Current News

Vermont State Police Following an extensive investigation that began more than three years ago, the Vermont State Police has identified a suspect in connection with a double homicide that occurred in Woodbury on Oct. 30, 2018. A judge on Wednesday afternoon, November 24, 2021, issued an arrest warrant on charges of aggravated murder and first-degree arson for Manuel Gomez, 32, of Hartford, Connecticut, in connection with the killings of 29-year-old Carol Fradette and 48-year-old David Thompson at their homes on Bliss Road in Woodbury.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on November 23, 2021, Randy Sheltra, 59, of Alburgh, Vermont, was sentenced in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, to serve 15 years of imprisonment following his conviction, after a six-day jury trial, of two counts of attempting to persuade, induce, and entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, and one count of attempted receipt of child pornography.

Vermont Business Magazine Six new cases of COVID-19 were detected at Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) in Newport. Three of the cases were identified in the incarcerated population and two among staff in outbreak testing conducted on November 22. One additional staff member tested positive in outside testing. A total of 27 incarcerated individuals and 11 staff have tested positive in the NSCF outbreak, which began on November 10.

Vermont Business Magazine Sugarbush Resort has welcomed in the 2021/22 season. The resort opened on Wednesday, November 24th with four trails including Jester, Organgrinder, Downspout, and Allyn's Traverse. Skiers and riders could access Heaven's Gate Triple, spinning 9 am - 3 pm, and Super Bravo, loading 9 am - 2:45 pm. As there is not yet a top-to-bottom route open, guests are required to download on Super Bravo to get back to the base area.

Vermont Business Magazine There will be no regular mail delivery or retail services available on Thursday, November 25, in Vermont as postal employees across the state celebrate Thanksgiving. But carriers will still be delivering Priority Express and other guaranteed next day services. This holiday, the Postal Service is reminding customers to shop and ship early. Our online store is open 24/7 at usps.com and boasts plenty of gift-giving ideas from T-shirts to framed prints, toys and tote bags. The 2020 holiday season was a record-setting year for the Postal Service. Specifically, 13 billion letters, cards and packages were processed and delivered under some of the most difficult circumstances we’ve faced in the past century.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported 190 cases of COVID-19, down from 235 on Monday. There were 470 on Sunday, 433 Saturday, and Friday's count was 461. Last Thursday there were 517 cases. COVID cases have been high in November, but the rate of growth slowed last week.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott this morning signed the local-option mask mandate bill passed by the General Assembly on Monday. The law gives municipalities the option to impose a local mask mandate. Already Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger will ask the City Council to impose a local mask mandate in any indoor public space that does not already have a mask or vaccination requirement.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger announced he will bring forward a Mask Ordinance that would require facial coverings in indoor public settings except for in situations where all employees and customers are verified to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The ordinance will be before the City Council for approval at a special meeting on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. On Monday the Vermont Legislature passed a local-option mask bill, which was signed into law by Governor Scott today. The law lasts through April 30, 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), along with Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tuesday sent a letter to the Biden Administration pushing for a waiver of international intellectual property (IP) rules at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to boost production of COVID-19 vaccines for the developing world. This comes as the WTO Ministerial Conference is set to begin next Tuesday, November 30.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), is gathering members for a new council made up of patients and their families. The new Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) aims to provide a forum for dialogue among patients, families, community members, and the health system as a way to ensure that the health system is meeting the needs of the community.

Vermont Business Magazine At its Annual Meeting last month, the board of directors for the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) chose a new round of officers to lead organizational strategy and oversight. Steve Voigt, of Norwich, who has served on the board since 2019, was named chair. Voigt is best known for his tenure with King Arthur Flour, serving in a number of roles including President and CEO. There, he connected with VEDA as a borrower.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today announced that his office has reached settlements with eight different online sellers of electronic cigarettes for violations of Vermont’s Delivery Sales Ban and Vermont’s Consumer Protection Act. Under the settlements, the companies resolved claims that they sold electronic cigarettes, e-liquids, or other tobacco paraphernalia to individual consumers. As of July 1, 2019, it is illegal to sell electronic cigarettes and related “vaping” products over the internet to individual Vermont consumers. In total, the companies will pay $145,750 in civil penalties to the State of Vermont. Since December 2020, the Attorney General’s Office has reached settlements with twenty-one online sellers of electronic cigarettes, totaling $618,250 in civil penalties.