Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Longtime Vermont State Police member Jean-Paul (J.P.) Sinclair, who first joined the agency in 1987 and in the decades since has investigated some of the state’s highest profile criminal cases, will retire next month following 31 years of service to Vermonters. Sinclair, a captain, became the Vermont State Police’s chief criminal investigator in 2013 and has worked as a detective in various capacities for more than 20 years. For the past year, Sinclair has led the VSP’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

“Once I got into criminal investigations I just knew this was exactly what I wanted to do. It’s an amazing group of people who make me proud every day,” Sinclair said, referring to his colleagues. “It’s a thrill to be in this chair and to see the work that goes on every day, the successes in any number of cases every day. It’s just very gratifying.”

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) and Southern Vermont College (SVC) have affiliated to enhance healthcare education and workforce opportunities for college-bound high school students, as well as working professionals interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. The strategic alliance looks to first address the growing nursing shortage expected to be experienced in Vermont, and is expected to grow to include other academic programs at the college.

Vermont Business Magazine Ski Vermont has announced the hiring of Adam White as its Director of Communications, bringing a new voice to the nonprofit organization that represents 50 alpine and cross-country areas across the state. White spent the past 12 years covering skiing and snowboarding in Vermont for local and national newspapers, magazines and online publications.

Vermont Business Magazine Cloudnine has added another distinguishing feather to its cap by becoming India's first member of the prestigious Vermont Oxford Network (VON). Based in Burlington, VON is a coveted consortium of healthcare professionals representing neonatal intensive care around the world. VON operates with a singular endeavour to elevate the global neonatal landscape by capturing critical information on very low birth weight infants and infants meeting other eligibility requirements. It is propelled by a mission to 'improve the quality and safety of medical care for newborn infants and their families through a coordinated programme of research, education, and quality improvement projects'.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Electric Department issued a peak day alert for both today and tomorrow, August 28 and 29, as part of its "Defeat the Peak" program launched last summer, encouraging members of the Burlington community to reduce their energy usage today and tomorrow from 3-7 pm.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University has received a $3.58 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of a “Scholarship for Service” program, in which student-recipients majoring in computer security and information assurance commit to work for the federal government following graduation.

Vermont Business Magazine The Manton Foundation has awarded $450,000 to the University of Vermont to fund essential renovations at the UVM Morgan Horse Farm, the University’s historic, 200-acre breeding farm, teaching facility and tourist destination in Weybridge. Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, the farm has been an official breeding site for the Morgan horse, Vermont’s official state animal, since 1878 and is believed to be the oldest, continuous Morgan horse breeding program in the world. Today, the facilities house approximately 30 horses, student apprentices, a breeding lab, as well as a public exhibit area and gift shop.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard destination in Eastern North America and part of POWDR, announced that tickets for the 2018 Killington Cup will be available for purchase starting Wednesday, September 5 at 9 am ET at killington.com. Taking place November 23-25, the World Cup will once again bring the women’s giant slalom and slalom races to Vermont and is expected to attract US Ski Team superstar Mikaela Shiffrin to compete against the best women’s technical alpine skiers in the world.

Vermont Business Magazine Yoga classes, weight reduction competitions, smoking cessation incentives, farm market produce, a campus vegetable garden, a wellness committee and a monthly newsletter filled with recipes and healthy living ideas are all part of the workplace incentives offered to those who are keeping others healthy in central Vermont’s largest community health network. Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region (CHCRR) went tobacco free in July, but that is only one of the reasons why Vermont’s Department of Health has recognized CHCRR as a Bronze Level employer for promoting health and reducing the risk of chronic disease in the workplace.

by John McClaughry A year ago Governor Scott created a Climate Action Commission in response to clamor generated by the state’s environmental organizations determined to make Vermonters take bold action to defeat the Menace of Climate Change which they insist “is a fundamental threat to Vermont.” The governor tasked the Commission with delivering “an action plan aimed at reaching the State's renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals while driving economic growth, setting Vermonters on a path to affordability, and ensuring effective energy transition options exist for all Vermonters.”

Vermont Business Magazine With services now set for US Senator John McCain, Governor Phil Scott has ordered flags to half-staff beginning at sunrise on Wednesday, August 29, the day of Senator McCain’s first service. Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on Sunday, September 2, following Senator McCain’s interment at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. As noted, Senator McCain’s memorial services begin with services in Arizona on Wednesday. Senator McCain will then lie in state in Washington, DC, with additional services to follow Saturday and Sunday.

by Stephanie Yu, Public Assets Institute Vermonters have spoken. A recent poll commissioned by Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS showed a majority of Vermonters favor going to a $15 minimum wage and over 80 percent support raising it above the current level. In all the chaos of the special session and getting a budget in place before July 1, the governor’s 13 vetoes at the end of the regular legislative session didn't get much attention. Nevertheless it’s clear that his veto of the Legislature’s bill to increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2024 is out of step with most Vermonters.

The minimum wage has not kept up with rising costs, and buys less housing, less child care, and less health care than it used to. It falls short of the Vermont livable wage determined by the Joint Fiscal Office, and it’s not getting any closer.