Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Walmart’s Live Better U (LBU) education program is celebrating its fifth anniversary. Over the past five years, the company has saved associates  nearly half a billion in education costs, reflecting the company’s commitment to create a path for  everyone to learn and grow. This year, Walmart will add the University of Arkansas to its  academic partner list and expand LBU to its associates in Canada. To date, more than 104,000  Walmart and Sam’s Club associates have participated in LBU in the United States. In Vermont, 85 Walmart associates took part in the LBU program. Walmart has six retail stores across the Green Mountain State and employs more than 1,200 associates.

Vermont Business Magazine The Saint Michael's community threw a farewell party Thursday afternoon in Dion Family Student Center's Archway Lounge for President Lorraine Sterritt, who is retiring at the end of June after five years at the helm of the College through challenging times including a pandemic. Guests mingled spiritedly starting ta 3:30 p.m. with high-end culinary treats from Cloud Nine caterers and a variety of beverages including wine, beer, cider, seltzer and soft drinks. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott on Wednesday continued to explain his reasoning behind his veto of the budget and his ongoing concern for taxes and fees in bills on which he has yet to act. On Thursday he then vetoed charter change bills for Brattleboro and Burlington, while allowing a gun bill to become law without his signature because of constitutional questions. The Legislature has scheduled a three-day "veto session" beginning June 21 to review vetoed bills. Several will be voted on and the budget must be resolved. The fiscal year begins July 1.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today announced that Vermont has joined 41 other states in reaching a nationwide settlement of $102.5 million with the maker of Suboxone, Indivior Inc. Vermont will receive about $2 million from the settlement, which resolves allegations that Indivior used illegal means to switch the Suboxone market from tablets to film while attempting to destroy the market for tablets to preserve its drug monopoly. Suboxone is a brand name for buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed into law on Thursday S.137, a bill that gives municipal utility Burlington Electric Department the power to create new incentives to help high-volume gasoline users switch to electric vehicles. This is the first law in the country designed specifically to help low and moderate income drivers using extreme amounts of gasoline – more than 1,000 gallons a year – shift to electric vehicles. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC) recently closed out its seventh federal grant aimed at bringing brownfield sites back into productive use and spurring new economic investment. TRORC has sought and been awarded over $2 million of nationally competitive funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the past two decades and has looked at dozens of sites in towns throughout Orange and Windsor counties. TRORC successfully applied for another $500,000 in brownfields assessment grant funding from EPA this year. This new award will provide critical support for revitalization efforts across the region over the next 4 years.  

Vermont Business Magazine The City of Burlington, Charlie Meli, Albin Meli, and Jeremie Meli have reached an agreement to settle the lawsuit arising from events that occurred in September 2018, which involved use-of-force during a police interaction.  The settlement includes a $750,000 payment to the Meli family, which will be made through a $500,000 payment by the City’s insurer Travelers, and a $250,000 payment from the City’s liability insurance reserve fund. The City Council approved the settlement agreement at a Special Meeting on May 30. 

Vermont Business Magazine UVM Medical Center is once again among the nation’s leading hospitals for innovative approaches focused to environmental sustainability in health care, after receiving multiple awards for its sustainability efforts around waste, food, energy and green building. Practice Greenhealth, which provides environmental solutions to more than 1,400 hospitals and health systems across the United States, recently named UVM Medical Center to its Circles of Excellence for Waste, Food, Energy and Green Building. 

Late Thursday night, Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) released the statement below following passage of bipartisan legislation to raise the debt ceiling and avert a US default. The Senate vote avoided a filibuster by 3 votes (63-36). The House passed the bill by a wide margin (314-117). The measure has now passed both chambers and has been sent to President Biden. He is expected to sign it and address the nation at 7 pm Friday night.

Vermont State Police On June 1, 2023, at approximately 2304 hours the Vermont State Police responded to a natural gas tanker that had caught fire and exploded on Route 7 near Dakin Farm Road in the Town of Ferrisburgh. The tanker had been traveling southbound on Route 7 when a motorist behind the tanker observed sparks coming from under the trailer. The motorist was able to get in front of the tanker, stop it and alert the operator to the fire. The operator was able to get out and away from the tanker before it caught fire. No injuries occurred as a result of this incident. Route 7 is now back open.

Vermont Business Magazine With the beginning of summer and anglers fishing from shore, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reminds people that open fires and swimming are prohibited at all Vermont state fishing access areas. Open fires and their remnants, create unsafe areas for other anglers and boaters to use and enjoy.  The remnants of these fires are also unhealthy for the animals and fish that live in the adjacent waters.  Fish and Wildlife cleans up the toxic waste left by open fires on state lands annually at considerable expense.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott signed several pieces of legislation into law today. He also let the gun bill H.230 to become law without his signature not because he opposed the purpose of the bill but because of a question over its constitutionality, which he believes will be resolved one way or another in the courts, as it is sure to be challenged. He vetoed S.6, An act relating to law enforcement interrogation policies because it expands protections to young adult offenders up to the age of 22, which could undermine public safety. He also vetoed H.305, An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation, because it could limit opportunities for military professionals.