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Leonine Public Affairs Another point of tension percolating between the administration and legislature is the authority to spend the $1.25 billion in emergency federal stimulus the state is receiving. The legislative committees have discussed how they can play a role in determining how the money is spent. It is not yet clear how this will play out. The executive branch has broad authority to spend money during a state of emergency. That said, $1.25 billion is a much larger amount than has historically been injected all at once into state coffers.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard resort in Eastern North America and a POWDR company, has announced a Community Grocery Giveaway happening on Tuesday, April 21 from 11 am to 1 pm. The giveaway is part of Killington Resort’s Play Forever commitment to protect the environment, inspire participation, and pledge to support the local community.

Vermont Business Magazine A statement from the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington Friday night said that, "A UVM Medical Center physician was arrested today in connection with a hidden camera that had been discovered in a staff-only restroom earlier this week.

"When the device was found, our staff did the right thing and contacted the Burlington Police Department, who immediately responded and conducted an investigation with our cooperation, and with support from our security team.

"The physician is on administrative leave pending resolution of the case.

"We thank BPD and CUSI for their work. Our people provide the highest quality care for members of this community, and we will ensure they are supported and informed as we learn more about this unfortunate situation."

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The state will make a dramatic break with federal unemployment insurance rules if the backlog of unemployment claims is not resolved by Saturday night. Governor Phil Scott announced today that he has authorized the Treasury to issue $1,200 checks Sunday to those Vermonters who have unresolved claims. The state will then continue to validate those claims and adjust them going forward. He said people not working must get money in their pockets as soon as possible. No one eligible for unemployment insurance will lose money because of the delay.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced a flag lowering procedure to honor Vermonters who have died due to COVID-19, making the following statement: “This Sunday, April 19, marks one month since Vermont’s first two fatalities as a result of COVID-19. In honor of all the Vermonters we have lost to this terrible disease, I am ordering the U.S. and Vermont state flags to fly at half-staff on the 19th of every month for the remainder of 2020."

Vermont Business Magazine The state’s latest modeling, presented today, shows the growth rate in new COVID-19 cases has averaged below 4 percent for the last 12 days, the rate at which cases double has slowed dramatically, and the number of people requiring hospitalizations remains stable. The Vermont Department of Health reported 11 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths, which stand at 35.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) Jeb Spaulding today announced profound changes to the system that includes closing the Johnson and Lyndon campuses of Northern Vermont University and the original Randolph Center campus of Vermont Technical College. The downsizing will happen quickly and occur by the fall term this year. It also will cost 500 jobs. Castleton University will be the only residential college in the system and existing and incoming students will be transferred there. The Williston VTC campus will expand. CCV will remain largely unscathed.

by Louis Josephson, PhD, Brattleboro Retreat As our communities band together to defeat a new and deadly virus, our attention has been laser focused on following trusted guidance from the scientific and medical communities intended to keep us safe. Americans are, rightly so, becoming well versed in the use of phrases such as social distancing, personal protective equipment, self-isolation, herd immunity, and flattening the curve. For most of us, the need to adopt strict infection control measures has become a fact of daily life.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Phil Scott today at his press briefing outlined an approach for the phased restart of Vermont’s economy, which includes allowing contractors up to two people and single-worker occupations like real estate agents to get back to work. These openings are effective April 20. He also said farmers' markets will re-open May 1, but in a very restricted way. Those restrictions likely will include curbside-type service. Those plans are being developed by the Agency of Agriculture.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor reported today that the state's unemployment rate for March was 3.2 percent. This does not account for most of the job losses associated with the COVID-19 and Governor Scott's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" emergency order. Over 78,000 Vermonters have filed unemployment claims. The March rate reflects an increase of eight-tenths of a percent from the prior month’s estimate of 2.4 percent. The US unemployment rate increased from 3.5 percent to 4.4 percent in March.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermonters are staying home and staying safe during the COVID-19 emergency, but for many that has meant getting by with no access to the internet at home. The difficulty has been particularly challenging for students who are adapting to remote learning, individuals in need of telehealth care, and workers who could earn an income if they could work from home.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Senator James Lankford (R-OK) are urging Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf to exercise discretion and automatically extend the validity periods of critical documents for refugees and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders approved for resettlement in the United States until COVID-19 travel restrictions are lifted. They emphasized that this small, reasonable measure would provide much-needed relief to refugees and SIV holders – who are among the most vulnerable populations amidst this global pandemic.