Current News

Vermont Business Magazine As the Department of Vermont Health Access has previously reported, Change Healthcare, which operates Vermont's Medicaid pharmacy claims system, experienced a significant cyber security issue on February 21. Change Healthcare has confirmed that this issue is impacting pharmacies and providers across Vermont, New England, and the country. Change Healthcare’s systems remain down, and the company has indicated that they have a plan in place for incremental restoration of services. The Department is aware of the statement issued by United Health Group on March 7 outlining the company’s plan for key system functionality to be restored. The Department will provide further guidance once we know what this means for Vermont Medicaid. At this time, the Department believes that complete restoration may take several weeks. 

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) took to the Senate Floor yesterday to call out Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s failure to deliver for rural America. Welch pointed to the postal delays plaguing Vermont and other rural areas because of DeJoy’s policies, and the lack of a fully functioning Post Office in Vermont’s capital city as examples: “This is the United States of America. The Postal Service is older than the Constitution itself. The original infrastructure that we began building were roads to connect one Postal Service to another. That's what it was about. And it's getting wrecked. And the wreckage by Postmaster General DeJoy is reflected in his unresponsive attitude towards everyday Americans in every District of this country—and it's got to end."

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Carleena Graham, 57, of Accokeek, Maryland, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Burlington to four years of probation following her guilty plea to a charge of wire fraud. As a condition of probation, Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford ordered that Graham make a final restitution payment of $209,000 within 60 days. Graham had previously paid $210,000 in restitution. On May 31, 2023, the United States filed a one count information charging Graham with wire fraud. The defendant pleaded guilty to that charge last summer. 

Vermont Business Magazine The recent announcement by Goddard College administrators that the campus would be shutting down for at least a year has alarmed many in the Goddard community. In response, a group of stakeholders–including leadership from the faculty union, staff union, alumni, and student body–have joined forces to transform the college into a cooperatively run institution. Goddard College was founded in 1938 by Royce “Tim” Pitkin and is renowned for its trailblazing “radical democracy” approach, in which students are full partners in planning and guiding their learning process based on their passions, not on prescriptive curricula.

by Jordan Barbour, Community News Service A small train station turned contemporary art museum in Brattleboro brings the mysterious depths of the ocean to the blustery mountains of Vermont. In the Brattleboro Museum & Arts Center, floating octopi and as-yet-unnamed creatures of the deep hang from the sides and ceilings of a small room. Red and blue lights cast strange shadows. A low thrum in the air makes the exhibit seem to inhale and exhale with life. It’s hard to believe these strange ocean dwellers are, in reality, made only of cardboard and hot glue. The “Sounds Deep” exhibit, which is showing until March 9, is the vision of artist Arthur “Art” Costa and museum exhibition director Sarah Freeman.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on March 7, 2024, Quenton Dodson, 36, originally from Ypsilanti, Michigan, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey Crawford to a term of 96 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a four-year term of supervised release. Dodson previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as being a felon in possession of firearms. According to court records, after serving almost eight years in a Michigan prison and another year on parole in connection with previously shooting three individuals in a dispute over drugs, Dodson came to Vermont in 2021 to sell methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) today announced $13.3 million in Healthy Homes Initiative awards and $2.2 million in Three-acre Stormwater Initiative awards to help 46 manufactured housing communities (also known as mobile home parks) repair, replace, and upgrade water infrastructure. “This initiative shows exactly why it was so important to invest American Rescue Plan Act funding in infrastructure that helped families and communities across the state,” said Governor Phil Scott. “These investments support safe, affordable housing for historically underserved or economically disadvantaged communities, and help residents in manufactured housing communities overcome barriers to fixing water infrastructure issues. Healthy Homes has been an important part of our housing strategy for years, and I hope the Legislature continues to support it.” Most of the awards will address problems with inadequate or failing wastewater, drinking water, and stormwater systems. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor’s Workforce Development Division announced a new partnership with the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) aimed at increasing Registered Apprenticeships in manufacturing. This partnership, funded by a $225,000 grant from the Vermont Department of Labor, aims to strengthen Vermont’s workforce development and expansion efforts by fostering connections between employers, service providers, and partners to build a sustainable talent pipeline. As a key component of this collaboration, VMEC will take on the responsibility of serving as Vermont's designated Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Center for the manufacturing sector. This designation highlights VMEC's dedication to offering support and guidance to manufacturers as they embark on the journey of Registered Apprenticeship.  

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Beth Quimby, of Lyndon, to complete the term of Representative Charles Wilson following his resignation. Quimby was a middle school math teacher at Barton Graded School for over 30 years, where she worked with the Agency of Education to support development and implementation of new tools and policy changes, including proficiency-based financial literacy standards.

Vermont Business Magazine On International Women’s Day, the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Berkshire Bank, is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated third annual Women In Leadership Luncheon! The luncheon and networking event is scheduled to take place at the historic Carriage Barn of Park-McCullough in North Bennington, Vermont, on Wednesday, May 15th, from 12pm to 3pm. This event promises enriching conversations on careers and leadership, alongside a delectable catered lunch provided by Pangaea. The highlight of this year's luncheon is the keynote address by speaker and author Kate White, former Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan magazine. Kate White is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of eighteen novels of suspense, including The Last Time She Saw Him (due out on May 14). 

by Kate Kampner, Community News Service Rush hour is no joke during Stowe’s ski season. Cars can stretch for miles up to Stowe Mountain Resort, fueling a persistent parking problem that’s left locals fuming. The resort’s response? Telling people to carpool or take the bus. Management last year rolled out parking fees, carpooling incentives and bus service improvements — but it may not be doing enough. As a result, both the town and the resort are working with the Vermont Agency of Transportation to improve road safety and capacity but not at the expense of aesthetics. 

Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Vermont Department for Children and Families received a report of child sexual abuse called in by a mandated reporter. The investigation began on 2-26-2024 and resulted in the arrest of Andre S. White.