Current News

The Vermont League of Cities and Towns’ Board of Directors today appointed Maura Carroll of Concord, NH, the organization’s new executive director. Carroll most recently served as the executive director of the New Hampshire Local Government Center, a sister organization to VLCT.

Jared Cadwell, VLCT President and selectboard member from Fayston, said that the board vote to hire Carroll was unanimous by its 12 members.

Working with Vermont’s States Attorneys, Governor Peter Shumlin has appointed attorney Tom Little as independent counsel to look into the campaign finance related complaint against Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell. Little will work with and report findings to an eight-member, bipartisan group of States Attorneys that make up a Campaign Finance Review Committee.

Vermont AG Sorrell, left, with Governor Shumlin in 2013. VBM photo

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims tumbled last week falling by more than half its previous total. The transition from the end of the winter recreation season resulted in a spike of seasonal layoffs, but the steep decline for the week of May 2, 2015, was highly unusual. For the week, there were 515 new, regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont, a decrease of 572 from the previous week's total and 53 fewer than they were a year ago. Generally, claims have been running below last year's totals.

Altogether 6,521 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 590 from a week ago, and 704 fewer than a year ago. The Department processed 0 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), the same as the previous week.

For a bill that only sets the stage for small school consolidation and offers no immediate property tax relief, the Vermont state Senate debated for hours Thursday before giving the education bill initial approval in a 27-3 vote. If H361 is given final approval by the Senate, it would then need to be reconciled with the version passed earlier by the House. Governor Peter Shumlin indicated his support for the Senate version after the vote Thursday.

Lund has announced that NorthCountry Federal Credit Union is now the presenting sponsor for the 7th Annual Lund Ride for Children. The event takes place on Sunday, May 31 and offers four bike routes of varying lengths to match the abilities of every type of rider. Over 250 riders are expected to participate in the ride which will be followed by festivities including food, fun children’s activities, and live music from local band, Rumblecat. Funds raised through corporate sponsorship and individual fundraising directly support Lund’s education, treatment, family support and adoption programs for women, children, and families.

Photo courtesy Lund.

Vitamin Shoppe, Inc today announced that the company has entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) with the Oregon Attorney General and an Assurance of Discontinuance (AOD) with the Vermont Attorney General regarding products that may contain BMPEA, a substance that does not meet the statutory definition of a dietary ingredient.

The Vermont Attorney General has entered into a settlement with nutritional product retailer Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. that permanently bans the sale of products that contain BMPEA. BMPEA is a synthetic amphetamine-like substance which may be found in supplements sold for the purpose of performance enhancement or weight loss. Under the settlement, Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. will not sell products containing, or that are at risk of containing, BMPEA. Products at risk of containing BMPEA include those whose product labels list acacia rigidula as an ingredient.

The Vermont Senate today gave final legislative approval to S108, a bill that supports the 2013 End of Life Choice law. During the legislative process the House and Senate both rejected proposals to repeal the law.

Dick Walters, President of Patient Choices Vermont, said, "I'm proud to live in a state that respects the right of terminally-ill people to have end of life choice. After 12 years of grassroots advocacy in favor of this law, we can now say with real confidence that the debate is over and this law is here to stay."

Linda Waite Simpson, the Vermont director of Compassion and Choices, said, "Today marks a victory for Vermonters who overwhelmingly believe in the option of death with dignity for people who face unbearable suffering at the end of their life. By preserving the first death-with-dignity law enacted by a legislature, our elected leaders have affirmed that it is the right law with the right balance of freedoms and protections for Vermont."

Vermont PBS, Vermont’s statewide public television service, has just received four New England Emmy Award nominations for its local productions. Each year, the regional Emmy competition honors top local productions from television stations across New England. In addition to the Emmy nominations, the station was also recently selected as an Official Honoree in the 19th annual Webby Awards, the online equivalent of the Emmy Awards.

Vermont PBS executive producer, Joe Merone, said, “We’re honored by these nominations. From outdoor recreation to historical documentaries to unveiling unique cultural opportunities, the nominated programs highlight Vermont PBS’s ongoing work to chronicle the best of our region.”

Vermont PBS productions receiving Emmy nominations:

Outdoor Journal

Category: Lifestyle Program/Special – Neil Hilt, Producer/Videographer

Vermont Public Radio has elected four new members to its Board of Directors to serve three-year terms: Charlie Browne of Barnet, Dr Peggy Williams of Johnson, Nancy Rowden Brock of Waterbury, and Wayne Granguist of Weston.

Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice presented its Community Partnership Award to National Life Group at the nonprofit’s volunteer appreciation reception recently. The award is in recognition of the long standing support National Life Group and its Foundation have provided to CVHHH.

“National Life Group supports the work of CVHHH in many ways, through volunteer time, by sponsoring our annual fashion show, which is a major fundraiser for our organization, and through grants that help fund our telemonitoring program,” said CEO Sandy Rousse at the event.

Accepting the award were Beth Chenette, Director of Digital Marketing and CVHHH volunteer, and Beth Rusnock, President of the National Life Group Foundation.

“We’re so proud to accept this award on behalf of the company,” said Rusnock, “And we want to thank all of you for the work you do. It’s a critical service you provide to our community.”

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has started its annual fish stocking work, an effort that will ultimately put over 1,000,000 adult fish, fry and fingerlings - including over 18,000 trophy trout, into Vermont waters in 2015.

"Our fish culture and stocking program is designed to help maintain and restore fisheries, while also increasing angling opportunities," said Adam Miller, fish culture operations manager with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. "The entire effort is critical to supporting local fisheries and to promoting the sport of fishing in Vermont."

"We'll be stocking nearly 18,500 large, two-year old trout across Vermont, and anglers will have the opportunity to fish over 34 miles of rivers and 28 lakes and ponds that are designated as trophy water," said Miller. "This means excellent fishing opportunities and an even better chance for anglers to catch the fish of a lifetime."

Vermont Business Magazine Average Vermont gasoline prices have now fallen below the US average. Vermont gas prices are up 4.7 cents for the week to an average price of $2.651 per gallon. Average retail gasoline prices in Burlington have risen 6.7 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.66 per gallon, according to GasBuddy's daily survey. These results compare with the national average that has increased 8.5 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.662, according to GasBuddy's gasoline price website vermontgasprices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Burlington during the past week, prices prices this week were 111.5 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 14.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 22.7 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 105.6 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.