Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In an emergency meeting of the Department of English at the University of Vermont on Tuesday, faculty endorsed the following statement and called for it to be released to the press and public: “The Department of English by unanimous vote has no confidence in the University of Vermont administration for its budget decisions that are gutting the College of Arts and Sciences. We call on Dean Bill Falls to resign as dean rather than continue to oversee cuts, layoffs, and closures.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) is reminding all farm operations that the annual winter manure spreading ban is underway. Beginning at 12:01 am today, December 16, and running until April 1, 2021, no manure or other agricultural wastes (including: compost and spoiled feed) may be spread on agricultural fields throughout Vermont. This annual ban is required by the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs), which is a part of VAAFM’s overall strategy to protect water quality, the working landscape, and natural resources.

University of Vermont Medical Center The University of Vermont Medical Center sent a letter today to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) reaffirming its compliance with federal laws that provide hospital employees the ability to reasonably opt-out of participating in medical procedures they oppose on religious or personal beliefs, which include reproductive care, sterilizations, blood transfusions, and others.

by Don Turner Consider this: Let’s say you live in the small town of Cambridge, VT, in rural Lamoille County. In Cambridge, you have one elected State Representative the voters send to the Vermont House of Representatives, and one elected State Senator to represent the county in the Vermont Senate. So, in total, Cambridge residents have two lawmakers representing them in Montpelier. But right across the town border is Underhill, in Chittenden County. In Underhill, residents have two elected State Representatives, and six elected State Senators. That’s a total of eight lawmakers representing Underhill.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that the COVID-19 State of Emergency has been extended to January 15, 2021. All previous addendums to the State of Emergency remain in place, including a temporary suspension of social gatherings and the cross-state travel map. The announcement comes as the first doses of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrive in Vermont. Initial doses will go to priority populations, including high-risk health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities

Vermont Business Magazine The day before the first person in Vermont received the first COVID-19 vaccine and gave hope that the pandemic can be suppressed, the state recorded its 100th death from COVID-19; the United States surpassed 300,000 deaths. For Vermont, the per capita death toll is actually higher than the US as a whole. The last two weeks have been the worst in Vermont since the beginning of the pandemic. Governor Scott also extended the State of Emergency another month to January 15, 2020, which was expected.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has signed an executive order creating the 250th Anniversary Commission to plan, coordinate and promote observances and activities that commemorate the historic events associated with the American Revolution in Vermont. The year 2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the formation of the United States of America. Vermonters played a significant role in the colonists’ assertion for independence from Great Britain, from the Green Mountain Boys successful assault at Fort Ticonderoga to the Battle of Hubbardton, and to the Battle of Bennington where Vermont troops helped defeat a British force to set up the victories that turned the war in favor of the new Americans.

by University of Vermont Provost and Senior Vice President Patricia Prelock On December 2, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Bill Falls announced a plan to phase out 12 of the college’s 56 majors, 11 of its 63 minors, and 4 of its 10 master’s degree programs. These difficult programmatic decisions were the result of careful thought and consultation over the last several years and were informed by both enrollment data and a holistic analysis of the college’s structure and offerings, and guided by a commitment to the future success of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) Vermont seniors — please join me for a virtual town hall this Thursday, December 17th at 5 pm. While we can’t be together in person this year for our annual senior holiday dinners, this town hall is a way for us to gather virtually. It will be an opportunity for me to share an update from Congress and hear from you about issues of importance to you. You can share your thoughts on the current pandemic, issues that impact your daily life like the high cost of prescription drugs and the importance of social security.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, several frontline staff at the University of Vermont Medical Center were the first Vermonters to receive the approved Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. With the sooner than anticipated arrival of the vaccine in Vermont, UVM Medical Center, its UVM Health Network affiliates, and hospitals across the state are working as quickly as possible to ramp up vaccination clinics ahead of schedule. Initial vaccination efforts will continue in a phased manner for health care workers employed at the hospital and in the community, as well as first responders considered to be at higher risk for exposure.

Vermont Business Magazine The UVM Medical Center will be livestreaming the first Vermonter receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine today at 2 p.m. UVM Health Network President and CEO John Brumsted, MD, UVM Medical Center President and COO Stephen Leffler, MD, and, Vermont Agency of Human Services Secretary Mike Smith will deliver remarks.

Vermont Business Magazine This ski season, Stratton and Sugarbush Resorts are thinking green – for the sake of its visitors’ health and planet health. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, skiers today are placing a heightened importance on hygiene and are actively looking for transparency and trust in the standard of sanitation in all aspects of their experience – from the lodge to the chairlifts. Stratton and Sugarbush Resorts are taking cleaning and disinfecting protocols seriously with Seventh Generation’s professional line of bio-based cleaning and disinfectant products.