Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Representative Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ-09) Tuesday reintroduced the Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act of 2021, their bill to modernize the capabilities of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to trace crime guns. After a firearm associated with a crime is discovered somewhere in the United States, federal, state or local law enforcement officials contact ATF, which then must recreate the chain of custody of the firearm. But ATF is prohibited by law from electronically searching millions of gun sales records already in its possession.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, dealerships and consumers are more dependent on digital than ever. To succeed in this new era of car buying, dealerships must personalize each customer's path to purchase and cater to their diverse needs at all touchpoints—especially those taking place online. Backed by industry-leading consumer insights, Dealer.com is constantly focusing on total user experience, with technologies and tools that give their clients an advantage in a very competitive automotive retail landscape.

Vermont Business Magazine National Life will host a Covid-19 vaccination clinic this week, which will be free and open to the public, in support of Gov. Phil Scott’s commitment to getting more than 80 percent of the eligible population vaccinated for at least the first time. The clinic will take place inside the company’s cafeteria at 1 National Life Drive on Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The state Agency of Human Services and the Vermont National Guard are organizing all of the details.

Vermont State Police On May 25, 2021 at approximately 0300 hours, the Corinth Fire Department responded to a report of a residential fire at 642 Camp Munn Road, Corinth, VT. Upon arrival the residence was observed to be fully involved, and it was learned from two of the residents that there was one occupant still inside. Due to the intensity and size of the fire, members of the fire department were unable to enter the residence. When the fire was extinguished, the unaccounted-for occupant was found deceased inside the residence.

Members of the Vermont State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit conducted an investigation into the cause and origin of the fire and determined that the fire was not suspicious in nature. The fire started on the front porch in the area of a can used for discarded smoking materials.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has signed a proclamation designating today, May 25, 2021, as George Floyd Remembrance Day in Vermont. With the proclamation, he issued the following statement: “One year ago today, George Floyd, an African American man, was murdered by a police officer. His death under the knee of someone charged with protecting all citizens, and caught on video for all to see, was a terrible tragedy – one that sparked grief and outrage around the country. Importantly, it also inspired a national reckoning on racial justice and equity and the role we all play to address these issues, as well as reforms to modernize law enforcement and address racism across government systems."

Vermont Business Magazine Darn Tough Vermont and the Vermont Foodbank are helping ensure kids in their home state remain food secure in the coming season. Many that benefit from free or reduced meals during the school year often see that access change during the summer months. The company is donating 100% of its May 19 profit from online sales to the Vermont Foodbank, resulting in 39,230 meals contributed.

Vermont Business Magazine Kinney Drugs, a leading pharmacy chain in New York and Vermont, is now vaccinating people ages 12+ in all its pharmacies. In addition, the 100% employee-owned company will help make six lucky winners’ post-COVID dreams come true with its new #VAXtoIT contest. People age 18+ can now visit www.KinneyContest.com to share an activity they can’t wait to get back to doing after COVID. Whether someone wants to rent a boat, buy concert tickets, or treat friends and family to a big game, race, or summer getaway, Kinney Drugs wants to help six lucky winners get #VAXtoIT!

Vermont Business Magazine Black women under the age of 24 are more likely to experience severe childbirth complications than white women over the age of 35 – an age group usually considered high risk, according to new data from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA). Data shows the rates of childbirth complications have been increasing for women of color. In the last two years, the rate of Hispanic women with severe childbirth complications increased 19 percent.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Technical College hosted its first of two commencement ceremonies this weekend. The event was a virtual celebration broadcast as a Premier event on the college's YouTube channel, where it is still available for viewing. Vermont Tech conferred certificates and degrees for 437 students from 36 programs. The Practical Nursing (PN) students, whose semester ends in June, will celebrate with a virtual commencement ceremony on June 19.

Vermont Business Magazine As a way to give back to the team that has gone a long way to help in the treatment of his Type I Diabetes, Northfield resident Brad Johnson and his wife Emily Levan, will be running more than 210 miles along VT RT 100 to raise money for Gifford Health Care’s diabetes clinic at the Kingwood Health Center in Randolph. Their hope is the contributions of others will help fund access to the same medical equipment that is enabling Brad to take on such a challenge as this.

Vermont Business Magazine The one-day Dunkin’ event in Vermont and northern New York that has raised more than $70,000 for The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital is set for Wednesday, May 26.

Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Day will donate $1 for every Iced Coffee and Cold Brew sold on May 26 to The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital (UVMCH), a full-service children’s hospital serving thousands of families from throughout Vermont and northern New York every year.

The Iced Coffee Day fundraiser began in 2015 and has been the largest source of support from local Dunkin’ franchisees to UVMCH.

by Devon Green, VAHHS Vice President of Government Relations …and, that’s a wrap! Despite its unprecedented nature, this session ended much like other sessions in the past—slowly, and then all at once. Legislators may come back in June to address the Governor’s veto of S.107, a bill concerning the confidentiality of certain juvenile records, and legislative leaders have reserved the right to bring back legislators in October. Otherwise, the next time we see the full legislative body, we will see actual bodies, real people instead of Zoom squares, as the legislature prepares to meet in person for the 2022 session.