Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, with branches in Vermont (NYSE: MTB), today announced $8.2 million in donations to 68 nonprofit organizations across New England and Long Island and Rockland County New York. The announcement is the second round of giving as part of the company's Amplify Fund grant, a commitment by M&T Bank to work with groups dedicated to addressing social issues through a racial equity and social justice lens in low- and moderate- income communities and underrepresented populations. First announced in May 2022, the Amplify Fund is a $25 million philanthropic investment as part of the merger between People's United Bank and M&T Bank. Powered by the M&T Charitable Foundation, the Amplify Fund is a one-time supplemental charitable giving program to provide further support in the legacy People's United communities. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that COVID-19 cases fell to their lowest level since early November and hospitalizations also were down for nearly the same timeframe. However, there were 6 fatalities, which has been about the average since mid-December. The pandemic death total now stands at 1,118 as of February 3, 2024 (the most recent data available). Total reported deaths in January were 28, which is the highest monthly total in nearly a year.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) released the following statement after voting against sending taxpayer dollars to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bombing campaign in Gaza: “I cannot, in good faith, send more U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund Prime Minister Netanyahu’s relentless bombing campaign in Gaza... The National Security Supplemental also included provisions to address other U.S. national security priorities, including bolstering Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia’s brutal invasion. I unequivocally support Ukraine. I regret that the funding for Ukraine was packaged with the military aid for Israel, which I oppose.”

Vermont Business Magazine The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has recognized Saint Michael’s College for being one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.  Four students from Saint Michael’s were selected for Fulbright awards for the academic year 2023-24. They are currently involved in programs in Thailand, Vietnam, Spain, and Mexico. This is the second time the College has been recognized as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution.  The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international academic exchange program.

Vermont Business Magazine Since 2017, the Cunniff Lab at the University of Vermont (UVM) Cancer Center with support from industry partner, RS Oncology, has been making significant strides to launch a new therapy for the treatment of mesothelioma. Only two therapies have been approved for the treatment of mesothelioma since 2004, which affects about 3,000 people a year in the United States and approximately 40,000 people worldwide. Linked to occupational asbestos exposure, mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer arising primarily from the outer lining of the lungs with a dismal five-year survival rate of only five to 10 percent. Having successfully completed the Phase 1 dose escalation portion of its MITOPE trial (NCT05278975), RS Oncology initiated the successful dosing of the first patient in the Phase 2 dose expansion portion of its United Kingdom multicenter study.

Vermont Business Magazine Barb Asen, Director of Family Caregiver Support at Central Vermont Council on Aging (CVCOA), along with Vermont Department of Libraries’ ABLE Library, has led a team of staff and volunteers to build a partnership with a memory cafe in Scotland. The two groups have expanded monthly “Memorable Times Online” gatherings into a weekly transatlantic Zoom series for people living with mild to moderate memory loss and their care partners. Launched on January 17 and running through April 3, the “Winter Jukebox with Friends in Scotland” convenes on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. for a 45-minute program offering music, memories, and social connection. 

Vermont Business Magazine In 2013, Mali Melaugh received a diagnosis of Down syndrome, which led her family, from Essex, Vermont, to seek support from their community. Now, at the age of 10, Mali is flourishing, and her family has been utilizing their experiences to aid others in similar situations. Seven years ago, they established "Team Mali" and participated in the Best Buddies Bike Challenge. Their goal was to gather funds and raise awareness for the cause. Since then, they have collectively cycled more than 700 miles and have successfully raised more than $100,000 for Best Buddies.

Vermont Business Magazine Thirteen schools from around the state have been recognized by the Vermont Department of Health’s “Asthma-friendly school” initiative for their commitment to asthma-control strategies to support the lung health of their students. Asthma is a potentially serious condition that includes clogging and swelling of the airways that can lead to difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing. Nearly 9,000 (1 in 12) children in Vermont have asthma, and of those, 61% of have uncontrolled asthma. Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, said the number of new schools participating shows a growing understanding about the impact of asthma on children’s health and ability to learn. 

Vermont Business Magazine Age Well will be participating in the 22nd annual March for Meals. This is a nationwide campaign led by Meals on Wheels America designed to rally around our aging neighbors and protect the essential services that enable so many to remain healthy and independent at home. As the largest provider of Meals on Wheels in Vermont, Age Well provides over 270,000 home-delivered meals annually, addressing food insecurity and malnutrition, combatting social isolation, and enabling independence and improved health outcomes for thousands.

Vermont Business Magazine Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company announced on Monday that, together with insurance agency Hickok & Boardman, they have raised over $185,000 for Special Olympics Vermont, exceeding their fundraising goal of $150,000. The fundraising efforts are part of the Company’s participation in the 2024 Penguin Plunge, which took place February 10th. As part of the event, employees of the Company, as well as agency partners and friends, jumped into the frigid waters of Lake Champlain.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Eva P. Vekos, 54, was today arraigned in Vermont Superior Court, Addison Criminal Division, with the crime of Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor (DUI). The charge Ms. Vekos faces is the result of an incident that occurred on January 25, 2024, shortly after 8:00 p.m. in Bridport, Vermont. According to affidavits of probable cause authored by multiple Vermont State Police (VSP) troopers, Ms. Vekos, who currently serves as the Addison County State’s Attorney, drove to a potential crime scene where she met with VSP detectives. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on February 9, 2024, George Casey, 33, of Colchester, Vermont, was sentenced in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, to serve 262 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of production of child pornography (also known as child sexual abuse material, or CSAM), and one count of possession of CSAM. Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford also ordered Casey to serve a 15-year term of supervised release.