Current News

​Leonine Public Affairs A debate earlier in the year about whether to switch to single-member legislative districts in the House was officially put to rest when Governor Phil Scott signed the redistricting bill, H.722, into law. The bill will see the state continuing to use multi-member districts for the next decade. Redistricting is a decennial process using census data to ensure Vermont remains in compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court’s one-vote per person standard. The bill reapportions Vermont’s 180 legislators based on the state’s changing demographics. Under the new Senate map, the Northeast Kingdom will lose one senator to Chittenden County. Changes to the House map are more extensive, but are not expected to significantly change the political makeup of the chamber.

​Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) this week sent a letter to interns, residents and fellows of the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) in support of their efforts to form a union. Sanders recently met with UVMMC residents who shared with him how organizing a union would lead not only to decent wages and better working conditions, but also to improved care for their patients.

Vermont Business Magazine The Green Mountain State is gearing up for a forecasted $225 million legal cannabis market by 2025, and the state’s control board launched the licensing process for small cultivators just last Friday. The Headies, Heady Vermont’s signature grower’s cup, offers a unique intersection of craft-grown talent and market-ready consumers at a pivotal moment for the state’s cannabis industry. The mission of The Headies, taking place April 16 in Essex Junction, Vermont, is to showcase and celebrate Vermont’s most talented cannabis cultivators and product makers.

Vermont Business Magazine Many Vermonters experienced isolation, stress and other impacts on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. They may also have increased the amount of alcohol they drink. During National Alcohol Awareness Month this April, the Health Department is asking Vermonters to reflect on changes in their drinking habits over the past two years and seek out the readily available help and supports if they need it.

Vermont Business Magazine With the unfortunate discovery of a deceased bald eagle in North Hero and one ill bald eagle in Shelburne on March 29, Vermont joined 33 other states across the country in detecting highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the environment. The bald eagles were found near Lake Champlain in both towns. Sampling was conducted by USDA Wildlife Services and tests were conducted for presence of HPAI at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. The discovery reinforces the important public message of awareness and vigilance for poultry owners, farmers, and hunters and outdoors recreationists to not only report sick and dead birds, but to recognize the dangers of HPAI to our small backyard poultry owners and commercial operators.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine As the Legislature enters the long stretch drive to the end of the biennium, likely in mid-May, Governor Scott and his administration are ramping up pressure on the Legislature to pass his big initiatives. This includes Scott's $100 million economic package. The House has passed its version of the $8.1 billion budget and it's now in the hands of the Senate. However, the House did not include any of the governor's economic package in its version, leaving it up to the Senate. The governor not only took issue with that this week, he noted that even if the Senate were to add in some or all of his package, it would mean some other programs would have to be cut (or taxes increased) to balance the budget.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 243 cases of COVID-19 for Thursday (216 Wednesday, 219 Tuesday, 150 Monday, 43 Sunday, 141 Saturday, 168 Friday, 158 Thursday, 171 last Wednesday.) The VDH reported no additional deaths again today for 620 statewide. COVID-related fatalities in March (16) were the fewest since last July (2). The official report attributes no April deaths so far. Hospitalizations today were 30 (up 4). The record was 122 on January 19. Health officials have focused on this as a key indicator. They had been running over 100 in early February.

Vermont Business Magazine This Saturday, April 9 at the Doubletree (former Sheraton by Exit 14), Saint Michael’s Fire & Rescue simultaneously will be celebrating its 50th, 51st and 52nd annual banquets starting at 6 p.m. SMFR Fire Chief John Keating '17 explains that because of the pandemic, both the planned major 50th anniversary banquet scheduled for two years ago, and the following years had to be canceled, so organizers are rolling them all into one this year.

Vermont Business Magazine The City of Burlington provided the statement below indicating that the city is going forward with its own Saturday market, called BTV Market, as the Burlington Farmers Market is not returning to City Hall Park this year. The Farmers Market moved down to Pine Street ahead of the renovation of the park, which is now complete. Though the expectation was that the Burlington Farmers Market would move back downtown once the renovations were complete, its board has decided to keep it where it is in the South End at least for now.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on April 6, 2022, Jerry Banks, 34, of Fort Garland, Colorado, was arrested following the filing of a criminal complaint that charges Banks with kidnapping Gregory Davis, a resident of Danville, Vermont, on January 6, 2018. Banks was taken into custody in Yellowstone National Park, where he was working. Banks appeared in United States District Court in Landers, Wyoming, for a hearing yesterday. Banks will appear again in federal court in Wyoming next week before being ordered to appear in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Middlebury College has acquired a 35-acre parcel on Seminary Street Extension in Middlebury that Summit Properties of South Burlington will develop into 100 units of affordable and workforce housing. The housing will be available to members of the public who qualify regardless of where they work. The College bought the property, which had been for sale for several years, from Marjorie Mooney for $1.5 million and will sell it to Summit in increments as the company develops the property. The estimated cost of the development is $40 million.

​Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Climate Council is holding public forums on April 12 and April 13 to share information about its ongoing work and to hear from Vermonters across the state. Vermont’s Initial Climate Action Plan (CAP) was adopted on December 1, 2021. These events are focused on making the CAP more accessible, as well as involving the public in shaping the direction of the ongoing work. This work is centered on the need to engage all communities in Vermont.