Current News

Vermont Business Magazine VDH updated an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in the Killington area tied to a private party. There are now 17 cases associated with the outbreak, including 11 people who attended the event and six from subsequent transmission, Kelso said. Two of the new cases reported yesterday had already been identified as close contacts, and were in quarantine, preventing further spread. VDH contact tracers have reached 34 of the 49 guests who attended the event. Fifteen of them were out of state residents, and their respective state health departments were notified. Also, the state updated case forecasting and noted Vermont's continuing good news, with the lowest case count in the nation and no deaths since July. But Governor Scott urged citizens to stay vigilant, especially as schools will open on Tuesday.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Chyquan Cupe, aka “Cash,” was sentenced yesterday to nine years of imprisonment for possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities and being the leader of a drug trafficking conspiracy which distributed cocaine base, heroin, and fentanyl in the Brattleboro area.

Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford also sentenced Cupe to a 4-year term of supervised release to follow his imprisonment.

Vermont Business Magazine Lighting innovator Verilux from Waitsfield has been sold and is closing its headquarters. Bear Down Brands, LLC, a California-based developer of premium home, health, and wellness products, announced it had acquired Verilux at the end of June. Financial terms were not disclosed. For more than 50 years, the Vermont-based Verilux has created innovative lighting products that simulate natural light indoors for reading and seasonal light therapy. In recent years, they have expanded into UV-C light technology to help consumers safely sanitize high-touch surfaces without chemicals.

Catherine Miley, Senior Customer Happiness Specialist, told VBM this week that, "We never manufactured in Vermont; our corporate office was located in Waitsfield. We've closed that office but still plan to carry the Verilux name on strong and proud."

Vermont Business Magazine The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) is pleased to announce the commitment of three years of funding from longtime funder, partner, and supporter Siegel Family Endowment (SFE). The grant totals $2.8 million over the next three years, and targets programs and work that will help the organization scale its efforts to bring digital economy jobs to small town America and close the rural opportunity gap.

Vermont Business Magazine Deputy Secretary of Administration Brad Ferland announced his retirement effective October 30 after 31 years of service to Vermonters. As Chief of Operations, Kristin Clouser has assumed many of Ferland’s duties to allow him to focus on COVID-19 matters, including state procurement and contracts, risk management, insurance, and day to day operational oversight.

Vermont Business Magazine Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, sought to debunk a misleading claim that “only 6%” of the reported COVID-19 deaths in the US are solely attributable to the new coronavirus. This misleading claim stems from an August 26 update the Centers for Disease Control posted on its website, which provides a detailed breakdown of the accompanying health conditions and contributing causes of death reported in people who have died of the new coronavirus in the United States. Also, the VDH is reporting seven new cases of CVODI-19 and no deaths, which are holding for several weeks at 58.

Vermont Business Magazine A lack of a coordinated statewide approach to safely reopening schools has left districts – as well as parents, school employees, and students – largely on their own, resulting in an overall grade of D+, according to the state’s largest union. The Vermont NEA represents most of the state's teachers. The NEA does not oppose opening of schools on September 8, but is urging the state to make important changes, including putting a nurse in every school and ensuring uniform safety protocols. NEA further regrets the state did not implement a single plan for the entire state.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today announced the recent arraignments of two men for child pornography-related charges. In both cases, the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC) received CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating that users in Vermont had utilized the social media website Tumblr to upload electronic files containing child pornography. VT-ICAC subsequently identified Mr. Cline and Mr. Williams after executing online and residential search warrants.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) recently approved the addition of ten counties to New England Federal Credit Union’s (NEFCU) field of membership. The expansion allows NEFCU to offer its services to anyone who lives, works, worships, studies, or regularly conducts business in the area. The rural district increases NEFCU’s field of membership by 650,000 potential members, an increase of approximately 15% current potential membership.

Vermont Business Magazine Gasoline prices this Labor Day are set to be the lowest since 2004 according to GasBuddy, the travel and navigation app used by more North American drivers to save money on gas. The company predicts a national average of $2.19 per gallon, down nearly 37 cents from last year and the lowest priced Labor Day since 2004’s $1.82 per gallon average. Vermont's average today is $2.17.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is alerting customers and drivers that they may spot helicopter line crews along sub-transmission lines visible from Interstate 89 in the Richmond/Bolton area this weekend. The work is scheduled to take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Helicopter line crews will be installing spacers between lines to increase reliability, especially during the winter when ice can build up on lines. The improvements will help customers from Middlesex north and west into Essex. This work is scheduled to take place without outages needed.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims edge up slightly last week but continue to be relatively flat in Vermont. There are about 40,000 Vermonters still receiving either regular or pandemic unemployment benefits. After a spike of claims at the beginning of the pandemic, followed by a steep decline as the economy began to reopen in April, initial unemployment claims fell consistently since the beginning of July before flattening over the last few weeks. For the week ending August 29, 2020, the Labor Department processed 749 Initial Claims, up 63 from the previous week and 544 more than the same time last year. Summer typically produces the lowest UI numbers. Comparing the data to the same time last year probably provides the best insight to current conditions.