Current News

by Jared Duval As a kid, I grew up in a working class, lower-income, single-parent family and saw my Mom struggle to find reliable and affordable childcare options. More recently, like many other Vermont parents, my wife and I experienced the challenge of finding affordable childcare for our son. This long-standing, intergenerational challenge is long overdue to be addressed. That is why I am deeply grateful to the legislature for their work to improve and expand access to childcare via Senate Bill 56. The bill would accomplish this primarily by expanding the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP), which would reduce the cost of childcare for many Vermont families. But there’s a catch: to help fund the proposed childcare expansion, the bill passed by the Senate would repeal the Child Tax Credit.

Vermont Business Magazine A report released in April recognized the University of Vermont Health Network as one of the most transparent health systems in the country based on its efforts to make pricing available publicly. Turquoise Health analyzed more than 5,300 hospitals and health systems based on how well they are following a federal requirement to publish their negotiated rates with private insurers. The top score was assigned to hospitals and health systems that complied most completely with federal requirements by posting a machine-readable pricing file with negotiated, cash and list rates for a significant quantity of items and services. The UVM Health Network was one of 59 hospitals or health systems to receive the top score.

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, April 26, the Environmental Justice Clinic at Vermont Law and Graduate School, on behalf of Lumber River Waterkeeper Jefferson Currie, environmental organizer Donna Chavis and Friends of the Earth, filed a complaint with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Civil Rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 alleging that North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality’s (NCDEQ) failure to adequately regulate the dry litter poultry industry illegally discriminates against Native, Black and Latino communities in Robeson, Duplin and Sampson Counties.

Vermont Business Magazine The VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region, (VNAHSR), one of the state’s largest providers of skilled home health and hospice services, is proud to announce the recognition of two exceptional employees of the quarter, Francetta Tice, RN, as Clinical Employee of the Quarter and Angela Whitehead, Case Manager as Non-Clinical Employee of the Quarter. Employees of the Quarter are selected from nominations submitted by peers and acknowledge employees who go above and beyond their typical job duties and best reflect the agency values of honesty, excellence, accountability, teamwork, leadership, and helpfulness.

Vermont Business Magazine Before hitting the road this summer, Walmart wants you to know there is a day dedicated to your health: Wellness Day on Saturday, May 6 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Customers can receive free health screenings for things like glucose, cholesterol, BMI and blood pressure, as well as affordable immunizations like flu, COVID-19, shingles, tetanus, measles and others at pharmacies nationwide. Customers will also find an array of product offerings ranging from allergy relief options to vitamins and more. Walmart Wellness Day encourages families to prioritize their health by providing tools and resources to seek care, improve healthy lifestyles and maintain successful habits. Knowing your health numbers is just a start, but additional information allows people to make decisions and track progress.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) met today, on International Workers’ Day, with Julie Su, who has been nominated by President Biden to serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor. Su, who is currently Acting Secretary of Labor and served as Deputy Secretary of Labor prior to the departure of former Secretary Marty Walsh, advanced out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee last week.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Chamber of Commerce launched the LIBERTY Campaign (Legal Immigration and Border Enforcement Reform This Year) with a letter to members of Congress, calling on them to address the crisis at our border and the critical workforce shortage before the year’s end. The LIBERTY Campaign is comprised of over 430 business associations from all 50 states, spanning a host of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, restaurants, hospitality, retail, construction, agriculture, engineering, and food processing, among others. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce was the signatory from Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that he appointed 42 individuals in April to state boards and commissions. Boards and commissions serve an important role in state government, giving Vermonters numerous opportunities to serve their state and communities. The governor’s office is currently soliciting applications to fill vacancies and upcoming term expirations. All those interested in serving on a board or commission should visit the Governor’s website.

by Randy George It's time for the Senate to follow the House’s lead in supporting our workforce and ensuring that Vermonters can take care of their families and their health without sacrificing their livelihoods. As a small business owner in Vermont, and a member of Main Street Alliance, I urge the legislature, especially the Vermont Senate, to pass a universal paid family and medical leave (PFML) program this year. We employ about 50 individuals and on a daily basis we witness the challenges of balancing work and personal responsibilities. Our employees are the lifeblood of our business, and we want to support them in every way possible. But when faced with the need to take time off to care for a newborn, a sick family member or recover from an illness or injury, many of our employees are forced to choose between their job and their family's well-being.

The Vermont State Police has completed its investigation into the November 17, 2022, vehicle crash on Interstate 89 in Sharon in which an 11-year-old boy was killed, and three other occupants were injured, two of them seriously. The investigation involved the execution of multiple search warrants, forensic and laboratory testing, crash reconstruction, and interviews with involved parties. VSP worked closely with the office of the Windsor County state’s attorney throughout the case. According to the findings of the investigation, the operator of the vehicle, Dawn Baustert, 46, of Essex, was intoxicated at the time of the crash. The Vermont State Police on Monday, May 1, 2023, issued a citation to Baustert through her attorney on charges of driving under the influence with death resulting, driving under the influence with serious bodily injury resulting, grossly negligent operation with death resulting, grossly negligent operation with serious bodily injury resulting, and reckless endangerment.