Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported today that there were five more cases of COVID-19 statewide for a total of 932. There were no deaths, marking a full week since the last reported death. The VDH has announced that anyone who lives or works in Vermont and does not have symptoms of COVID-19 can be tested for the virus at pop-up testing sites around the state. They encourage health care workers, first responders, child care providers, and people returning to Vermont – such as college students, people who winter out of state and second home owners – to consider being tested. The sites are led by Health Department teams, with support from EMS units and members of the Vermont National Guard. You must register before hand and time slots fill up quickly.

by Jack Hoffman, Public Assets Institute Vermont’s April revenue collections highlight the absurdity of federal rules restricting the use of the Coronavirus Relief Fund—the $150 billion that Congress appropriated in the CARES Act to help the states. The state’s personal income tax receipts dropped by two-thirds last month. Instead of taking in $184 million, as forecast, the tax department received $63 million. But according to the latest guidance Vermont can’t use its federal relief funds to close that gap—to pay for the programs and services that would have been covered by the $121 million the state didn’t collect.

Vermont State Police In April 2018, Manchester Police Department Chief Michael Hall contacted the Vermont State Police regarding an incident that had occurred in May 2017. Chief Hall reported that an amount of U.S. currency, over $2000.00, had been seized during a police investigation in 2017. This currency had been logged into the Manchester Police Department as evidence at the time of the investigation. In March 2018, it was discovered that the currency was missing from the Manchester PD evidence room.

Chief Hall contacted the Vermont State Police and requested an investigation into the matter be conducted. Manchester Police Officer Daniel Steere had been temporarily assigned as the department evidence custodian during the time that the money was believed to have gone missing.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Layoffs, furloughs and business closures due to the COVID-19 economic downturn and Governor Scott's emergency order and the subsequent "Stay Home, Stay Safe" guidance have resulted in a rush of unemployment insurance claims. But as Scott has allowed more sectors to get back to work, ongoing claims have now decreased five consecutive weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine LaunchVT has selected the seven Vermont startups that will be participating in its 2020 Accelerator. This is the eighth cohort of startups to come through LaunchVT’s acceleration program. Over the past seven years, LaunchVT has provided business development support, strategic coaching, and over $700,000 in cash and services to accelerate 51 Vermont startups.

Vermont Business Magazine On Saturday, May 16, 2020, the Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) will reopen the Essex Drop-Off Center (DOC) with new limits on materials and quantities, new flat fees, and new hours of operation. The Essex location joins the Williston DOC as the second CSWD facility to reopen. All other CSWD Drop-Off Centers remain closed until further notice.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D), co-chair of the Congressional Dairy Farmer Caucus, on Wednesday led a letter to Secretary Sonny Perdue urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to do more to support dairy farmers facing an economic crisis due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Leahy is Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the most senior member of the Agriculture Committee.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement today regarding this week's coronavirus relief legislation developed by House Democrats: "In my view, however, the Senate must improve this legislation if we are to adequately address the two most urgent needs facing working families right now: health care and economic security..."

Agency of Commerce & Community Development ACCD has released updated guidance for non-essential retail and drive-in operations. This guidance, developed with the Department of Health and Department of Public Safety, goes into effect May 18, 2020 and includes reopening retail operations in a limited capacity with mandatory health and safety requirements. The Agency has provided new signage for retailers to post.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation announces that the North Hero – Grand Isle drawbridge replacement project on US Route 2 has resumed construction and the temporary drawbridge will be operational tomorrow. Mariners will be able to travel through this area daily until October 15, 2020. New channel restrictions will be in place May 18 through June 12. The channel will be restricted to a 20-foot width between openings from 7 AM until 6 PM. These restrictions will enable the contractor to complete channel interfering work, and they also provide for the safety of all waterway users and construction workers. All mariners must pass with extreme caution and NO WAKE.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police is investigating a bias-related incident that occurred late last week in Hartford during which a man was harassed and threatened regarding his family’s presence in Vermont. The state police received a report of a hate/bias-motivated incident from the victim’s family at noon Friday, May 8, 2020. The victim reported that at about 10 am that day, he was driving near his residence in Hartford in his vehicle, which has New York registration plates, when two unknown vehicles, possibly pickup trucks, approached him and flagged him down. The victim, thinking someone needed assistance, stopped and spoke with a white male. The victim, who is black, was advised that he was not wanted in Vermont and told to leave.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan Wednesday joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenging its policy under which the EPA “will not” enforce bedrock monitoring and reporting obligations under a wide range of federal environmental laws due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.