Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Marlene Tromp, an accomplished scholar in Victorian literature and culture with extensive experience in higher education administration, officially began her tenure July 1 as the 28th president of the University of Vermont. On that same day at Middlebury College, Ian Baucom, a widely regarded leader who has long championed the role of colleges and universities as civic institutions, took the reins of the presidency from Laurie Patton.

Vermont Business Magazine An autopsy on James Crary, 36, of Newport, New Hampshire, was completed Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington. The autopsy determined Crary’s cause of death was gunshot wounds to the head, and the manner of death is a homicide. This investigation remains active, and no further information is available.

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of August 25, 2025. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it. 

by Ben Kinsley, Campaign for Vermont A friend recently sent me a Yale thesis that used regression analysis to determine the quantitative impacts of the Act 46 mergers. As someone who participated in the policy discussions that lead to Act 46, and has closely followed the outcomes of district consolidation efforts, I read this report with great interest. It is, however, quite lengthy and about as dense as your Aunt Lisa's fruit cake, so I decided to write a blog post summarizing the analysis and making it a bit more approachable. Perhaps even more importantly, I was eager to compare the learnings of that report to the current legislative efforts in Act 73 to address rising education costs. For Act 46, it actually appears to have increased the cost-per-pupil in our education system. You can see a definite acceleration in spending as mergers got underway in 2016. 

Vermont Business Magazine Join VBSR for this free webinar exploring how federal decisions are shaping Vermont’s future. From changes in federal rulemaking to the OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), Vermont advocates and business leaders will share insights on what’s happening in Washington, and what it means for our state. VBSR Public Policy Manager, Johanna de Graffenreid, will facilitate a conversation on how these decisions will impact Vermont businesses, VBSR’s 2025-2026 Advocacy Agenda, and key priorities like Vermont’s workforce development goals, early childhood education, the renewable energy industry, and more.

Vermont Business Magazine In 1955, the Ticonderoga made its remarkable overland journey from Lake Champlain to Shelburne Museum, where it has remained “docked” in its grassy basin ever since. Today, the 220-foot landmark remains one of the most iconic and beloved structures on the museum’s campus. To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Ticonderoga’s arrival, Shelburne Museum will host a weekend-long celebration packed with activities for all ages, September 11–14, 2025.

by Olivia Hatch, Vermont Business Magazine What is the future of Vermont? How do we attract and keep young people in the state? How do we build a more robust and dynamic economy? These questions are on the hearts of Vermonters, especially as we were one of only three states that saw a population decline in 2024. Attracting young professionals and entrepreneurs could be the key, but what is here to attract and keep them? The answer is co-working and innovation hubs. 

Vermont Business Magazine Historic Hotels of America has announced the Nominee Finalists for the 2025 Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards of Excellence. Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit organization chartered by U.S. Congress in 1949, for recognizing and celebrating the finest historic hotels from across the United States of America. Making the list from Vermont were the Von Trapp Family Lodge and Resort (1942) in Stowe and the Castle Hill Resort and Spa (1905) in Cavendish. Through the Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards of Excellence, this prestigious program honors the most exemplary historic hotels, hoteliers, and leadership practices with awards including Historic Hotels of America Best Historic Resort, Historic Hotels of America Sustainability Champion, and Historic Hotels of America Best Historic Hotel by size categories.

The Vermont State Police investigation into Thursday night’s fatal police shooting in Springfield remains active and ongoing. VSP is able to identify the deceased man as James Crary, 36, of Newport, New Hampshire. Detectives have learned that members of the Springfield Police Department and the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department had responded shortly before 9:30 p.m. Thursday to 78 Valley St. as part of an open investigation. When law enforcement arrived at the address, they encountered a man, later identified as Crary, in a vehicle outside the home. Crary accelerated toward the officers, who were standing outside their vehicles. At that point, a Springfield police officer and a Windsor County sheriff’s deputy opened fire with their department-issued firearms. Crary was struck by gunfire and pronounced dead on scene. 

The Vermont State Police is investigating a suspicious death in southern Vermont. The Bennington Police Department is providing assistance. The investigation began at about 3:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, when Bennington police were notified that a woman had been dropped off at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington with a significant injuries including head injury believed to be a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital. Bennington officers secured the hospital, determined that no shooting had occurred on site, and detained a person of interest. The local agency learned the woman had been injured outside their community and turned over the case to the Vermont State Police.

Vermont Business Magazine Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future, announced that CannaPlanners is No. 1,868 on the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list provides a data-driven snapshot of the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent, entrepreneurial businesses. Past honorees include companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Under Armour, Timberland, Oracle, and Patagonia.