Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Mutual Insurance Group, protecting people and businesses throughout the Northeast for 190 years, has again been recognized by Ward Group as one of the Top 50 insurance companies in the United States. This represents the 10th consecutive year that Vermont Mutual has been recognized by Ward Group for their consistency, safety and superior financial performance.

Senator Patrick Leahy I am pleased to join Chairman Shelby as we prepare to debate the second set of appropriations bills to reach the Senate floor this session. This “minibus” contains four important bills for Fiscal Year 2019: the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill, the Financial Services and General Government bill, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill, and the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies bill. Each of these bills was reported by the Appropriations Committee unanimously, and each of these bills funds programs that provide important services to the American people and help invest in the future of this country – every corner of our country.

Vermont Business Magazine Nearly 900 hockey players on 63 teams from Vermont, Canada and around the United States helped raise approximately $14,000 playing in this year’s “Hockey Fights MS” tournament to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Fund at the UVM Medical Center. It’s the 11^th year Candace Arnold, the organization’s founder and one time patient at the Medical Center, has organized a Vermont tournament. Hockey Fights MS also holds tournaments every year in Massachusetts, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

This year’s donation will bring the total raised over the years to $85,000 for Multiple Sclerosis treatment and research at the UVM Medical Center. Vermont has some of the highest rates of this disease in the United States.

Vermont Business Magazine Childhood cancer researchers often depend largely on private funding to get projects off the ground and to move novel treatment approaches to the next phase of testing, ultimately bringing better therapies and cures to the forefront for kids with cancer. In its newest round of grants, the St.

VPR and Vermont PBS What do Vermonters think about the coming election? What are the key issues on their minds? Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS have released the full results of a joint statewide poll that measures Vermonters’ opinions the candidates and issues. On the political side, perhaps the most compelling result of the poll is the low rating for members of both parties in the Legislature or the lack of name recognition among challengers. On the non-political side, perhaps it's "The Economy" being the biggest problem facing the state, far exceeding issues like taxes, health care and guns and despite Vermont having one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) has awarded Rutland Economic Development Corporation (REDC) a subgrant of $131,206 to develop a Health and Education Center that will house the Rutland County Parent-Child Center (RCPCC). The RCPCC currently operates from multiple locations but will have a single base once the project is complete.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Attorney General’s Office is issuing this advisory to provide guidance and clarity to individuals and businesses about the scope of the law regarding the sale and gifting of marijuana. Act 86 does not legalize the sale of marijuana. Any transfer of marijuana for money, barter, or other legal consideration remains illegal under Vermont law. This includes a commercial transaction (ie, an exchange of goods or services for money) with a purported “gift” of marijuana. Examples include: selling an item or service, like a bracelet or t-shirt with the “gift” of marijuana. Charging someone for the purported “delivery” of a marijuana “gift” would also be considered a sale.

​Vermont Business Magazine Today the Vermont Public Utility Commission issued an Order providing guiding principles for future electric or natural gas utility regulation plans. Under Vermont law, the Commission may approve “alternative” regulation plans in tandem with more traditional, cost-based rate requests if the Commission finds that the plans meet certain criteria.

Vermont Business Magazine Changes to Vermont's tax code will now benefit all Vermont taxpayers making charitable contributions in 2018. The Vermont Department of Taxes and Governor Scott worked with the Legislature to pass a Working Families Taxpayer Protection package during the 2018 session. This legislation, which went into effect on July 2, 2018, reduces Vermont's marginal income tax rates by 0.2 percent (with the exception of the second highest tax bracket), increases the earned income tax credit and creates a 5 percent charitable contribution tax credit for all filers in accordance with changes made in the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Without these reforms, Vermonters would have experienced an arbitrary $30 million increase in their state income taxes and Vermont's non-profit sector may have seen diminished giving, as fewer Vermonters are expected itemize their taxes under the new federal rules.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Workers’ Center members and supporters will hold an informational picket outside City Hall in Montpelier Tuesday to educate the public about the impact of Vermont’s health care crisis and to highlight the urgent need for a universal, equitably-funded public health care system our state. The picket will be held immediately before the Green Mountain Care Board’s public hearing on proposed health insurance rate increases. The action is a response to skyrocketing health insurance rates, which have gone up by a cumulative 36% since 2014.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s congressional delegation announced Friday that Vermont Technical College received $400,000 from the US Department of Health and Human Services to develop a program to educate dental therapists, which will help expand access to much-needed oral health care throughout Vermont.

The $400,000 in federal funds will play an instrumental role in establishing and implementing a dental therapy education program at Vermont Technical College.

Vermont State Police Two people were killed in a head-on crash in South Londonderry Saturday (07/21/2018) evening. At approximately 8:24 pm, members of the Vermont State Police, Westminster Station along with an officer from the Winhall Police Department, responded to VT RT 100 in South Londonderry for a reported head-on, two-vehicle crash. This crash occurred on VT RT 100 south of intersection with Spring Hill Road. Investigation revealed the following: witness statements indicated that a white 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan was traveling at a reported high rate of speed northbound. The Volkswagen began leaving yaw marks in the road as it began swerving to the left in the northbound lane. The Volkswagen then crossed the centerline while leaving yaw marks in the southbound lane while it traveled north. The Volkswagen then struck a 2009 Chevy 2500 pick-up truck which was pulling a pop up trailer that was traveling south on VT RT 100.