Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Recently released data shows that the rate of asthma-related hospitalizations in Vermont has decreased more than 30 percent in the past decade. State health officials say the declining rate indicates that the focus on improving Vermonters’ self-management for keeping asthma under control is working.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) introduced legislation Tuesday to hold drug companies accountable for the extraordinary harm they have caused by fueling the opioid crisis. Sanders’ bill, the Opioid Crisis Accountability Act of 2018, prohibits illegal marketing and distribution of opioids, creates criminal liability for top company executives, penalizes drug manufacturers who illegally advertise, market or distribute an opioid product and requires drug makers to reimburse the country for the negative economic impact of their products – an amount that the CDC estimates to cost more than $78 billion each year.

Vermont Business Magazine Monday night, Governor Phil Scott vetoed S103. The bill would give the Department of Health additional authority to regulate manufacturing and the sale of products in Vermont. S103 lowers the scientific criteria required to classify chemicals as dangerous and allows the Commissioner of Health to unilaterally regulate or ban the sale of children’s products in Vermont, especially for children's products. The governor said the bill is duplicative to the state's already strong standards on hazardous materials and could increase costs of goods to consumers and businesses.

Vermont Business Magazine Kevin Daignault of Swanton recently got a life-changing call in the middle of the night -- after a long wait, a new heart had finally become available for him. Daignault hopped in the car immediately for a trip to Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital to have the transplant operation. Luckily for him, it was only the second time he’d had to make that drive because, due to a special partnership between the University of Vermont Medical Center and Massachusetts General, most of his pre-operative care happened in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont has recognized University of Vermont Medical Center (UVM Medical Center) with a Blue Distinction Center designation in the area of bariatric surgery (bariatric, metabolic and weight loss surgery) as part of the national Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are healthcare facilities shown to deliver quality specialty care based on objective patient safety and health outcome measures developed with input from the medical community.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Electric Department today is warning customers about an ongoing bill payment phone scam targeting a variety of Burlington businesses and is encouraging its customers to sign up for scam alert notifications from the Attorney General’s Office. In a new wave of calls today, Burlington Electric customers, including restaurants, a funeral home, and a jewelry store, have been receiving calls threatening disconnection if payment is not made immediately.

These calls are not from Burlington Electric, and customers should hang up if they receive a call with such demands. If customers have any questions about their account status, they should call Burlington Electric at 802.865.7300.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Board of Education today announced the start of its search for a new Secretary of Education. This exempt position is open to all state employees and external candidates. Those interested should apply by 5 pm on April 30, 2018. The State Board will consider only candidates who meet the statutory requirements stipulated by the General Assembly.

Vermont Buisness Magazine Scott Dikeman of Rutland has joined The Bank of Bennington as a vice president in the Commercial Lending department. He will work with business customers out of the Rutland office on Woodstock Ave.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) issued the following statements Friday after President Donald Trump announced the United States launched strikes against Syrian targets.

Vermont Business Magazine MILK MONEY L3C, an equity crowdfunding portal for Vermonters, announces its seventh Invest Local Campaign: City Market. Vermonters who are Members of City Market Co-op will have the opportunity to learn more about and invest in this community-owned food cooperative via the Milk Money platform. Milk Money offers the opportunity for true “impact investing” since a dollar invested in a local business generates potential financial return as well as tangible social return on investment. By investing in a local business such as City Market, you will circulate wealth and build a stronger community that fosters new relationships between businesses and community members. The Milk Money platform serves as a meeting place for Vermonters to discover local investment opportunities such as City Market.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University in Northfield has received a $150,000 grant from the George I. Alden Trust to support its brand new academic building, Mack Hall. The gift builds upon a 2015 grant of $125,000 to support technology upgrades in the renovation of Kreitzberg Library. Ground was broken on the $50 million construction project in April 2017, which includes $24 million for a brand new academic building, Mack Hall; as well as renovations to Dewey, Webb and Ainsworth Halls. The construction is part of a broader campus transformation tied to Norwich’s $100 million comprehensive campaign in the lead-up to the university’s bicentennial in 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for areas of Vermont on Monday. Power outages and damage caused by downed trees and tree limbs are likely in the warning area. The strongest winds will occur along the western slopes of the Green Mountains, impacting communities in Western Windham, Bennington, Rutland, Eastern Addison, Eastern Chittenden, and Eastern Franklin counties. Other areas of Vermont will also see windy conditions throughout Monday.

The National Weather Service says 30 to 40 mph winds with gusts of 60 mph are expected in the warning area. Isolated areas of Eastern Addison and Eastern Rutland counties could experience gusts as strong as 75 mph. Vermont state agencies and utilities are preparing for scattered to widespread power outages due to strong winds, saturated soils, and some ice accumulation on tree limbs.