Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Tuesday evening spoke on the floor of the US Senate about the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and what Congress should be doing to address this crisis. "Let me begin by wishing all Americans and my colleagues a very happy and peaceful holiday season. Unfortunately, for the people in Israel and Palestine, that will not be the case. In Gaza, millions of people will end the year under constant bombardment, exposed to the winter or living in tents, wondering where they will find their next meal, or clean drinking water, or the medical supplies they need. This is an unmitigated humanitarian disaster, and we must not look away from it."

Vermont Business Magazine Today Campaign for Vermont Prosperity (CFV) released the final batch of questions along with the full results of the November poll. When asked how safe respondents felt in their community, 30% felt unsafe. Residents of Chittenden and Rutland counties and families with children were especially likely to express safety concerns. Respondents also expressed unhappiness with the recently passed payroll tax, which was used to expand childcare credits to upper middle-class families. Even more unpopular was the Legislature’s effort to increase their own pay and benefits with two-thirds of Vermonters saying they would be much less likely to vote for a candidate who supported such a measure.

Vermont Business Magazine State Treasurer Mike Pieciak was joined by state and national leaders today at a press conference in Burlington to announce legislation that would establish a baby bonds program in Vermont. Baby Bonds is an innovative policy to address intergenerational poverty, support rural economic development, and retain young people in Vermont. Speaking to a room of lawmakers and community stakeholders, Pieciak unveiled the policy alongside bill sponsors Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale and Rep. Dan Noyes, nationally recognized baby bonds expert Dr. Darrick Hamilton, Connecticut Treasurer Erick Russell, and Spectrum Youth & Family Services Executive Director Mark Redmond. The policy would invest $3,200 for every Vermont child born on Medicaid into a trust fund managed by the State Treasurer’s Office. Children could access their baby bond between ages 18 and 30, with the initial $3,200 investment projected to grow to $11,500 by age 18 and $24,500 by age 30. 

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger announced that he and President Suresh Garimella of UVM have overcome prior setbacks and reached a housing agreement intended to increase student beds, reduce student pressure on the broader local housing market, and support UVM’s admission goals. The MOU, if approved by the City Council, will commit the university to providing a minimum of an additional 1.5 beds per every one undergraduate student it enrolls above the fall 2023 level. To facilitate the creation of on-campus beds, the Administration commits to work with UVM to advance several zoning amendments for UVM’s Trinity Campus on Colchester Ave, the 280 East Avenue parcel, and the Waterman block on South Prospect Street.

Vermont Business Magazine “Howard Center is so very pleased to report that we have been informed by the Vermont Department of Health (DMH) that we have once again been recertified at Chittenden County’s Designated Agency for mental health” said Kelly Deforge, the agency’s Board of Trustees President. This recognition reaffirms Howard Center's commitment to providing mental health services in Chittenden County, including Community Rehabilitation and Treatment; Adult Outpatient services, and Emergency Services; and for Children, Youth, and Family Services. As one of 16 designated and specialized service agencies that form Vermont’s System of Care, Howard Center continues to be the designated agency for Chittenden County.

Vermont Business Magazine In a year marked by significant challenges for small family farms and rural communities, Organic Valley, the largest cooperative of organic farmers in the nation, is not just seeking more milk but actively welcoming more farmers. The Wisconsin-based cooperative has brought 84 family farms into its fold in 2023, demonstrating a robust response to the trend of farm loss and agricultural consolidation. Several Vermont organic farms have joined Organic Valley after Horizon pulled out of Vermont in 2022. Some other farms have joined Stonyfield in New Hampshire. Horizon left 28 Vermont farms in the lurch and a total of 89 in the Northeast. The vast majority of organic milk is produced at large facilities out West.

Vermont Business Magazine Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas announced today that, following the Friday, December 15th, 5:00 p.m. deadline, 12 candidates have qualified to be placed on the ballot in Vermont’s March 5th Presidential Primary. Six candidates have qualified for the Democratic ballot and six candidates for the Republican ballot. 

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark and a bipartisan group of 52 other attorneys general today announced a nationwide, $700 million settlement of a lawsuit about Google’s anticompetitive conduct concerning the Google Play Store. Google will pay $630 million in restitution (minus the costs of administering the settlement and class counsel costs and fees) to consumers who made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023 and were harmed by Google’s anticompetitive practices. Google will pay the states an additional $70 million for costs, fees, and penalties, though the amount each state will receive has not yet been finalized. Consumers who are eligible for restitution do not have to submit a claim – they will receive automatic payments through PayPal or Venmo, or they can elect to receive a check or ACH transfer. 

by Doug Hoffer, Vermont Auditor of Accounts As 2023 draws to an end, I want to take stock of the work my office has done over the course of the year. The mission of the office is to hold State government accountable by making sure programs are working effectively and that State government is operating efficiently. I’m happy to provide this brief summary of our efforts this year on your behalf.

Vermont Business Magazine To meet the increasing need for improved access to mental health and substance use disorder services, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont has announced the removal of prior authorization requirements for mental health and substance use disorder treatment for in-state, in-network facilities. This prior authorization change is now in place for treatment programs across various levels of care, including inpatient, residential, partial hospital, and intensive outpatient programs. This move aligns with Blue Cross VT’s goal to improve Vermonters' access to mental health services.

Vermont Business Magazine A nurse in Southwestern Vermont Medical Center’s (SVMC) Medical-Surgical Unit was honored this month for her positive impact on both her patients and their families. Victoria Flynn, RN was presented with a DAISY Award, recognizing the “comfort care,” dedication and advocacy on behalf of her patients and their loved ones. The DAISY Award is an international recognition program honoring clinical excellence and outstanding compassionate care provided by nurses. SVMC, a member of Dartmouth Health, selects honorees through patient, family, and co-worker nominations.

by John McClaughry As the 2024 legislative session approaches, it’s a good time to comprehend the breadth, depth, and likely costs of the multiyear campaign to make Vermont the world’s splendid example of bold action to defeat the menace of climate change. In 2011 Governor Peter Shumlin decreed that Vermont would get 90% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050. Curiously, the legislature never acted to establish this requirement. Why not? Several years ago a Senate bill included a ratification of Shumlin’s decree, but it was quietly jettisoned when it occurred to Senators that achieving that goal might require billions of taxpayer dollars, which might be poorly received by taxpayers.