Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking hunters for help gathering biological data on the state’s deer population.  Hunters who get a deer during the November 15-30 regular deer season are asked to provide an incisor tooth from their deer. Tooth envelopes are available at all deer reporting stations. Biologists are collecting middle incisor teeth from all regular season bucks to evaluate regional differences in ages and antler characteristics as well as to help estimate population size, growth rate, health, and mortality rates.  Each tooth will be cross sectioned to accurately determine the deer’s age, and the results will be posted on the Fish and Wildlife website next spring. 

Vermont State Police Beginning in August 2025, Vermont State Police and DCF (Residential Licensing & Special Investigations) investigated a report of a foster parent (identified as Eugene Jennings) committing sexual acts upon multiple foster children while under his care.  The investigation determined that Eugene Jennings committed sexual assault upon a 14-year-old male in July or August of 2025, Lewd / Lascivious Conduct upon a 15-year-old male in August of 2025, and Lewd / Lascivious Conduct upon a male who was between 15-17 in 2023-2024. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Preservation Trust of Vermont, Vermont Council on Rural Development, and the Vermont Community Foundation have announced the second cohort of communities selected for the Village Trust Initiative (VTI). Now in its second year, VTI is a partnership supporting rural communities undertaking transformational revitalization projects in their historic villages. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.09 per gallon, unchanged from last week, 7 cents/g lower than last month and 3 cents/g lower than a year ago. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.65/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 64.0 cents per gallon. Prices were lowest in Bennington ($2.89/g) and Rutland ($2.96/g) counties and highest in Essex ($3.25/g), Lamoille ($3.18/g) and Grand Isle ($3.20/g). The national average price of gasoline has risen 5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.08/g today.

Vermont State Police On Aug. 11, 2025, the Vermont State Police in Royalton was contacted by the Tunbridge Fire Department regarding a possible embezzlement within the volunteer department. Investigation by the state police including a review of department financial records revealed that during a 10-year period from 2014 through 2025, $186,000 had been embezzled from the department. VSP’s investigation identified the suspect in the embezzlement as Jacqueline Higgins, who was hired by the Tunbridge Fire Department as a bookkeeper in 1994.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) is urging bicyclists, pedestrians, and all road users to stay safe during the earlier dark evenings after the end of Daylight Savings Time. Bicyclists and pedestrians should take extra precautions when biking or walking on roadways just before, during, and after dark when motorists may not be able to see them well or from a distance. Bright and/or reflective clothing is strongly recommended for pedestrians and bicyclists, and the use of a light that meets specific safety criteria when biking after dark is Vermont state law. 

Vermont Business Magazine Around 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, will take to the Senate floor and urge his colleagues to pass his resolution to extend funding for Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits by three years. The Senator’s legislation would also extend the ongoing Open Enrollment season to May 1, 2026.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Treasurer Mike Pieciak announced the hiring of Sue Minter as a Climate Superfund Specialist. Minter served as the State’s Chief Recovery Officer following Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. She is well-acquainted with the statewide impacts of climate disasters and confronted the impacts of climate change as the Executive Director of Capstone Community Action in Barre, which was ground zero for the extreme flooding of 2023 and 2024. 

Vermont Business Magazine As the year comes to a close, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is seeking annual reports on surface water withdrawals. Under Act 135 of 2022, any person withdrawing surface water must file an annual report with DEC by January 15, 2026. The purpose of Act 135 is to collect baseline data on the use of surface waters such as rivers, streams, brooks, creeks, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Anyone who withdraws 10,000 gallons or more of surface water within 24 hours – or 150,000 gallons or more over 30 days – is required to fill out an online form to register and report their withdrawal.

Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships On Monday, November 10, we’ll celebrate our second birthday with cake and friends. Reflecting back, we’re grateful for the partnerships that have come together with Leahy Institute support to do good things for our state. With $4 million deployed across 29 community-based research projects, UVM is lending its expertise, working together with local leaders and organizations, and improving the vitality of our rural places. Looking forward, we are intent on supporting deep, reciprocal partnerships and on making lasting impacts in Vermont communities with our partners.  

Vermont Business Magazine NBT Bank has promoted Rob Roy to Regional Commercial Banking Manager and welcomed Jameson Roberts as Vice President, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager in Vermont. Roy earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing from the University of Vermont. He is also a graduate of the New England School of Banking at Williams College. Active in his community, Roy serves on the finance committees of the St. Francis Xavier School and Parish. Roberts has more than 10 years of banking experience and is responsible for new business development and management of a loan portfolio, along with maintaining and building customer relationships. Based at NBT Bank’s Vermont Regional Office in Burlington, Roberts recently returned to NBT. He first worked for the bank from 2019 to 2023 as a Commercial Banking Relationship Manager.

Vermont Business Magazine Teucrium Trading, LLC, based in Burlington, VT, and the sponsor of Teucrium Wheat Fund (“WEAT”), announced Tuesday that it will execute a one-for-five reverse share split that will be effective for holders of WEAT shares at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 24, 2025. Shares of WEAT will trade at their post-split prices on November 25, 2025. WEAT’s ticker symbol, “WEAT,” and shares of WEAT will continue to trade on the NYSE Arca, under a new CUSIP number: 88166A870. The reverse share split will reduce the number of WEAT’s shares outstanding and will result in a proportionate increase in the net asset value per share (“NAV”) of WEAT. As a result of the reverse share split, WEAT’s shareholders on November 25, 2025, will receive one post-split share of WEAT for every five pre-split shares of WEAT they hold.