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Vermont Business Magazine Many Vermonters have weighed in on the announcement today by Senator Patrick Leahy that he will not seek reelection in November 2022. His retirement will mark the end of a career that began in 1974, when he became the first Democrat since the Civil War and youngest person ever elected to the US Senate from Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting 222 COVID-19 cases Monday, down from Sunday's 298 cases. There were 463 COVID-19 cases on Saturday and 505 cases Friday, which was the second highest case count on record after they spiked to 591 Thursday. The 15 worst days have all come since mid-September, following from the Delta variant surge that began in July.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), State House, Montpelier, November 15, 2021, 10 am I am proud to be Vermont’s longest serving Senator because I know my time in the Senate has made a difference for Vermonters and often well beyond. I know I have been there for my state when I was needed most. I know I have taken our best ideas and helped them grow. I brought Vermont’s voice to the United States Senate and Vermont values across the world. So yes, I am proud to be Vermont’s longest serving Senator. While I will continue to serve Vermont, Marcelle and I have reached the conclusion that it is time to put down this gavel. It is time to pass the torch to the next Vermonter who will carry on this work for our great state. It’s time to come home.

Vermont Business Magazine At a press conference this morning, Senator Patrick Leahy announced that he will be retiring from office at the end of his current term. His retirement will mark the end of a long and distinguished Senate career, which began in 1974, when he became the first Democrat and youngest person ever elected to the U.S. Senate from Vermont. Senator Leahy spoke to his achievements and contributions throughout the years on human rights, agriculture, humanitarian aid, national security, and more, and his commitment to bring Vermont values to issues faced around the world.

​by Chris Graff, Vermont Business Magazine In the 1994 movie Forrest Gump ("Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.") the main character witnesses and at times influences some of the defining events of the 20th century. There's Gump as an all-American football player, serving in Vietnam, meeting President John F Kennedy, causing the resignation of President Richard Nixon and investing in Apple Computer before anyone realized its potential. The story is absolutely implausible. No person could ever be present as so much history unfolds. Patrick J Leahy has.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets As the seasons begin to change once again and we begin to approach the holidays, Secretary Anson Tebbetts took some time to consider this month of transition and the many reasons to pause, reflect, and give thanks for our Veteran's and Agricultural community.

by Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger We have reached a confusing and uncertain moment in our long battle against the global Covid-19 pandemic. On the one hand, vaccinations have made the great majority of us far safer than we were at the beginning of 2021, and now even our 5-11 year-olds are starting to receive these safe and life-saving vaccines, moving our community much closer to full vaccination. On the other hand, in recent weeks we have repeatedly seen record numbers of cases here in Vermont, bucking the national trends in a confusing and concerning way.

by Joyce Marcel, Vermont Business Magazine It is very rare that a small family-owned Vermont contracting company, founded in 1972, becomes in 50 years a multi-million dollar renewable energy company that's been traded on the NASDAQ since 2019. (To put it into perspective, very few Vermont companies are publicly traded at all.) The rare company is iSun Inc. iSun is a solar engineering, procurement and construction company (EPC) based in Williston that is doing projects in about 13 states, including all of New England and as far away as Colorado.

by Kelly Notterman Even in October, Lindsey DesLauriers’ skis were propped in the corner of her office, her helmet hanging off the tips as though she might head out for a few runs any minute. I get the feeling her mountain bike is somewhere nearby too, maybe just out of the Zoom frame. The fact that she loves mountain sports is not a trivial detail to her story; in fact, it’s at the heart of her family’s return to Bolton Valley and their vision for the resort’s future.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting Sunday 298 COVID-19 cases. There were 463 COVID-19 cases on Saturday 505 cases Friday, which was the second highest case count on record after they spiked to 591 Thursday. After a surge in cases last week, cases had been relatively quiet, with 201 Wednesday, 189 Tuesday and 235 Monday. Last week's elevated case counts went through Sunday (376 cases). Cases last Friday were 377 and there were 487 cases last Thursday, which was the previous all-time record. The 15 worst days have all come since mid-September, following from the Delta variant surge that began in July.

The VDH reported today no additional COVID-related deaths, which remain to 393 statewide.

There were 44 COVID-related deaths in Vermont in October, which was the third-worst month on record (December 2020, 71; September 2021, 50). There are 22 so far in November.

November 15th Regular Meeting of the Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel Federal Nuclear Waste Policy Committee

Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Nuclear Waste Policy Committee of the Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (VT NDCAP) will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, November 15, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. This meeting will be conducted primarily as a webcast and teleconference. However, in accordance with Vermont Open Meeting Law, the following physical location will be available for those wishing to attend this meeting in-person:

First Floor

118 Elliot Street

Brattleboro, VT 05301

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont unemployment rate fell to 2.9 percent for September 2021. This reflects a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from August. The rate is based on household data collected by the US Census. The US rate was 4.8 percent, down four-tenths.