Current News

Vermont Business Magazine It is with heavy hearts that the entire firm of Gravel & Shea joins with the O’Neill family, the Vermont legal community, and the greater Burlington area to mourn the loss of Jerome F. O’Neill, who passed away this Sunday, December 3. “Jerry was a deeply committed American, a lion in the legal field, and the loveliest of family men,” says Heather Hammond, Co-Managing Partner. “We were lucky enough to call him one of our own at the end of a long and celebrated career, including time serving in the U.S. Army, followed by his commitment as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont, and then senior partner of O’Neill Kellner & Green. He always represented his clients with integrity and with compassion and was a mentor to many.” 

The Vermont State Police has located and spoken with Ms. Hemmings. Troopers thank the public for their assistance with this ongoing investigation. The investigation into this shooting incident continued throughout the day Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. The injured man is still hospitalized at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington for treatment of his injuries. The Vermont State Police is working to confirm his identity. As part of the investigation, detectives had sought to speak with Deborah Hemmings, 71, of Calais, who is a possible witness or individual with information regarding the shooting. 

Vermont Business Magazine Ahead of consideration in the Senate of the $110.5 billion emergency foreign aid supplemental bill, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday evening sent a letter to his colleagues in the Senate Democratic Caucus expressing his serious concerns about the package. While expressing strong support for funding Ukraine’s resistance to Putin’s aggression, as well as the need to fund global humanitarian needs, Sanders expressed concerns that the legislation has no investments to address the crises facing working families across the country. Sanders also expressed deep concerns about providing $10.1 billion for Netanyahu’s right-wing extremist government to continue their current inhumane military strategy which has already taken 16,000 Palestinian lives, 70 percent of whom are women and children.

Vermont Business Magazine On December 5, Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) led Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in introducing the Withstanding Extreme Agricultural Threats by Harvesting Economic Resilience (WEATHER) Act, legislation that calls for the development of an index-based insurance policy that is more responsive to crop and income losses faced by farmers as a result of extreme weather. This would be especially beneficial to farmers in Vermont following this summer’s catastrophic flooding that impacted nearly 28,000 acres of farmland across the state. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) announces the call for Climate Economy Resilient Communities participants for 2024. Community leaders and volunteers submit a simple online application that will be reviewed on a rolling basis until January 12th, 2024. Through the program, VCRD supports three to five communities each year working on local climate action solutions that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy use, increase climate resilience, and/or strengthen the local climate economy. Services are adaptable based on the community’s needs and can include support with community engagement processes, strategic planning, technical assistance, and/or project implementation.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to the unique challenges faced by recent college graduates entering the ever-evolving job market, Sue Schlom, a seasoned job search advisor and recruiter, is excited to announce a free webinar series titled "Job Searching for Recent College Grads: A Crash Course on Modern Day Resumes for Recent Grads and their Parents."

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the City of Burlington announced two Public Safety Community Forums to discuss important issues and challenges facing our community: drug trafficking, gun crime, substance use disorder, and property crime. Panelists at each forum will present information about ongoing work at the local, state, and federal levels to address these issues, and participants will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance on the City’s website.  

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Pico Mountain, part of the POWDR adventure lifestyle company, will kick off the 2023/24 winter season at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2023 with a bonus weekend. The resort will operate Saturday and Sunday and then reopen on Friday, December 15 for the regular Thursday-Monday schedule.  A newly rebuilt pump house and the addition of 25 new high-efficiency HKD snow guns, Pico Mountain was able to, on average, convert 62% more water into snow than in previous years. Pico Mountain also received its first diesel-electric drive groomer, which will enable the grooming of steeper terrain regularly and with 20% fewer emissions and fuel consumption. 

Vermont Business Magazine This holiday season, passengers traveling to and from the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport will have the opportunity to sample Vermont-made products, watch demonstrations, and purchase last-minute gift items via Local Maverick, a Burlington-based retail, marketing, and incubation firm. With dozens of products ranging from coffee, jewelry, elixirs, and chocolate; Vermonters or those visiting the Green Mountain State can leave with a taste of Vermont for their friends and family. Local Maverick will also schedule cooking demonstrations, tastings, and liquor sales. 

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch’s (D-Vermont) bipartisan bill, the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Research Act, passed the United States House of Representatives this week with unanimous support. The bill was passed by the Senate in June and will soon be signed into law by President Biden. The bipartisan Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Research Act, co-led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) takes steps to address the deadly rise in illicit use of Xylazine, or Tranq – a harmful animal tranquilizer – and other novel synthetic drugs that have become increasingly common in the illicit drug supply in Vermont and across the country. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) wants to hear from you. VCBB has released Vermont’s draft Digital Equity Plan and wants your comments on how to improve it. The Digital Equity Plan serves as the state’s vision and strategy for digital equity, which means that everyone has access to the internet, as well as the devices and skills to use it effectively and safely. The plan includes a digital equity needs assessment, asset inventory, and implementation plan. It prepares Vermont for federal grant funds to carry out the plan and details activities, key performance indicators, and partnerships.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations both increased last week. There were also 6 fatalities reported by the Vermont Department of Health last week, for a pandemic total of 1,067 as of November 25 (the most recent data available). The Vermont Department of Health reported November 29, 2023, that COVID-19 hospitalizations were up 11 to a statewide total of 47. COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH. Reported cases last week were 290, up 32 for the week. VDH reported 15 COVID-related deaths in were 25 in October and 12 so far in November. Of the total deaths to date, 856 have been of Vermonters 70 or older. There have been 3 deaths of Vermonters under 30 since the beginning of the pandemic.