Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board will hold two public hearings on proposed changes to Vermont’s bear hunting regulation. The changes proposed by the Fish and Wildlife Board would eliminate the consecutive "early" and "late" seasons to create one bear season extending from September 1 through the last day of the regulated deer seasons. The proposed rule would require the purchase of a bear tag to take a bear during the bear season.  The bear hounding season would extend from September 1 for Vermont residents and September 15 for nonresidents, through the second Sunday after the start of regular November deer season.  The proposed changes would allow a second bear tag in annually specified Wildlife Management Units and prohibit the intentional taking of a sow bear accompanied by a cub or cubs.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Public Safety and the State Police Advisory Commission today are releasing the latest semiannual detailed summary of internal investigations involving members of the Vermont State Police. The release of these synopses provides greater transparency, public awareness, and oversight to the activities of the Vermont State Police, while balancing requirements regarding internal investigations and the need to have internal investigations completed before public dissemination. A report attached to this statement contains synopses of the four investigations that came before SPAC from July 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025. All the investigations arose as the result of a concern raised internally by members of the Vermont State Police.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Departments of Mental Health (DMH) and Health announced today that more agencies have met the criteria to become a Certified Community-Based integrated Health Center (CCBHC). The CCBHC certification creates stable funding and expanded services for the communities each agency serves while reducing the obstacles to healthcare that many Vermonters face.

Vermont Business Magazine United Way of Northwest Vermont has announced $630,000 in subgrants to 16 organizations as part of a 3-year investment that will exceed $2 million. The funding advances community-led efforts that build protective factors, expand youth and family supports, and address root causes that contribute to substance misuse. The funding comes from the State of Vermont Department of Health’s Division of Substance Use Programs as part of the state’s regional approach to substance misuse prevention. United Way serves as the Lead Prevention Organization for the Burlington, St. Albans, and Barre Health Districts, where it leads regional prevention strategies and distributes subgrants to prevention partners.

Vermont Business Magazine BETA Technologies (NYSE: BETA), an aerospace and defense company based in South Burlington, has unveiled the MV250 at the Farnborough International Airshow. The MV250 is an autonomous hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft giving military operators greater range, higher speed, increased payload capability and lower operating costs for contested on- and off-airport logistics. in addition, Loganair, the United Kingdom’s largest regional airline, and BETA have announced at the Airshow the signing of a term sheet under which Loganair will purchase five all-electric ALIA conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) (CX300) aircraft, with options for five more.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement: “My feelings on punitive tariffs imposed on Canada have not changed over the last two years and are simply a bad idea that will lead to increased costs on Vermonters. As I’ve said before, this added burden would create real challenges for our residents and businesses who are already facing economic headwinds. Canadians are our friendly neighbors and long‑time allies, and we should be working together to find solutions that strengthen the region, not further divide us. As I prepare to host the Premiers of Eastern Canadian Provinces in Vermont next month, my message is clear: we are good friends and partners, and I’m committed to strengthening our economic and cultural ties to benefit both sides of the border.”

Vermont Business Magazine New data shared by U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) shows Vermont households have been forced to spend at least $3,700 more on everyday essentials because of the Trump Administration’s reckless economic policies.  Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee, under the leadership of Ranking Member Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), found the average household in the United States has spent thousands more since the president took office last year. Inflation, President Trump’s tariffs, and the war in Iran have raised the cost of housing, energy, groceries, and health care. As of June 2026, the average household in the United States has had to spend $3,500+ more on goods and services under President Trump. Despite President Trump’s repeated pledges on the campaign trail that his administration would “end inflation” and bring down costs for families, Trump and Republicans in Congress have instead caused costs to continue to rise significantly, including through Trump’s reckless tariffs and war in Iran. 

Vermont Business Magazine The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) and the Champlain College Center for Financial Literacy (CFL) announce a new chapter for the National Report Card on High School Financial Literacy. Beginning with the 2026 edition, scheduled for release in September, NEFE will assume responsibility for the report, expanding its reach and influence as a leading measure of state-level financial education policy for years to come. Founded in 2010, the CFL has been widely recognized for its leadership in financial education research, advocacy and educator training. In 2013, the Center launched the National Report Card, which evaluates all 50 states and the District of Columbia on the strength and effectiveness of their personal finance education for high school students.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today applauded the committee voting 12-10 in a bipartisan manner to advance his legislation to take on the greed of the food and beverage industry and address the growing diabetes and obesity epidemics negatively impacting millions of American children and families across the country.

Vermont Business Magazine Eric Covey has been appointed Executive Director of VNAs of Vermont, the association for Vermont’s eight local, non-profit home health and hospice agencies. Eric has served as Interim Executive Director since October of 2025, and was previously the association’s Director of Communications, Policy, and Regulatory Affairs. Eric is a demonstrated leader in health care policy, strategic advocacy, and communications. He has a track record of bringing policy leaders and experts together to find and advocate for policies that support home health and hospice care in Vermont. Prior to working at VNAs of Vermont Eric served as Chief of Staff to Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos. 

Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center has been approved as a Certified Community Based integrated Health Center (CCBHC), one of Vermont’s demonstration sites participating in the federal CCBHC Demonstration Program, a designation that will bring more stable funding and expanded services to the Chittenden County community it serves. The CCBHC model replaces a capped reimbursement system with one that better reflects the cost of care. For Howard Center, this means the ability to grow mental health and substance use services, offer these services without a wait and expand programs to meet client needs and increased demand.

Public Assets Institute For each of the past 30 years, more Vermont women than men have held multiple jobs at once. The total number of people working several jobs peaked in 2007, with nearly 19,000 women holding more than one job, compared with about 15,000 men. Since then, the total number of Vermont workers with multiple jobs has declined, and the difference by sex has narrowed. Despite this decline, nearly 7.5 percent of the total Vermont workforce still juggled more than one job last year. This was higher than the national rate of 5.5 percent.