Current News

Vermont Business Magazine State Auditor Doug Hoffer released a new investigative report examining the quality and usefulness of the Vermont Annual Outcomes Report, which is designed to tell policy makers and the public whether state government is doing a good job serving all Vermonters. His report suggests it is not. "The magnitude of the issues that surfaced in our analysis ranged from fundamental to technical; they all pointed to the need to reassess whether the Outcomes Report is serving its purpose."

Pfizer vaccine available for those 5 to 11 years old

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) will host a special children’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic for 5 to 11 year olds 1 – 5 p.m. Friday, January 28 at its COVID Resource Center, the gymnasium on the former Southern Vermont College campus at 982 Mansion Drive in Bennington. No appointment is needed and walk-ins are welcome.

by John McClaughry Some years ago, faced with the many competing spending demands before the Senate, I would say “all this state needs is a diamond mine”. That is, with an inexhaustible supply of dollars in the till, all worthwhile projects and programs could be funded - and a quite a few that weren’t worthwhile – without laying higher taxes on our voters.

Last week in his budget message Governor Scott announced that, in effect, Vermont has at last found its diamond mine. It arrived in the form of half a billion in unspent American Rescue Plan funds, plus another $2.2 billion in the Congressional infrastructure bill. In addition, despite COVID, our own tax base has produced a $320 million surplus across the three major funds.

​Vermont Business Magazine PCV applauds the Vermont Senate’s vote to approve Senate Bill 74, which updates and improves Vermont’s Act 39, the state’s Patient Choice at End of Life Law. Act 39 gives adult Vermonters who are terminally ill and who can make their own decisions, the option to receive self-administered medical aid in dying in order to bring about a peaceful death, if and when the patient chooses. Participation in the law is completely voluntary. Vermont is among eleven states that have similar laws providing end-of-life choice for the 22% of Americans.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) Foundation Northshire Regional Advisory Board welcomes two new members: Regina Downer and Parker Rice. “We are delighted to have Regina and Parker join our family of compassionate volunteers,” said Northshire Regional Advisory Board Chair Keith Michl, MD. “Each of them has all of the qualities we look for in a member of the Regional Advisory Boards, most importantly, a deep commitment to this community.”

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 525 of COVID-19 for Sunday (1,004 on Saturday; 1,516 cases on Friday; 1,766 Thursday, 1,115 Wednesday; 1,344 Tuesday and 715 Monday). There were seven additional deaths reported for 521, including one in the 40-49 age band. There were 49 COVID-19 related fatalities in Vermont in September 2021, and 47 deaths in October, which had been the second- and third-worst months on record (December 2020, 71). There were 42 fatalities in November, 62 in December, and 41 so far in January 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University has renewed its educational partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/RI), which began in 2016, for the next five years. This renewed partnership opens a variety of opportunities for Norwich faculty and students to engage with the AFRL/RI in a number of ways, including: access to their facilities/labs and technologies in Rome, New York; internships for students; residencies for faculty; partnerships in developing curriculum; and many other activities.

Vermont Business Magazine Last week, the Vermont Community Foundation’s Insight Hub, its research-driven arm focused on providing insight to inform charitable giving, published a brief on how charitable individuals can use their philanthropy to help vulnerable Vermonters cope with soaring inflation and rising consumer prices. The Insight Hub offers webinars, events, briefs, and peer-to-peer experiences that help philanthropists understand where their giving can make a difference.

Hit PBS Series’ 2022 Production Tour Travels to Shelburne Museum While Filming for its 27th Season

Vermont Business Magazine ANTIQUES ROADSHOW will visit Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont, on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, for an all-day appraisal event as part of the series’ 27th production tour! This summer PBS’s most-watched ongoing series will visit five cities with stops exclusively at distinctive, historic locations.

by Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos and Deputy Secretary of State Chris Winters It only takes just a few minutes online to get a snapshot of America in 2022; a country divided; a digital battleground of rhetoric where information is wielded as a weapon. We hold faith that we can still heal this divide when we focus on our shared values and learn once again to put partisan motives and political differences aside for the common good.

Vermont Business Magazine Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that the merger of New York-based supermarket operators The Golub Corp., which owns the Price Chopper chain, and Tops Market Corp. would likely be anti-competitive in 11 local markets across upstate New York and Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The personal income tax, the most important General Fund revenue source, continues to perform well. And has been the case for several years, it was supported by the tourism-related rooms and meals tax. Secretary of Administration Kristin Clouser released Vermont’s revenue results for December 2021 today. The Education Fund also exceeded expectations, but once again the long-lingering Transportation Fund continues to under-perform because of fuel tax receipts.