Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, along with the Shrewsbury community and the Vermont Land Trust, are celebrating the conservation of their 100th Wildlife Management Area (WMA), coincidentally, in the 100th year of department WMA ownership and management in Vermont. On August 4th, the department established the new Wildlife Management Area, a 526.7-acre property in the Town of Shrewsbury. Originally settled in the late 1700s, the site was later purchased by the Town in 1870 to create a town farm to house the poor. The town farm was abandoned by 1903 and despite exchanging hands several times over the years, it has remained undeveloped, aside from the scattered stone walls and foundations that preserve the old town farm.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan has filed an amicus brief with the Vermont Supreme Court arguing that the Vermont Constitution protects all Vermonters accused of a crime in state court—even when the evidence leading to the charge was initially obtained by a federal officer. The brief, filed earlier this week in State v. Walker-Brazie, argues that a person charged with a crime in state court is entitled to the protection of the Vermont Constitution. At issue is the admissibility of evidence in state court that was obtained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers without consent to search the vehicle or a warrant based on probable cause—all required under Article 11 of the Vermont Constitution.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B Larson (D-CT) responded to new findings from a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study they commissioned which found that thousands of American die or go bankrupt waiting to receive their disability benefits each year.

by C.B. Hall, Vermont Business Magazine Neither Amtrak nor the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) as yet has any specific date for the resumption of the national passenger rail provider's service in Vermont. On March 26, as the COVID-19 pandemic gained momentum, Amtrak truncated service on the state's two trains, the New York-to-Rutland Ethan Allen Express and the Washington-to-St Albans Vermonter. Service on the Vermonter currently extends only as far north as New Haven, Conn., while the Ethan Allen comes no farther north than Rensselaer, New York, which serves Albany.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that the State of Vermont will distribute up to 300,000 cloth face coverings to the public, emergency responders and select agencies throughout the month of August. The State Emergency Operations Center procured the masks from those donated to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the US Department of Health and Human Services. Vermont's total population is about 626,000. As of August 1, face coverings are mandatory in all public places in Vermont. While wearing a mask is not a substitute for physical distancing and other mitigation measures, public health experts advise that masks help limit the spread of COVID-19 and should be worn in public when physical distancing is not possible.

Vermont Business Magazine Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, joined officials and community partners from Winooski and Burlington at a press conference Wednesday to mark the formal end of the state’s first significant outbreak and community spread of COVID-19. An outbreak is considered “resolved” following two full incubation periods (28 days total) with no new cases. The VDH also announced today that there were five new cases of COVID-19 statewide to go along with 11 yesterday for a total of 1,478.

Vermont Business Magazine While we only have preliminary, unofficial results, it would appear Vermont voters turned out to vote in record numbers, with well over 155,000 Vermonters exercising their right to vote on or before yesterday’s Primary Elections.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation, in partnership with area philanthropists, has announced almost $1 million in grants from the Main Street Business Relief Fund for Arlington, Dorset, and Manchester. Led by an anonymous donor’s $500,000 contribution and match challenge, community members stepped up to help regional businesses overcome financial challenges stemming from the pandemic.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Economists Jeff Carr on behalf of the Scott Administration and Tom Kavet on behalf of the Legislature presented their updated, consensus state revenue projections to the Emergency Board Wednesday afternoon via Zoom. The economists stated that while revenue expectations are higher than prior estimates, The bad news is nearly everything else going forward. The three major funds (General, Transportation and Education) are expected to generate about $274.5 million less (-11.2 percent) than anticipated.

Vermont Business Magazine In an effort to expand on existing programs that provide Vermonters with high-demand job skills, Community College of Vermont (CCV) is joining Amazon Web Services (AWS) Academy. AWS Academy provides higher education institutions with cloud computing curriculum that prepares students to pursue industry-recognized certifications and in-demand cloud jobs. One of these courses will be incorporated into “Special Topics: Fundamentals of Cloud Computing,” which will be offered online in fall 2020 and will prepare students to take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) today announced that the Legislature has approved funding to accelerate the completion of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT). As proposed in the Governor’s FY21 budget, the allocation totals $2.8 million, which will be matched by $11.3 million in federal funds, to complete construction of the trail by the summer of 2022.

“The LVRT will bring together some of our most rural communities while boosting local economies and improving quality of life for Vermonters and visitors,” said Governor Scott. “I appreciate the cooperation of the Legislature, our federal and local partners and VAST in getting us a step closer to making this long-time goal a reality.”