Current News

by John McClaughry It’s crunch time for the Climate Action Network’s most urgently sought legislation: the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA). The House passed this bill (H688) – that I earlier described as the “worst democracy-shredding bill of the past 50 years” – back in January.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Attorney General’s Office recognized on Monday World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. “Supporting and protecting older Vermonters is a priority for my office,” said Attorney General T.J. Donovan. “We encourage all Vermonters to share in this effort, particularly as so many older Vermonters remain isolated due to COVID-19.”

Vermont Business Magazine Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) is excited to announce that VP Marketing and Community Health Improvement Laural Ruggles has published “Frameworks for Community Impact - Community Case Study” in Frontiers in Public Health, a multidisciplinary open-access journal that publishes rigorously peer-reviewed research on June 2, 2020. The journal plays an important part in the work of academics, clinicians, policymakers and researchers worldwide.

Vermont Business Magazine Best Western Hotels & Resorts announces the opening of the Best Western Springfield Hotel, located at 818 Charlestown Road in Springfield, Vermont. Owned by Preferred Motors Inns of New England, the hotel recently completed a $1.2 million renovation and features 84 guest rooms and four suites.

Vermont Business Magazine Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, said today the Health Department continues to test residents and trace contacts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak that first emerged in Winooski. As of Sunday evening, a total of 83 cases are associated with the outbreak, about 60% are adults and 40% children. There have been no deaths associated with the outbreak. The one hospitalization reported last week was found to not be related to this outbreak. Pop-up test sites remains available in Winooski and Burlington through this week.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) Monday announced $4.1 million in renewal grants for three Head Start programs today — these grants represent the initial funds of a five year federal grant. The delegation also announced an additional $1.2 million in emergency federal funding from the federal stimulus bill known as the CARES Act, to support all seven Head Start programs throughout the state as they respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today signed an executive order to update and extend the State of Emergency in Vermont to July 15. The latest order reflects all current re-openings and eased restrictions, which have been underway since late April to account for the State’s low case counts and continued slow growth rate. The order allowed the governor to close down much of the economy in March and is now allowing him to reopen it in stages.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced actions on the following bills, passed by the Legislature. This includes H554, an act relating to approval of the dissolution of the Village of Perkinsville and the merger of the Village with the Town of Weathersfield.

​Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont President Suresh Garimella released guidance today to the UVM community outlining how the university will hold in-person education on campus this fall. This will include reducing student density in residence halls, wearing masks and other health requirements, and like many other colleges, the semester classes will end just before Thanksgiving.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today signed new legislation strengthening Vermont’s captive insurance laws, increasing efficiencies while adding flexibility to regulatory policy and procedures. This year’s bill again highlights the continued collaboration between Vermont’s executive and legislative branches to ensure the state’s captive law remains the industry benchmark.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) has released an updated version of the Annual Snapshot with additional indicators and updated data. This release coincides with the release of the 2019 Smarter Balanced assessment scores. The overall assessments by grade showed a mixed result in English, with some up and others down. The math scores, however, indicate a more downward trend.

Vermont Business Magazine BTV Ignite and Burlington Telecom announced that LaunchVT and ReSOURCE will be awarded grant funding to deliver programming to support workforce training and development with a focus on Burlington’s youth and disadvantaged communities.