Current News

VermontBiz Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.11 per gallon, up 1.6 cents per gallon from last week's $3.10/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.69/g while the highest was $3.35/g, a difference of 66.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 0.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.98/g today. The national average is down 7.5 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 7.1 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House Progressive Caucus has selected Representative Kate Logan (Burlington) as Caucus Leader and Representative Troy Headrick (Burlington) as Assistant Caucus Leader for the 2025-2026 legislative biennium. These leadership appointments were determined through a consensus decision-making process, reflecting the caucus’s dedication to collaborative governance and ensuring every member has a voice in shaping our collective direction. Consistent with this approach, their contributions to Vermont House leadership discussions will continue to represent a consensus voice to ensure alignment with the values and priorities of our caucus.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott tested positive for COVID late last week. The good news is, his vaccinations have done their job and reduced symptoms, allowing him to continue to work remotely. Given his lengthy in-person schedule tomorrow and continued mild symptoms, the governor will not participate in tomorrow’s Capital for a Day activities. Members of the Cabinet will still participate in the public meetings and events.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Stowe Electric Department (SED), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) celebrated the awarding of $6 million in federal funding to support energy initiatives in Stowe, Vermont. This funding, from the USDA’s Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program, will strengthen rural communities by expanding access to clean, renewable energy. The $6 million investment is part of the USDA’s $1 billion allocation for rural energy initiatives, made possible by the historic, bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act. The PACE program is the largest rural electrification investment since the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, helping reduce energy costs and improve infrastructure while prioritizing clean energy solutions. 

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) led Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) in urging President Biden to promptly designate the Palestinian Territories for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and protect Palestinians present in the United States from deportation. In their letter, the Senators outlined how the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza and the West Bank demands such a designation to ensure the safety of this vulnerable population. The Senators also outlined historical precedent for the designation of similar groups for TPS, including the Clinton Administration’s designation of the province of Kosovo during the war with Yugoslavia.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) staff will hold a Technical Assistance Workshop and Office Hours this week to prepare potential bidders for the Vermont Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. BEAD is a federal program that provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs in all states and territories. Vermont’s allocation of those funds is almost $229 million. The workshop will be Wednesday, December 18, from 11:00 am-12:30 pm, followed by office hours on Friday, December 20, from 11:00 am-12:30 pm. 

Vermont Business Magazine Cathedral Square intends to be part of the solution to ending homelessness in Vermont and is pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative – the Housing Incentive Program (HIP). HIP is aimed at supporting new residents exiting homelessness to be successfully housed over the long term. The pilot will leverage all the existing layers of services available in a Cathedral Square community, including the award-winning SASH® (Support and Services at Home) model, with the added component of tiered financial incentives spaced out over five years for participation in a flexible menu of additional support and education options.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) Chancellor, Dr. Elizabeth Mauch has announced the recipients of the inaugural round of funding from the newly launched Chancellor’s Innovation Fund. With the aim of advancing VSC Vision 2030 strategic priorities of enhancing the affordability and accessibility of high-quality higher education for all Vermonters, the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund supports faculty and staff proposals of creative, cross-campus and cross-institution projects that enhance the system’s ability to better meet student and state economic needs.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Calling ALL specialty crop producers! The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced a new $2 billion Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops program this week, aimed at helping specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs. This one-time direct payment, available to any active producer of an eligible specialty crop, will be be calculated based on estimated producer sales for 2025. To apply, businesses must file a Form FSA-1140 "Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program" to any FSA county office by January 8, 2025.

Vermont State Police The Vermont State Police arrested shooting suspect Scott Mason, 38, of St. Johnsbury early Sunday morning, Dec. 15, 2024. Police took Mason into custody at about 2 a.m. after locating him inside a residence at 251 Portland St., the house next door to the location where St. Johnsbury Police Department Capt. Jason Gray was shot and seriously wounded Friday afternoon. Shortly after midnight, the state police obtained a search warrant for 251 Portland St. and converged on the residence. The response involved members of the Vermont State Police Field Force and Criminal divisions, the Tactical Services Unit, K-9 Unit, Narcotics Investigation Unit, and the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program. 

by Amanda Kuhnert, VermontBiz Magazine “I’m a career changer — I didn’t study education formally in school,“ said Vince Razionale, who at 39 is pursuing his teacher licensure through a new apprenticeship program in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. The program helps individuals with bachelor’s degrees attain their teaching certification while earning a salary and gaining practical experience in the classroom. “When I was 23, coming out of college, I don’t know whether I would have had the stamina or professionalism to be as good a teacher as I can be now,“ Razionale said. “I feel really at peace about who I am as a person and my place in this world — and this community.“ But the path forward wasn’t always clear.

Vermont State Police The town of St. Johnsbury is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the apprehension of Scott Mason, the 38-year-old suspect in the shooting of local police department Capt. Jason Gray. The reward was authorized by the St. Johnsbury Selectboard at the request of Police Chief Joel Pierce and with the support of Town Manager Chad Whitehead. The FBI’s Albany Field Office also announced a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction. Search efforts continued through the day Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, and remain ongoing. Mason is still at large.