Current News

The Vermont State Police is continuing its investigation into last week’s non-fatal shooting by Ludlow Police Chief Jeffrey Warfle of a man in Ludlow. On Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, detectives interviewed Chief Warfle, who is fully cooperating with the investigation. The man who was shot, 18-year-old Jamie Gomez, remains hospitalized at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Vermont Business Magazine Burton has unveiled 'From Burton to the World', a limited-edition collection of snowboards, apparel and accessories that feature iconic quotes by late Burton founder, Jake Burton Carpenter. Professional snowboarders sponsored by Burton will debut the collection as they compete in Aspen, Colorado and Laax, Switzerland this month, with global availability beginning February 3rd on Burton.com and at select flagship stores and retail partners worldwide.

Vermont Business Magazine The Lake Champlain Chamber is pleased to announce Alex Halpern, president of Freeman French Freeman, as chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. The Chamber also announced that Tatiana Davydov, NBT Bank; Patrick Gallivan, Vermont State Dental Society; Ara Hagan, Hagan Marketing; Paul Jarvis, Bilodeau Wells; Matt McMahon, MMR; and David Seaver, Northfield Savings Bank have joined the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Symphony Orchestra (VSO) has added nine new musicians and staff members in 2025, filling a range of artistic and administrative roles, from Principal Viola to Senior Director of Philanthropy. These appointments reflect the VSO’s continued investment in artistic excellence, organizational strength, and service to communities across Vermont.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont initial weekly unemployment claims fell last week following the usual volatile labor activity at the end of holiday season. For the week ending January 3, 2026, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that there were 531 new claims, down 383 from the previous week and down 30 from last year at this time. Total claims were 4,311, up 306 from the week before and are up 28 from last year at this time. Claims, which tend to be lowest in the summer, were 181 at the end of September 2024 and 186 last September. Claims tend to rise and fall around the holidays with temporary work hires and layoffs. The US DOL reported this week that hiring was slower than expected, with 50,000 new jobs, as the US jobless rate in December fell two-tenths to 4.4%. The Vermont jobless rate for November was 2.6%.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, this week joined U.S. Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI-04) in reintroducing the COLAs Don’t Count Act, bicameral legislation to allow households utilizing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—known as 3Squares in Vermont—to deduct annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) from their income when calculating eligibility for the food assistance program. Railroad retirement and veterans’ benefit COLAs and state supplementation program payments would similarly be exempt.  

Vermont Business Magazine Middle and high school educators in New England and New York State interested in honing their personal finance teaching skills, or newcomers to the field, can attend a free, online, asynchronous graduate course offered by the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College. Scholarships are available to Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island educators. The 20 scholarships are generously sponsored by the Rauch Foundation, which supports and promotes financial preparedness of rising generations of students by supporting schools in the delivery of financial literacy programs.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) released the following statement Thursday following passage of Democrats’ three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits. The measure now goes to the Senate. “During what has been a really hard week for Americans, I am grateful to share the good news that we were able to secure House passage of a three-year extension of the ACA premium tax credits – a crucial step forward in our work to address soaring health care costs. In the end, several Republican members joined us, Speaker Johnson’s work to keep this from getting to the floor failed, and the collective voice of the American people prevailed."

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine In this State of the State address on Wednesday, Governor Phil Scott focused on education transformation. Act 73, passed last year with the support Democratic leadership, remains a work in progress. A task force commissioned to propose school realignment plans concluded late last year by only offering recommendations. Then in December the state announced that school property taxes are estimated to go up by double digits (11.9% FY27), nearly as much as they did in FY25 (13.8%). For FY26, the legislature used $118 million to pay down property taxes to nearly wipe out a tax increase (1% increase). Scott has proposed again using such a "band-aid" ($75 million) to hold down taxes this year. However, there is considerable pushback for that plan as surplus funds are lower now and the economy is softening. Here are some reactions to the governor's speech and his education proposals.

Vermont Business Magazine Benchmark Senior Living, a leading senior living provider in the Northeast, and National Development, a prominent real estate investment, development and management firm, announced today the acquisition of The Village at White River Junction in White River Junction, Vermont through a joint venture. Benchmark will operate the 80-apartment assisted living and memory care community located near the New Hampshire border and a short drive from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. The acquisition was completed through a joint venture between National Development and Benchmark with financing provided by M&T Bank. Benchmark also operates six communities throughout New Hampshire and The Arbors at Shelburne in Shelburne, Vermont. This acquisition marks National Development’s first senior living community in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) has released its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting a year of strong fiscal performance and meaningful progress in addressing Vermont’s growing affordable housing needs. The report showcases VHFA’s leadership in financing solutions that expand housing opportunities, strengthen communities, and support Vermont’s economic future. Highlights included: VHFA awarded state and federal tax credits to affordable housing developers, generating an estimated $63 million in equity for new construction projects; VHFA closed over $80 million in short-term construction loans and $4 million in long-term permanent loans, fueling affordable housing development statewide.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Treasurer Mike Pieciak and local leaders announced a legislative initiative to lower prescription drug costs and make life-supporting medications more affordable for Vermonters. As Affordable Care Act subsidies expire, and thousands risk losing their coverage and paying fully out of pocket for their prescriptions, the proposed program will offer Vermonters a free drug discount card, delivering meaningful savings on their medications, regardless of coverage.