Current News

Vermont Business Magazine For the second year in a row, The Left Bank at The Weston, an intimate luxury hotel in a country-style home, has been honored for its outstanding wine program in Wine Spectator’s 2025 Restaurant Awards, which celebrate the world’s best restaurants for wine. Launched in 1981, the Restaurant Awards represent the world’s only program focused exclusively on restaurant wine service. They are assigned on three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award, with 2,010; 1,704; and 97 winners this year in each respective category.

Vermont Business Magazine Twenty-four attorneys from the northern New England law firm Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC (DRM) have been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Three of the firm’s lawyers were recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” honorees, and an additional fifteen were named to the 2026 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America list. Lawyers are neither required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, recognition by Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. The three DRM lawyers recognized as Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” honorees for 2026 are Burlington, Vermont based lawyers Christopher D. Roy (litigation - real estate), Peter B. Kunin (litigation - intellectual property), and Timothy S. Sampson (real estate law). 

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Edward Curran, 40, of Rutland, Vermont, was sentenced in Vermont Superior Court, Rutland Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. The Court, Judge Cortland Corsones presiding, sentenced Curran to eighteen months to five years in prison, all suspended and a 10-year term of probation with conditions that require completion of sex offender programming, limit his contact with children, and restrict his access to the internet. If Curran violates the terms of his probation, he faces up to 18 months in prison. Curran is also required to register as a sex offender for 10 years after his successful completion of probation.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) has completed its annual review of Vermont hospital budgets for Fiscal Year 2026, voting on budgets for Vermont’s 14 general hospitals. Consistent with the Board’s statutory mission and budget guidance, the decisions balance financial sustainability, especially for rural hospitals, with the need to keep care affordable for Vermonters. UVMMC's net patient revenue request was cut by $88.5 million, or -4.5%, while systemwide, GMCB cut NPR by $94.6 million, or -2.5%.

Vermont Business Magazine Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit blocked more than 1.1 million patients from using their Medicaid insurance at Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide, including more than 8,000 patients seen in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In doing so, the court sided with the Trump administration and is putting as many as 200 Planned Parenthood health centers at risk of closure. The ruling prohibits Planned Parenthood from receiving payments for the services they provide to patients on the Medicaid program. Despite this, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) continues to see Medicaid patients at their health centers. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced leadership appointments: Kendal Smith as commissioner of the Department of Labor, Chris Winters as deputy commissioner of the Department of Labor, and Dr. Rick Hildebrant as commissioner of the Department of Health.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department for Children and Families (DCF) is making federally required changes to 3SquaresVT, Vermont’s name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). They begin taking effect October 1. Households began receiving notices in September. Most of Vermont’s 38,755 households will see their monthly benefit go up slightly or stay the same. More than 34,000 households (over 90%) will see an average increase of $5 per month. This is part of the regular annual updates to the program. A smaller number – about 2,600 households -- will see an average decrease of $108 per month. A very limited number of 36 households will no longer qualify for SNAP benefits.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Peter Welch (D-Vermont), and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont-At-Large), urged President Trump to quickly approve Vermont’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration to help communities in Caledonia and Essex counties recover from this July’s flooding, which caused more than $1.8 million of damage in Vermont. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont weekly unemployment claims for the week ending September 6, 2025, increased slightly after last week's lowest number of the year. New claims were 224 last week, up 35 claims from the week before and up 37 from last year at this time. Claims, which tend to be lowest in the summer, were 181 at the end of September 2024. Nationally, weekly UI claims reached their highest point in nearly four years, while inflation increased. The Fed is expected to cut interest rates next week to help stimulate the stagnating economy, despite inflationary concerns.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Wagyu is the first farm in the United States to ship Certified Authentic Wagyu beef—USDA-certified and a program of the American Wagyu Association (AWA). Starting September 8, 2025, every qualified product of 100% Fullblood Wagyu from Vermont Wagyu will begin to feature the new Certified Authentic Wagyu label, representing a major milestone for American Wagyu producers and customers seeking certified super prime beef. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Chamber has opened nominations for the inaugural Coolest Thing Made in Vermont Awards. This new program celebrates the innovation, creativity, and craftsmanship that set Vermont apart. If you make something remarkable, or know someone who does, we encourage you to submit a nomination by October 1. Help us highlight the products and people driving Vermont’s manufacturing excellence.

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday, September 19, the Vermont State Colleges (VSC) System will host its annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, an event celebrating student research and academic achievement. Held in the 1787 Room at Vermont State University (VTSU) Castleton and online, the symposium will feature 25 student presenters from both institutions in the VSC system, Community College of Vermont (CCV) and VTSU. The event is co-sponsored by VTSU’s McNair Scholars Program and the VSC Chancellor’s Innovation Fund initiative, Opportunities for Undergraduate Research and Graduate Professional Study (OUR GPS).