Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Scott has appointed Wendy Knight of Panton to serve a four-year term on the Vermont Commission on Women (VCW), the state’s non-partisan commission working to advance rights and opportunities for women and girls. Commissioner Knight is a communications and marketing executive with over 20 years of government, corporate and entrepreneurial experience in advertising and marketing, food and beverage, healthcare, media, non-profit, and the publishing industries.

The Stern Center for Language and Learning The Stern Center’s visionary founder Dr Blanche Podhajski is retiring after a pioneering 50-year career in the field of education and 38 years at the helm of the Stern Center for Language and Learning. Over 200 people celebrated her extraordinary accomplishments virtually, on February 14, Valentine’s Day, one of her favorite days of the year.

Vermont Business Magazine The Honorable Christina E Nolan, US Attorney for Vermont, has announced she will tender her resignation, effective February 28, 2021. US Attorney Nolan assumed the position on November 27, 2017, following the bipartisan recommendation of Senator Patrick Leahy and Governor Phil Scott; the President’s nomination; and unanimous confirmation by the US Senate.

US Attorney Nolan stated: “I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity for the last 11 years to work for Vermonters in the fight for justice with the talented and good people of the US Attorney’s Office – its criminal and civil Assistant US Attorneys, administrative staff, and support staff – and to have led this outstanding group since November 2017.

Together, we secured justice, promoted public safety, and vindicated victims’ rights on behalf of Vermonters and the American people.

Vermont Department of Health At 8:15 this morning, scheduling for the 70 and older age group for COVID-19 vaccination opened. In just the first 15 minutes the Health Department received more than 7,000 calls from people making appointments to be vaccinated. People may experience long wait time (and some are getting all circuits are busy) as the call center works full bore to schedule appointments. Given this call volume, the Department suggests people go online at healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine to make their appointments, and thanks callers for their patience. Everyone will get scheduled and there are enough appointments for all.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) today announced that it has launched the use of new devices that will enable people who are deaf or hard of hearing to communicate easily and effectively with staff at all DMV locations.

Vermont Business Magazine US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program (SFHDLP) extends the foreclosure and eviction moratorium for SFHDLP borrowers through June 30, 2021. The moratorium applies to: Initiation of foreclosures or completion of foreclosures in process, excluding vacant and abandoned properties; Evictions of borrowers from properties financed with a USDA direct home loan.

Vermont Business Magazine The staff at the Champlain Valley Exposition are busy operating as if the 2021 Champlain Valley Fair will occur in late August. The safety of our fairgoers, volunteers and staff is paramount. If the 99th Champlain Valley Fair does occur, all state, federal, and CDC guidelines will be followed. However, they are announcing the postponement of the Darius Rucker concert. We are actively trying to rebook him for 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Medical Center is rescheduling Tuesday's COVID-19 vaccination appointments at the Champlain Valley Expo due to the winter storm that is forecasted to impact our region Monday evening through Tuesday.

Partners in Justice Fundraising Contest for Vermont Bar Foundation’s Access to Justice a Huge Success

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Bar Foundation ended its most successful Access to Justice campaign in terms of dollars and donors in February, 2021. The campaign got a boost this year by its inaugural Partners in Justice contest. The contest came about as a way to have some good-natured fun by having law firms compete against each to see which firm could raise the most money and which could have the highest percent of staff giving.

by Devon Green, VAHHS Vice President of Government Relations The House Health Care Committee came to consensus to extend the current coverage and reimbursement of audio-only telehealth until January 1, 2025. This means that an audio-only office visit will be covered and reimbursed in the same way as an inpatient office visit after the patient provides proper informed consent.

Vermont Business Magazine The LoveYourBrain Foundation, the leading nonprofit organization supporting people affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI) through mindfulness, yoga, and education, will host a worldwide MindfulMarch Meditation Challenge taking place during Brain Injury Awareness month. Each March, LoveYourBrain hosts a month-long Meditation Challenge - MindfulMarch - to raise awareness about brain injury and LoveYourBrain’s programs for people affected by TBI (including concussion). Meditation offers benefits for brain injury healing, and can help anyone reduce stress and increase resilience.

Vermont Business Magazine With overdoses on the rise, a pandemic keeping people in isolation and winter weather afoot, the Drug Abuse Prevention Team (DART) has partnered with Vermont CARES to offer community members a live interactive, online event to learn more about opioid overdose, fentanyl, and naloxone. In this online event, participants will learn how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose, reduce overdose risks and hear from the people who have lived to tell their stories of loss and recovery.