Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Sergeant Ryan Wood, 36, and Trooper Zachary Trocki, 29, were arraigned today for Reckless Endangerment in Vermont Superior Court, Windham Criminal Division. The charges are the result of Attorney General Charity Clark’s independent review of the officer-involved shooting incident that occurred on June 17, 2022, at approximately 2:38 a.m. in Newfane, Vermont. During the incident, less than two minutes after responding to the scene, Trooper Trocki shot Marshall Todd Dean with a Super-Sock bean bag projectile fired from a Remington 12 gauge shotgun from a distance of approximately 77.8 feet, causing Mr. Dean to fall from the roof that he was standing on and sustain life-threatening injuries. Separate criminal charges against the troopers were dismissed May 25.

Vermont Business Magazine State Auditor Doug Hoffer released a new audit today examining the Agency of Digital Services’ performance managing large State IT projects. The audit reviewed six IT projects with combined estimated costs exceeding $16 million and found that despite comprehensive project management systems the projects generally cost more and/or took longer to complete than anticipated. Five of the six selected IT projects had significant cost increases and/or schedule delays caused by a variety of reasons.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont over the Memorial Day weekend were Vermont- $3.55/g, up 7.3 cents per gallon from last week's $3.47/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.39/g while the highest was $3.79/g, a difference of 40.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 2.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.55/g. This increase in prices could be short-lived.

Green Mountain Care Board Wednesday, May 31, 2023: Board Meeting (1:00pm): VITL FY24 Budget – GMCB Staff Presentation – Potential Vote; OneCare Vermont Guidance – GMCB Staff Presentation – Potential Vote.

Vermont Business Magazine VITL, which securely delivers health data for Vermonters, announced May 26 that vice president of finance and chief financial officer, Robert “Bob” Turnau, will retire after seven years with the organization and a career in finance spanning nearly 40 years. VITL has named Cara Callanan as the organization’s new chief financial officer (CFO).

Vermont Business Magazine Whether it is during a sporting event, a recreational outing with friends and family, or an everyday activity like yard work or driving to the store, knowing how to both spot the signs of life-threatening bleeding and what you can do to STOP THE BLEED, can help save lives in an emergency. Dillon said that no matter how rapidly emergency responders arrive on-scene at an accident or in response to a traumatic injury, bystanders are almost always able to make a positive impact.

by Lauren Norford, LICSW Miriam knew she should be happy about her recent birth and healthy baby. She had been edgy and irritable throughout the pregnancy, and the birth of her baby should have been cause only for celebration. Yet Miriam felt a sense of dread as she cared for her baby. She felt “imposter syndrome,” had bouts of crying and sadness, and wondered if her feelings would be discovered by someone.

Sometimes she had trouble eating and sleeping due to her mood. Miriam began to doubt herself more and more and was afraid to talk to anyone about what she was feeling.

Monique was 30 weeks pregnant and in a state of constant worry. Despite her doctor’s reassurance, she always felt like something bad was going to happen to her baby. Sleep at night was difficult, and she struggled to eat enough during the day. Monique felt her anxieties must be what all pregnant parents experience, so she didn’t speak up to her providers.

Vermont Business Magazine The Gary Residence in Montpelier has recently adopted the groundbreaking Best Friends method for caring for people with memory loss by adding a Best Friends Certified Master Trainer (BF-CMT) to their staff. Dawn Palowski, Executive Director of The Gary Residence, recently completed her BF-CMT certification, demonstrating a commitment to providing high quality memory care.

Vermont Business Magazine Three nurses, two nursing assistants (LNAs) and one medical assistant (MA) at Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) were recently recognized for providing extraordinary patient care with DAISY and PETALS Awards, respectively, by the DAISY Foundation, an international organization founded to celebrate nurses. The DAISY Foundation award program’s nursing professional development and recognition council awarded Operating Room Nurse Manager Wendy Tetrault, RN, CNOR, the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Tetrault supervises the operating room and same-day surgery programs.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott on Saturday vetoed the state budget and a voter change in Brattleboro, while letting one charter change in Burlington become law without his signature, while vetoing another. The Legislature has already set aside a "veto session" for June 21 in anticipation of the governor vetoing at least some bills. There are still several bills, including the childcare bill, upon which he has not acted. 

Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth issued the following statement on Saturday regarding the veto: "At this point, Phil Scott has issued far more vetoes than any Governor in Vermont history, an increasingly unsettling aspect of his tenure.  And this veto of H.494 has to be the most flawed and harmful of any in recent memory. With one-time money subtracted, the Legislature's budget and the Governor's differ by about three percent -- with nearly all of that difference flowing to mental health, adult-days and other critical service providers. But more crucially, this veto also freezes expanded emergency funding to municipalities and agencies being asked to provide the actual transition plans for those exiting the General Assistance housing program. 

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets If you are a Vermont farm that rotationally grazes ruminant livestock, the VAAFM Farm Agronomic Practices (FAP) program may be right for you. The FAP program provides funding to help Vermont farms implement soil-based agronomic practices that improve soil quality, increase crop production, and reduce erosion and agricultural waste discharges. The program pays farmers $30 per acre for rotational grazing.