Current News

VermontBiz It is with great excitement that VermontBiz celebrates the remarkable achievements of all the individuals chosen as the second year of 91 Influencers here in Vermont. This prestigious honor highlights their unwavering dedication, innovation, and impact in their field and within the community, as they also inspire and lead those around them.

Vermont Business Magazine Across the United States, dissent is being criminalized, voting protections are being gutted, and immigrant communities are being targeted. In response, Ben & Jerry's is launching Razz Up!, a campaign to mobilize communities across the US to use their voices and their votes in the 2026 midterm elections to stand against authoritarianism. Razz Up!, Ben & Jerry's latest limited batch flavor, is an indulgent black raspberry ice cream with swirls of raspberry and crackling fudge chunk pieces. Yes, it really does crackle. Razz Up! is available in Ben & Jerry's 200+ Scoop Shops now, just in time for National Ice Cream Day, with pints soon heading to grocery stores nationwide.

Vermont Business Magazine To mark its 35th anniversary, Ledyard Bank launched the 35th Anniversary Community Impact Awards, a $35,000 giving initiative honoring its 35 years of service. The results from community voting are in! Thanks to the support of clients, families, friends, and community members, Ledyard’s 35th Anniversary Community Impact Awards helped raise awareness for six outstanding nonprofits, and the important work they do.

Vermont Business Magazine ATTOM has released its Mid-Year 2026 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 227,548 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — in the first six months of 2026. That figure is up 21 percent from the same time period a year ago and up 28 percent from the same time period two years ago. Vermont has the lowest rate in the nation, which has been the case for many years. Only 95 units, or 0.03% of total housing units in the state, were subject to foreclosure. Florida was worst at 0.27% or 27,494 units.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is issuing an air quality alert for Thursday, July 16, beginning at 6 AM through 11 PM.  Counties affected are Bennington, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor Counties. Wildfire smoke from Canada is expected to elevate concentrations of fine particulate matter pollution to “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (code orange) on the Air Quality Index in Vermont. Please note that smoke concentrations may occur in the unhealthy range on an hourly basis for many locations in the state, especially in the late morning through afternoon hours.  Wildfire smoke can cause a hazy or milky appearance in the sky and may be noticeable by smell at times. The air quality forecast will be updated on Saturday afternoon for conditions expected on Sunday.

Marlboro Music's 75th anniversary season continues on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26 with the second weekend of concerts and free open rehearsals throughout the week in Persons Auditorium (2472 South Road, Marlboro, VT). Some 26 musicians will take the stage, representing the full spectrum of experienced and emerging musical talent that characterizes all of the collaborations at Marlboro. Weekend performances and open rehearsals will continue through August 16. Saturday evening's program offers an opportunity to listen deeply to the work of Marlboro’s 2026 Composer in Residence, Marcos Balter. The Brazilian-born composer, whose music has been praised by The Chicago Tribune as "minutely crafted" and "utterly lovely," describes his compositional approach as "resonant humanism": placing human presence, vulnerability, and attentive listening at its center.

by Otis Roessler, Community News Service After more than five months of being out of order, the elevator in the Green Mountain Seminary apartment complex has been fixed, the building’s owner said Thursday. The development comes less than a week after the Waterbury Roundabout published a story detailing the frustrations of the tenants, some of whom are elderly or disabled. Fire department officials said they’d had to manually move patients down the stairwell of the three-story building. One man, an 84-year-old veteran with cancer, said he filed a complaint about the situation with the Vermont Human Rights Commission.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont initial weekly unemployment claims fell again for the third straight week and remain at a low summer level. For the week ending July 11, 2026, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that there were 236 new claims, down 133 from the previous week and up 16 from last year at this time. Claims had spiked at the end of June. Summer hiring typically drives claims down. Nationally, stocks fell again for a rough week as the war in Iran has created economic uncertainty, along with inflation concerns, possible Fed rate hikes, corporate AI battles and chipmaker shares falling

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark and Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas today released a joint statement in response to claims made by President Trump during a speech last night about the integrity of the nation’s elections. In the speech, the president repeated his false claims about the 2020 election that have been investigated and disproven.

by Michael Donoghue, Vermont News First The U.S. Border Patrol in Alburgh has captured a dangerous fugitive from India wanted as part of an international organized crime investigation based in California, officials said. Nitish "Lala" Kaushal, 26, is due to appear in U.S. District Court in Burlington this afternoon for his detention and removal hearing to California. Kaushal is wanted in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on a federal charge of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Vermont wants Kaushal held without bail as a risk to flee and as a danger pending his removal.

Vermont Business Magazine National Life Group’s annual Do Good Fest raised $200,000 to support youth mental health programs across Vermont, bringing together thousands of attendees for the benefit concert held on July 11 at National Life's Montpelier campus. Funding from Do Good Fest 2026 will help expand access to youth mental health resources, crisis support, counseling services and family assistance programs. All proceeds from this year’s event were directed to five Vermont nonprofit organizations with proven programs that support youth mental health as selected by the National Life Peace of Mind Fund. Beneficiaries include Clara Martin Center, Community Care Network, Elevate Youth Services, Howard Center and Spectrum Youth & Family Services.

Grand Isle County Sheriff's Department At approximately 1504hrs on 7/14/2026, the Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Office responded to the western shore of North Hero for a report of an 86-year-old male overdue swimmer. Grand Isle County Mutual Aid marine assets were dispatched to assist as well as emergency medical services. The first deputy to arrive on scene was able to locate the male in the water, swam out to him, and brought him ashore. The male was unresponsive and resuscitative efforts were made. Unfortunately, the male did not survive, and the death is not considered suspicious at this time.