Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power’s (GMP) President and CEO Mari McClure is one of Business Insider’s Top 100 People Transforming Business in 2021, a prestigious annual list that profiles leaders across 10 sectors who are innovators, problem solvers and trend makers. Business Insider described the 2021 featured leaders as “the disrupters and thought leaders that are driving unprecedented change, both for their organizations and communities, and across the global business world.” Among the honorees are CitiGroup CEO Jane Fraser, author and historian Ibram X. Kendi, and recording artist Lil Nas X. McClure is featured in the Sustainability category.

Farm to Plate is Vermont’s food system plan being implemented statewide to increase economic development and jobs in the farm and food sector and improve access to healthy local food for all Vermonters. The Farm to Plate annual network gathering is November 18 & 19.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting cases rose slightly to 201, an increase of 12 from yesterday. Hospitalizations were 50 today (down three) and ICU visits were 12 (down four). Cases have been especially high in the Northeast Kingdom, which has had elevated case rates in recent weeks. Bennington and Rutland also have seen increases recently; they both reported 47 new cases today, which are the most in the state of any county.

Vermont Business Magazine The work of Hunger Free Vermont (HFVT) to end hunger was aided recently by a $100,000 grant from Shaw’s and Star Market Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors Program that aims to help connect individuals with federal meal programs such as SNAP (known in Vermont as 3SquaresVT), WIC, P-EBT, and free or reduced school nutrition programs. This funding will allow HFVT to help more kids in Vermont access healthy food. HFVT trains and assists schools and daycares in increasing their average daily participation in the federal school, childcare, afterschool, and summer meals programs as well as empowering their staff to provide information about SNAP and WIC to the families they serve.

Vermont Business Magazine The Acting United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Louise Larivee, 63, of Swanton, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to a federal fraud charge. The guilty plea came on the third day of a jury trial in Rutland. Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford continued Larivee’s release on conditions pending sentencing, which will be scheduled for the spring. On June 13, 2019, a federal grand jury in Burlington returned a two-count indictment charging Larivee with conspiracy and federal program embezzlement.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Pamela Yandow, 49, of Swanton, Vermont, was arrested today for distributing cocaine base on multiple occasions in October of 2021. Yandow is scheduled to appear later today on the charge before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J Doyle. According to court records, in October of 2021, Yandow distributed cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” on multiple occasions to a confidential informant at or near her residence in Swanton.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department for Children and Families announced today that, to enhance predictability and stability for program participants, the Adverse Weather Conditions policy for the General Assistance Emergency Housing Program will be applied for a 100-day period from November 22, 2021, through March 1, 2022. The Adverse Weather Conditions policy has historically been applied on a day-by-day basis, based on weather forecasts and conditions. To reduce the need for beneficiaries of the program to reapply on a daily basis, the state will open eligibility during this time period, which is historically when it sees the most use. A family of four, for instance, will qualify if their income is no more than $4,086 a month.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Northern Vermont University-Lyndon and Vermont Technical College announced that a $240,000 grant from the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration will expand nursing capacity in the Northeast Kingdom. The funding will expand Vermont Technical College’s in-demand existing nursing program on the NVU-Lyndon campus, creating a direct pathway for students to complete their degree from start to finish in the NVU-Lyndon community. NVU’s Vail Hall will be transformed into the Clinical Nursing Education Center complete with a nursing instruction classroom and skills and simulation lab spaces. Vermont’s federal delegation joined NVU and Vermont Tech for this exciting announcement.

Vermont Business Magazine Over the past year, elections officials in numerous states, including Vermont, have received disturbing emails, phone calls and voicemail messages regarding the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. The Vermont Secretary of State’s Office received numerous voicemails that were offensive, profane, and upsetting. The office informed the Vermont State Police and the FBI of these messages. Both agencies conducted independent reviews. After review, the state’s attorney determined that the messages did not rise to the level of criminal conduct and are in fact protected speech.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Air National Guard will conduct night flying from Tuesday, November 16 to Friday, November 19. Nighttime takeoffs are scheduled between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. and landings scheduled between 6 pm and 8 pm. The 158th Fighter Wing will continue their afternoon F-35 training missions, with takeoffs and landings scheduled between 12:30-3:30 pm. There are no scheduled morning flights.

Vermont Business Magazine Networking is all about building relationships. And in the eyes of networking expert Ivan Misner, it is during tough stretches such as the one brought about by the COVID pandemic that businesspeople need to work harder than ever to maintain their networks.

"When difficult times occur, people either get frozen by fear or they get focused by fear," said Misner, founder and chief visionary officer of BNI, the world’s largest business networking organization with more than 10,000 chapters. "The ones who have gotten focused by that fear ... recognize that today, more than ever, they need their network."

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont is becoming warmer and wetter due to climate change—and these trends are reshaping life in the Green Mountain State. The University of Vermont study finds the state’s average annual temperature has warmed by nearly 2°F, and precipitation has increased by a whopping 21%, since 1900. The study shows that many hallmarks of Vermont life are being impacted by climate change, from farming and maple syrup to long winters and skiing. The study is also the latest evidence of significant warming and increased precipitation in the US Northeast due to climate change.