Current News

Vermont Business Magazine State Epidemiologist Patsy Kelso discussed two cases associated with Union Elementary School in Montpelier. “The fact that this is the state’s first in-school transmission does not mean an escalation of the virus,” Kelso said. “It means that someone who was infectious transmitted it to someone — just this time, inside a school, rather than a workplace, a long-term care facility, or other setting.” This is separate from an outbreak related to teams associated with the hockey rink in Montpelier.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that a federal grand jury returned an indictment on October 15, 2020, charging five individuals with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in and around Addison County, Vermont between November 2019 and October 2020. Kevin Williams, 31, is the lead defendant.

According to the criminal complaint filed earlier in the case, Williams—who is also known as “Taco”— supervised the transportation of controlled substances from his home city of Paterson, New Jersey to locations in Vermont for distribution, including New Haven and Cornwall.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell under 600 and are at their lowest levels since the first week of March. The last time claims were under 600 was on March 7 when there were 446.

​Vermont Business Magazine Castleton University's Spring 2021 semester will feature an adjusted schedule and more options for students to receive their courses. Castleton will offer some in-person classes, as well as remote or hybrid, after going online-only in the current semester, even while students were allowed to live on campus. The spring semester will begin February 1.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) launched two new Vermont COVID-19 Agriculture Assistance Program (VCAAP) applications to address COVID-19 pandemic impacts on our agricultural communities. One makes up to $140,000 available to Vermont’s Farmers’ Market organizations, and the other creates an avenue for schools and licensed childcare providers to access $100,000 in assistance for their Farm to School programs.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $300,000 in grants awarded to the New Haven Ecology Project, the University of Rhode Island, and the Vermont Energy Education Program as part of EPA’s Environmental Education Grant Program. These three New England grants were among 35 grants awarded nationally under the 2020 Environmental Education Grants Program.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) New England Regional office today confirmed that New Englanders experienced a decrease number of unhealthy air quality days this past summer, compared to 2019. Vermont had none, again. Based on preliminary data collected between March and September 2020, there were 18 days when ozone monitors in New England recorded ozone concentrations above levels considered healthy. By contrast, in 2019 there were 23 unhealthy ozone days in New England.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of COVID-19 cases among members of youth and adult recreational hockey and Broomball teams in central Vermont. The outbreak is associated with people who practiced or played at the Central Vermont Memorial Civic Center in Montpelier earlier this month. Health officials said there has been no community spread of the virus beyond close contacts at this time.

Vermont Business Magazine Last week, the Agency of Commerce & Community Development provided new guidance on increasing gatherings indoors under very specific conditions. Indoor businesses/spaces that exceed 17,100 feet, have 10-foot ceilings or more, have no full walls interrupting the space, and have physical distancing plans in effect to prevent people from being within 6’ of each other, may have up to 150 people in the same space.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported 14 new cases of COVID-19 as the state pushes over 1,900 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic. They also said Halloween may look a little different this year, but we can still find ways to celebrate safely. Please be sure to stay home if you or anyone in your family is sick. Making these three things a part of your Halloween plans will make everyone safer: Keep six feet, avoid crowds and ... wear a mask.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that the State of Emergency has been extended to November 15, 2020 to ensure the state can continue to suppress the spread of COVID-19. The governor declared a State of Emergency on March 13, 2020. While he has extended it month-by-month since then, Scott has made it clear that he will continue to extend it as long as the pandemic persists, which will likely last into next year.

The executive order has been extended with no additional changes and can be viewed at https://governor.vermont.gov/content/addendum-6-amended-and-restated-executive-order-01-20.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Public Radio and Seven Days have won a 2020 National Edward R. Murrow award for their 2019 series “Worse For Care,” a joint investigation into Vermont’s assisted living and residential care homes for the elderly. The award for Investigative Reporting in the Small Market Radio Division was presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association on October 10.