Current News

Attorney General William H Sorrell has joined the Attorneys General of New York and Connecticut in a petition challenging the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) over its recent rule on the continued storage of spent nuclear fuel. There is no federal repository for the highly radioactive fuel. All the spent fuel at every US nuclear plant is still stored on-site, even at those that have been closed.

Governor Peter Shumlin joined Mayor Chris Louras, transportation officials and legislators at the Ripley Bridge to highlight the latest in a series of transportation improvement projects in Rutland City. In a year that has seen major infrastructure projects involving close cooperation between The Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and municipal teams, the Ripley and Dorr bridges are the latest example of the state working with downtowns to provide the infrastructure needed to sustain commerce and quality of life. The Ripley and Dorr bridges are estimated to cost $5.5 million and $8.3 million respectively. This pair of bridges, combined with the $10.5million in paving and other downtown improvements are just part of the $685.7 million Transportation Bill that makes up one of the biggest construction years in the history of VTrans.

by Bill Schubart We can’t keep doing things the way we are in education. The costs are unsustainable and results are questionable, especially as connectivity, content distribution, and career options evolve. It’s not just about the money. While we must have a discussion about educational goals and measurements, educational architecture must also be simplified. The terms nursery, kindergarten, grade school, middle school, junior high, and high school need to be abandoned along with their dubious graduation ceremonies. They’re outmoded and distract from the natural continuum of childhood development.

We must start by pushing educational investment down in age and understand the transition to college differently. The catch-all term “college” no longer imparts any meaning to that educational period in a young person’s life.

The agreement between The University of Vermont and the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America, Local 267 (“UE”) has been ratified by the UE membership, according to a statement released Friday evening by UVM. The union represents service and maintenance workers at UVM. The new deal includes an overall pay increase of 8 percent over three years.

“The new contract between the UE and UVM is a fair and mutually satisfactory one, and we are pleased that the membership has now completed the ratification process,” said Wanda Heading-Grant, Vice President for Human Resources, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. “As I have said before, our service and maintenance workers are essential to the successful operation of the University. Completing the bargaining process represents yet another positive step in our relationship.”

Vermont Business Magazine New unemployment claims in Vermont were up again last week and surpassed 500 claims for the first time in several months. Levels this year have been running consistently lower than those of last year, but this week were ahead of last year's numbers. For the week of October 18, 2014, there were 540 new, regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont. This is an increase of 53 from the previous week's total, and 45 more than they were a year ago.

Vermont's first Bitcoin ATM will be unveiled at this year's Tech Jam by Blu-Bin and its partner, PYC. The machine, will be on display for the public at Tech Jam, and then will after the event will be set up at Blu-Bin's Burlington location. Tech Jam was a two-day event held October 24 and 25 in Burlington. According to Blu-Bin, the machine’s new location is an increasingly popular destination for bitcoin enthusiasts.

by Laura Krantz vtdigger.org Burlington College plans to sell 25 acres of its 32 acre lakefront property to real estate developer Eric Farrell next month for $7 million in an effort to keep the school open, officials said Monday. Interim President Mike Smith this month took a “deep dive” into the college’s finances and concluded the school’s status quo is not financially viable. It has $11.4 million in long-term debt and $300,000 in past-due bills, he said. Two-thirds of that is more than 90 days late, he said.

“This is the only way that I can see to give this college some stability,” Smith said.

Governor Peter Shumlin was joined friday by Senator Dick Sears, Bennington health care and law enforcement officials, State’s Attorney Erica Marthage and others at the Bennington Police Station to announce a collaborative program between United Counseling Service and Southwestern Vermont Health Care to offer opioid medication assisted treatment.

“This collaborative builds on SVHC’s leadership in health care and UCS’s expertise in providing treatment to those dealing with substance use disorders, allowing more people to get the treatment they need in their local community,” Gov. Shumlin said. “The treatment center will help keep Bennington’s families healthier and its community safer.”

"I’m thrilled we have come so far. This will be a realistic treatment alternative in line with our admission that we can't arrest our way out of this problem," Sen. Sears said. He added, “Similar programs have been proven to reduce crimes.”

Vermont Business Magazine The three-person team that has run the Burlington School District said they will quit November 10 and return to their regular duties because of the way they've been treated by the Burlington School Board. In a letter sent to Board Chairman Patrick Halladay and made public today by Interim Superintendent Stephanie Philips on behalf of her and colleagues Paul Irish and Nikki Fuller, she said that the Board was disrespectful and inattentive to the needs of the three-person team running the district while a permanent superintendent is being sought. The three are ranking staff members in the District.

In the letter, Phillips said: "Some Board members have little understanding, concern or respect for the work the interim administrative team has faced." She said public comments and emails "malign" administrators. "This behavior," she said, "only serves to expand the 'us versus them' culture."

Ledyard Financial Group (Ticker Symbol: LFGP) announced today a regular quarterly dividend of $0.45 per common share. The dividend is payable December 5, 2014 to shareholders of record as of November 7, 2014. This dividend payment will bring the total payout for 2014 to $1.72 per share which compares to the payout for 2013 of $1.44 per share.

Ledyard Financial Group, Inc, headquartered in Hanover, New Hampshire, is the holding company for Ledyard National Bank. Ledyard National Bank, founded in 1991, is a full service community bank offering a broad range of banking, investment, tax and wealth management services in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region. Ledyard National Bank has eight offices with locations in Hanover, Lebanon, Lyme, New London, and West Lebanon, New Hampshire and in Norwich, Vermont.

Darn Tough Vermont, American manufacturer of the fastest growing collection of outdoor performance socks, based in Northfield, on Friday reported continued year-over-year growth with another record-setting quarter. With Q3 topline growth up 63% over the corresponding period in 2013, the Vermont sock company exceed its Q3 plans by16 percent.

"Quarter-after-quarter and year-after-year, we continue to experience exceptional growth within a highly competitive market. Here at Darn Tough, we pride ourselves on making the best possible product and then finding a way to take it to the next level. Our success this quarter is proof that our dedication to knitting the toughest, American-made sock is inline with market demand for socks that are comfortable, durable and can perform in any condition,” says President and CEO of Darn Tough Vermont, Ric Cabot.

Governor Peter Shumlin and the leadership of the Vermont Health Care Innovation Project (VHCIP) announced today the award of seven grants totaling $2,653,145 to promote health care innovation throughout the state.

The grants will support projects that advance the three core strategies of the VHCIP: