Current News

Vermont Business Magazine An investigation by the Burlington Police Department and the FBI has determined that the racist posters recently distributed on the Burlington college campuses, particularly at the University of Vermont, were not undertaken by local college students, but were the work of provocateurs and "that these individuals intended to cause strife, disruption and mistrust on local college campuses by expressing hostile and troubling messages in their public places. There is also evidence that these individuals have participated in extremist group activities in other communities."

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) on Friday filed a motion with the Superior Court Washington Unit that would allow the State to publicly disclose documents relating to the alleged fraud case against Ariel Quiros and Bill Stenger.

These motions are the next step in Governor Phil Scott’s plan – developed by DFR in consultation with the AGO – to expedite public disclosure of records relating to the EB-5 program. Typically, all documents relevant to the litigation would remain sealed until the conclusion of the case, but under this plan the State will ask the Court to allow for release as the State produces files to the defendants.

Vermont Business Magazine Castleton University announced Friday that as part of a comprehensive response to a projected operating loss of $1.5 million for the current year, it will restructure its current workforce through a combination of layoffs, position eliminations, and early retirements. The restructuring will also enable the University to minimize a projected shortfall for the fiscal year 2019 and place it in a more sustainable position for future growth. The actual number of staff reductions has yet to be determined.

Castleton has traditionally served Vermonters who seamlessly enroll right out of high school. Like many colleges and universities nationwide, Castleton is faced with a lower number of graduating high school seniors and increased competition for in-state and local out-of-state students. Many institutions similar to Castleton have recently gone through, or are engaged in, similar restructuring and right-sizing.

Vermont Business Magazine The Champlain College Center for Financial Literacy has received a $170,000 grant from a benefactor who wished to remain anonymous that meets a $132,000 challenge grant from Next Gen Personal Finance, a non-profit organization that connects educators and students with free financial literacy resources. "The $302,000 will be used to support the Center's successful graduate-level educator training program to give up to 151 high school teachers the confidence, skills, and curriculum tools to bring personal finance education into the classroom," explained John Pelletier, director of the Center for Financial Literacy (CFL).

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Vermont Mayors issued statements welcoming Governor Scott and legislators’ support of commonsense gun reforms. Since 2013, the Vermont Mayors Coalition has supported a number of proposed commonsense gun reforms to ensure the safety of all Vermonters. The VMC urges Montpelier leaders to consider all of these as part of their new consideration of gun reforms.

These reforms have included:

by CB Hall Vermont Business Magazine The continuation of passenger rail service in Vermont is under scrutiny by Amtrak as a safety issue in the wake of congressional testimony given by Richard Anderson, the national rail provider's CEO, on February 15. Anderson said he doubted that the state's two passenger services would continue running after December 31, 2018, but subsequent statements from the company indicate it is not making any decisions just yet.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Navy will christen its newest Expeditionary Fast Transport, the future USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10), during a 10 am CST ceremony Saturday, February 24, at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. The future USNS Burlington, designated T-EPF 10, will be the first ship in naval service to honor Burlington, Vermont’s largest city. The first Navy ship Burlington (PF-51) was named for Burlington, Iowa and served during WWII.

According to a Navy press release, the principal speaker is US Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont. Marcelle Pomerleau Leahy, Senator Leahy’s wife of 55 years, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. In a time-honored Navy tradition, she will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.

Vermont Business Magazine Below is a statement from the University of Vermont, attributed it to Enrique Corredera, executive director of news and public affairs, and issued Thursday night. Protesters had blocked Main Street in Burlington Thursday to support racial justice after recent incidents on the UVM campus. Protesters asserted that UVM has not done enough to address racism.

"The University does not condone any activity that can result in serious unintended consequences. Taking over a major intersection in the city of Burlington, and impacting the lives of thousands of individuals and families is such an activity.

"The University will remain focused on the work it is doing to advance its diversity and inclusion goals, and will continue to speak out against every form of racism, bigotry and injustice on our campus.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today delivered a memo to the Vermont Legislature outlining immediate and longer-term actions he’d like to work with the Legislature on to maintain the safest, healthiest and strongest communities and schools. Following delivery of the memo, the governor delivered the below statement at his weekly press conference.

Vermont Business Magazine Over 80 middle and high school students joined forces today in a grassroots effort to bring student voices in support of common sense gun legislation. The students advocated for passage of three bills currently before the legislature to improve safety for students and all Vermonters. Many noted the importance of passing universal background checks as a first step to improving safety.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine You can fill up your car with electricity for the equivalent of $1.50 a gallon of gas. Burlington Electric Department has a way to drop that to around $1 a gallon equivalent, while also reducing the upfront costs of electric vehicles. The upfront cost has been the primary barrier for people who want an EV from buying an EV. Burlington Electric today, in partnership with three local credit unions, launched a first-in-Vermont, new financing program to help make EVs more affordable for its customers. The plan could reduce upfront costs or financing for both fully electric and hybrid electric vehicles. The credit unions – Green Mountain Credit Union, Vermont Federal Credit Union, and VSECU – are offering low- and, under certain circumstances, no-interest loans and allowing Burlington Electric customers to apply their $600, $1,200, or $1,800 Burlington Electric EV incentives toward the purchase of EVs.

by Jack Hoffman Public Assets Institute Before Vermonters can assess the new education funding bill emerging in the Vermont House, they need to see a thorough analysis of winners and losers. The plan is being touted as a major shift from property taxes to income taxes to pay for education. But looking at the proposed education revenue numbers, there isn’t much of a shift. In fact, there will be slightly less in income taxes and slightly more in property taxes going into the Education Fund than under the current system.