Current News

Vermont Business Magazine As of Sunday, nearly 32,000 claim issues had been cleared, allowing claimants to proceed with filing a weekly claim and start collecting benefits. For the remaining eligible claimants (8,384 people) that did not have issues cleared, Governor Scott asked the Treasury to issue payments to them in the amount of $1,200. These checks were processed over the weekend and will be mailed out to claimants on Monday, April 20.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported nine more cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for a total of 812 statewide. There were no more deaths, which held at 38. The number of hospitalizations -- a key metric in the infection rate -- fell by three patients to 53. There are over 300 beds available for COVID-19 patients statewide and the surge capacity is over 800 beds.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) Board of Trustees Chair, J Churchill Hindes, announced today that Monday’s meeting of the Board will be informational in nature. The Board does not plan to vote on recent transformational changes at that time. Chancellor Jeb Spaulding recently unveiled plans in response to ongoing challenges facing the VSCS magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. His plan was to close the campuses of Northern Vermont University in Johnson and Lyndon and transfer those students to Castleton University. The plan also would close the Randolph Center campus of Vermont Technical College and transfer classes to the non-residential Williston campus.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement: “Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, Vermont State College trustees faced a difficult and unsustainable financial reality: A declining enrollment and systemwide overhead costs rising much faster than tuition and taxpayers can afford. The board has been signaling for years that the system is not financially sustainable. We’ve seen many private colleges across the country close for similar reasons. Now, accelerated by the economic impacts of the pandemic, we must have some difficult discussions about how to save the state college system."

Vermont Business Magazine General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) Friday delivered the nuclear-powered attack submarine Vermont (SSN 792) to the US Navy. The future USS Vermont is the first of ten Block IV submarines. Vermont is the 19th submarine of the Virginia-class, which provides the US Navy with the capabilities required to retain undersea dominance well into the 21st century. Vermont is the first of ten Block IV Virginia-class submarines. These ships embody a US Navy and industry commitment to affordably deliver new submarines to the fleet with unmatched stealth and strike capacity.

by Labor Commissioner Michael A Harrington Here is an update as of Saturday, April 18, 2020. Beginning last Thursday, our team was able to successfully manipulate our system to open up past benefit weeks for claimants who had missed a filing deadline. This change allows claimants to file for one missed week per day, while our system processes each new filing overnight. If you have missed multiple weeks, you should be able to get caught up in your filing over the next few days. As many of you may have heard, the Governor has asked Labor to get as many people paid as possible by tonight (Saturday), at which point, anyone who opened a claim between March 1 – April 4, but has not received a benefit payment, will receive a $1,200 check from the state.

The University of Vermont Health Network The ties that bind us have been severely tested by the COVID-19 pandemic. But even as this terrible virus has kept many of us apart, there are examples everywhere of how we are united in purpose and community spirit – from our heroic health care workers who continue to serve our patients in so many ways, to those who are staying home and trying their best to stay well. In this newsletter, you’ll see the story of a UVM Medical Center nurse who isolated herself from her family in order to protect them. This is another example of how sacrifice is a big part of our effort to combat COVID-19. The work we’ve done so far shows that we’re up to this task, as long as we keep working together, as a community.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported 803 total cases of COVID-19, an increase of 24 cases since yesterday's report. There were also three more deaths for a total of 38. Total hospitalizations remained at 56.

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) unveiled a proposal to establish the Paycheck Security Act, a program to cover the wages and benefits of employees of affected businesses and nonprofits until the economic and public health crisis is resolved. All employers who have suffered a month-over-month drop in revenues of at least 20 percent will be eligible to receive grants covering a portion of payroll and benefits for at least the next six months.

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."