Current News

Senator Patrick Leahy Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee will undertake one of its most consequential duties: to consider and vote whether to advance a nominee to the United States Supreme Court. Before us is a nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who embodies the highest ideals of our judiciary and the legal profession. During the confirmation proceedings, she put on a master class about what it means to be an independent, fair-minded Justice. Her grace, intellect, temperament and wit are exactly what Americans want — and deserve — on our nation’s highest court. I will proudly and confidently vote aye to advance her historic nomination to the Senate Floor.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) last Thursday joined Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), along with Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), and House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) in sending a letter to President Biden urging the administration to act now to extend the pause on federally-held student loan payments until at least the end of the year and to cancel student debt. If the pause on student loan payments is not extended, borrowers will have to begin repaying their student loans on May 1.

Vermont Business Magazine M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE: MTB) announced Saturday the successful completion of M&T's acquisition of People's United Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBCT) valued at $8.3 billion. The combined company employs more than 22,000 people and has a network of over 1,000 branches and 2,200 ATMs that span 12 states from Maine to Virginia and Washington, DC. People's has branches across Vermont and is the former Chittenden Bank. People's United common stock no longer trades on the NASDAQ after Friday, April 1, 2022.

Vermont State Police Troopers from the Royalton Barracks responded on Saturday to Suicide Six ski area in Pomfret for a snowmobile crash. During a snowmobile race event at Suicide Six one of the riders was traveling down the mountain when they left the course area and crashed into a tree. The operator sustained fatal injuries. Vermont State Police were assisted by Woodstock Rescue, Pomfret Fire, and DHART on scene. Following notification of next of kin, the Vermont State Police is identifying the victim in this incident as James C. Darrow Jr (56), of Monreau, New York.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets UVM Extension Agricultural Business engages with farm, forest and maple enterprises using planning and educational resources to promote a strong agricultural economy. Below are some programs offered by their experienced teams that deliver one-on-one, small group and online learning opportunities that enhance decision-making and viability for Vermont producers

Vermont Research News Although only small parts of a tree canopy can be seen in road puddles, and only small parts of the river are visible through gaps in the wooden slats of a covered bridge, the mind constructs a full image based on the concept of primate vision -- which a researcher applied to Vermont rural landscapes in a recent article. Amodal completion (“seeing” a whole shape when parts of it are covered by something else), anorthoscopic perception (visions that do not directly follow from what is sensed) and spatiotemporal integration (visual persistence; to see something even after it has disappeared) are described through a Vermont lens.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College Online (CCO) and edtech company InSpace Proximity, Inc. have announced a partnership to launch InSpace to provide students studying online at CCO with an innovative new approach to asynchronous online learning that increases virtual engagement and support for students, staff, and educators. The two organizations are working together to set a new standard for asynchronous online learning — pushing it to a new level.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, announced Friday that the committee will hold a hearing Tuesday, April 5, at 11 am titled “Corporate Profits are Soaring as Prices Rise: Are Corporate Greed and Profiteering Fueling Inflation?” Tuesday’s hearing comes as working families across the country are increasingly bearing the brunt of growing economic pain and inequality. Across every major industry, prices continue to rise – this includes a 38 percent increase in the price of gasoline, a 44 percent increase in the price of heating oil, a 41 percent increase in the price of a used car, a 24 percent in the price of rental cars, and a 17 percent increase in the price of furniture.

Leonine Public Affairs Starting on Tuesday, the legislature relaxed the statehouse mask requirement, making it optional in most areas of the building. This, combined with a few public tour groups visiting the building for perhaps the first time since 2020 made the statehouse start to feel reminiscent of pre-pandemic times. Legislators are considering potential revenue sources to pay for some big ticket items that have emerged as legislative priorities over the course of the session. Universal school meals and the Vermont child tax credit are proposals being reviewed in the House and Senate respectively.

​Vermont Business Magazine The Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) is pleased to announce a preliminary design project has been completed to increase runoff detention within the Wynnmere Senior Housing development located at Carmel Place, off Killington Avenue in Rutland Town. This project was identified as a priority best management practice (BMP) within the 2017 Moon Brook Flow Restoration Plan (FRP) in order for the Town of Rutland to achieve high flow reduction goals for its portion of the stormwater-impaired Moon Brook watershed. The proposed retrofit of an existing stormwater pond would mitigate storm flows and remove nutrients from runoff within the site’s 17-acre drainage area.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) wants to remind the public that it is mud season and many trails around the state are closed through Memorial Day weekend. Mud season is the time period (typically the duration of April and May), when hiking and biking trails are extremely wet and muddy due to the combined effects of snow melt, thawing ground, and seasonal rain. We ask the public to avoid muddy, soft trails, especially at high elevations, in order to protect the trails, protect alpine vegetation, and leave trails in good shape for the hiking and biking season.

Northeastern Vermont Development Association The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5 billion over five years (FY22-26) for the replacement of existing school buses with low and zero-emission school buses. Under the Clean School Bus Program, EPA has an opportunity to make significant investments in community health, equity, and resilience. Program information and updates can be found at www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus. Stakeholders can sign up for the Clean School Bus newsletter to stay up-to-date on program efforts. The CSB Program application period is scheduled to open in late April and close in July.