Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to block new restrictions on federal funding that supports survivors of domestic violence and other violent crimes. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in the District of Rhode Island, challenges a rule barring states from using Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne JAG), and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant funds to provide services to undocumented immigrants, or other individuals who cannot prove their status. Attorney General Clark and the coalition argue that the new policy is unconstitutional and are asking the court to stop the rule from taking effect in their states.

Vermont Business Magazine Federal employees in Vermont who may be deemed “non-essential” and furloughed due to the temporary federal government shutdown may file for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits beginning the first day of the shutdown. Federal workers impacted by a shutdown have up to two weeks from the start of the shutdown to file an unemployment claim. Individuals can apply for UI by calling the UI Claims Center at 1-877-214-3330 (Monday – Thursday: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm / Friday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm). Please note that calling later in the week will not affect eligibility for benefits.  

Vermont Business Magazine Vermonters receiving food assistance benefits through 3SquaresVT, the Vermont name for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) should continue using the program, Treasurer Pieciak and local food security leaders announced today at Capstone Community Action. As federal changes to the program take effect October 1, 3SquaresVT remains Vermont’s best tool to fight hunger and ensure families can put food on the table. Despite the federal government shutdown, all eligible Vermonters will receive their October 3SquaresVt benefits without delay. With cuts placing added pressure and demand on food banks and local service providers, officials asked Vermonters to help feed their neighbors by making a donation to the Vermont Foodbank and trusted local service providers like Capstone.   

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott’s office today announced a range of appointments made in the third quarter of 2025. Boards and commissions serve an important role in state government, giving Vermonters numerous opportunities to serve their state and communities. The Governor’s office is currently soliciting applications to fill vacancies and upcoming term expirations. All those interested in serving on a board or commission should visit the Governor’s website at https://governor.vermont.gov/boards-commissions to apply.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Robert Vaillancourt, 76, of Bethel, Vermont, was arraigned yesterday on four counts of felony Medicaid Fraud. The charges brought against Vaillancourt by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit (MFRAU) stem from an investigation into his work as a licensed psychologist. The investigation began after a referral was received from the Department of Vermont Health Access due to concerns with Vaillancourt’s overall therapeutic and billing practices. The investigation found that Vaillancourt had submitted claims for payment to Vermont Medicaid for psychotherapy sessions he had not provided, defrauding Vermont Medicaid of over $600,000 in public health care funds.

Saint Michael's College Dear Purple Knight Community - Please keep former Saint Michael’s College President John “Jack” Neuhauser and his family in your thoughts and prayers today. We learned this morning that Jack passed away overnight. Jack served as the 16th President of the College from 2007 until his retirement in 2018. He led the College through the 2008 recession and later oversaw multiple significant projects and improvements to the College, including the construction of the Dion Family Student Center, Aubin Residence Hall, and the Pomerleau Alumni Center. Jack was also deeply committed to strengthening the College’s connection to its Edmundite founders, to expanding research and internship opportunities for students, and to reducing the College’s carbon footprint. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Blue Advantage announced its decision today to not offer Medicare Advantage plans in 2026. The Medicare Advantage market in Vermont has been severely affected by payers choosing to leave the Medicare Advantage market and high utilization of medical care by Vermont Blue Advantage members. These combined forces make the Vermont Medicare Advantage market unsustainable for Vermont Blue Advantage to be able to offer reasonably priced and affordable products to serve as an alternative to traditional Medicare coverage.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Secretary of Administration Sarah Clark released Vermont’s revenue results for August 2025 today. The Transportation Fund and Education Fund exceeded their respective monthly consensus cash flow target, as adopted by the Emergency Board at its July 2025 meeting, while the General Fund fell short of its target for the month as the vital Personal Income Tax was off by more than 10%. The PI has been reliably near or above targets for several years. Still the General Fund is ahead of targets early this fiscal year (FY26 began July 1, 2025). While Corporate receipts have been strong, the tourism-related Meals & Rooms, which has a higher target, and Interest are running below projections. 

Vermont Business Magazine New financial aid initiatives at Saint Michael’s College aim to make the cost of attendance more affordable for students – including those from Vermont. The college has announced several new programs to make a St. Mike’s education more accessible to all students. They include: Free Tuition Vermont – Vermont residents whose household income is $100,000 or less will have their tuition fully covered after the allocation of Pell and VSAC grants. Students are required to fill out the FAFSA first to be eligible for tuition coverage and then must apply for other state grants through Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC). To continue receiving full tuition in subsequent years, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5. UVM Match – Vermont residents whose household income is above $100,000 will pay the same tuition and fees as students who attend the University of Vermont

VermontBiz by Emily Bradbury What compels a person to give away tens of millions of dollars? For Rich Tarrant, was it growing up modestly as the child of Irish-American immigrants? Being given a shot at college through a basketball scholarship? The professor at St. Michael’s who gave the young athlete a key to the cafeteria so he could feed his growing body and mind? Or the IBM executive who took a chance on a recently cut Celtics draft pick who knocked on his door without an appointment, looking for a job? Maybe it was all of it, or maybe it’s just who he was.

“He believed you do the right thing even when no one is looking,” said his son, Jerry Tarrant. “That was how he went about his life. It was evident in everything he did—the way he ran his businesses, the way he showed up for his family, and later in his philanthropy.”

The public milestones of Rich Tarrant’s life do not begin to adequately portray who he was or the impact he had on Vermont. His true legacy is etched into the lives of hundreds of Vermonters. A humble, generous, deeply intelligent man, Rich believed intensely that those who are given the privilege of opportunity have a deep responsibility to give back.

The Vermont Community Foundation is partnering with local newsrooms to better understand the kind of information Vermont residents need and want about their communities. VCF hosts Vermont’s chapter of the national Press Forward initiative, a nonpartisan philanthropic initiative with 36 chapters in cities and states across the U.S, collectively working to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news. They’ve engaged Impact Architects, a national strategy and research firm, to help conduct this survey. This survey asks about your experience with local news and information — coverage of events, issues, and people in your town or city, your county, or the state of Vermont that involves more than just your friends or family.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) joined U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) for a discussion about how the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans have refused to negotiate with Democrats to prevent a government shut down and protect Americans from skyrocketing health care costs, while providing tax cuts to billionaires. Senator Welch underscored how Republicans’ willingness to cede congressional authority to the executive branch has emboldened President Trump’s illegal rampage and put health care out of reach for working families.