Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Lake Monsters announced today that the 2020 Minor League Baseball season has been shelved, due to the impacts of COVID-19. As a result of a decision by Major League Baseball to not send players to their affiliates, there will be no Minor League Baseball games played in any city in the country this year.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Both Governor Phil Scott and Speaker of the House Mitzi Jonson held press conferences Monday and both discussed the Coronavirus Relief Fund and money spent, and not spent, toward economic recovery. The governor will again hold press conferences Wednesday and Friday discuss COVID-19 health news and the reopening of the economy. He is also expected to sign legislation recently passed by lawmakers. Bills need to be vetted on both sides before Scott can sign them. He’s not expected to veto any of the recently passed legislation, including the CRF bills.

Vermont Business Magazine Nine bills to boost energy efficiency and promote clean energy authored by Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) were included in the comprehensive congressional climate action framework unveiled on Tuesday by the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. The Select Committee’s climate action framework outlines ambitious and achievable policies to grow our economy and put Americans back to work in clean energy jobs, protect the health of all families, make sure our communities and farmers can withstand the impacts of climate change, and protect America’s land and water for the next generation.

Vermont Business Magazine The East Central Vermont Economic Development District (ECVEDD) has adopted a new 5-year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). This plan replaces the District’s 2016-2021 CEDS, and features strategies and actions that promote regional resilience, business innovation, workforce development and retention, robust infrastructure, quality of life and place, and healthy communities.

It also prioritizes economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19. The plan is available at: www.ecvedd.org/ceds

The CEDS update process was led by a Strategy Committee comprised of volunteers from communities throughout the District. Technical assistance was provided by the District partners: Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission, Springfield Regional Development Corporation, and Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation.

by C.B. Hall, Vermont Business Magazine The sale of the Marlboro College campus, announced on May 28, is moving forward – slowly. A statutory review of the deal by the Vermont Attorney General's Office (AGO) will postpone its consummation into July, past the original June 30 target date. A State Board of Education review of the plans may mean an even greater delay.

Vermont Business Magazine Three months after federal disaster declarations for COVID-19, New England States and Tribes are slowly emerging from an unprecedented public health crisis. In March, COVID-19 arrived with a devastating impact to the residents, businesses and the collective health of New England. Thousands were left suddenly unemployed, hospitals were overwhelmed with critically ill patients, and businesses were forced to close with little notice. As of June 24, over $150 million has been obligated for Mission Assignments in the region, including the National Guard. Connecticut received $30.9 million; Massachusetts received $62.8 million; Maine, $10 million; New Hampshire $17.1 million; Rhode Island $27.5 million; and Vermont $9.3 million.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Public Radio has won four national awards for its news coverage in 2019 from the Public Radio Journalists Association (formerly Public Radio News Directors Incorporated). The winning stories included an episode of VPR’s people-powered journalism project Brave Little State and This Land, VPR’s collaboration with Vermont PBS about the changing story of rural Vermont.

by Jeff Tieman, VAHHS President and CEO We cannot not let our guard down. Right now, Vermont has a low infection rate and less than a handful of people hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide. Our ICU capacity is not stressed and community transmission is not substantial. This great news is the result of our collective hard work. But we cannot let up on our commitment to known and effective prevention strategies.

by John McClaughry The pressure is on, in Washington and Montpelier, to take far-reaching (and long overdue) action to insofar as possible prevent future police-citizen interactions of the sort that led to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Last Wednesday in Washington, Senate Democrats mustered 45 votes to prevent even consideration of a reform bill. That produced the familiar partisan gridlock that will likely prevent any reform action until after the November election.

In Vermont, legislators are agreed on mandating police use of body cameras, banning potentially lethal suspect control techniques like chokeholds, and creating a better guide to use of force by police.

Vermont Business Magazine Forbes announced that One Credit Union has been named Best-In-State Credit Union for Vermont. Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to produce its third annual look at the Best Credit Unions In Each State. Consumers were asked 20 questions about their financial dealings. Credit Unions were rated on overall recommendations and satisfaction, as well as five subdimensions (trust, terms and conditions, branch services, digital services and financial advice).

With the economy in turmoil after the outbreak of the coronavirus, credit unions across the country have been forced to step up their game. Credit unions are mainstays in American life, offering low-cost financial products and personalized customer service.

Vermont Business Magazine The Green Mountain Care Board has scheduled the FY21 hospital budget hearings to be held in August 2020. These meetings will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams and conference call-in number. The information on how to attend the hearings will be posted on the GMCB Website once the August schedule is posted. The first hearing is August 18 and run through August 28.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Supreme Court on Monday struck down a medically unnecessary Louisiana abortion restriction in a 5-4 decision in June Medical Services v. Russo. This means access to safe, legal abortion in Louisiana is protected for now, but attacks on our reproductive rights continue. The court ruled that Louisiana’s abortion restriction, which is identical to one it struck down four years ago in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, cannot stand under that precedent — it is unconstitutional to impose medically unnecessary laws that burden a person’s right to safe, legal abortion.