Current News

Middlebury President Ian B. Baucom I write today with difficult news. As you will have seen from my video address, the Board of Trustees on Wednesday, August 27, convened a special meeting and approved my recommendation that we conclude residential graduate programs and the online degree programs described below at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS). We will complete these programs and operations based in Monterey over the next two years. I met with the MIIS community this afternoon to share this decision, and members of Middlebury’s Student Life, Student Financial Services, and Human Resources teams also are in Monterey to support our colleagues.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) has released the Vermont Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (VT-BEAD) Draft Final Proposal, which is the state’s plan to accomplish the goal of enabling all Vermonters to have access to high-speed reliable broadband. BEAD is a federal program that provides $42.45 billion to expand access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs in all states and territories. Vermont’s allocation of those funds is almost $229 million. The VT-BEAD Draft Final Proposal lists the provisional grantees of those funds and what technology they plan to use to serve all remaining unserved and underserved addresses in their project areas. The bids included in the Draft Final Proposal total $179,426,004.96. 

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today released the following statement after hundreds of CDC workers walked out of their job to protest the Trump administration’s decision to oust senior scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including by firing CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez. "I applaud the workers at CDC for standing up for science and protesting the reckless decision of Secretary Kennedy to push out leading scientists from the agency. Speaking up takes real courage."

Vermont Business Magazine The ACLU of Vermont sent updated guidance to Vermont school leaders, educators, and partners yesterday, outlining the legal obligations—and opportunities—that schools have to protect students’ rights. With this toolkit, the ACLU seeks to provide greater clarity in the context of a shifting federal policy landscape ahead of the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Vermont Business Magazine Omni Defense Technologies, the pioneer in developing and manufacturing best-in-class in-flight bladder relief products supporting human performance and safety in the military, defense and space exploration sectors has announced the hiring of three highly experienced veterans to enhance business development and support functions for the company’s products. The company has hired Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Lisa Christensen of the U.S. Air Force, Lieutenant Commander Tara Palmer of the U.S. Navy Reserves, and Lieutenant Commander (Ret.) Taylor Burton of the U.S. Navy as Business Development and Customer Training for SKYDRATE®, the company’s In-Flight automated, bladder relief system.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center serving underserved communities in and around Burlington, Vermont, has selected Q2i's contingency management (CM) technology to support the implementation and management of an innovative CM program designed to improve recovery outcomes for patients with substance use disorder. With fentanyl involved in 93 percent of Vermont's fatal overdoses in 2024, the urgency to strengthen recovery supports has never been greater. CHC's CM program uses an evidence-based approach that offers small, tangible rewards—such as gift cards—for achieving positive recovery milestones, including regular counseling attendance and consistently negative drug screenings. Extensive research demonstrates that CM increases engagement in treatment, reduces relapse rates, and promotes sustained recovery.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today called for a bipartisan congressional investigation into the recent firing of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Susan Monarez by the Trump administration. Citing growing concern over the politicization of vaccine policy and a surge in preventable diseases, Sanders said Kennedy’s actions are undermining public trust in science and threatening lives both in the United States and around the world.

Vermont Business Magazine The Associated General Contractors of Vermont (AGC-VT) on Wednesday, August 27 hosted members and community leaders at its Montpelier training facility to celebrate the association’s 90-year anniversary. The event featured a grilled dinner, locally made Island Homemade Ice Cream, live music, congenial networking and the debut of AGC-VT’s new, high-tech heavy equipment simulator. In attendance were members of AGC-VT from across the state, as well as notable community leaders, such as state legislators, Lt. Gov. John Rogers and Gov. Phil Scott (himself, a twice-former president of AGC-VT).

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA), Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD), Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (AAFM), and Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) today announced the launch of VEDA’s Disaster Recovery Loan Fund. This fund provides financial assistance to Vermont businesses; working lands enterprises including farms, logging operations, and sawmills; and not-for-profit organizations to recover from damage caused by disasters. Proceeds may be used to repair or replace damaged property and/or inventory, as well as relieve economic injury by replenishing working capital. 

By Ed Neuert, UVM For over 20 years, outstanding farmers, producers, and other individuals involved in Vermont’s working landscape have been honored with induction into the Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame. This year, for the first time, a new member of the Hall of Fame will be not a person, but a thing: the long running television show “Across the Fence.” Since its inception in 2003, the Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame has recognized over 100 individuals. The selection of “Across the Fence” marks the first time an entity other than an individual person has been honored.

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management services company, recently honored four organizations for their leadership in sustainability as part of Casella’s annual Sustainability Leadership Awards. The Casella Sustainability Leadership Awards recognize customers who best exemplify what we can achieve when we work together to reduce waste, increase recycling, and advance the circular economy. Recipients are selected annually from a range of sectors, including municipalities, colleges and universities, industrial manufacturers, food and beverage producers, and more. This year’s winners are: Primo Brands, Dartmouth College, The Arc Otsego, and The University of Vermont Medical Center.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says bear hunting season starts in September and reminds hunters about the bear hunting regulations. Vermont has two bear hunting seasons.  The early season, which requires a special bear tag, starts September 1 and continues through November 14 with one exception.  Nonresident hunters using dogs cannot start bear hunting until September 15.  The late bear season begins November 15 and continues through November 23.  A hunter may only take one bear during the year. In addition to a hunting license, a bear hunter using a bow or crossbow must have a prior or current bow license or a certificate proving completion of a bow hunter education course.