Holland, Vermont is anchored by its elementary school. But this week, residents voted decisively to close it. And it's not the only town considering drastic measures to head off a forced merger.

Spoiler alert: fans of modern TV dramas may be getting more of their political views from those sources than they think. Shows like “Game of Thrones” and “Battlestar Galactica” are densely plotted serials that immerse viewers in fantasy worlds.

Derby, Vermont, and Stanstead, Quebec, have historically been tight knit communities despite the international boundary between them. But heightened border security measures have frustrated residents, driving the two towns farther apart.

Sen. Patrick Leahy was one of Sen. John McCain’s closest colleagues during the decades the two served together in the U.S. Senate. But their positions were often far apart. “Were we ideological soulmates? Of course not,” Leahy said.

Throughout the summer, heavy rains have caused sewer overflows in most of Vermont’s largest cities. In late July, 9.7 million gallons of stormwater and wastewater spilled from Rutland’s sewers into the East and Otter creeks.