Current News
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Vermont Business Magazine Bennington Superior Court Judge William Cohen has upheld Vermont’s recently enacted large-capacity magazine ban, 13 V.S.A. § 4021. In a decision released on June 28, 2019, the Court rejected a constitutional challenge brought by criminal defendant Max Misch and declined to dismiss the case. The magazine law generally prohibits long-gun magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition and handgun magazines that can hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition. The law was part of the gun safety legislation enacted in April 2018. The magazine law aims to protect public safety by reducing the likelihood and harm of a mass shooting in Vermont.
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Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) has named Peter Samson its Chief Lending Officer (CLO), effective July 1, 2019. He will lead the Authority's Commercial, Agricultural and Loan Resolution lending departments. Samson joins VEDA from Berkshire Bank, where he held the position of Connecticut Region Executive, responsible for direct commercial lending and business development for small and middle market businesses. He also worked closely with the many regional economic development entities across the state.
Peter Samson, VEDA, Chief Lending Officer
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Vermont Business Magazine Over 400 mental health and substance use practitioners, educators, and interested members of the public recently attended Howard Center’s day-long conference and sponsor exhibition at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Burlington on June 3 to listen to international speakers Charles Blow, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Johann Hari, Sandy Steingard, and Andrew Solomon discuss “Overcoming Adversity: Bold Perspectives on Mental Health and Addiction.”
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Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment numbers spiked last week, which is typical for the end of school, before settling back to low levels during the summer. Initial claims for the week of June 22, 2019, totaled 837, up 502 from last week. Claims were 38 more than they were at this time last year.
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Vermont Business Magazine With 5% of the world's population, and 25% of the world's prison population, the criminal justice system in the United States is what author Paul Brakke refers to as "a national shame." Addressing that issue and advocating for criminal justice reform is the focus of a three-year effort by the iconic ice cream maker, who proudly unveiled a new art installation at its Waterbury factory tour site Tuesday.
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by Representative Carol Ode Clean water funding is a win for Vermont. And like so much of the Legislature’s work, it addresses climate change. Clean water funding restores our natural environment. When the environment is clean, wildlife and plants thrive and Vermonters are healthier. Vermont’s valuable brand is protected and businesses that rely on our brand prosper, whether by drawing tourists to our state or opening markets and garnering a premium for anything labelled 'Made in Vermont.'
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Vermont Business Magazine The United States has relied heavily on Guard and Reserve members since entering continuous operations over 17 years ago. Employer support enhances retention rates in the Armed Forces and, in the end, strengthens our national security. To recognize employers who support their Guard and Reserve employees, ESGR grants a series of Department of Defense awards. At its recent annual banquet held in South Burlington, ESGR recognized 37 patriotic employers who provided outstanding support to their citizen service member employees over the past year.
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Vermont Business Magazine Vermont, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Maine all rank top 10, along with many other northern US states, with the highest rates of new skin cancer cases in the country. Usiing CDC data, online insurance broker QuoteWizard compiled melanoma cases for these Northeastern states and found Vermont (ranked 2nd most) with 41.1 new cases per 100,000 people, New Hampshire (4th most) with 30.9, Delaware (6th) with 29.4, and Maine (10th) with 27.7. Vermont ranked number one when considering men only.
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Vermont Business Magazine Main Street Alliance of Vermont welcomes Randy George of Red Hen Baking Co. and Lindsay DesLauriers, President and COO of Bolton Valley Resort, to the State Board. George succeeds Jen Kimmich, co-owner of the Alchemist, as chair of the board.
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Vermont Business Magazine The High Fives Non-Profit Foundation will host the 7th Annual Charity Golf Tournament in Vermont on Friday, August 9th, 2019. The event, sponsored by GoPro, Vermont North Ski Shop and Kingsbury Companies will return to Sugarbush Resort Golf Club, which has been very supportive to the organization in the past.
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New Vermont Businesses Shine at Outdoor Retailer, Organization Plans Statewide Summit
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA)’s efforts to strengthen Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy gained momentum in June by hosting a roundtable at Burke Mountain Resort, assembling entrepreneurs at the first-ever ThinkVermont booth at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver and making plans for the first annual Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy Summit, to be held this fall at Bolton Valley Resort.
Burke Roundtable Draws Outdoor Recreation Leaders
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Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police has updated its tattoo policy, allowing people who are seeking to become troopers to be hired by the agency even if they have tattoos that are visible when wearing a short-sleeve uniform shirt. This change recognizes a growing acceptance and prevalence of tattoos.