Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine In an article published Monday by Peter Hirschfeld at Vermont Public, the Scott administration has delivered personal information on Vermont SNAP beneficiaries to the federal government as demanded by the Trump administration. As Hirschfeld reported, both state officials and food advocates in Vermont felt that potential retribution by the federal government was too severe to challenge the request. About 64,000 Vermonters are served by SNAP, or nearly 10 percent of the state's population.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Justice Department published a list of states, cities, and counties identified as having policies, laws, or regulations that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws. All the states and all the jurisdictions listed are in "Blue" states, with the exception of Nevada and Philadelphia, as Nevada and Pennsylvania flipped to "Red" in the last presidential election. Vermont is on the list. In recent months, the Justice Department has filed several lawsuits against sanctuary jurisdictions seeking to compel compliance with federal law, including one against New York City on July 24. Recently, the Mayor of Louisville agreed to revoke their sanctuary policies following a letter from the Justice Department threatening legal action.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations fell to a near record-low number of cases statewide since the beginning of the pandemic over five years ago. Overall COVID trends are declining in Vermont and across the US. The Vermont COVID-19 pandemic death total stands at 1,301 as of July 26, 2025, with 0 reported deaths from the previous week (the most recent data available from the CDC). WHO also reported that global COVID-19 deaths keep declining. The VDH is no longer reporting COVID fatalities and cases in Vermont. Wastewater testing generally indicates that COVID-19 virus levels in Vermont also fell to very low levels after they had spiked in January. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs is informing the population of Estrie and Montérégie that it will carry out a vaccine bait distribution operation from August 6 to September 20, 2025. This vaccination operation aims to continue efforts to immunize raccoons, skunks and foxes. The goal is to slow the spread of raccoon rabies following the detection of several cases of the disease in raccoons in Québec since December 2024. Some of the vaccine effort is related to rabies cases in Vermont. Vermont conducted its rabies bait drop starting August 1.

Vermont Business Magazine When University of Vermont Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) began a years-long planning process focused on adding more certified nurse midwives to its OB/GYN practice, the goal was clear: respond to the community’s call for more access to midwifery care by building a sustainable, collaborative model for reproductive health. In early 2025, when the hospital finalized the program’s expansion to four certified nurse midwives (CNM) to its medical staff, that vision was fully realized. The CNMs now provide 24/7 coverage and care for expectant parents with low-risk pregnancies, and physician-supervised care for those with moderate-risk pregnancies. The hospital’s reimagined and expanded Midwifery and gynecology programs are a direct response to community feedback and requests for expanded access to midwifery-based perinatal care. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is issuing an air quality alert for Vermont for Tuesday, August 5. Wildfire smoke from Canada is expected to elevate concentrations of fine particles to “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (code orange) on the Air Quality Index across Vermont. The air quality forecast will be updated on Tuesday afternoon for conditions expected on Wednesday. 

Vermont Business Magazine It is with great excitement that VermontBiz Magazine celebrates the remarkable achievements of all the individuals chosen as the inaugural 91 Influencers here in Vermont. This prestigious honor highlights their unwavering dedication, innovation, and impact in their field and within the community, as they also inspire and lead those around them. The name 91 Influencers was inspired by the date that Vermont became the 14th state, March 4, 1791. We believe that number of honorees was fitting considering we are a state with just over 645,000 residents but with so many influential people in Vermont. 

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Attorney General Pam Bondi calling on them to reverse departmental guidance intended to throw people off of vital programs and services related to education, public health, job training and safety by requiring states, local governments and communities to unnecessarily verify immigration or citizenship status. These changes will also divert resources from community groups, agencies and providers toward meeting the added administrative burdens instead of delivering services and care for those most in need of assistance.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Robert Bivens, 56, of Montpelier, Vermont, was sentenced in Vermont Superior Court, Washington Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. The Court, Judge Michael Harris presiding, sentenced Bivens to one to three years in prison, all suspended, and a 10-year term of probation with conditions that require completion of sex offender programming, limit his contact with children, and restrict his access to computers. If Bivens violates the terms of his probation, he faces up to three years in prison. Bivens is also required to register as a sex offender for 10 years after his successful completion of probation.  

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas visited a variety of small businesses in the Northeast Kingdom on Wednesday as part of a statewide listening tour following the upgrade of her office’s online business filing system. Three recently formed businesses across the NEK were selected by the Secretary of State’s office for visits, with the chance to offer direct feedback to Secretary Copeland Hanzas about their interactions with her office and state government in general. 

by Mike Del Trecco, CEO, VAHHS This week, Vermont’s hospitals are in the spotlight as the Green Mountain Care Board begins its annual hospital budget hearings. And it may not be an overstatement to say that the stakes have never been higher. Health care costs are under scrutiny from every angle, and Vermonters are feeling the pressure. Headlines have highlighted premium increases approaching $50,000 for some families. That’s simply unacceptable. And it reinforces what we’ve been saying for some time now: affordability is not just an abstract policy goal—it’s essential to access.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont is$3.09 per gallon, up 2.1 cents per gallon from last week's $3.07/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.89/g while the highest was $3.39/g, a difference of 50.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 1.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.11/g today. The national average is up 1.3 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 32.8 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.