Current News

Leonine Public Affairs House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, announced on Friday the decision to table a proposal to address the unfunded liability in the state pension system. The proposal, which was being considered in the House Government Operations committee, included a one-time state investment of $150 million and reduced benefits and raised costs for teachers and public employees paying into the fund. With increasing concern among Democratic lawmakers in the House, and signals the Senate would not support the draft plan, Krowinski opted to shelve the proposal and create a task force of stakeholders to develop options for a path forward. Krowinski said on Friday the House would still consider legislation to revamp the pension system’s governance structure to better oversee the fund and improve returns.

Vermont Business Magazine Saint Michael’s College psychology professor Ari Kirshenbaum has been using a $224,000 National Science Foundation grant he received in September 2020 to develop a mobile app that measures the effects of cannabis on a user’s neurocognitive functions: things like reaction time, time perception and concentration, which are all affected by THC. The free app called “Indicator,” which uses artificial intelligence for advanced data analytics, will be publicly available this month for home users of cannabis with iOS (Apple iPhone) devices (Android coming soon).

Vermont Business Magazine Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, said at Friday’s press conference that although he is optimistic for the future, “when it comes to the present, frankly, I am very concerned.” Cases continue to rise among younger Vermont adults, especially in the 18-24 range. The VDH reported today another 201 cases of COVID-19. There was one more death for 228 total statewide. However, Levine noted that those who are most vulnerable have now been vaccinated. Those 40 and older can sign up Monday.

Vermont Business Magazine Safely delivering needed care has always been at the core of the UVM Health Network’s mission. That has never been more important than now – and we urge patients to seek the care they need. Delayed or avoided medical care could increase the chances of long-term health problems associated with both chronic and acute health conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has named 12 members to the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Vermont Agriculture. The commission will study and strategize how best to grow agriculture in the Green Mountain State.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Treasurer Beth Pearce both expressed their disappointment that Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski on Friday morning tabled a pension reform plan that she brought forward in March. Her plan was met with a negative response from both the state employees and teachers unions, which would be directly effected, as well as from the Progressive Caucus in the Legislature and others.

Vermont Business Magazine Earlier this morning, House Speaker Jill Krowinski was joined by members of the Democratic Caucus at a press conference and provided the remarks below regarding the effort to stabilize the public pension system. The Speaker had presented a plan to address the $5.7 billion unfunded retirement liabilities in the pension and retirement plans for unionized state employees and teachers. However, she announced today she would not move forward with that plan and instead set up a task force to address the matter. The unions and the Progressive caucus in the Legislature opposed the plan.

by Matt Dunne Rural recovery can happen. That’s the message I’m taking away from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. We’ve yet to emerge from this pandemic, and there remains all too much hardship. But we now have more than just glimmers of hope. We have real, actionable measures that will help rural America get back on its feet, and stand even stronger in the future.

Vermont Business Magazine Tilson, a national network development and information infrastructure professional services firm, is deploying a fiber to the premise (FTTP) network to bring Tilson Broadband’s fiber optic internet service to the towns of Danville, Lunenburg, and St Johnsbury, Vermont. With a regional office in downtown St Johnsbury, Tilson Broadband customers in the three new locations will benefit from fiber internet speeds ranging from 500 Mbps to up to 10 Gbps, no data caps, and better reliability in harsh New England weather.

Vermont Business Magazine If your home or apartment building was built before 1978, chances are lead paint was used on exterior and interior surfaces. Opening and closing windows and doors or using a power sander can create enough lead dust to poison a child, and children under age 6 are especially at risk. Hundreds of Vermont children are identified each year with too much lead in their blood, which can cause learning and behavior problems and impair hearing.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott on Thursday announced that he has appointed 168 Vermonters to State boards and commissions since January 1. Boards and commissions serve an important role in our government, giving Vermonters numerous opportunities to serve their state and communities. The Governor’s Office is currently soliciting applications to fill vacancies and upcoming term expirations. All those interested in serving on a board or commission should visit the Governor’s website at governor.vermont.gov/boards-commissions to apply.

Vermont Business Magazine Imaging Technologists at Vermont’s largest Hospital, the University of Vermont Medical Center, voted overwhelmingly to join the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals-AFT-Vermont. The final vote count was 123-32 in favor of unionizing. The 230 technologists include sonographers, cardiac technicians, interventional radiologists, and technologists working within CT Scan, MRI, Diagnostic Xray, Nuclear Medicine, and Mammography. This group joins the other 2,400 nurses and technicians currently members of the VFNHP-AFT Vermont, the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in the state.