Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased slightly. Other indicators like wastewater virus show an increase in COVID-19 and Norovirus in Vermont. Nationally, COVID outbreaks decreased. There were 3 outbreaks last week (3 the week before), with 3 in Long-Term Care Facilities and 0 in schools. Like hospitalizations, outbreaks increased slightly from mid-summer and have since fallen.

by Mike Donoghue A two-year old driving while intoxicated court case against besieged Addison County State's Attorney Eva P. Vekos appeared to come to a close Tuesday when she pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge. Vekos, who was responding to a homicide scene in Bridport to assist Vermont State Police, had her sentence deferred for six months by State Judge John Pacht. If Vekos abides by the terms of probation for six months, the criminal conviction can be wiped off her record, Pacht explained in court. Vekos had indicated in October that she was willing to plead no contest, and Pacht said at the time he was inclined to defer the sentence for 3 months.  Upon further review, Pacht said Tuesday he wanted to make it 6 months.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University (VTSU) recently honored employees whose careers span decades and multiple legacy institutions, recognizing their lasting impact on Vermont’s higher education and their unwavering commitment to students and communities statewide. On December 8, all five VTSU campuses hosted Employee Celebration Luncheons, where faculty and staff were recognized for reaching service milestones in five-year increments, celebrating anywhere from 5 to 35 years. The event featured handcrafted gifts created by students and staff at the Randolph campus Manufacturing Center, showcasing the innovation and skill that define VTSU. 

Vermont Business Magazine Fluency, the Burlington-based Digital Advertising Operating System (OS) for scaling paid media operations across all major channels, announced the close of its $40M Series A, funded by Integrity Growth Partners (IGP). Founded in 2017, Fluency centralizes all major aspects of digital advertising execution and management into a single solution. This enables agencies and brands to automate and leverage AI on paid media across walled gardens and the open web at a scale not achievable through endless hiring, outsourcing or tools. Fluency currently powers nearly $3B in annual media spend and 250,000+ monthly campaigns. The platform is used by leading agencies and brands, including Fortune 500 organizations. These companies run campaigns for over 50,000 local businesses by automating the most time-consuming campaign execution processes.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on December 15, 2025, Joshua Hartness, 45, of Colebrook, New Hampshire, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 25 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release. Hartness previously pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM, also known as child pornography). Hartness has been detained since March 28, 2025, when his conditions of release were revoked after he attempted to take possession of a firearm. The forensic review and subsequent investigation confirmed that Hartness possessed the CSAM on his phone while in the District of Vermont, and that Hartness did so while working as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent. 

Vermont Business Magazine New research from the University of Vermont reveals exposure to smoke from Canadian wildfires in the summer of 2023 led to worsening asthma symptoms in children in Vermont and upstate New York. The study, published Thursday in the journal Environmental Health, is the first to examine the relationship between wildfire smoke and asthma in the Northeast—which in recent years has seen a marked increase in poor air quality days due to wildfires. Wildfire smoke contains tiny particles known as PM2.5, along with other toxic pollutants that can damage the lungs and worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Nationwide, 6.5% of children and 8% of adults have asthma. Vermont’s rates are higher with 7% of children and 11% of adults diagnosed with the disease.

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Regional Medical Center’s James T. Bowse Health Trust (BHT) committee has announced new funding for three transformative projects that will strengthen the health and vitality of the Rutland region. The Boys & Girls Club of Rutland County, Rutland County Head Start, and Vermont Adult Learning have each been awarded three-year grants to launch impactful initiatives that will benefit children, families, and adults across our community. These projects directly address top priority needs identified in the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment, with a strong emphasis on advancing health equity in Access to Care, Community Connection, and Community Safety. 

Vermont Business Magazine As the holiday season approaches, Vermont Lottery joins lotteries and community organizations across the country in promoting responsible play through the annual “Gift Responsibly” holiday campaign. The campaign is organized by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and supported by the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL). The campaign serves as a reminder that lottery tickets are intended for adults aged 18 or older and should never be given to minors. Research supports that early exposure to or participation in gambling during childhood is highly correlated with the development of a gambling problem later in life. While lottery tickets can be a fun and entertaining gift for adults, the Vermont Lottery and NCPG encourage players to consider age-appropriate, non-gambling gifts for children and teens.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Care Network (CCN) today announced the addition of Perinatal Peer Support to its broader Peer Support Program, a new service designed specifically to assist pregnant and postpartum parents experiencing mood or anxiety challenges. The new Perinatal Peer Support service connects parents with trained peer support providers – individuals who have personally navigated pregnancy or postpartum-related emotional challenges, and are ready to provide compassionate, judgement-free support. 

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Regional Medical Center recently celebrated the achievements of nine nurses during the RRMC Clinical Advancement Program (CAP) ceremony. All nine nurses achieved the highest level of advancement possible at RRMC (Level 4). The CAP program at RRMC promotes nursing excellence, our RRMC nursing professional practice model and American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet principles. In addition to submitting evidence of work in professional organizations, leadership activities, teaching, precepting, professional development, role expertise, national certification and innovation, these nurses were required to complete a project, develop a poster presentation and deliver that presentation at the ceremony.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Care Network (CCN) recently recognized 19 employees for their dedicated service to the organization and its clients at CCN’s annual service awards luncheon held in Rutland. “Community Care Network congratulates all of our staff members who this year hit various key service milestones,” said Dick Courcelle, Chief Executive Officer of CCN. “We are very proud of the significant, positive impact that each of these 19 staff members, along with their colleagues, make on the greater Rutland community, day-in and day-out. Despite a range of recent shifts across our fields of service, as well as ever-evolving community support needs, the commitment, professionalism and compassion of our employees remains unchanged, and for that we are incredibly thankful.”

Vermont Business Magazine Over the past few months, the team at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport teamed up with students at Chamberlain School to give six airport fleet vehicles brand-new names. The big reveal happens tomorrow, Tuesday, December 16th, at approximately 8:40 AM, when the newly named vehicles roll out in a mini parade from Leahy BTV down White Street to Chamberlain School.