Current News

by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First Nathan Carman of Vernon, who has been facing federal charges of murder of his mother on the high seas and multiple swindles, is dead, apparently taking his own life. Carman was found dead in his cell at the Cheshire County Jail in Keene, N.H. about 2:45 a.m. Thursday morning, officials said. He was housed in a single cell, they said. One of his defense lawyers said he was told Carman had left them a note, which they had not yet received.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today announced a $2.35 million multistate settlement with Adore Me, Inc., a lingerie retailer that primarily sells its merchandise online. The settlement resolves claims that the company deceptively marketed its VIP Membership Program to consumers and then made it difficult for consumers to cancel their memberships. The State of Vermont will receive approximately $34,000 from the settlement, and current members of the program will receive notices about how to obtain refunds of any unused credits in their accounts.

Vermont Business Magazine Sarah Ashworth, Vermont Public’s senior vice president of content, will leave her role this month to become director of Wisconsin Public Radio, Vermont Public reported on June 16. Ashworth returned to VPR as news director in 2018, having previously worked as a producer and reporter for Vermont Edition in the late 2000s. Angela Evancie, director of engagement journalism and host/executive producer of Brave Little State, will serve as interim senior vice president of content.

Vermont Business Magazine Jenna’s Promise on Wednesday night received the $10,000 first-place award in Vermont as part of the 9th Annual IMPACT Awards, presented for the fourth time by the Ruderman Family Foundation. The awards focus on organizations that have demonstrated a deep impact in raising awareness and improving mental health outcomes in their community — an issue that has become increasingly prominent and urgent nationwide amid the mental health crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.

Vermont Business Magazine On June 8, 2023, business leaders from across Vermont gathered in Burlington for The Leahy Celebration, an event dedicated to Senator Leahy’s career of service, and his contributions to the Vermont economy. The event, hosted by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, provided an opportunity for business leaders to thank Senator Patrick Leahy and his wife Marcelle Leahy, for their incalculable impact on Vermont. The embodiment of public service and the epitome of leadership, Senator Leahy has played a pivotal role in advancing the Vermont economy. Throughout his tenure, he spearheaded critical legislation supporting innovation, research, higher education, transportation, and manufacturing all while supporting the environment and communities unique to Vermont. 

Vermont Business Magazine Nedde Real Estate has announced the lease of 2,463 Square feet of Light Industrial space at 1891 Williston Road, South Burlington to The Tree House Hardwoods. Fernando Cresta and Jaeger Nedde assisted the tenant and the landlord in this transaction.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Medical Center has announced the recipients of the 2023 Nursing Awards & Scholarships, which were presented in May. These awards recognize the exceptional work of nurses at the Medical Center who demonstrate excellence in clinical practice, leadership, education, and patient care. Nursing leaders and hospital administrators called the awards well-deserved recognition of the Medical Center’s nursing teams during the annual nationwide celebration of nurse’s dedication, compassion and clinical excellence.

Vermont Business Magazine Ratings agency AM Best Co. has affirmed A+ (Superior), the financial strength rating for the insurance companies of National Life Group. Chairman, CEO and President Mehran Assadi called the decision “a powerful reinforcement of National Life’s financial strength.” “As we celebrate our 175th anniversary and continue to grow, this confirmation recognizes our continued strategic management initiatives that resulted in further sales growth in 2022 despite market pressures.”

VermontBiz A federal two year grant of $400,000 has been awarded to VMEC to assist Vermont small and medium-sized manufacturers in building their supply chain initiatives. The funding comes from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) who's been VMEC’s federal partner since its inception in 1995. VMEC is the official representative of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network in Vermont.

VermontBiz This summer, the Vermont Lakes and Ponds Program is seeking volunteers to help monitor and collect information about lakes and ponds in the state. With over 800 lakes and ponds, volunteers are key to the success of the program’s lake monitoring efforts. Volunteers can be found statewide greeting lake visitors, inspecting boats, collecting water samples, tracking algal or cyanobacteria blooms, reporting aquatic invasive species, and more.

“State scientists use the information volunteers collect to understand the health of Vermont’s lakes and ponds,” said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner John Beling. “Thanks to our dedicated and hardworking volunteers, we can better protect the many benefits of these special places.”

VermontBiz Vermont Everyone Eats (VEE), the innovative, statewide, $49 million pandemic relief program that increased food security, economic stabilization, and agricultural resilience within a single initiative, recently released an economic report showing that the program also stimulated significant lasting economic impact in Vermont. Between August 2020 and March 2023, nearly four million meals were produced by Vermont restaurants and distributed statewide to local meal recipients negatively affected by the pandemic. Meals were made by over 320 Vermont restaurants using ingredients from over 270 Vermont farmers and food producers.

Vermont Business Magazine In a continued effort to expand and strengthen access to dental care for veterans through the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) joined with Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA) to introduce legislation yesterday that would establish a new pilot program to provide comprehensive dental care to veterans diagnosed with diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Funded for four years, the program would also study the health outcomes and cost effectiveness of such care, as well as provide loan reimbursement opportunities for qualified dental care professionals who agree to serve for the duration of the pilot at a VA dental clinic deemed high need.