Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (VACCD) outlined to legislators today a report looking at the future of dairy in Vermont and the economic viability of expanding dairy markets in the northeast, major metropolitan areas and beyond. The report comes as a result of Act 83 requiring both Agencies to research these concerns and report back.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan announced that opioid manufacturer, Mallinckrodt (MNK), has devised a global settlement framework that would settle all opioid-related claims against it. The agreement in principle is supported by Vermont and 46 states and US territories, as well as municipalities and other litigants in the federal opioid multidistrict litigation.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is alerting customers to severe weather starting late Wednesday through Thursday afternoon, as forecasters predict gusty winds along the western slopes of the Green Mountains reaching up to 70MPH in higher elevations, and the strong winds could take down trees and power lines. The storm is also expected to bring some heavy, wet snow and forecasters say that is most likely in higher elevations. GMP is prepared to respond as quickly and safely as possible for customers, and is urging them to be prepared for the possibility of scattered outages throughout GMP service territory.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism (VCIH) recently signed a contract with Goddard College to move its school and clinic from Montpelier to the historic Greatwood campus in Plainfield this June. VCIH will join EarthWalk Vermont, also located on the campus, for a mission-based partnership in Goddard College’s new Village for Learning Initiative. VCIH’s sliding-scale herbal clinics and apothecary serve hundreds of clients in the Central Vermont and Chittenden County communities, while their nationally-recognized programs enroll 60-70 students annually. As the popularity of herbal medicine continues to grow, a need for additional classroom spaces and outdoor teaching and cultivation areas sparked the search for a new location in 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine In its sixth annual study, SmartAsset determined the top states for higher education by analyzing graduation rate, price, student-faculty ratio, 20-year ROI and in-state attendance rate. Vermont cracks the top half of the list, tying with Massachusetts and Wisconsin for 17th place. However, that earned those states an overall grade of only a C+.

Suresh Garimella, President of the University of Vermont A three-time Pulitzer-prize winning New York Times reporter. The first African American to be inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Two Nobel Peace Prize winners. One of Fortune magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Women.” The producer of the “Hunger Games” movies and a Golden Globes winner. And the author of one of the Library of Congress’s 10 most influential books of our time.*

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) President Trump’s instinct of robbing Peter to pay Paul is once again on full display, demonstrating a dangerous level of incompetence within his administration to confront the global spread of the novel coronavirus. His administration is only requesting $1.25 billion in emergency funding, and the rest is drained from resources to combat Ebola and other unspecified public health programs.

Vermont Business Magazine A federal Court has ruled that tenants can bring claims against the City of St Albans for unfairly removing them from their home after the landlord refused to make necessary repairs. Dwight Martell and Lynn Cook claimed that the City had abruptly shut off their water, electricity, and gas and ordered them out, making them homeless, all without having a legal basis for doing so. They sued for violations of their Fourteenth Amendment due process rights and Fourth Amendment rights to be free from unreasonable seizure.

The City moved to dismiss the tenants’ claims. On February 21, 2020, United States Magistrate Judge John M Conroy denied the dismissal of tenants’ Fourteenth Amendment procedural Due Process claim and Fourth Amendment unlawful seizure claim; and granted dismissal of Tenants’ Fifth Amendment Takings Clause Claim.

by Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos For decades, Vermont’s Community Media Centers have provided our residents direct access to each other, our government, and our community events. Now, more than ever, we need a strong network of public, educational and government (“PEG TV”) stations and their Community Media Centers to provide these important services that keep our civic engagement strong.

I have been a longtime advocate for government transparency. The public’s right to know is critical to a democracy where we can audit our local, state, and federal government agencies, and ultimately hold them accountable. My days on the South Burlington City Council taught me first-hand the important role PEG TV plays in keeping our residents informed and engaged.

Brandon Arcari, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House overrode Governor Scott’s veto of S.23, increasing the state’s minimum wage effective in 2021. The vote passed 100-49, and followed the Senate’s Feb. 13 vote to override the veto 24-6. The bill will raise the state’s minimum wage to $11.75 in 2021, from its current $10.78, and to $12.55 in 2022, and ties minimum wage increases to inflation after those years.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (VAAFM) is now accepting applications for the Local Food Market Development grant program. This program seeks to increase the amount of Vermont agricultural products being sold through local institutional or wholesale markets. The deadline to apply for this opportunity is March 29th, 2020.

Grants of up to $5,000 are available to farmers, producers, food businesses and value-chain facilitators. Funding will be awarded to the proposals that show the greatest potential in helping address supply chain barriers. Examples include improving product quality, operational efficiency, or food safety procedures, addressing distribution challenges or mitigating financial risk associated with scaling to meet new markets.

by John McClaughry In January 2019 the commission to review and update Act 250 presented a well written report. Its recommendations are now the subject of 94-page bill (H.926) to dramatically reshape the state’s land use and development act.

On the plus side, in light of its 50 years in force, Act 250 was certainly due, or overdue, for thorough reconsideration. This is especially true since the bill that became Act 250 was thrown together over one desperate weekend, to “put the brakes on land development.” I know, because I was an active participant in that process in the House, and voted for it.

On the minus side, a brief trip through the report and bill show that the six legislators on the commission were pretty clearly chosen to bestow every imaginable policy victory upon the Vermont Natural Resources Council, the organization that has battled for stronger regulation over Vermonters’ use of land ever since the Act passed.