Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today, The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington and Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin filed to request mid-year adjustments from the Green Mountain Care Board to their FY22 budgets, which went into effect on October 1, 2021. The hospitals said inflation since that approval would require a 20 percent rate hike. They are requesting a 10 percent increase.

Vermont Business Magazine The 27th Annual Burlington & Cool Schools Penguin Plunge was held on Saturday, March 12th at the Burlington Waterfront. Over 800 people braved the snowstorm and plunged into the frigid waters of Lake Champlain to show their support for Special Olympics athletes in Vermont. The Penguin Plunge is the largest fundraising event for Special Olympics Vermont, and this year, over $500,000 was raised to support sports training and competition opportunities across local and school programs, health screenings, and leadership opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine A growing team of co-creators join EmpowR to build anti-racist culture centered in humanity, equity, and belonging for collective liberation. Rae Carter, EmpowR founder, announces the following Vermont change makers to the EmpowR co-creator team who each bring dynamic lived experiences and backgrounds to the arc of personal, organizational, and cultural transformation:

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today released 2021 statistics from the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC) which show an increase in the number of reported internet crimes against children. In 2021, VT-ICAC received 452 CyberTips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, resulting in a sharp increase from the 376 CyberTips received in 2020. Investigations conducted by VT-ICAC resulted in 42 prosecutions statewide in 2021. The Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Vermont State Police, and other county and municipal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies are affiliated with VT-ICAC.

Vermont Business Magazine Beginning today, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) in Bennington, part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), has expanded its visitor policy to one visitor at a time—as opposed to one visitor per day, as had been indicated most recently—for many areas. The change follows a substantial decrease in the prevalence of COVID-19 in our region. Visiting hours remain 11 am – 7 pm daily.

​Vermont State Police Advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy have helped the Vermont State Police identify the source of DNA found as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Brianna Maitland. No suspect in the case has been identified, but as the 18th anniversary of her disappearance arrives, the case remains an open and active investigation. Brianna, 17, was last seen on the evening of March 19, 2004. She clocked out from the Black Lantern Inn where she worked as a dishwasher and was headed to a friend’s house where she was living at the time. She never made it.

Vermont Business Magazine Erik Weihenmayer, one of the most renowned adventurers of the 21st century, best known as the first blind person to summit Mount Everest, has been selected as the University of Vermont’s 2022 commencement speaker. Weihenmayer, along with Meghan Walsh Cioffi, Robert Cioffi, Rick Dalton, and Steven Grossman (see bios below) will receive honorary degrees during the university’s main commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 22. This year’s commencement is especially significant, as it signals a return to a pre-pandemic, traditional schedule of ceremonies.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan along with Bennington County State’s Attorney Erica Marthage will host a free expungement clinic on Friday, April 8, 2022, with appointments available from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Expungements wipe from your record specific convictions and dismissed charges after a certain period of time has passed. Under Vermont law, many misdemeanors, 14 different felony offenses, and all dismissed charges can be expunged. The free clinic will focus on expunging criminal charges and convictions from Bennington County and will be open to the public by appointment.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) invites the public to join watershed planner Karen Bates for the next Clean Water Lecture on March 31st, 2022, at noon. The presentation will cover how clean water projects are successfully implemented—from identifying a problem, to constructing a solution on the ground, and everything in between! The event is part of a monthly virtual Clean Water Lecture Series highlighting efforts to protect and restore water in Vermont. Clean water projects reduce and prevent water pollution stemming from rain and snowmelt runoff and erosion across all land uses including agriculture, developed lands, and forestry.

by Jack Hoffman, Public Assets Institute Governor Phil Scott wants to use a $96 million surplus in the Education Fund for a little tax relief for homeowners and to expand job training. Another scenario laid out by the tax commissioner in December was, in essence, to just lower everybody’s school taxes for one year. These aren’t the only options, nor the best ones, which is why the Legislature needs to create an Education Fund Advisory Committee to oversee the long-term stability of the education finance system.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 161 cases of COVID-19 for Wednesday, down from 216 on Tuesday (82 on Monday, 23 on Sunday, 79 on Saturday and 153 on Friday). There were two additional deaths, one in the 70-79 age range and one 80+, for 611 statewide. There have been four fatalities since March 5.

Vermont Business Magazine Today the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation announced a $640,000 settlement with Robinhood Financial LLC. The settlement includes a penalty of $590,000; Robinhood will also contribute $50,000 to the Vermont Financial Services Education and Victim Restitution Special Fund. The settlement relates to outages of Robinhood’s online trading platform, including during significant stock market volatility in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the settlement addresses Robinhood’s lack of supervision when approving option or margin trading customer accounts.