni, who had run against Louras in a previous mayoral race. Christopher Louras was mayor of Rutland for a decade, president of the citys board of aldermen, and served two years as a state representative. Online comments may return when we have better tech tools for managing them. that is degrading to another person. While we champion free speech, facts are a matter of life and death during the coronavirus pandemic, and right now Seven Days is prioritizing the production of responsible journalism over moderating online debates between readers. And also how aging impacts the stuff of life: marriage, loss, dating and sex. post your service, apartments ", "I would have preferred more advance notice. Louras privately lobbied the VRRP to choose Rutland, then spent months quietly laying the groundwork for the refugees' arrival without seeking approval from the board of alderman, or even telling most city officials what he was up to. Drugs are believed to be a factor in the Louras cousins' deaths, but the AG wouldn't discuss t. There will be no criminal charges filed against four Vermont police officers who shot and killed the son of Rutlands former mayor back in October, after he led them on a chase and opened fire on the officers first.GET THE LATEST: Download the MyNBC5 appFootage from a police cruisers dashboard camera, obtained Tuesday, shows a chase through a popular shopping areas parking lot in downtown Rutland on Oct. 8.After getting stuck on railroad tracks, the driver gets out and can be seen shooting at officers, who return fire.NBC5 chose not to broadcast or publish the moment 33-year-old Christopher Louras is struck by police bullets.Louras was the son of Rutlands former longtime mayor, also named Chris Louras. Peter Miller, Iconic Vermont Photographer, Dies at 89, 3. While weve appreciated the suggestions and insights, the time has come to shut them down at least temporarily. VTDigger publishes stories about Vermont environmental issues, including water quality, toxic waste, climate change and biodiversity. It. It is unclear if a public vote will happen, or, if it does, whether anyone in power will care about its result. It wouldn't be because of taxes. Cloudy with showers. The city had become a defacto property manager, picking up the garbage and mowing lawns. But at times, he has had little to say about what's gone wrong on his watch. ((Nats car crash)) After getting stuck on railroad tracks- the driver gets out, shooting at officers. When he first left city hall, Louras worked briefly as a union representative, then for his family business, a tobacco and candy wholesaler in Rutland that the family recently sold after 75 years. It's a moving message, but Louras didn't think it would play well with the public. Christopher George Louras RUTLAND In memory of Christopher George Louras, a gathering for friends and family will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, at his That landed him at a number of large military bases in Texas, Alabama and Kentucky before the 1991 Gulf War. ", "How much pushback do you need?" Earlier that morning, police said, Louras fired multiple times into the front entrance of the citys police station before he was spotted about 90 minutes later and exchanged fire with the officers. Police said Christopher Louras shot through the front door of the Rutland City Police Department early on Oct. 8, 2019. Commissioners refused; Bossi resigned in 2012. Well check it out and report the results. "There's not a successful, vibrant and growing community in the country that hasn't embraced New Americans.". After the brief chase, the officers drew their own guns, striking Louras nine times, with a fatal wound to the head, according to prosecutors who discussed their probe of the case during a news conference Tuesday in Rutland. He then attended the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, MA. Refugees, once they legally enter the country, can live wherever they want. "It was an itch I had to scratch," he said. "It does not paint a pretty picture," Louras said. Nicholas R. Louras RUTLAND Nicholas R. Louras, 34, of Rutland died unexpectedly in Salisbury on October 8, 2019. Controversy erupted, and Taylor returned to document it. Thanks for reading. From Rutland High School, he went straight to the University of Vermont, where he graduated with a political science degree in 1982. The former mayors late son is also suspected of killing his Literally. both said they wont charge the four officers who returned fire. At the same time, local employers like GE were complaining about the citys shrinking workforce. We have too many things on our plate already. Following high school, he served in the US Air Force in the Korean War as an Airplane Mechanic. He is the son of former Rutland Mayor Christopher Louras who served five two-year terms as the citys top elected official. RUTLAND, Vt (NEWS10) Police officers in Rutland, Vermont shot and killed a man they say fired shots at the Rutland City Police Department building Tuesday morning then drove off. However, Donovan This has been a tragic event for our community, and of course, personally for my family, said Mayor Dave Allaire, Rutlands current mayor, who is related by marriage to his predecessor at city hall and to both of the Louras cousins who died, Nick and Chris. Louras has given very few interviews since he left office in 2017. A bitter divorce left him with full custody of the couple's two sons (who now have two young stepsiblings the result of Louras' second marriage, to Judith). ((JACK THURSTON: The former mayor's late son is also suspected ((MAYOR DAVE ALLAIRE / Rutland, VT: 12:18: this has been a tragic event for our community, and of course, personally for my family.)) Mr. Louras is survived by a brother, Gus Louras, of Rutland and a sister, Marie Louras, of Rutland. The construction of Interstate 89 50 miles to the north contributed to the city's isolation. for sale by owner Ben Cohens Cannabis Company Tries to Undo the Harm of the War on Drugs, 5. Police are investigating the death as a possible homicide, along with potential links to the subsequent shooting at the Rutland Police Department and events occuring in a parking lot off Evelyn Street near the railroad tracks downtown. Sen. Peg Flory (R-Rutland), who was then House minority leader, said Louras was "intense." At foreclosure auctions, some four-bedroom homes have sold for less than $20,000. Tuesday the A.G. and the Rutland County State's Attorney announced they won't charge the four officers who returned fire: three from Rutland Both prosecutors praising police for facing a threat with bravery before anyone else was hurt. We cover state elections, the Vermont Legislature, the governors office, state agencies and major political parties. Louras had a wife and kids by then, but the marriage broke up after the war. Louras had cruised to reelection five times. Although the two remain close, she said, "When he makes up his mind, he goes full bore. 219 likes. Chris Louras shot up the police station on Wales Street around 5:30 a.m., firing multiple times into the buildings front entrance and then fleeing the scene. He was born in Rutland, Oct. 8, 1985 the son of Nicholas Constantinos and Julie Ann (Sharrow) Louras. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WPTZ-TV. "Ask any employer in town. homes for sale Deployed to Saudi Arabia for the duration of the six-month conflict, his job was to ferry military equipment into Iraq and transport prisoners of war out. An off-duty officer spotted the suspect car about an hour-and-a-half later, and a police chase ensued through the Rutland City Plaza. Rutland and Burlington are the only two Vermont cities in which an elected mayor functions as the day-to-day chief executive officer. All Rights Reserved.Funeral Home Website by Batesville | Funeral Planning and Grief Resources. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Be Truthful. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, They walked away from the homes we had squatters," Louras said. Concluding that he's a "technocrat, not a politician," he returned to Rutland and rebranded himself as a nonpartisan fixer. They want to give the best possible future to their children because they lost everything.". "And we don't do that in America.". A firefight broke out between the suspect and police, during which the suspect was hit. "We don't have a jobs problem," Louras said. After getting stuck on railroad tracks, the driver gets out and can be seen shooting at officers, who return fire. Vermont-Based Feds Pursue Fraud Claims Against Health Records Company, Newport Prison Superintendent Removed From Post, Former Rutland mayor Christopher C. Louras. To criticize, correct or praise our reporting, please send us a letter to the editor. A French Private Equity Firm Owns Six Vermont Childcare Centers, a Possible Harbinger of Things to Come, Vermont Senate Backs Expansion of 'Death With Dignity' Law, Burlington Ballot Proposes Big Changes in City Election Rules, Burlington Considers Kicking Fossil Fuels to the Curb, A resident reading a flier about resettlement, by Mark Davis, Chelsea Edgar and Ken Picard. For that, Louras is supposed to answer for the actions of city employees including the police. "It dilutes American culture; it sucks up welfare; it creates crime and racial and ethnic animosity.". Louras was one of only two Republicans who signed onto the bill, which former Republican governor Jim Douglas vetoed. If I had been brought in on the front end of this and had been given the information that apparently a select few of the elites had been given, I would have guaranteed the vetting process was thorough and there would be a program laid out about how these people would assimilate; I would have been at the front of the line welcoming them with open arms. Louras said he was trying to stick up for local agriculture. bravery before anyone else was hurt. 33-year-old Christopher Louras is struck by police bullets. The name of the man found in Salisbury will be released following notification of his family and further investigation. He served 10 years active duty, maintaining and test flying CH-47 Chinook helicopters. Yourcontribution will be matched! In the wake of Louras's announcement, that theory appears to have gained a toehold in Rutland. High 57F. From 2014-2020, Seven Days allowed readers to comment on all stories posted on our website. Separately, Chris Louras's mother says she and his grandmother loved her son dearly and miss him every day. She warned of increasing costs for city schools. Police later located the white Ford Focus around 7 a.m. near the Walmart in the downtown shopping plaza. Louras got in line. ", Not a bit," Louras said. And he felt local residents should have been allowed to vote on the matter. The younger Louras, Vermonts attorney general said, was in a mental health crisis when he shot seven times at officers, as well as at the entrance of the Rutland City Police Department.After the brief chase, the officers drew their own guns, striking Louras nine times, with a fatal wound to the head, according to prosecutors who discussed their probe of the case during a news conference Tuesday in Rutland.We consider this matter now closed, announced Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan, who added that he does not consider the way Louras died to be the way the totality of his life should be judged.Donovan and Rutland County States Attorney Rose Kennedy both said they wont charge the four officers who returned fire. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Make a one-time, tax-deductible donation to our spring campaign by May 12. Drugs are believed to be a factor in the Louras cousins deaths, as Gov. He was born in Rutland, Vermont April 4, 1934, the son of Christopher and Esther (Ladue) Webber, Sr. John married his wife of 35 years Kathleen (Kurdeka) Webber in 1966. This has been a tragic event for our community, and of course, personally for my family, said Mayor Dave Allaire, Rutlands current mayor, who is related by marriage to his predecessor at city hall and to both of the Louras cousins who died, Nick and Chris. If all goes well, backers say, this will not be a one-off event: Rutland will take its place alongside Burlington and Winooski and welcome a new batch of refugees every year. Although his parents weren't much into politics, his uncle Peter Louras had served for years on the board. Vermont State Police say Louras drove by the police station around 5:30 a.m. and fired . The date, time and location of his death is listed as October 2019/unknown, according to the document. Drugs are believed to be a factor in the Louras cousins own cousin, Nicholas Louras, before that shootout with police. After a one-time payment of $925, plus minimal language, housing and employment assistance, more than 80 percent of refugees meet the federal definition of "self-sufficient" within a year of arriving in Vermont. Louras brought this no-nonsense style to city hall, but not everyone loved it. We've chosen to freeze the video before it shows 33- year-old Christopher Louras fall after getting struck by police bullets. The citys Project Vision program has been working on Theres no way we can possibly afford this.. Instead, he says "people with an R next to their name," or "guy with a D next to his name." Following high school, he served in the US Air Force in the Korean War as an Airplane Mechanic. Our education reporter is Tiffany Pache. VTDigger regularly publishes stories about Vermont politics. President Donald Trump has capped U.S. refugee admissions for fiscal year 2018 at 45,000 people.Amila Merdzanovic, director of the Vermont Refugee, The Burlington area is a hub for refugees and immigrants in Vermont, but area officials and businesses are concerned about this population shrinking., announced the city would become Vermonts newest resettlement community, announced Vermont would open its doors to Syrian refugees. He said he's grateful to have the job. I kid him about it. A constant presence at municipal meetings and other local gatherings, he doubles as the city's public relations director. He was clearly struggling to contain himself. Life is fragile, and we need to hold our loved ones tight, Allaire said at Tuesdays news conference. However, Donovan wouldnt discuss that while the murder investigation is still underway in Addison County. In 1998, Louras ran for a seat in the Vermont House of Representatives as a Republican and lost by 115 votes to Democrat Diane Carrol. Rutland Nicholas N. Louras, 89, passed away on November 12, 2016 at Rutland Regional Medical Center.Nick Louras was born July 2, 1927, in Rutland, son of Nicholas and Amalia (Alexandrides) Louras. I got smoked, Louras admitted the day after the election. Mayor Chris Louras Rutland and Burlington are the only two Vermont cities in which an elected mayor functions as the day-to-day chief executive officer. post your service, apartments Vermont State Police, the agency heading the investigation in both deaths, have not released any information in either case since Thursday. Trapeni was incensed at what he called the secrecy of the way resettlement was rolled out. And for someone who was very much in the public eye, he's not anymore. "Rutland has been addressing our issues, and, having turned our community around, this is the next logical step to embrace New Americans and enjoy the economic and cultural benefits that level of diversity will provide," Louras said in an earlier interview. The citys Project Vision program has been working on improving the quality of life and addressing drug concerns in Rutland for years now. Both prosecutors praised police for facing a threat with He got on the city's 11-member governing board but had bigger ambitions. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. People are highly motivated. "The way it was handled in the fall of 2015 and the spring of 2016 was the only way it could have been handled in order to get the three families we did into Rutland.". VTDigger covers criminal justice issues including Vermont legal issues, Vermont courts and the Vermont Department of Corrections. Although he opposes marijuana legalization and other lefty causes, Louras has endorsed high-profile Democrats, including Gov. "I've got voters who invited that guy to come to Rutland!". 255 So. He can be reached at mpolhamus@vtdigger.org. Ironically, Rutland's refugee issue is now thoroughly politicized. Yeah, I get it. The younger Louras, Vermonts attorney general said, was in The expectation of partisan loyalty also turned him off so much so that he studiously avoids stating the names of America's two major political parties. Those are the big ones with two rotors. Nicolaos' son Gus Louras' dad managed to buy the grocery wholesale business where he was employed. Vermont State Police say Louras drove by the police station around 5:30 a.m. and fired several shots into the front entrance and drove away. Incumbents are hard to beat in Vermont. The car chase ended when Louras' car got stuck in front of the Amtrak station. The cousins death is still under investigation in Addison County, Donovan said.This has been a tragic event for our community, and of course, personally for my family, said Mayor Dave Allaire, Rutlands current mayor, who is related by marriage to his predecessor at city hall and to both of the Louras cousins who died, Nick and Chris.Mayor Allaire voiced his full support for the men and women of the Rutland Police Department, and thanked them for their work in a high-stress and highly dangerous situation to prevent further loss of life.Separately, Chris Louras mother, Crystal King, told NBC5, that she and Chris grandmother, Mary, loved the young man dearly and miss him every day.Life is fragile, and we need to hold our loved ones tight, Allaire said at Tuesdays news conference.Allaire noted he is optimistic a focus on addressing substance use disorders and forming neighborhood partnerships in Rutland can help strengthen his community after the encounter many here say really rattled locals.The citys Project Vision program has been working on improving the quality of life and addressing drug concerns in Rutland for years now.Drugs are believed to be a factor in the Louras cousins deaths, as Gov. Be Proactive. Those in favor and those opposed quickly mobilized, and Rutland made national and international headlines as a microcosm of the larger refugee debate raging worldwide. Get an email notification whenever someone signs the guestbook. Scoopers at Ben & Jerry's in Burlington Seek to Unionize. Some questioned whether the immigrants would carry communicable diseases. Jack Thurston. Four officers fired on Louras in the shootout in which he also shot at the officers, according to police. now. Louras won by a landslide and hasn't lost a race since. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
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chris louras rutland, vt obituary