Current News

At the same time that Saint Michael's College has instituted a new Environmental Studies major, the college has made an arrangement that will help graduates enter Vermont Law School upon graduation. And, Vermont Law School was just re-named as having the top environmental law program in the country by U.S.News & World Report.
On March 17, 2011, SMC President John Neuhauser and Vermont Law President Geoffrey Shields signed an Articulation Agreement between the two institutions, which states the purpose to be
‘To guarantee admission into Vermont Law School’s JD, MELP, or Joint JD/MELP degree programs to Saint Michael’s College students who successfully complete Saint Michael’s requirements for the bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) and who also meet the entrance requirements stated below.’ The requirements are essentially to match the standards applied to current Vermont Law students.

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin joined governors from across the northeast today in urging the federal government to increase its investment in the nation’s most extensive high speed intercity passenger rail network.
As the current lead governor for Transportation Policy on the Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG), Gov. Shumlin signed a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, signifying that the group collectively supports a set of rail infrastructure projects being submitted by nine states, the District of Columbia, and Amtrak for the recently available high speed intercity passenger rail grant funds. The eight CONEG Governors* were joined by Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett.
‘The projects that our states and Amtrak are submitting today will contribute to more reliable and improved passenger rail service in the near term,’ said Gov. Shumlin.

Maple Landmark Woodcraft’s Standard Chinese Checkers and the Montgomery Schoolhouse Rattles were selected among hundreds of entries as this years’ Best Classic Toys by Dr. Toy a.k.a. Stevanne Auerbach, PhD.
‘A classic toy is simple to enjoy, has a lot of play value, and its desirability has been proven over many years. There are other attributes that give a classic toy its value, such as durability, consistency, and creativity,’ stated Dr. Toy.
The traditional Chinese checker board was selected based on its education component. Through board game play, like Chinese checkers, children learn how to take turns, think ahead, plan strategy and follow the rules. By practicing these components, children gain basic skills that can be transferred on to more complex problems or situations as the child grows.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced the first installment of funding to the Vermont State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to help Medicare beneficiaries in Vermont receive information and counseling about their health care choices. These grants are available to the 54 SHIP organizations in the United States and its territories for the funding year that runs from April 1, 2011, through March 31, 2012.
The Vermont State Health Insurance Assistance Program will receive $296,500, part of the nearly $46.5 million being distributed to SHIPs today as part of the total $50 million that is available to SHIPs in 2011 for direct grants and support contracts. Performance awards will be distributed to SHIPs in September.

State Representative George Till (D-Jericho) today released the results of the 2011 Vermont Physician Legislative Survey. The survey results indicate that physicians themselves are split on "single-payer" insurance, but that many specialists would consider leaving the state if it were instituted. This may be because of compensation, where the survey shows that Vermont would be a more attractive place to practice if reimbursement rates were higher. The survey respondents favored physician-assisted suicide legislation. They also overwhelmingly supported "no fault" malpractice insurance and believed that it would make Vermont a more attractive place to practice.

An affordable housing revolving loan program in West Rutland that provides Vermonters with services, technical assistance and loans to rehabilitate their homes will receive a $1 million grant from the state, Governor Peter Shumlin announced today.
The West Rutland program was one of 10 Vermont Community Development Program grants totaling $2.4 million announced by Gov. Shumlin during an awards ceremony Monday at Forest Park in Rutland.
The grants are funded through the state Community Development Block Grant Program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The U.S. House recently voted to cut the Community Development Block Program by 62 percent, which puts the program at risk of losing federal funding next year.

On March 30, Washington County Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Crawford issued a decision to award attorney’s fees ‘in the amount of $5,400 plus costs of $626.44’ to the Vermont State Employees Association (VSEA). The decision stems from a January 6 decision by Crawford, ruling then that the State of Vermont was in violation of the law when it attempted to charge the union approximately $1,300 to view public records.
Judge Crawford ruled that the State's inspection fee "is plainly a financial impediment placed in the way of persons seeking access to records." In determining that the union was entitled to an attorney’s fee award, the Court noted, "The state’s position was not supported by the language of the statute, by its history, or by subsequent case law. It represented a statement of what the administration wished the statute to say rather than what it actually says.’

Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) officials responded to a press release issued by Entergy Corporation on March 30, 2011. In this press release, Entergy implied that there was an agreement with VEC. Although negotiations to purchase power from Vermont Yankee have ended, at the present time there is no agreement to purchase power from Entergy beyond March, 2012.
‘VEC has been negotiating with Entergy, which has offered VEC a 20-year contract that is below market; however there is presently no agreement,’ said CEO Dave Hallquist. ‘To be clear, entering into a contract with Entergy would be contingent on two additional factors: approval by VEC’s twelve member board of directors and support by the state of Vermont for the continued operation of Vermont Yankee beyond March of 2012,’ continued Hallquist.

Heritage announced today the addition of a 2010 Bombardier Global 5000 to its charter fleet. This ultra long range jet is the 100th Global 5000 produced by Bombardier. After taking delivery at a Bombardier celebration in Montreal yesterday, the aircraft returned to Heritage Aviation’s KBTV headquarters this afternoon. It is now available for worldwide charter.
‘Heritage Aviation is delighted to receive this beautiful new aircraft into our fleet. Its arrival expands our heavy jet offering and places us firmly in the ultra long range, intercontinental charter market. Our ten aircraft, all turbine fleet is more capable now than ever. This is a nice milestone for us,’ said Christopher Hill, Heritage Aviation President.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation has issued a traffic alert to motorists that construction work at the ‘Checkered House Bridge’ on Route 2 over the Winooski River in the Town of Richmond will require temporary road closings, including Interstate 89, for brief periods over the next several weeks beginning Tuesday, April 5.
The blasting is related to preparation for construction of the temporary detour that will be installed so that traffic can be maintained while the bridge is widened. Starting on April 5, two blasts a day ‘ one at 11 a.m. and one at 3 p.m. ‘ are planned every weekday for up to four weeks.
During the blast, no traffic will be allowed into the blast zone. Flaggers will stop traffic from entering the zone. The State Police will manage a rolling roadblock on the highway. It is anticipated that traffic stoppages will last a maximum of 10 minutes during this period.
The following roads will be affected:

FairPoint Communications, Inc (Nasdaq: FRP), a leading provider of communications services, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010. FairPoint reported a net loss of $281,579 in 2010 on revenues of $1,070,986. The net loss in 2009 was $241,396 on $1,119,090 revenues. The loss per share in both eyars was $3.15. The announcement marks the first earnings release by FairPoint since it emerged from Chapter 11 on January 24, 2011.

Consolidated EBITDAR(1) increases over 22 percent to $84.0 million versus fourth quarter 2009
Operational improvements drive a $12.7 million one-time revenue benefit in the quarter
Loss from Operations for the quarter improves to $18.2 million from $31.2 million a year earlier
High-speed Internet subscribers increase annually for the first time since mid-2009
Company reiterates full year 2011 guidance

by Lisa Ventriss, President, Vermont Business Roundtable In the winter of 2007 the Vermont Business Roundtable, along with the Vermont Superintendents Association, convened a group of business and education leaders around some simple goals: to develop mutual understanding and respect for our respective issues and priorities; to inform each other’s thinking with factual information and industry insight; and, to find common ground that could lay the foundation for policy recommendations. We recruited organizations that could bring balance and non-partisan independence to our discussions, and charged ourselves to provide ‘bold and long-term leadership’ on education reform efforts. Thus was born the Business-Education Alliance.