Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, strongly urged the use of facial coverings for essential workers in stores and their customers. The state is taking additional measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in certain types of group living facilities. When a person tests positive at these facilities, everyone in the facility will be tested. This includes nursing homes, corrections facilities, residential home for those with disabilities, residential treatment centers, assisted living facilities and state psychiatric care facilities. There are now at statewide total of 748 cases and 28 deaths.

Vermont Business Magazine Scammers are trying to cash in on the Coronavirus (COVID-19). From selling phony health care products to soliciting donations for fake charities, scammers will try anything to get your money or sensitive personal information during times of crisis. With economic impact payments or “stimulus checks” coming, Attorney General T.J. Donovan and Treasurer Beth Pearce want to remind Vermonters to protect their finances and to be on the lookout for COVID-19-related scams.

“Many Vermonters will be receiving payments by direct deposit or mail, and you need to be on the lookout for possible scams,” said Attorney General Donovan. “The best way to protect yourself, and your money, is to remember that the IRS will not contact you about your payment, and if someone is claiming to be with the IRS—it’s a scam!”

Vermont Business Magazine Health care professionals can quickly become temporarily licensed to provide care during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Governor Phil Scott signed Act 91 on March 31, granting emergency authority to expedite temporary licensure for health care professionals. Bolstering the ranks of health care providers will expand access to medical services for patients and allow qualified retirees to serve Vermont at this difficult time.

by Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos The current public health crisis has been a serious test for us all, and it’s also testing our democracy and how we respond in a crisis. Just last week the Supreme Court voted 5-4, along ideological lines, to reject an extension of absentee ballot return deadlines for Wisconsin Primary voters, requiring hundreds of thousands to risk their health by standing in crowded lines at busy polling locations in order to exercise their Constitutional right to vote. This decision failed the test, but things will be different in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor has announced it will continue its Virtual Town Hall events for the week of April 13, 2020. The Department announced the events in response to the impact of COVID-19.

Vermont Business Magazine CHCB is now running outreach testing with a new van. This is a subset of the Vermont Department of Health’s testing site that CHCB is staffing in South Hero. They will initially focus on reaching individuals experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable individuals throughout the Burlington area who are in congregate (shared) living situations and cannot travel to Essex or South Hero for the drive-through sites. Not only is this outreach testing good care for individuals, but when they can test people where they are and keep them from having to travel, it helps reduce viral spread in the community.

by Don Turner In March, the Vermont Legislature passed two solid pieces of legislation to address the COVID-19 outbreak. The first provided continuity of operations in state government--no doubt an important measure during these times when practicing social distancing is a must. The second included a wide array of policies, including the expansion of telemedicine, an easing of the licensing regulatory burden for health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, a strengthening of the unemployment insurance system, provisions allowing retired doctors to practice during the outbreak, and more.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today that there were 17 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) positively identified since yesterday and three more deaths since Friday, bringing the total to 27 deaths in the state of Vermont. There are 34 people hospitalized with COVID-19 and another 33 hospitalized and under investigation. These compare to Fridays numbers of 32 and 43. There are over 400 hospital beds dedicated to treating COVID-19 in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is alerting customers that a storm is forecasted to bring rain and strong gusty winds to Vermont starting late Monday morning, and that winds may be powerful enough to take down trees and powerlines causing outages. Forecasters say the large low-pressure system predicted to hit the entire Northeast will reach southern Vermont late Monday morning and exit through the north of the state Monday evening.

Leonine Public Affairs On Friday, the Vermont Senate held a historic floor session. For the first time in Vermont history a legislative body gaveled into session, reported and discussed legislation and voted without the lawmakers being physically present. This new, remote legislative process was authorized by the Senate in a semi-normal floor session on Wednesday, when 16 Senators (the minimum needed for a quorum) convened in Montpelier to approve a Senate resolution allowing remote floor voting. The Senate had previously authorized remote voting by its committees so now the Senate can conduct business in full without going to Montpelier.

by Joyce Marcel, Vermont Business Magazine For Vermont, Robert Miller wears his heart on his sleeve for all the world to see. Miller has twice left the lucrative world of high finance to return to Vermont for jobs that pay less but offer a lot more socially responsible fun. This last time, he says, is really the last. This time he's here for good. Miller is the CEO of the Vermont State Employees Credit Union (VSECU). He is something of a golden boy at the climax of a gilded career.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Joyce Marcel first sat down with Rob Miller, CEO of VSECU, before the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) hit home here in Vermont. So we followed up with Miller on what the credit union is doing and what it means for individual finances and the economy. VSECU is following a protocol similar to nearly every financial institution in Vermont as of press time (March 26, 2020 for the April print issue), by closing branch lobbies, but maintaining ATMs and online banking. They have also instituted hardship plans for customers affected by layoffs and business closures.