Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak has announced the appointment of Lynn Reagan to serve as the next Director of Human Resources for the City of Burlington.  “I am pleased to appoint Lynn Reagan as the next Director of Human Resources,” said Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak. “Lynn has been a steady and capable leader in this City for many years, and she consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership, sound judgment, and a commitment to the well-being of city employees – even in difficult moments. Lynn’s dedication and ability to lead with integrity will undoubtedly continue to strengthen our organization as she steps into this permanent Director role.” 

The Vermont State Police is identifying the individuals involved in Thursday’s shooting at the Fox Run Inn in Ludlow. The man who was shot is Jaime Gomez, 18, who lived in a room at the inn. He is continuing to receive treatment for his injuries Friday, Jan. 2, 2025, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The member of the Ludlow Police Department who shot Gomez is Chief Jeffrey Warfle.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont weekly unemployment claims jumped last week and are at their usual and relatively high and volatile level for the end of holiday season. For the week ending December 27, 2025, the Vermont Department of Labor reports that new claims were 914. New claims were up 321 from the week before and are up 16 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 Vermont DOL also is reminding employers that beginning January 1, 2026, Vermont’s minimum wage will increase from $14.01 to $14.42 per hour - an increase of $0.41.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) today announced $1,000,203 in Municipal Planning Grants have been awarded to 47 municipalities, including one multi-town project. These grants will help communities throughout Vermont write and update town plans and bylaws, plan for public improvements, explore opportunities for new homes, and develop plans to make communities more resilient as they face more extreme weather.

Vermont Business Magazine Tim Ashe, the former state Senate pro tem and currently the state's deputy state auditor, announced today he will run for state auditor in the November General Election. State Auditor of Accounts Doug Hoffer, who was first elected in 2012, announced before the 2024 election that he would not seek reelection in 2026. "Today I am announcing my campaign for State Auditor. Vermonters deserve excellence from their state government. I intend to use the tools of the Auditor’s office to help make sure they get it, by ensuring taxpayer-funded departments and programs deliver results."

The Vermont State Police investigation Thursday morning’s shooting involving a member of the Ludlow Police Department is continuing Thursday night. Investigators continue to process the scene and have interviewed witnesses and reviewed video of the incident. The man who was shot has been transported to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, where he is receiving treatment. His current condition is stable.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, Representative Barbara Rachelson, Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Everytown for Gun Safety, GunSense VT, Giffords, and more. They are calling for the passage of S.131, a bill that would amend the charter of the City of Burlington to prohibit guns in bars. In March, this charter change was supported by 86.6% of Burlington Town Meeting Day voters, and S.131 passed the Vermont Senate on a vote of 17-12-1 in April. It has since resided in the House Committee on Government Operations.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced his appointment of Republicans Val Taylor to represent the Rutland-11 district in the House of Representatives and John Benson to represent the Orange District in the Senate. Taylor replaces Representative Jim Harrison who will be resigning effective January 6, and Benson replaces Larry Hart, who resigned in October. By tradition the governor appoints members of the same party to fill vacated seats in the Legislature.

Vermont Business Magazine State Auditor Doug Hoffer has released an audit of the Vermont Department of Public Service’s handling of consumer utility complaints. The audit, the second of four the Auditor’s Office will release in the coming weeks relating to how State government responds to Vermonters’ complaints, assessed whether the Department investigates complaints within expected timeframes and whether data is used to identify trends in utility complaints. In addition, the audit evaluated whether the Department uses performance measurement to improve this important service for Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on December 29, 2025, Geison Reynoso, 27, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. His co-conspirator Davon Lee, 26, also of Springfield, was previously given the same sentence by Judge Reiss on October 16, 2025. Both men previously pleaded guilty to possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak announced that the City will open an extreme cold weather shelter in partnership with the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) at the Miller Center at 130 Gosse Court in response to the dangerously cold weather forecasted this week. After reviewing weather modeling in consultation with the City’s Emergency Management Director, officials have determined the forecasted temperature on Thursday, January 1st meets the City’s criteria for operation of an extreme cold weather shelter.     

Vermont Business Magazine GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS) has reaffirmed its role as the presenting sponsor of the FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) program in Vermont for the 2025–2026 season. This ongoing partnership reflects GF’s deep commitment to community engagement, advancing K–12 STEM education and fostering future workforce development. For the second year in a row, GF will host the FLL Vermont State Championship at its Essex Junction facility on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, supported by dedicated GF volunteers, underscoring the company’s strong ties to the local community.