Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections (Vermont DOC) is conducting internal administrative and medical reviews following the death of an incarcerated individual on Wednesday. The Vermont State Police is also investigating. Charles Mould, 74, of Bennington, Vermont, was found unresponsive in his cell at Southern State Correctional Facility (SSCF) in Springfield Wednesday morning. Vermont DOC and medical staff called for emergency medical services. EMS arrived on site and pronounced Mr. Mould dead a short time later. The official cause of death as determined by the Vermont State Medical Examiner is natural causes.

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) on Wednesday issued the following joint statement after the US House of Representatives passed legislation averting a rail strike and guaranteeing paid sick leave for rail workers: “We thank President Biden and Labor Secretary Walsh for their hard work in negotiating a tentative agreement that is better than the disastrous proposal put forward by the rail industry. But Congress can and must make this agreement better. For nearly three years our nation’s rail workers have been fighting on the front lines of the pandemic. They have kept our trains on the track even while facing unprecedented challenges."

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement on the potential national rail shutdown: “A rail shutdown would severely disrupt the flow of essential resources throughout America, including heating fuels, salt for winter ice control, and many other supplies critical to the health and safety of Vermonters and all Americans. I fully support President Biden’s request that Congress put in place the Tentative Agreement, which was agreed to earlier this year by workers and operators. Americans cannot withstand further supply disruptions, or cost increases, and I strongly encourage Congress to move quickly and send a bill to the President’s desk.”

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Tuesday evening issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted 61-36 to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, major legislation to codify protections for same-sex and interracial marriage into federal law: “In the year 2022, we will not let an extremist Supreme Court drag us back in time. I was proud to cast my vote today to pass the Respect for Marriage Act. This important legislation will finally safeguard and enshrine marriage equality into federal law. It also, critically, repeals the Defense of Marriage Act, which for many years banned gay marriage and was something I opposed in 1996 when I served in the House of Representatives."

Vermont Business Magazine Shelburne Museum has mixed its fantastic Winter Lights extravaganza with spirits for the perfect night out with a twist that’s sure to spark the holiday spirit! This inaugural Ice Bar party will take place on Thursday, December 8 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. This special evening of merriment features two outdoor ice bars stocked with local spirits, wine and beer along with snacks to savor from local food trucks, all within the magical wonderland of Winter Lights. This is a 21+ event. Tickets: $85 general public; $75 for Members; $70 for Barnstormers Members. All tickets include two tokens for food from local food trucks and two tokens for drinks. Must be 21 or older to purchase tickets.

Vermont Business Magazine Darn Tough Vermont continues their dedicated, 19-year long relationship with the Vermont Foodbank, aiming to tackle food insecurity in Vermont and helping those families in need. The relationship began in 2003 and the brand has since donated over 1 million meals to hungry Vermonters. In 2017 Darn Tough started to donate 100% of their online proceeds from Giving Tuesday to the Vermont Foodbank- 2022 was no different.

Vermont Business Magazine REPRO, a full-service printer located in Winooski has merged with X Press, a full-service printer located in Stowe, to better service their printing customers across Vermont. In order to be more cost efficient and effective X Press will relocate their business to REPRO’s facility in Winooski making deliveries to their customers in the Stowe area on Mondays, Wednesday’s and Fridays.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) today announced the launch of the $40M Community Recovery and Revitalization Program (CRRP) application at the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury. This new program, proposed by the Scott Administration and passed by the Legislature through Acts 183 and 185, is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support capital investment projects that will assist Vermont’s economic recovery effort. CRRP’s application opening comes on the heels of the Capital Investment Program (CIP), a previous program that allocated $10 million for similar types of projects, approving another round of grants including a grant to Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium.

Vermont Business Magazine On Monday night, the US Senate unanimously passed the Patents for Humanity Program Act of 2022, written and sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), sending the bipartisan bill back to the House for final passage. This bill codifies the Patents for Humanity Program, which awards innovators for revolutionary inventions that solve humanitarian development challenges.

Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08) and Veronica Spartz (R-IN-05) are the sponsors of this bill in the House of Representatives.

Leahy and Grassley have been strong supporters of the program since its creation in 2012 by the Obama Administration. The program was boosted in 2020 through the Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act, also authored by Leahy and Grassley.

Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Nuclear Waste Policy (FNWP) Committee of the Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (VT NDCAP) will hold its fifth meeting of 2022 on Monday, December 5, 2022, from 12:00 Noon to 1:30 PM. As permitted by ACT 78 of the 2022 Vermont Legislature, this meeting will be conducted solely as a webcast and teleconference.