Current News

by Mike Del Trecco, President and CEO, VAHHS “The Rural Health Transformation Fund award represents a critical opportunity to help reshape the future of rural health care in Vermont. At a time when hospitals and health care providers across the state are under extraordinary pressure, this investment creates the capacity to make targeted, high-impact changes that strengthen access, improve quality, reduce costs and support communities to thrive. We appreciate the leadership of Governor Scott and the Agency of Human Services in securing these federal resources.

Montpelier Police Department On July 19, 2025 the Montpelier Police Department received a report regarding the misappropriation of company funds. The company, Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC), reported their Executive Director, Melissa Bounty (42) of Waitsfield, VT, had utilized company funds for personal gain. After a lengthy investigation, it was found that Bounty had embezzled approximately $71,151.73 from CVEDC during her tenure as Executive Director from 2022 to 2025.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Vermont will receive over $195 million in Rural Health Transformation Funds in 2026, which is among the highest award per capita in the nation: “This is good news for Vermont, and I’m appreciative to the Trump Administration for their partnership on this, as we work to advance our shared priorities of rural health transformation. While there are still implementation details to work out, this significant investment will help us build on the good work we’ve started to make rural healthcare more affordable and accessible.”  

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.05 per gallon, down 1.3 cents per gallon from last week's $3.06/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.59/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 70.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 4.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.75/g today. The national average is down 22.6 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 22.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

by Mike Del Trecco, CEO VAAHS As I reflect on 2025, one thing that comes clearly to my mind is the realization that Vermont has been very good to me and my family. It has been a special place for my wife Donna and me to raise our family. We have been blessed with great friends, the freedom and the beauty of our lakes and mountains and the safety that Vermont offers to its people. For all of its challenges, and readers here know I talk a lot about our challenges, it is also the greatest place in the world to live. At least if you ask me.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Attorney General’s Office today announced that they have entered into a civil settlement with Revolution Youth, Inc., which operates the Eden Valley mental health clinic in Burlington, Vermont. Under the terms of the settlement, Revolution Youth will pay $200,000 in damages and penalties to the State of Vermont to resolve allegations of Medicaid fraud pursuant to the False Claims Act.

by Mike Donoghue A federal judge has given permission to the Mid Vermont Christian School to file an amended discrimination lawsuit against state and local education leaders while also challenging Vermont’s new education law known as Act 73. Senior Federal Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford gave the green light in a four-page decision on Monday that approved the request filed by the school in Quechee in November.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police is investigating the death of a man who was in the custody of the Vermont Department of Corrections. VSP was notified at about 9:40 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, that Gregory H. Penn, a 68-year-old inmate at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, had died while receiving palliative care in the prison infirmary for a terminal illness. Per standard protocol, a detective from the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations was assigned to the case and began a death investigation.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets As we turn the calendar, this month naturally becomes a time to look back and reflect. There’s no doubt that 2025 was a challenging year — from unpredictable weather to affordability pressures affecting families and businesses alike. We know there is significant volatility and disruption impacting everyone who works the land. As we begin 2026, there is uncertainty and worry, but January is also a time when many of us set intentions and resolutions for the year ahead. Here are mine.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police is adding extra patrols and urging the public to be cautious as forecasts call for a significant ice storm to affect the state through Monday afternoon. The National Weather Service is predicting up to 0.6 inches of ice to accumulate across portions of Vermont, with the highest totals ranging from the Northeast Kingdom to Springfield, in central Vermont, and along the spine of the Green Mountains. Considerable icing is expected statewide as the storm arrives from the southwest to the northeast during the overnight hours Sunday into Monday. Conditions are not expected to begin improving until at least Monday afternoon.

by Ben Kinsley Everyone wants answers about why property taxes are going up another 12% next year. Some blame small schools, some blame administrative overhead, some blame legislative inaction regarding our education funding system and school governance. Sadly this news was inevitable. While the Legislature, the Governor, and local Vermonters negotiate over what the next iteration of public education looks like in our state, they bought down property taxes last year using one-time monies. The Governor and the Legislature were both in alignment on this, but these one-time funds[1] created a $98 million hole for property taxes to fill in FY2027 (which is the 2026/2027 school year) before schools even spent a dollar more.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont anglers will want to know about several changes to fishing regulations that take effect on January 1, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Most notable are the updated regulations referring to panfish and the use of baitfish.  Additional changes can be found in the 2026 Fishing Guide & Regulations booklet available free from license agents and on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website.