Current News

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Medical Center President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Leffler, MD, announced today that after a competitive national search and multiple town hall-style employee interviews with the final candidates, Peg Gagne, MSN, RN, has been selected as Chief Nursing Officer for the hospital starting January 11, 2021. Gagne has been serving as Interim CNO since September 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine Matthew Godnick Seager, Rutland City resident, educator, small business owner, entrepreneur and grandson of former Rutland City Mayor Gilbert "Gilly" Godnick, today announced his candidacy for mayor of the City of Rutland. Among Seager’s key priorities are workforce development, job retention and creation, and a commitment to continuing Rutland’s war on drugs.

Vermont State Police On December 25, 2020 at approximately 9:15 PM a 911 call was received about a fire in an upstairs apartment at 58 Pleasant Street in Newport City. The Newport City Fire and Police Departments were on scene within 4 minutes and learned there was a male still inside the apartment. Newport City Fire Fighters quickly extinguished the blaze, stopped the spread of the fire, and saved the rest of the apartment building. Unfortunately one of the occupants of the second floor apartment, Jonathan R. Coe (39) was unable to get out of the apartment and perished in the fire.

Vermont Chamber of Commerce It has been a challenging year for businesses across the country. Pandemic restrictions have significantly reduced occupancy and revenues. Small businesses in Vermont are struggling, and nearly every industry has been impacted. Some, like restaurants and lodging properties, were hit hardest. And the hits keep coming.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Patrick Leahy, US Senator Bernie Sanders, and US Representative Peter Welch will recognize 28 young Vermonters who are being nominated to the United States Service Academies, Class of 2025. Each year the Vermont delegation hosts a reception at the Vermont State House for the nominees. However, for everyone’s safety, this year’s ceremony will be held virtually on Wednesday evening.

by Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts 2020 was the year of all years, so to speak. Last year at this time, Vermont was going about its business; we were toasting 2019, and we were looking forward to the start of a new decade. We made it through deep winter; then came March and our routines ended.

The pandemic forced us to close our schools, restaurants and workplaces. Grocery shopping, formerly mundane, became too much for many. Plans for parties, weddings, graduations and other celebrations that bring joy to everyday life were terminated with one fell swoop.

Our health care workers and first responders took care of us as we tried to weave our way through Covid-19. Lives were lost. We learned more about how to take precautions and treat people who were ill, but the virus did not go away.

Vermont Business Magazine Human Services Secretary Mike Smith said Tuesday that about 9,800 Vermonters have been vaccinated so far, including 8,000 health care workers, 900 emergency services personnel and 900 in long-term care facilities, though that number is likely larger due to a lag in reporting through the federal government. By the end of January, everyone in Phase 1A should have received at least the first dose of the vaccine, with many having received second doses, he said.

Vermont Business Magazine Last week, the City Council unanimously approved a motion in support of the advancement of the Railyard Enterprise Project to preliminary engineering. The City and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) expect that design work could begin in 2021, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and VTrans have committed to providing 90 percent of the funding.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today announced that Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) has agreed to pay over $400,000 for its disposal of recyclable processed glass at three locations on its Williston, Vermont property. CSWD will also post information on its website and publications to ensure that it is being transparent with the public about what happens to glass sent to CSWD for recycling.

Vermont Business Magazine President Donald Trump signed into law on Sunday night a government funding bill that included energy efficiency provisions championed by Representative Peter Welch, and an important Medicaid fraud bill that he introduced this Congress. The bill also funds the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement in response to the House of Representatives’ overwhelming 275-134 passage of $2,000 direct payments for the working class: “The House has passed a $2,000 direct payment for working people. It is time for the Senate to act. This week on the Senate floor Mitch McConnell wants to vote to override Trump's veto of the $740 billion defense funding bill and then head home for the New Year. I'm going to object until we get a vote on legislation to provide a $2,000 direct payment to the working class."

Vermont Business Magazine Community Health's medical professionals began receiving the COVID vaccination this weekend, with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bradley Berryhill as one of the first providers to get the Pfizer vaccine. As the process of immunizing against the coronavirus has just begun, Dr. Berryhill shared his thoughts, concerns and advice to friends, family and patients in a letter to the community. Cautioning that this is just the beginning of a process that will last for months Dr. Berryhill underscores the importance of staying informed and vigilant.

Dear Friends,

This is a historic moment in time for our world and no less true for everyone who lives here in central Vermont. There exists a level of stress and anxiety which is uniquely representative of this moment in time.