Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Ahead of a Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) Wednesday, October 20, introduced two bills to expand and improve comprehensive health care for veterans. The Veterans Dental Care Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement Act of 2021 – co-sponsored by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) – and the Veterans State Eligibility Standardization Act of 2021 will ensure universal dental care coverage for all veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and eliminate long-standing barriers to health care for veterans across the country.

Vermont State Police This two-vehicle crash occurred on VT RT 22A near 1725 VT RT 22A in the Town of West Haven, Vermont. Op#1, a 17-year-old juvenile male, was pinned in the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene. A 14-year-old juvenile male passenger in V#1 was transported to Rutland Regional Hospital for treatment of internal injuries. Due to the ages of the victims, their names are not being released at the present time.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today that COVID-19 cases fell to under 100 today, which is continuing a general trend of fewer cases statewide. COVID cases fell from 265 on Sunday to 140 on Monday to 91 today. Cases spiked last Thursday to their fourth highest number on record. The four worst days for cases have all come since mid-September, as the Delta variant has taken over since early July. However, the VDH also reported today five more deaths for 356 statewide. Also today, the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for children 5-11 and the CDC is expected to follow suit next week.

Vermont Business Magazine Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore today at Governor Scott’s press briefing issued the new guidance for winter high school sports. With the exception of the “inversion” sports (going upside down like in gymnastics, cheer, wrestling), the indoor recommendations are similar to last year in which the athletes need to wear masks unless it is an outdoor sport like skiing. Moore, and Governor Scott, acknowledged that these were recommendations only because there is no State of Emergency and the governor cannot impose mandates on the school districts as he did during the early part of the COVID pandemic in 2020.

​by Cathy Davis. President of the Lake Champlain Chamber In the past two months, I have heard about housing challenges almost as much as I’ve heard about staffing shortages. Of course, they’re related. If employees can’t find housing, they have to move to where they can find it.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) led a coalition of 40 bipartisan members in a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra, urging HHS to release Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds as quickly as possible and at the highest level available under the current continuing resolution.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College Online today announced findings from its survey, Adult Viewpoints 2021: The Cybersecurity Skills Gap and Barriers to Entry, which found that nearly 80% of American adults took action to protect themselves following recent cyber events and close to 30% of non-cyber workers were willing to consider a cyber career. The study highlighted an increased interest in cybersecurity and cybersecurity education, but it also brought to light barriers preventing potential cyber professionals from launching careers in the in-demand space that's ripe with job opportunities. The study revealed three distinct barriers — high expectations of prior training, lack of diversity and inclusion, and toxic work environments.

Vermont Business Magazine Open enrollment for 2022 health is here and analysts at QuoteWizard have found that the number of people without healthcare coverage in Vermont has declined by 79 percent since January to just 1 percent, according to the CDC's Household Pulse Survey. Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island have zero uninsured and Texas has the highest rate at 21 percent.

This gift to fund scholarships is the largest donation ever to The Curtis Fund

Vermont Business Magazine The Curtis Fund, a supporting organization of the Vermont Community Foundation, is honored to announce a $1.5 million gift from the estate of George and Mazy Preston. During their lives, the Preston’s were known around Burlington—George was the President of the former Bero’s Jewelry Company and Mazy taught art at both the University of Vermont and at Adams School. The George and Mazy Preston Gift, as the estate has named it, is the largest gift ever received by The Curtis Fund since it was created in 1910.

​Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center will host a job fair on Friday, October 29, from 1:00 – 5:00 pm at the McClure Gymnasium at 1138 Pine Street. With positions available in a wide range of departments including facilities, school programs, residential, long term supports and services, information management, crisis, and more, visitors will have the opportunity to talk with Howard Center’s experienced staff at the job fair and learn first-hand about our organization’s unique and rewarding career opportunities and how their skills and experience can benefit the people we serve.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s (SVHC) Medical Matters Weekly with Dr. Trey Dobson—a weekly interactive, multiplatform medical-themed talk show—has produced 37 episodes since February 2021. It’s season one finale, scheduled for October 27, will feature Pediatric Critical Care Physician Rebecca Bell, MD, MPH, of the University of Vermont (UVM) Children’s Hospital. The live show will air one day after a Food and Drug Administration meeting that is expected to recommend the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 – 11.

Vermont Business Magazine Everyone has a story and Peaceful Harvest Mushrooms is excited to share theirs. Karen and Brian Wiseman are redefining success on their humble homestead in Worcester, Vermont. In 2011, they left their careers and 401ks behind to embark on a new journey of showing up in the world, serving the community, and embracing the environment. The new video tells the story of how their path became clear, and they began combining a passion for growing mushrooms with their scientific expertise, to produce small-batch medicinal mushroom tinctures and powders.