Current News
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Vermont Business Magazine Unless otherwise noted, all Green Mountain Care Board meetings are held in the Pavilion Auditorium at 109 State Street, Montpelier.
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Vermont Business Magazine A new law goes into effect today, Sunday, September 1, 2019, throughout the State of Vermont, raising the age of sale of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21.
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Vermont Business Magazine Vermont's swift water rescue team is deploying members to Florida to assist in the response to Hurricane Dorian. Vermont Task Force 1 Swift Water Rescue Team will perform evacuations and rescues in flooded areas. The deployment is through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) at the request of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The mission will last 12 days and the team will be staged in Tallahassee, Florida. The team is comprised of responders from the Vermont Division of Fire Safety, Burlington Fire Department, Castleton Fire Department, Colchester Technical Rescue, Hartford Fire Department, Lebanon (NH) Fire Department, Rutland Fire Department, Springfield Fire Department, and Williston Fire Department.
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Vermont Business Magazine Hundreds of Vermonters from throughout the state are expected to gather Monday, Labor Day, on the Middlebury Green for an annual Labor Day celebration. The event is 4-7 pm. Rights & Democracy, Vermont AFL CIO, Vermont NEA, 350 VT, and other labor and other community organizations are hosting this year's event, which will feature speakers from local and statewide community, environmental, and labor organizations.
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by Stephen Leffler, MD, Interim President, UVM Medical Center I am writing to share a message I sent to all UVM Medical Center employees today regarding the recent action taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, Conscience and Religious Freedom Division.
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Vermont State Police On November 30, 2018 the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations began an investigation into an allegation of embezzlement by a former employee of the State of Vermont Agency of Transportation. After a lengthy investigation, it was determined that John Johnson had made several purchases for personal gain which were ultimately paid for by the State of Vermont without their knowledge at the time.
These purchases were made to various auto-parts stores with which the State of Vermont Agency of Transportation holds purchase accounts. Johnson was found to have purchased various motor vehicle parts such as tires and brake rotors/pads in a total sum of $969.55. Johnson was found to have made additional purchases, however, due to the Statute of Limitations for these offenses, Johnson was only charged in relation to five specific transactions.
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JA McDonald is no longer eligible to work on additional AOT projects
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) is actively investigating whistleblower allegations of willful, non-conforming construction services by contractor JA McDonald, Inc, based in Lyndon Center, Vermont, pertaining to two bridges constructed by JA McDonald in Bennington on Route 279 (Bennington bypass) and two bridges on I-91 in Guilford. The investigation has corroborated the allegations, but also confirmed there are no immediate safety concerns. The value of the contracts was over $55 million.
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Vermont Business Magazine A lockdown of the Montpelier State Office Complex has been lifted after law enforcement thoroughly searched and cleared 133 State Street in response to reports of an armed individual entering the building. A nearby building located at 6 Baldwin Street was also searched and cleared. No intruder or firearm were located.
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Vermont Business Magazine Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) in Berlin recently received more than $73,000 from the Vermont Training Program (VTP). CVMC is experiencing recruiting challenges for Licensed Nursing Associate (LNA) and Clinical Care Associate (CCA) positions at both the main hospital and their Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing center. CCAs work in clinical practices performing important clinical and administrative functions. LNAs work in CVMC’s skilled nursing facility and hospital taking care of residents and patients.
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Vermont Business Magazine VGS President and CEO Don Rendall today issued the following statement regarding the EPA’s Proposed Methane Rule: “We are disappointed that the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a rule change that will roll back methane emission regulations. We are committed to addressing the challenges of climate change and we believe natural gas must play a pivotal role. We share our customers’ goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in support of the Vermont’s 90% renewable energy by 2050 goal...
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Vermont Business Magazine US Route 2 at the temporary drawbridge is open to two lanes of traffic. The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) expects intermittent stops and releases of traffic by flaggers to allow for construction vehicles to enter the work zone. The contractor is working 7AM to 6PM, Monday through Thursday, and 7AM to noon this Friday. There will be no work on Labor Day, and construction will resume Tuesday morning. Demolition of the old bridge is expected next week.
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Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that it has resolved its inquiry into complaints that certain units at the Severance Corners housing complex in Colchester were built with architectural barriers that made them inaccessible to people with disabilities in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The matter was handled by United States Attorney’s Office and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.