Current News

Vermont Business Magazine A new analysis by Rewiring America shows that transitioning to 100% clean energy through electrification would save Vermont as much as $973 Million in energy costs each year while dramatically reducing economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions. The Rewiring America Report, “No Place Like Home: Vermont. Saving money and creating jobs by electrifying America’s households,” finds that savings would mean up to $3,603 ​per year​ in savings to each Vermont household’s energy bills.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott is seeking applicants for appointment to the new three-member Cannabis Control Board. All members will be appointed by the Governor after being vetted by the Cannabis Control Board Nominating Committee.

Vermont Business Magazine Despite the Vermont Department of Health reporting that statewide cases fell below 100 for the second straight day, the VDH reported that Vermont has exceeded more than 6,000 total cases. More importantly, there were five more deaths for a total of 105. The last two weeks have been the deadliest in Vermont since the beginning of the pandemic. Chittenden and Franklin counties have been particularly hard hit.

Vermont Department of Health Health Commissioner Mark Levine, M.D. said at last Friday’s press conference that it’s now been about two weeks since Thanksgiving, but so far, we have not seen a “surge on a surge” of COVID-19 cases. “None of our recent contact tracing efforts have revealed clusters of cases coming from this holiday,” Dr. Levine said. “We hope this means that Vermonters either avoided Thanksgiving gatherings or kept them small … and we truly appreciate that.” However, said Dr. Levine, “These numbers are not something we should develop a new comfort level around.”

Vermont Business Magazine In an emergency meeting of the Department of English at the University of Vermont on Tuesday, faculty endorsed the following statement and called for it to be released to the press and public: “The Department of English by unanimous vote has no confidence in the University of Vermont administration for its budget decisions that are gutting the College of Arts and Sciences. We call on Dean Bill Falls to resign as dean rather than continue to oversee cuts, layoffs, and closures.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) is reminding all farm operations that the annual winter manure spreading ban is underway. Beginning at 12:01 am today, December 16, and running until April 1, 2021, no manure or other agricultural wastes (including: compost and spoiled feed) may be spread on agricultural fields throughout Vermont. This annual ban is required by the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs), which is a part of VAAFM’s overall strategy to protect water quality, the working landscape, and natural resources.

University of Vermont Medical Center The University of Vermont Medical Center sent a letter today to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) reaffirming its compliance with federal laws that provide hospital employees the ability to reasonably opt-out of participating in medical procedures they oppose on religious or personal beliefs, which include reproductive care, sterilizations, blood transfusions, and others.

by Don Turner Consider this: Let’s say you live in the small town of Cambridge, VT, in rural Lamoille County. In Cambridge, you have one elected State Representative the voters send to the Vermont House of Representatives, and one elected State Senator to represent the county in the Vermont Senate. So, in total, Cambridge residents have two lawmakers representing them in Montpelier. But right across the town border is Underhill, in Chittenden County. In Underhill, residents have two elected State Representatives, and six elected State Senators. That’s a total of eight lawmakers representing Underhill.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that the COVID-19 State of Emergency has been extended to January 15, 2021. All previous addendums to the State of Emergency remain in place, including a temporary suspension of social gatherings and the cross-state travel map. The announcement comes as the first doses of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrive in Vermont. Initial doses will go to priority populations, including high-risk health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities

Vermont Business Magazine The day before the first person in Vermont received the first COVID-19 vaccine and gave hope that the pandemic can be suppressed, the state recorded its 100th death from COVID-19; the United States surpassed 300,000 deaths. For Vermont, the per capita death toll is actually higher than the US as a whole. The last two weeks have been the worst in Vermont since the beginning of the pandemic. Governor Scott also extended the State of Emergency another month to January 15, 2020, which was expected.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has signed an executive order creating the 250th Anniversary Commission to plan, coordinate and promote observances and activities that commemorate the historic events associated with the American Revolution in Vermont. The year 2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the formation of the United States of America. Vermonters played a significant role in the colonists’ assertion for independence from Great Britain, from the Green Mountain Boys successful assault at Fort Ticonderoga to the Battle of Hubbardton, and to the Battle of Bennington where Vermont troops helped defeat a British force to set up the victories that turned the war in favor of the new Americans.

by University of Vermont Provost and Senior Vice President Patricia Prelock On December 2, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Bill Falls announced a plan to phase out 12 of the college’s 56 majors, 11 of its 63 minors, and 4 of its 10 master’s degree programs. These difficult programmatic decisions were the result of careful thought and consultation over the last several years and were informed by both enrollment data and a holistic analysis of the college’s structure and offerings, and guided by a commitment to the future success of the College of Arts and Sciences.