Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Washington and Northern Orange Counties – On Friday, April 3, the Washington and Northern Orange Counties Regional Response Command Center (WNOC-RRCC) officially operationalized a community-support Call Center. Operating from 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM, 7-days a week, the Call Center is a free and confidential community-support resource for anyone seeking guidance and connection to support services & resources in Central Vermont, specifically in Washington and Northern Orange Counties. The call line number is 802-636-2025. A text line is currently being developed to ensure citizens with verbal disabilities may be able to utilize the community resource. The text line will operate on the same number.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health this afternoon reported the biggest one-day increase in the number of new COVID-19 illnesses, for a total of 461 (two of those cases were not previously reported). There were also three more deaths from Friday's report, for a total of 20 deaths now in Vermont. Chittenden County far exceeds all counties in the number of cases, but the southern four counties have seen a rapid increase in reported cases. Grand Isle and Essex counties still have not reported any cases.

Leonine Public Affairs We are wrapping up week 12 of the 2020 legislative session but more appropriately we are in week three of what is for all practical purposes an entirely new legislative session. Because of the significant changes not only in the legislature but in all aspects of life in Vermont and throughout the country we will be expanding our newsletter to include updates and information about how government affairs and strategic communications are rapidly evolving in this new, uncharted era. We will continue to document the high (and low) points of the week in Vermont politics and will add insights into how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting the already turbulent world of public affairs.

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday, April 7, Middlebury will be Vermont’s lead college for a nationwide, virtual teach-in focused on local solutions to climate change. "Solve Climate By 2030," a project based at Bard College, will feature simultaneous, university-led webinars in almost all 50 states plus DC, Puerto Rico and five international sites. For the Vermont webinar, Middlebury’s Franklin Environmental Center will bring together statewide experts for a virtual panel.

Vermont Business Magazine It is strongly advised that the public postpone all outdoor burning through at least May 30, 2020. Open burning creates the risk of an escaped fire and puts pressure on emergency personnel. Given that Vermont is currently experiencing community-wide spread of COVID-19, there is a need to minimize any additional pressure on emergency personnel both in terms of response and unnecessary potential contact with people who may have COVID-19.

Vermont Department of Health Living with uncertainty during the outbreak of COVID-19 is stressful for everyone. Health, financial and other concerns can increase anxiety. Things that were normal a few weeks ago are no longer the norm. Physical distancing (also called social distancing) makes it impossible to see friends or visit family in person. At this time, we need to adopt “distant socializing”, which involves the creative use of technology, phone lines and the mail to connect. But it’s not the same. The Vermont Department of Mental Health has compiled some tips to help us get through this unsettling time.

The Saint Michael’s College Archives invites all members of the Saint Michael’s College community to help us in documenting this unprecedented time. We are piloting a project that is intended to capture your thoughts and feelings as we meet the day-to-day challenges brought about by Covid-19.

Vermont Business Magazine This evening, Mayor Miro Weinberger signed two emergency regulations. One relates to enforcement of the Governor’s emergency order and goes into effect at 6:30 p.m. tonight, and the second relates to the creation of the City’s “shared streets for social distancing” initiative and goes into effect at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow. For additional information, please see the Mayor’s daily briefings from Thursday, April 2 and Friday, April 3.

COVID-19 Emergency Regulation 1 (to be cited as CER 1):

(a) The purpose of this regulation is to preserve the public health and safety.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued an order clarifying the expiration date for two previous directives to ensure all are complying with his Stay Home, Stay Safe order until April 15 or beyond. This new order makes clear that any previous orders or directives that had an expiration date prior to April 15, are subject to the Stay Home, Stay Safe order, which means they must follow the in-person operation closure guidance until April 15.

Vermont Business Magazine There will soon be guidance on what Vermonters should and must be wearing cloth face masks, according to Governor Phil Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD. This update came today at the governor's press conference. They are waiting for further instruction from the CDC on what can be worn and by whom. It could be as simple as a scarf and could include everyone still working out in the public. Scott also said that within the next few days he will extend and give more detail on his "Stay Home, Stay Safe Order." He also said that he will not begin to allow businesses to renew operations, even outdoor businesses, until he's confident that the state has reached a peak in COVID-19 cases. Yesterday, state officials said that peak is expected by early May under current modeling.

Vermont Business Magazine The 158th Fighter Wing out of Burlington International Airport will continue flying operations as scheduled in order to maintain federal mission readiness requirements while also supporting the State of Vermont response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement issued Friday afternoon from VTANG.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation distributed the first round of grants, totaling nearly $380,000, from its Vermont COVID-19 Response Fund during the week of March 23. The grants ranged from $5,000 to $30,000 and were made specifically to entities addressing homelessness, working on the frontlines with vulnerable populations, and providing basic needs, such as meals and food access to homebound seniors.

A portion of the grants went to community-based organizations like community-action agencies and coordinated-entry lead agencies that have critical programs for individuals and families experiencing poverty, including food shelves, housing, and more.