Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Earlier this week, Campaign for Vermont Prosperity (CFV) sent a letter to the Act 73 Task Force, identifying some of the pitfalls of Act 46 (the previous consolidation effort) and offering research-backed suggestions on how to avoid making the similar mistakes. Since 2010 Vermont has consolidated from 271 school districts down to the current 119. Act 73 contemplates further consolidation down to 10-20 regional school boards. At the same time, spending has accelerated to the point that Vermont now spends 79% more than the national average and outcomes have been declining since this latest consolidation effort. 

by Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas As the Chief Elections Officer of the State of Vermont, I am proud of the work my office does to keep Vermont elections free, fair, accessible, and accurate. Vermonters may have heard of recent outreach from the federal government to states asking for voter information, including state voter lists. The policy of my office is very clear: Our office has no plans to share Vermont voter data with the federal government. The reasons for this are twofold. First, Vermont law specifically prohibits sharing of this data, and second, the U.S. Constitution gives states the authority to conduct elections, not federal agencies.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VCIA), the largest captive insurance trade association in the world, has appointed Ian Davis as its next president following a national search. Davis was appointed at the VCIA annual conference in Burlington. He succeeds Kevin Mead. A respected leader with diverse experience across public and private sectors, Davis brings more than a decade of expertise advancing industry advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and strategic growth in the captive insurance sector.

Vermont State Police On August 11, 2025, at approximately 1910 hours, the Vermont State Police responded to a single vehicle collision on I-89 S in the Town of Milton. Vehicle 1 was identified as a 2023 GMC 3500, operated by Thomas Rehrig, of Schuylkill Haven, PA. Vehicle 1 was traveling south on I-89 S, when it departed the traveled portion of the roadway and entered the median. Vehicle 1 then struck multiple trees in the median and came to a final point of uncontrolled rest. 

Vermont Business Magazine Kinney Drugs has announced a new Brattleboro drugstore at 499 Canal Street is officially open and ready to serve the community. This includes the administration of the flu vaccine, which is now available for the 2025-2026 flu season. This location is formerly a Rite Aid, and several pharmacists and staff have chosen to join the Kinney Drugs family. 

Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission Four months into our Draft Regional Future Land Use Map outreach, and we have met with 21 of TRORC's 30 member towns! Five meetings are coming up in August. During this process, TRORC has created an interactive web map showing our proposed Regional Future Land Use Map. After TRORC meets with each Municipal Planning Commission, they will become visible on the map. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Vermont Community Leadership Award: Vermont’s Long Term Recovery Groups (LTRGs) and the many dedicated volunteers who rose to support their communities during the catastrophic floods of 2023 and 2024.This award was presented yesterday at VCRD’s 6th Community Leadership Summit where community leaders from across the state gathered to share skills, connect, and build a stronger Vermont together. Each year, VCRD presents the Community Leadership Award to individuals or groups who exemplify dedication, integrity, and honorable service to rural Vermont, and whose work has had a transformational impact on their communities. This year’s award honors not just one leader—but an entire network of leaders across the state whose actions represent the very best of grassroots community service.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund (VILDF) today announced it raised $250,000 since its launch in May. VILDF has already made its first grant of $100,000 to the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project. VILDF was established in May 2025 to bolster legal representation and support for immigrants in Vermont.  With a record number of immigration detentions and removals taking place in Vermont and across the country, the need for legal representation has been overwhelming the small number of Vermont attorneys with expertise in immigration law. The Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP) will use the funds from this award to expand urgently needed legal services for immigrants facing removal proceedings across the state. 

Vermont Business Magazine Switchback Brewing Co. has announced that its Essential Vermont Malt Whiskey has earned a Double Gold Medal at the 2025 North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition (NABWC). This latest honor joins a growing list of accolades for the brewery, reinforcing Switchback’s expanding reputation for exceptional Vermont-made spirits. The NABWC, founded in 2014 and produced by Wine Country Network, brings together top whiskey producers from across North America in a double-blind, style-based competition judged by a panel of industry professionals. A Double Gold designation is reserved for spirits that receive unanimous gold ratings from the entire judging panel.

Vermont Business Magazine During National Wellness Month, the American Red Cross encourages people to prioritize their personal health and well-being while helping to save lives with a blood or platelet donation. Donors of all blood types – especially those with type O positive or B negative blood – are asked to make an appointment now to prevent a further drop in donor turnout. In August, the Red Cross will provide free A1C screening – a test commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes – for all donors who make a successful blood, platelet or plasma donation. Fasting is not required for this test, and donors will be able to view their confidential results one to two weeks after their donation in the Blood Donor App or their donor account at RedCrossBlood.org. Donors will receive one A1C test result in a 12-month period. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has recognized 72 primary care practices across the state for achieving high vaccination rates – helping to protect children, teens and adults against vaccine-preventable diseases that can be serious or even deadly. “Vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have to protect yourself and those around you from serious disease,” said Merideth Plumpton, Vermont Immunization Program Manager. “Now more than ever, we want to recognize the importance of this work in our communities and the professionals who are leading the way to keep Vermonters healthy.” Practices are honored at the Gold or Silver level based on their immunization coverage rates, according to data from the Vermont Immunization Registry.

Vermont Business Magazine Moments in Time, a collection of works by Vermonters with Dementia, is on display in the Community Room at Allard Square, a Cathedral Square community located at 146 Market Street in South Burlington. The exhibit displays (23) pieces from (13) individual artists and two collages created from art submissions from Residences and Adult Day centers in Vermont. The collection includes a variety of visual art, a wood carving, quilts and a mobile, highlighting the diversity and creativity of Vermonters with dementia.