Current News

by Jeff Tieman, Vermont Association of Hospitals & Health Systems What a week. Vermont’s hospitals have just completed their fiscal 2022 budget hearings before the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB). As I reflect on the hours of hearings—I observe every one of them—I am filled with both immense pride and continued concern for the well-being of our hospitals and the beleaguered Vermonters who keep them running 24/7/365.

by John R. Brumsted, MD, President and CEO, UVM Health Network Throughout the pandemic, we’ve worked together to protect each other and slow the spread of COVID-19. With cases and hospitalizations rising due to the highly contagious delta variant, if you haven’t yet been vaccinated, now is the time. We are starting to see the FDA give full approval to vaccines, once again demonstrating their safety and efficacy. If you’ve already been vaccinated, please be vigilant and watch for news on booster shots soon.

Senator Patrick Leahy Twenty years ago, the United States embarked on a military campaign to bring Osama bin Laden and those who carried out the September 11th terrorist attacks to justice. That mission was achieved a decade ago, yet we stayed in Afghanistan another decade in pursuit of the unrealistic and unachievable goal of turning Afghanistan into a unified, democratic society. It cost the lives of thousands of Americans and coalition supporters, and hundreds of thousands of Afghans, many, civilians.

Vermont Business Magazine This fall, Bennington College will welcome over 250 first-year students and 18 transfer students. This entering class will be the largest in the College’s history. Students reported that Bennington’s appeal stemmed from historical strengths of the College—including the self-directed academics of the Plan, annual Field Work Term internship opportunities, and access to world-class faculty mentors. Bennington has also been very successful at handling the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday, August 27, leaders from Southwestern Vermont Health Care gathered with donors, government representatives, and community leaders for a ceremonial groundbreaking in front of the hospital’s main entrance. The project is a component of the organization’s five-year strategic plan, called VISION2020. The Foundation Board, along with the VISION2020 Capital Campaign Steering Committee, has raised $20.7 million dollars toward the goal of $25 million.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Care Board meetings via Microsoft Teams begin September 1 with hospital budget deliberations. Presenters and Board Members will be participating remotely through Microsoft Teams tentatively through October 1, 2021. Members of the public can attend all meetings at the physical location 144 State St, Montpelier, VT 05602, through the Microsoft Teams application, or via the call-in number.

Vermont Business Magazine In support of Breastfeeding Month, today the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) held a virtual ceremony for its WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence winners in the Northeast Region, including the one in Bennington, Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Residents of five Central Vermont towns will soon see the first big step toward providing fast internet throughout CVFiber’s service district. Work crews will be conducting a comprehensive pole inventory that’s necessary in order to design a fiber network. The crews will collect more than 50 different kinds of data on every utility pole including precise latitude, longitude and GPS position, pole height and condition, available attachments and their exact heights. Workers will also take photographs to document each pole.

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday, August 19th the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) was alerted that a live ‘Spotted Lanternfly’ was captured on a shipment delivered in Rutland. Recognizing the insects as unusual, at the time of delivery the insects were either killed or captured, and one live sample was delivered to officials for identification. At this time, no other evidence of the insects has been discovered by responding Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) officials, or VAAFM staff.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Department of Corrections today is reporting 20 incarcerated individuals at Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport tested positive for COVID-19 in outbreak testing conducted August 27. One additional incarcerated individual tested positive from a test taken after they presented with symptoms. Seventeen of the 21 positive cases are in individuals who live in a general population unit where a currently COVID-positive staff member worked, and where four prior incarcerated positive cases were discovered.

Vermont State Police During the search for Erika Seyfried, members of the Vermont State Police Scuba Team located the body of a woman in the Saxtons River near the vacation home at 33 Gage St. in Westminster where she had been staying. Preliminary indications are that victim is Seyfried, and the death is accidental.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Demand for employees in a wide range of occupations remains high in Vermont, as in the rest of the country. Vermont’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.1 percent in June, well below the national average, and employers are offering higher than average wages, signing bonuses and other perks to assist with recruitment. To further assist businesses as they look to hire, the Vermont Department of Economic Development has launched the New Relocating Worker Grant, which is now open and accepting applications.