Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 98 cases of COVID-19 for Wednesday, down from Tuesday's 195. Hospitalizations today were 22 (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. ICU stays, which also had been elevated and have now fallen, were 7 (up 3). The one-day record there was set December 7, 2021, (31).

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont had the lowest gender-based wage gap of any state in the United States. But still, women on average were paid $4,600 less than men. Wyoming was the highest at $21,676. When all entities were included, Puerto Rico had the lowest wage gap (statistically insignificant, but women in any case had a slightly higher wage) and Washington, DC, had the highest ($16,032). Overall, the gender gap in the US has narrowed in recent years, but disparities remain: national median earnings for civilians who worked full-time, year-round in the past 12 months was $53,544 for men compared to $43,394 for women.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont rose to $4.34 per gallon today, according to national tracking service GasBuddy.com. This is an increase of 52 cents from last week, 80 cents from last month and $1.63 from last year. The national average is $4.33, up 57 cents since last week, up $85 from last month and up $1.51 since last year. "We've never been in this situation before, with this level of uncertainty. As we lose a major global producer under the weight of deserving bipartisan sanctions for invading a sovereign country, the cost is high. Americans will be feeling the pain of the rise in prices for quite some time, with little good news foreseen."

Vermont Business Magazine Mission Hill Hospitality, a KSL Capital Partners portfolio company based in Denver, announced Wednesday it has acquired the Killington Mountain Lodge, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Terms of the deal are undisclosed. This is the 15th property added to the Mission Hill Hospitality portfolio since the company was launched in March 2021. Killington Mountain Lodge is located less than one mile from the Killington Ski Area, the largest and most visited mountain in Vermont, drawing nearly 1 million visitors annually.

Vermont Business Magazine In recognition of National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced the top 10 consumer complaints received by the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) in 2021. CAP, a partnership between the Attorney General’s Office and the University of Vermont, offers a free mediation service for Vermont consumers, including small businesses. In 2021, CAP received 1,173 complaints and recovered more than $240,000 for Vermont consumers. Claiming the list’s top spots are complaints involving vehicles, retail, and home improvement, respectively – representing approximately 44 percent of all complaints filed.

Vermont Business Magazine Integrated Solar Applications (ISA) has announced a limited opportunity to join a new community solar array entitled “ISA Exit 1 Solar”. The array is located on 13.8 acres owned by the company, on Canal Street in Brattleboro, serviced by Green Mountain Power. It will provide direct access to renewable energy, enabling members to reduce their electricity bills and carbon footprint, without having to install or own a solar array on their property.

Vermont Business Magazine A group of faculty, staff and students at the University of Vermont has been studying the negative impacts of road salt on campus and exploring ways to reduce its use. Professionals charged with applying salt where it is needed at UVM have continued to introduce new materials and methods to reduce usage. Matt Walker, grounds manager for the physical plant department, has been experimenting with the use of magnesium chloride, an anti-icing liquid which helps break the molecular bond between ice and paved surfaces and makes cleanup more efficient. The department had previously used rock salt for this purpose.

Department of Financial Regulation Recently, UnitedHealthcare has written to patients to inform them that University of Vermont Health Network providers and facilities in Vermont and upstate New York, including the University of Vermont Medical Center, Central Vermont Medical Center, Porter Medical Center, Alice Hyde Medical Center, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, and Elizabethtown Community Hospital, will no longer participate in its commercial insurance provider network as of April 1, 2022. As a result, most non-emergency services will not be covered as an in-network benefit under commercial UnitedHealthcare plans.

​Vermont Business Magazine The US Citizenship and Immigration Services St Albans field office and application support center are moving to 463 Mountain View Dr., Suite 200 in Colchester. The offices will now be called the Burlington field office and Burlington ASC. The last day of operations at the USCIS office currently located at 64 Gricebrook Rd. in St. Albans will be Thursday, March 10. USCIS services will resume at the new office location on Wednesday, March 16.

by Miranda Gray The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many caregivers, and especially women, to leave the workforce due to a lack of consistent childcare. Compounding the problem, women, many of whom are young mothers, make up roughly 95% of the country's childcare providers. This pandemic has shown a light on how critical childcare is to making our economy run. I work with some of the brightest, hardest-working people, who are parents struggling to care for their young children over the past couple of years. As a mother myself, I’ve juggled work while helping my child with schoolwork while our schools were in both remote and hybrid status.

Members of the public also encouraged to contribute vests for military units

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont law enforcement agencies are teaming up to donate used and expired body-armor vests to military units in Ukraine.

“As I’ve said, the bravery and resolve of the Ukrainian people is heroic and inspiring. This body armor drive is something we can do to help them protect themselves in their fight for freedom,” said Governor Phil Scott. “I appreciate the Vermont National Guard bringing this opportunity to our attention, and the efforts of the Vermont State Police, local law enforcement agencies and any members of the public who can contribute to this effort.”

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 195 cases of COVID-19 for Tuesday, up from Monday's 48 (Sunday 57, Saturday 95 and Friday 131). The 7-day case average is 140 (see modeling update below). Hospitalizations and ICU stays have fallen dramatically the last few weeks. The new statewide COVID health guidance will begin on March 14, meaning for the general public and in school, mask wearing will be up to individual discretion. Businesses could still decide to require them.