Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today that COVID-19 cases were largely unchanged from the last few days, with 265 cases (up 13). They remain at a relatively high level. Cases spiked last Thursday to their fourth highest number on record after four straight days in which cases fell. The VDH also today reported no additional deaths, holding at 351 statewide. There are 41 people hospitalized (down one) with 10 in the ICU (down two). Hospitalizations are high but have been stable.

Vermont Business Magazine BHAKTA Spirits, the luxury spirits brand founded by visionary entrepreneur Raj Peter Bhakta—progenitor of the renowned rye whiskey brand WhistlePig—has announced the results of a head-turning auction sale of a rare and exquisite collection of twelve of its globally-sought-after, single vintage BHAKTA Armagnacs. The final hammer price tripled the expected valuation, causing such excitement that the auctioneer asked Mr. Bhakta himself to address the audience.

Vermont Business Magazine Eight Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) F-35 jets will arrive at the 158th Fighter Wing on Monday, October 25 and depart on Wednesday, October 27.

Vermont Business Magazine NASA has awarded $28 million to fund the next five years of research infrastructure development across 28 jurisdictions. The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), a part of NASA's Office of Stem Engagement and based out of the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, supports science and technology research and development at colleges and universities while also funding studies in Earth science, aeronautics, and human and robotic deep space exploration – all of which are disciplines critical to the NASA mission. The EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Development award further strengthens long-term research capabilities by pledging $200,000 a year to each of the 28 jurisdictions for the next half decade.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today that cases fell today with 252 (up 28). Cases spiked Thursday to their fourth highest number on record after four straight days in which cases fell. The four worst days for cases have all come since mid-September, as the Delta variant has taken over since early July. The state announced Thursday night that boosters for Moderna (like already approved Pfizer, six months after second dose) and Johnson & Johnson (two months after first dose) would begin immediately. The CDC is also allowing people to change vaccine. The FDA and CDC are in the process of approving vaccines for children 5-11.

Vermont Research News New research from Maine shows a sharp decrease in amphibian deaths due to decreased traffic last spring. Fewer cars meant fewer frogs, salamanders and other wildlife killed by vehicles. The coordinator of Vermont’s Reptile and Amphibian Atlas observed a similar decline in the state. In May 2020 there were 40% fewer vehicles on Vermont’s roads on some key road corridors, according to data from the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont for the week starting October 25, 2021. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation State Highway Safety Office (SHSO) and the Vermont Highway Safety Alliance (VHSA) held the annual Highway Safety Awards ceremony at the Vermont State House Wednesday. The awards are presented to highway safety professionals around the state for their exceptional work and commitment to keeping Vermont’s roadways safe for all users.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today that cases fell today with 224 (down 94). Cases spiked yesterday to their fourth highest number on record after four straight days in which cases fell. Cases in the southern Vermont continue to be relatively high, as have cases in Franklin and the Northeast Kingdom. But Washington County cases also have been climbing and only Addison, Lamoille, Grand Isle and Windsor have fewer than 500 cases per 10,000 residents now.

Public Assets Institute Vermont has recovered nearly 80 percent of the private sector jobs lost in the early days of the pandemic. The four industries with the most growth in 2021 were among the hardest hit over the last year and a half. Manufacturing, educational services, and entertainment are pretty much back to pre-pandemic levels, while the restaurant industry remains about 20 percent below where it was at the beginning of 2020.

Vermont State Police As the investigation continues into the fatal shooting in Greensboro that occurred Wednesday night, the Vermont State Police is releasing additional information about the case.

The series of events that led to the shooting began at about 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, at the Hardwick Convenience and Deli store located at 454 Vermont Route 15 in Hardwick. A store clerk called the Hardwick Police Department after a man, later determined to be Robert Chaplin, 27, of East Hardwick, was denied service to purchase alcohol because he was deemed too intoxicated. A second man, later identified as Daryl Johnson, 48, of Greensboro, intervened in a dispute between Chaplin and the store clerk. Chaplin had left the store before Hardwick police arrived.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB), the new state board charged with overseeing broadband development in Vermont, recently approved DVFiber’s $4.1 million grant request. DVFiber (Deerfield Valley Communications Union District) can now move ahead with its partner Great Works Internet, Inc (GWI) of Biddeford, Maine, to secure high-speed broadband access for its 24 member towns. The funding enables DVFiber to proceed with the design and engineering of a high-speed fiber optic network that will reach all unserved and underserved homes and businesses within its 24 member towns.