Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Bennington College has been recommended for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $10,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The award will help fund the production of Bennington Review, a literary journal housed at Bennington College. Bennington Review is a national biannual print journal of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and film writing that intends to reinforce the value of the bound print journal as an intimate, curated cultural space in which a reader can encounter and experience new work with a degree of immersion not wholly possible through other media. The magazine aims to contribute distinctive style and substance to the national literary conversation through publishing sharp, unexpected, original poetry and prose from a geographically broad and culturally rich spectrum of prominent, up-and-coming, and new voices. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced today that a Chittenden County jury has found Cory Johnson, 38, of South Burlington, Vermont, guilty of the Aggravated Sexual Assault of a toddler. The charge brought against Mr. Johnson was the result of multiple criminal investigations conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), including personnel from the Attorney General’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. The verdict came today after a 3-day jury trial. After the verdict Judge Michael Kupersmith ordered Mr. Johnson be held pending sentencing. The charge of Aggravated Sexual Assault carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The court ordered a pre-sentence investigation and a psychosexual report and will notify the parties with a future sentencing date.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) today released the following statement on the newly announced ceasefire-hostage deal between Israel and Hamas: Officials from the United States, Israel, Qatar, and Hamas say a deal to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages has been reached. "This is welcome, long-overdue news. Both sides must honor the deal and implement it as quickly as possible. The senseless killing must stop. The hostages must be released. The United Nations and other aid organizations must finally be allowed unfettered access to all areas of the Gaza Strip in order to provide the massive amounts of humanitarian aid that is desperately needed. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people are struggling to survive, lacking food, water, and medical care in the middle of winter. Innocent lives hang in the balance."

Vermont Business Magazine The State of Vermont’s Children: 2024 Year in Review, a newly released report from Building Bright Futures and Vermont’s Early Childhood Data & Policy Center, provides an objective, data-driven assessment of the well-being of young children and families in Vermont. The report features a spotlight on the child welfare system and includes 12 regional profiles. The State of Vermont's Children report and a recording of the virtual briefing are available for download. To receive a free hard copy of the report, complete this form.

by Chris Graff Anyone searching for hopeless causes in the summer of 1972 need only look at Vermont’s Democratic race for governor. In July of that year it looked as if there would be no race at all. A state senator had announced his candidacy but then withdrew because of a lack of support. Finally, in August, Tom Salmon of Rockingham stepped forward. He was the definition of an underdog. It was too late to start a winning campaign; Salmon’s only previous statewide campaign, a 1970 race for attorney general, had been a disaster, and the Republicans had two strong candidates vying for the party nomination.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas announced a major upgrade to Vermont’s Online Campaign Finance System and Lobbying Information System today. The office’s Elections Division, staffed by a team of six, is tasked with protecting the integrity of campaigning and elections in Vermont. The division administers Vermont’s elections and oversees campaign finance reporting and lobbyist disclosure via online registration systems.

Vermont Business Magazine Financial imposter syndrome refers to the self-doubt many people feel when it comes to their financial skills and money moves versus the actual reality of their financial picture. While Americans report they currently feel financial stress, KeyBank’s annual Financial Mobility Survey, released today, found that Americans are closer to their personal financial comfort goals than they may realize. KeyBank has branches across Vermont. KeyBank found that, though many Americans are feeling anxious that they're falling financially behind, they do have solid plans for their finances and are making the right money moves. While half (50%) of Americans say they feel financial stress, 45% of respondents are certain they could come up with $2,000 if an unexpected need arose within the next month.

Vermont Business Magazine Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont) on Tuesday was elected Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, the number two spot for Democrats on the committee. Rep. Balint will serve on the House Judiciary Committee under the leadership of Ranking Member Jamie Raskin. This will be Rep. Balint’s second term serving on the House Judiciary Committee. 

Vermont Business Magazine Citizens’ Small Business Community Champion Awards will open for submissions on Thursday, 1/16/25. By entering Citizens’ SBCCA contest, applicants can bring big ideas about growing their business and supporting their community to life. This year, 25 businesses will win $10,000 and one year of professional support and networking, through Luminary®, worth $2,500. Entering takes only a few minutes and is exclusively for Citizens Business Banking customers.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Professional and Continuing Education (UVM PACE) and the Vermont National Guard announced a strategic partnership today to enhance workforce development across Vermont. During a signing ceremony held at Vermont National Guard’s Aviation Flight Facility, leaders from both organizations celebrated this collaboration, which aims to strengthen workforce readiness statewide while supporting the Vermont National Guard’s mission and service capabilities. This first of its kind partnership between UVM PACE and Vermont National Guard Partnered Recruiting Initiative for Military and Employers (PRIME) program aims to help offset Vermont’s workforce labor shortage. The partnership includes goals to upskill current Vermont Guard members and family members through PACE professional development programs as they maintain their civilian career pathways, as well as provide connections to Vermont employers for prospective recruits just entering Guard service and pursuing full-time employment following graduation.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s housing crisis has reached a critical point, impacting families, businesses, and communities as well as the state’s sustainability. Today, a new coalition, Let’s Build Homes, officially launched with a bold vision to address this crisis head-on. This non-partisan, pro-housing alliance is uniting individuals, employers, and community leaders from every corner of the state to advocate for strong and strategic reforms to Vermont’s housing policies. The Steering Committee includes: Maura Collins, Neale Lunderville, Alex MacLean, Corey Parent, Jordan Redell, Jak Tiano and Miro Weinberger.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP) today released the following statement in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new proposal to require a front-of-package nutrition label on most packaged food and beverages. "Today’s front-of-package food label proposal put forward by the FDA, after years of consideration, is pathetically weak and must be substantially improved. There is a growing body of evidence that ultra-processed foods are deliberately designed to be addictive – similar to cigarettes and alcohol – and are major contributors to the twin epidemics of obesity and diabetes in our country..."