Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement regarding the Canadian government removing COVID-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated Canadians and visitors to cross the border starting April 1, 2022: “The move from the Canadian government is a welcomed step forward. In addition to reuniting our border communities, this change will also bring Canadian businesses and travelers back to Vermont to enjoy our downtowns, outdoor recreation opportunities, and expand our economic ties."

Vermont Business Magazine Ben & Jerry's receives several thousand requests each year to rein-cone-ate a beloved flavor from the Flavor Graveyard. Today one of Ben & Jerry's most-loved former flavors is back with a new spirit! Dublin Mudslide has returned from the great beyond with a flavor that is beyond great: Irish cream ice cream with chocolate chocolate chip cookies and coffee fudge swirls.

Vermont Business Magazine The Lake Champlain Chamber (LCC) has named VGS its 2022 Business of the Year in recognition of VGS’s innovative work to reduce emissions for its customers. The announcement was made at LCC’s 111^th annual dinner held March 16^th.

The Vermont State Police has arrested a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of Vincent Keithan earlier this month in St. Johnsbury. Detectives arrested Jerry Ramirez, 35, of Brooklyn, New York, on a charge of second-degree murder arising from the killing of Keithan, 44, on March 1, 2022. Ramirez was arrested Wednesday afternoon, March 16, at the Northeast Correctional Complex in St. Johnsbury. He had been jailed in New York following his apprehension on a warrant for aggravated assault related to an incident prior to the fatal shooting, and was extradited to Vermont on Tuesday night, March 15.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has always been at the forefront of sustainability initiatives, and the craft beverage movement is no exception. Our favorite spots for a quick nip are thinking more and more about what they can do to make a change to be sustainable, reduce their CO2 emissions, recycle or repurpose their materials, and dispose of their spent waste in a way that is good for the environment and our community. There’s no better time to talk about “going green” than on St. Patrick’s Day, and we want to say "Sláinte" to our sustainable partners making good brews and ciders while doing just that.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says warm spring weather and melting snows will cause bears to come out of their winter dens in search of food. The department recommends taking down bird feeders and keeping them stored until December, to avoid attracting bears. The department is already receiving bear reports as of March 7, and encourages Vermonters who experience a conflict with bears to submit a report through the Living with Black Bears web page.

by Kelly Klein As a small business owner and a member of the Vermont Climate Council, I have been excited to watch the development of the Clean Heat Standard as a critical part of Vermont’s Climate Action Plan. With over a third of our state’s greenhouse gas emissions coming from fossil fuel heating, moving away from these fuels presents an opportunity to dramatically reduce emissions while also helping Vermonters switch to more cost-effective and less price-volatile energy sources. Paired with a weatherization initiative, this will result in a big reduction in heating costs, especially for low- and moderate-income Vermonters, who often rely on the most expensive and price-volatile fuels such as propane and heating oil.

Vermont Business Magazine As rising energy costs continue to strain our region's households, it's important to remind your friends and neighbors that help is available. HEAT Squad and VLITE have teamed up to help homeowners in Northeast Kingdom reduce their energy bills -- and it all gets started with a $50 whole-house energy audit. Qualifying households can receive 50% off weatherization projects -- up to $4,500, PLUS up to $2,000 off the cost of single zone HEAT PUMP.

Vermont Business Magazine Working Lands Trainings: Supporting farms and forests from whelping to welding, farming to food, supply chain and systems, including manufacturing. Flexible learning available. Upcoming trainings include meat cutting, craft distilling, wetland delineation, tree pruning and ascension climbing, and basic welding.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting216 cases of COVID-19 for Tuesday, up from 82 on Monday (23 on Sunday, 79 on Saturday and 153 on Friday). There was one additional death in the 50-59 age range, for 609 statewide. COVID cases now are highest per capita in the last two weeks in Addison, Caledonia Orleans and Orange counties. Addison had been a relatively quiet region until recently with an increase in cases at Middlebury College, which appear now to be waning. Meanwhile, in the Northeast Kingdom, which had been a COVID hot spot earlier in the pandemic, cases increased in the last week even as the rest of the state reports a decline.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is now implementing a new program that enables vehicle inspection stations to print inspection stickers as needed by using a secure Automated Vehicle Inspection Program (AVIP) tablet and a special printer. The print-on-demand process is expected to create efficiencies for the DMV and Vermont Inspection Stations.

“We are taking this opportunity to continue modernization of DMV services,” said Commissioner Wanda Minoli. “The new on-demand inspection stickers will enable our Vermont business partners to issue stickers as needed, creating a more efficient and streamlined process, and reducing burden on small business.”

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont today announced that the use of face masks in all indoor locations will become optional starting on Saturday, March 19. The university cited several factors that led to the decision: 100% of eligible students are fully vaccinated and boosted; 100% of employees are compliant with the vaccine policy and nearly 70% have voluntarily reported receiving a booster; COVID-19 PCR testing remains available for all members of our community, and we have a significant supply of rapid home antigen tests that we will be making available free to faculty, staff and students shortly; Vermont continues to see low hospitalization and ICU rates and the State has ample access to both monoclonal antibody treatments and antiviral drugs.