Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported October 26 that hospitalizations increased from 48 to 73 to 76 over the last three weeks. But COVID-19 cases fell from 882 to 585. Still, COVID-19 infections are now considered "Medium" by the VDH for the second week after being at the "Low" level for the last few months. Hospitalizations have been edging up over the last few weeks (from a low of 30). There were six more COVID-related deaths since last week's report, for 14 so far in October for a pandemic total of 740 (the VDH report could be updated as more data becomes available). Vermont has the lowest COVID fatality rate in the nation, at 118 per 100,000 population.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Clean Water Board is asking the public to weigh in on how they would like to prioritize approximately $50.6 million, available through the State Fiscal Year 2024 Clean Water Budget, to clean up water pollution in Vermont’s lakes, streams, and wetlands. The Board is asking Vermonters to provide feedback on the draft budget, including whether they believe funding levels are sufficient, whether they agree with the Board’s proposed prioritization of funding, and if they have specific recommendations for the Board’s consideration. The Clean Water Board will review public comment before making its final Clean Water Budget recommendation in December 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College kicks off the next chapter in its 144-year history with the inauguration of 10th President Alejandro (“Alex”) Hernandez. Setting a course to “build a better future,” Champlain will bring to life its core values of innovation, inclusivity, and engaged learning during three days of conversation and celebration from November 3-5, 2022. A community celebration, four fireside chats, and the official inauguration ceremony will weave together themes of lifting people and communities, being more human in an increasingly digital world, expanding Champlain’s leadership in the sciences, and what it means to be “Champlain Ready.”

by Suresh Garimella, President, University of Vermont There’s another important matter that I must address today. Antisemitism – hate, discrimination and at times even violence directed at those who identify as Jewish – has been on the rise around the world, here in the United States and on college campuses. Sadly, UVM is not immune, and I have listened to members of our campus community who experience a sense of risk in fully expressing their Jewish identity. I want my message to be clear to the entire campus community: antisemitism, in any form, will not be tolerated at UVM.

by Carina Hamel, Aba Grace & Tim Wall As parents and as business leaders, we rely on child care to make everything work. That’s why this election we’re focused on electing candidates who are committed to solving Vermont’s child care crisis. Right now, working parents are being forced to choose between their work and caring for their children because Vermont doesn't have enough high-quality child care that's affordable. Likewise, employers are being restricted because they can't recruit or retain the talent they need due to a lack of high-quality child care for families. Vermont is great place to live, work and raise a family but like so many other places, our state is experiencing a massive child care crisis that threatens the viability of companies like ours.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermonters will get a chance this Saturday, October 29, to dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medications easily and safely at 55 locations throughout the state. Prescription Drug Take Back Day happens each spring and fall, to encourage Vermonters to clean out their medicine cabinets and get rid of leftover medication responsibly by bringing it to a community drop-off site. Safe disposal helps prevent the potential for the misuse of pain medications — nearly half of the people who misused pain prescriptions obtained them from a relative or friend. It reduces the risk to kids and pets who might accidentally ingest them. And it helps us avoid endangering waterways and wildlife, which can happen when you flush medication or throw it in the trash.

Vermont Business Magazine Reach Out and Read, Northeast has been awarded $60,000 over three years by the Canaday Family Charitable Trust during the most recent grant-making cycle. The grant will support Reach Out and Read's programs across Vermont -- helping to foster early literacy and relational health statewide. The funds will be used to provide clinics with program support and families with new, culturally, and developmentally appropriate books at every well child visit so that they leave the pediatrician’s office with the tools needed to foster their child’s early development.

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, today reported its financial results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2022. For the quarter, revenues were $295.3 million, up $53.3 million, or up 22.0%, from the same period in 2021, with revenue growth mainly driven by: the roll-over impact from acquisitions along with newly closed acquisitions; positive collection and disposal pricing; higher solid waste fuel cost recovery fees; and higher pricing, recycling processing fees and volume within our Resource Solutions operating segment; partially offset by lower recycling commodity prices. Net income was $22.7 million for the quarter, or $0.44 per diluted common share, up $6.8 million, or up 42.9%, as compared to net income of $15.9 million, or $0.31 per diluted common share, for the same period in 2021. Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP measure, was $23.1 million for the quarter, or $0.45 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, a non-GAAP measure, up $5.6 million, or up 31.9%, as compared to Adjusted Net Income of $17.5 million, or $0.34 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, for the same period in 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine Today Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos, Vermont Humanities, and the Center for Cartoon Studies announced the release of a new comic book, titled Freedom and Unity, focused on civics education, local democracy and the Vermont election process. The comic, titled Freedom and Unity, A Graphic Guide to Vermont Democracy, is a collaboration between the Secretary of State’s office, Vermont Humanities, and the Center for Cartoon Studies, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Federation of State Humanities Councils.

by Jennifer Nachbur, UVM Larner College of Medicine University of Vermont leaders, donors, faculty, students, staff, and development partners today celebrated the grand opening and dedication of the UVM's newest building - the Firestone Medical Research Building - with a formal ceremony, including special remarks, a ribbon-cutting and building tours. This new facility will ensure that UVM and the Larner College of Medicine can continue to foster not only the leading-edge research of today, but also the next generations of biomedical scientists, who will be educated in this building. This building represents an investment in the Larner College of Medicine's distinctive research strengths, will help ensure student success, and fulfills the University’s Land-Grant mission.

Vermont Business Magazine Cabot’s Triple Cream Vanilla Bean Greek Yogurt earned the Best Yogurt title and the Reserve Chairman’s award at the National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) Annual Cheese & Yogurt Contest held earlier this week in Aurora, Colorado. The local cooperative had 9 top-three awards for its cheeses and yogurts. The annual contest recognizes the best cheese and yogurt products produced by NMPF’s member cooperatives. This is the first year that yogurt was included in the competition. Overall, the contest received 216 entries in 24 classes submitted by 13 NMPF member cooperatives.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy last week led a group of 20 senators in writing to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to convey their support for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) proposed rule. Senators Gillibrand, Brown, Blumenthal, Sanders, Shaheen, Smith, Booker, Tester, Baldwin, Hassan, Wyden, Feinstein, Van Hollen, Padilla, King, Casey, Luján, Collins, and Merkley joined Leahy in urging USDA to limit the timeframe for implementation to no longer than three years. The proposed rule makes progress on animal welfare by clarifying that enclosed, screened-in porches do not constitute outdoor access, and creating minimum indoor and outdoor space and enrichment requirements for organically raised chickens.