Current News

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.

Vermont Business Magazine Investigators from the Vermont Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit have determined that a fire earlier this month in Ryegate that killed a homeowner in Ryegate was accidental. Although the exact cause of the Dec. 18 fire is classified as undetermined, the investigation has identified the most likely origin as either discarded smoking materials or space heaters placed in close proximity to combustibles.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burke Area Chamber of Commerce has recognized East Burke Rentals as the 2025 Business of the Year.  The award is given to a Burke Chamber member based on nominations from fellow chamber members.  The award is meant to celebrate a business that demonstrates exemplary business practices and gives back to the community in various ways. East Burke Rentals is owned by Allen and Robin Beaupre. The Beaupre’s were nominated by Abby Long, formerly of Kingdom Trails and the current Interim Executive Director of the NEK Collaborative, and Burton Hinton, co-owner of East Burke Market.  Both Long and Hinton commented on the Beaupre’s dedication to the community and willingness to give time and resources to make things happen. 

by Maeve Fairfax, Community News Service On solar farms, the ground beneath the solar panels is often planted with turf grass and left alone. But some Vermonters are experimenting with productive ways to use that land: grazing livestock, growing crops, and creating habitat for threatened pollinators and birds. Solar makes up about 16% of the energy Vermont generates, and that number has been growing for over a decade. As solar grows, so does Vermont’s capacity for agrivoltaics — the dual use of land on solar farms for agriculture. Lewis Fox is a sheep farmer in Leicester, Vermont. With his wife, Niko Kochendoerfer, he runs a business called Agrivoltaic Solutions. They are hired by solar companies to manage the vegetation on solar farms. “We’re in charge of keeping the vegetation within certain limits, and the sheep are the tools that we use to do it,” Fox said.

Vermont Business Magazine The DeltaClimeVT energy business accelerator is seeking innovative start-up and seed stage ventures offering products and services that enhance grid resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Companies ready to deploy solutions for decarbonizing buildings, transportation, heating, and industrial processes, especially through electrification, thermal energy networks, renewables, and flexible load management, are encouraged to apply. Solutions that help lower electricity costs for Vermont ratepayers are of particular interest. Application period closes Jan. 16, 2026. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) has announced that Champlain Elementary School in Burlington as its 6th annual Recycle Rally Challenge winner and the Williston Central School as the winner of the Change Maker Award. The Challenge is a friendly competition that helps schools improve recycling and compost sorting while inspiring students to take action to reduce, reuse and recycle. 

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington-based commercial real estate company V/T Commercial has released their fourth quarter commercial real estate transactions. They include: Yves Bradley brokered the sale of a 48,812 square foot industrial building at 30 Precision Drive, North Springfield, to VS Realty Partners, LLC; John Beal, representing Unsworth Properties, announced the lease of 6,933 square feet at the former Arts Riot space on 400 Pine Street, Burlington, to the South End Arts & Business Association; John Beal brokered the sale of a commercial property at 610 Route 7 South, Middlebury to Christopher Griggs. Beal assisted the buyer and the seller, Christopher Dundon; Concentra Health Services, Inc. leased space at 654 Granger Road, Barre from 654 Granger Road, LLC.  Bill Kiendl assisted each party.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark and a multistate coalition of 17 other attorneys general have sued to block enforcement of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS’) unlawful “declaration” that attempts to limit access to gender-affirming care for young people. HHS’ declaration falsely claims that certain forms of gender-affirming care are “unsafe and ineffective.” It also threatens to punish any doctors, hospitals, and clinics that continue to provide gender-affirming care with exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Attorney General Clark and the coalition argue in the lawsuit that this declaration violates federal statutes by unlawfully changing medical standards without going through the notice and comment process and undermining states’ long-standing authority to regulate medicine.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, 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, December 25th meets the City’s criteria for operation of an extreme cold weather shelter. Hours of operation will be Thursday, December 25th at 5pm to Friday, December 26th at 8am. The National Weather Service is currently forecasting evening temperatures diving well-below zero with windchill on Thursday evening, into the early morning hours on Friday.  

Vermont Business Magazine Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest historic hotels from across the United States of America, has announced The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Magnificent Gingerbread Displays list. The fresh-baked holiday displays described below were unveiled in historic hotels in November and early December 2025 and will be available for the public to see and enjoy through the end of the month or the first week of January 2026. Among the awardees is Woodstock Inn & Resort. This year, the pastry team held a design contest among the inn’s staff to choose a winning idea for the gingerbread display, and selected a woodland cottage theme, submitted by Marketing Brand Manager Mollie Faccio.

Vermont Business Magazine Social Tinkering has released their new report: Social Connection, Isolation, and Loneliness in Rutland County: A Landscape Analysis. Three years in the making, and authored by Founder Jeanette Langston and Research Specialist, Ella Kenney, the report provides a comprehensive analysis of disconnection, isolation, and loneliness, examines the populations most impacted in Rutland County, and provides an overview of the barriers that prevent meaningful connection. It concludes with an assessment of regional strengths and gaps and offers recommendations to support community well-being and help residents thrive through connection.

Vermont State Police On December 8, 2025, at approximately 1944 hours, Troopers with Vermont State Police, Westminster Barracks, were notified of a theft in the town of Rockingham, Windham County, VT. Investigation revealed that Adam Fischer (45) of Westminster, VT, had stolen property valued at $32,000 from Green Mountain Craft Cannabis. Fischer was arrested on 12/21/2025 and subsequently transported to the Westminster Barracks for processing. Fischer was later released with a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court, Windham Criminal Division on 01/20/2026, at 0830 hours to answer to the charge of grand larceny.