Current News

Vermont State Police The item in question in this incident is believed to be a World War II-era Japanese hand grenade. The device was assessed by members of the Vermont State Police Bomb Squad, safely secured, and will be turned over to the Vermont National Guard for disposal at a later date.

Vermont State Police The investigation into this afternoon’s shooting in Springfield is continuing. The victim is identified as Todd Amell, 50, a resident of Valley Street in Springfield. He was shot in one of his legs, taken by ambulance to the hospital, treated and released. Investigators believe the shooting was not random and involved individuals who are known to one another. The people who were detained during the initial stages of the investigation have been released.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General T.J. Donovan today announced that Charity Clark, Chief of Staff, has stepped down from her post to explore new opportunities. Clark was hired as an Assistant Attorney General by former Attorney General Bill Sorrell in 2014. She has served as Chief of Staff under Attorney General Donovan since 2018. Donovan announced last week that he would not seek reelection. Clark will make an announcement about her plans in the near future.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation have announced the 2022 Barn Preservation grant awardees. The 22 grants, totaling $299,325 were awarded to municipalities, non-profit organizations, and private barn owners in 11 Vermont counties to repair and rehabilitate agricultural landmarks. Grants ranged from $2,830 to $15,000 each.

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Natural Resources Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that Champlain Valley Plumbing and Heating, Inc., doing business as Champlain Valley Fuels, was fined $9,000 for releasing fuel oil at the Benson Village School in Benson, Vermont, and not immediately reporting the spill to DEC. In January 2021, Champlain Valley Fuels released between 10 and 30 gallons of fuel oil during a delivery to the Benson Village School when it miscalculated the capacity and overfilled the school’s 3,000-gallon underground storage tank. The company conducted a partial cleanup and reported the spill to school administrators that day, but the company did not report the spill to DEC.

by Jeff Tieman and Devon Green For the entirety of the legislative session, VAHHS has been engaged in an important health reform discussion. Vermont has long been committed to innovative health reform and has made real progress in this space, often adopting policies other states later replicate. Unfortunately, this is not the case now, as legislators insist on passing a “hospital sustainability” bill that is extremely expensive without offering clear value to Vermonters.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets Is your business looking for a fun way to connect with new customers across New England? Apply to sell your products during Harvest New England Day on the lawn of the Vermont Building at the Big E! The Vermont Building is one of six New England buildings on the Avenue of the States at the Big E, a 17-day fair and exposition that will take place September 16 - October 2, 2022, in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Vermont State Police The man who was shot early Saturday morning in Highgate was pronounced dead Sunday afternoon, May 8, 2022, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. He is identified as Logan Pratt, 33, of Swanton. Sunday night, the Vermont State Police arrested Joshua LaFromboise, 29, of Highgate on suspicion of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. LaFromboise is a resident of the home at 4757 U.S. Route 7 where the incident began. Police believe the shooting was drug-related.

Vermont Business Magazine Fulton Books author, Butch Waxe, a writer from Northern Vermont with a career of helping to arm America’s brave fighters, has completed his most recent book “Dog’s Head Island”: a riveting fiction that takes the readers to an island off Point Judith where Paul Kennedy resides. Kennedy is a widower who lost his wife to a plane crash. The aftermath of her death sent Kennedy spiraling down. His life takes a sudden turn when he encounters a new resident.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (VDHP) is undertaking a year-long comprehensive assessment of the Bennington Battle Monument in Bennington, Vermont, to better understand its condition and needs for repair and preservation. The assessment will include an analysis of the stone, steel staircase, electrical systems, and elevator. On May 11, 2022, engineers and materials conservators will repel from the top of the Monument to examine the stone and mortar, providing a live feed of information that will result in advanced imaging of any structural issues directly onto preservation plans.

Vermont Business Magazine As more employees head back to the office and some consider a job transfer, CapRelo, a global employee relocation and assignment management firm serving private and public sector clients, recently commissioned a survey about what makes a great coworker. The top trait of a great coworker is being collaborative. The top state for coworkers is Vermont.

The Vermont State Police investigation into the early Saturday shooting of a man in Highgate continued throughout the day. As of 9 p.m., the victim remained in critical condition at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. The name of the victim and additional information about the incident will be released following further investigation.