Current News

by Ethan Tapper Forests are complex, intricate and nuanced, and also massive, expansive and interconnected. To be responsible forest stewards we need to both zoom-out to understand our role in a giant landscape, and zoom-in to recognize the tiny pieces and parts that make forests work. We must (somehow) hold both of these realities in focus as we take care of our forests.

by Peter Sterling A recent piece by anti-renewable energy crusader Annette Smith asks, “Is Electrifying Everything a Climate Solution?” For those of us concerned about the changing climate’s increasing number of floods, wildfires, hurricanes and record-breaking temperatures the answer is YES! I can agree with Ms. Smith that “solutions cannot be all about technology and buying more stuff.” Reductions in overall energy use are key to solving the climate crisis. But continued energy use for transportation and heating and cooling our homes is inevitable.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders Wednesday issued the following statement after the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives failed to include a critical provision allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices during a markup of reconciliation legislation.

Vermont Business Magazine UVM Medical Center today announced that Marissa Coleman, PsyD, has accepted the position as the organization’s first Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). A psychologist at UVM Medical Center since 2018 and a daughter of a Jamaican immigrant, Coleman has served as Senior DEI Advisor for the past year, and will begin in her new role on September 20. In addition to serving in this leadership role, she will continue to see a limited number of patients and supervise pre-doctoral psychology residents.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Wednesday reported 136 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death, which now stand at 292 statewide. There are 39 people hospitalized (down 4 from yesterday) and 10 in the ICU. State officials are urging local school districts to their guidance in order to keep kids in school, with mask wearing and an increased level of surveillance testing and contact tracing.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Donovan today joined 24 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) challenge to Texas’ new unconstitutional six-week ban on abortions. The brief specifically supports DOJ’s motion for a preliminary injunction of the law, which went into effect earlier this month.

by Erin Sigrist This week is National Small Business Week! Even though we are fortunate in Vermont to hold small businesses in high esteem most every day, I believe this year it’s even more important to shine a light on these businesses and celebrate their hard work to sustain Vermonters throughout this pandemic. After all, some were shut down for 14 to 18 months. As a result, some have been forced to alter their operations and sadly we have lost some to permanent shut down. Those that remain today continue to find great challenge in hiring staff to operate the business to meet customer expectations, and yet other businesses have grown and expanded. How? Creativity. Grit. Forced Innovation.

Vermont Business Magazine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling and Vermont State Police Director Col. Matthew T Birmingham are pleased to announce the hiring of the first director of mental health programs for the department. Mourning Fox, who has more than 25 years of experience in the mental-health field, including over four years as deputy commissioner of the Vermont Department of Mental Health, will help coordinate and oversee efforts at the 10 state police barracks throughout Vermont regarding the delivery of mental health services to people who come into contact with VSP.

Vermont Business Magazine On September 9, 2021, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced major enhancements to the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Also, The SBA Vermont District Office hosts a free webinar at 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays about changes made to the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan. Topics include the increase from $500,000 to $2 million, deferred payments, expansion of eligible use of funds and more.

Vermont Business Magazine Donna Austin-Hawley is the new president of the United Way of Northwest Vermont board of directors. Austin-Hawley assumed her new responsibilities on Tuesday, replacing Chris Lyon, who is stepping down after six years on the board, one as chair. Lyon, a longtime executive at Seventh Generation, has accepted a new professional position in Maine.

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont President Suresh Garimella today announced that he intends to continue helping students and families by proposing that tuition remain frozen at the same amount for a fourth consecutive year. Garimella’s 2022-23 budget also proposes that the undergraduate student comprehensive fee remain frozen and that the graduate student comprehensive fee be reduced by $250. Room and board charges will remain flat for the third consecutive year under the plan. Room and board costs had been rising an average of 3.2% before Garimella froze them two years ago.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Art Council has announced the recipients of the 2021 Vermont Arts Awards recognizing outstanding individual and organizational contributions to the arts. Awards honor educators, artists, performers, advocates, administrators, volunteers, and scholars. Vermonters will be recognized for their contributions in five categories.