Current News

Vermont State Police On October 25th, 2022 at approximately 1442 hours, Troopers from Williston Barracks responded responded to a call of a tractor trailer unit stuck at Smugglers’ Notch on route 108 in the town of Cambridge. The operator of vehicle, Kevin Foster, passed several clearly posted signs advising that tractor trailer units are not permitted before stopping near the peak. Troopers and DMV Police were able to safely guide the operator back towards the Stowe side. Troopers issued the operator a ticket, with a fine of $1,192.00 (2) points. It was discovered that Foster had an active cite-and-release warrant for possession of cocaine. Foster was cited to appear in Vermont Superior Court Rutland Criminal Division.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections (Vermont DOC) is conducting internal administrative and medical reviews following the death of an incarcerated individual on Tuesday. Dan Griswold, 67, of Rutland, Vt., was found unresponsive in his cell at Southern State Correctional Facility (SSCF) in Springfield Tuesday morning. Vermont DOC and medical staff immediately provided life-saving measures and called for emergency medical services. EMS arrived on site and, in consult with Springfield Hospital medical professionals, pronounced Mr. Griswold dead a short time later.

Vermont Business Magazine Today Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos encouraged Vermonters who plan to vote early by mail in the November 8 General Election to mail their ballots no later than October 31, to ensure adequate time for their mailed ballot to reach the Town Clerk. Voters who are not planning to cast their ballot by mail are encouraged to make an alternative plan to return their ballots, which must be in possession of the Town Clerk by 7pm on Election Day to be counted. Over 85,000 Vermonters have already voted.

Vermont Business Magazine United States Attorney Nikolas P Kerest announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Michael Drescher will lead the efforts of this Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election. Drescher has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Vermont, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

Vermont Business Magazine On October 24, Vermont’s State Advisory Council (SAC) formally endorsed the Policy Recommendations of the Vermont Early Childhood State Advisory Council Network for 2023. These recommendations represent the most pressing priorities and challenges identified by early childhood stakeholders and are part of the SAC’s state and federal charge to advise the Governor, Administration, and legislature. The recommendations seek to identify the current gaps and needs in policy, promote and monitor action in strategic areas for the coming year, and move Vermont toward a more equitable early childhood system.

Vermont Business Magazine Bennington College announced today its new “No-Loan Initiative” for Vermont residents. The No-Loan Initiative builds on Bennington’s established merit- and need-based aid programs and its interest in supporting college access and affordability for Vermont residents. Under “The No-Loan Initiative,” Bennington will meet up to 100% of demonstrated need, covering any remaining direct costs of tuition, fees, room and board for first year and transfer students whose families live in Vermont and are eligible to receive need-based financial aid.

Vermont Business Magazine Rootstock Publishing, a Vermont-based book publisher, announces the transfer of ownership from founding co-publishers Stephen McArthur and Rickey Gard Diamond, to Samantha Kolber of Montpelier. Kolber is the company’s former marketing director and poetry editor, and has previously worked for Bear Pond Books of Montpelier, Goddard College in Plainfield, and Tupelo Press in North Adams, Massachusetts. She has extensive experience in book publicity, editing, sales and marketing, customer relations, and publishing.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, the Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) and the McClure Foundation announced the release of Vermont’s Most Promising Jobs, a list assembled by VDOL and McClure that includes more than 50 occupations expected to pay above the state median wage of $22.55/hour and have at least 500 openings over the next decade. The Department of Labor and the McClure Foundation, an affiliate of the Vermont Community Foundation, have partnered since 2014 to produce the Vermont’s Most Promising Jobs list, providing the brochure as a career exploration resource for students and jobseekers across Vermont and for those interested in moving to the state.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) approved three grants totaling $26.45 Million to bring broadband to more than 4,000 underserved Vermont addresses. The VCBB has awarded $90.25 million in construction grants to date.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced the City of Burlington is launching a grant program to support the work being done by non-profit organizations in the City of Burlington to support individuals, households, and industries that were disproportionally impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant program uses up to $1 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and grants will range in size from $10,000 to $150,000. Applicants must be registered with the State of Vermont as a non-profit organization and must use the funds for work within the City of Burlington to address public health and economic impacts on households, populations, or groups that experienced or continue to experience pandemic impacts.

Vermont Business Magazine The national Citizens Business Conditions Index (CBCI) from Citizens Bank rose to 56.1 in the third quarter, regaining momentum after a drop in second quarter economic sentiment prompted by inflation concerns. The index increased 1.7% this quarter in Vermont, which is an increase of 1.2% from the previous quarter and down 6.8% from last year. This quarter’s score extends the index’s streak to eight straight quarters above 50, indicating continued growth conditions for businesses. Job strength was a key factor in the Index’s rebound, as the employment market withstood the dual headwinds of continued inflation and aggressive interest-rate increases from the Federal Reserve.

Vermont Business Magazine Lung health research is more important than ever. Never have we faced so many challenges to our lung health, including COVID-19, vaping and smoke from increased wildfires. Today, the American Lung Association in Vermont announced that Yvonne Janssen-Heininger, Ph.D. from the University of Vermont was awarded the Lung Cancer Discovery Award. Yvonne Janssen-Heininger, PhD, is an expert in the fields of pulmonary fibrosis and redox medicine. Growing up in the south of Holland, she witnessed abundant chronic lung diseases in her community, including her family. Coal mining was prevalent in the Netherlands through the 1970s, and air pollution and tobacco smoking remain the leading causes of diseases including pneumoconiosis, silicosis, pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer.