Current News

byMike Smith Here’s the question state officials should be asking themselves: Just because you can do something, should you be doing it?Defrauded investors in Jay Peak Resort are suing state officials for negligence in their oversight of the EB-5 program.

In a court hearing last week, the Vermont Attorney General’s office argued that the state of Vermont is immune from the lawsuit and, as a result, officials are not required to release pertinent information hidden in state files.

Certainly, state government has enormous power and resources to make a legal argument of immunity —and perhaps win — but a more pertinent question is this: Should they?

​Vermont Business MagazineGifford Health Care in Randolph has received three top awards from the Department of Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) for quality Primary Care services. One of only 11 Vermont Health Centers to receive the grants, Gifford was the only FQHC in the state to receive the National Quality Leader Award.

by Bill Schubart As human beings we’re living in a time when our evolutionary capacity to understand, regulate, and use technological innovation in a way beneficial to mankind and our planetary home is simply overwhelmed by the relentless speed of discovery and invention. While civilization is about six thousand years old, it was the industrial age that first started taxing our management capacity as humans some hundred and seventy years ago.

Our understanding of natural phenomenon and therefore the pace of technical change accelerated greatly between 1850 and 1950 and has only sped up since that time. Technology, like biology, is an evolutionary process. Only the fit, or in the case of technology, the functional, survive to potentiate new waves of invention and discovery.

by Tom Evslin There is a chance that Vermont will investigate itself and find out how the biggest scandal in the EB-5 program nationwide happened here under state supervision. When asked at a news conference about the idea of appointing a special prosecutor,Scott said“[It’s] the first I’d really contemplated something of that magnitude, but it could be something that could be beneficial. We’ll talk about it.”

Vermont Business Magazine Medical studies indicate that eating healthfully helps women prevent breast cancer. It’s also reported that getting an annual mammogram after age 40 can help catch the disease when it is most treatable. In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, observed each October, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) has scheduled two events designed to help area women lessen the effects of breast cancer on their lives.

“Breast cancer is serious and touches everyone,” said Rebecca Hewson-Steller, SVMC’s breast health navigator. “We have a remarkable group of women in our community who want to raise awareness but also have fun. That’s what these events are about.”

Recipe Makeover and Tasting Party

by Gabriel C Lajeunesse Columbus Day is observed on October 9. And while it may be true that Leif Erikson and the Vikings beat Columbus to the New World, Columbus Day nonetheless remains important in the public eye, signifying themes such as exploration and discovery. As an investor, you don’t have to “cross the ocean blue,” as Columbus did, to find opportunities – but it may be a good idea to put some of your money to work outside the United States.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders is inviting Vermont high school students and their families to join him at two college fairs on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Lyndon State College and Saturday, Oct. 14 at Castleton University. Vermont colleges, universities, and certificate and apprenticeship programs will be on hand to describe the excellent post-secondary educational opportunities that are available right here in our state. The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation will explain different financial aid options that students may be eligible for, and will even help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Vermont Business MagazineThe Attorney General reached asettlementtoday regarding a security breach involving the Social Security numbers of 660 Vermont Health Connect users. SAManage USA, Inc, a technology company that provides business-support services, agreed to alter its information security and legal compliance programs and to pay a penalty of $264,000. In July 2016, SAManage’s IT ticketing system allowed an excel spreadsheet containing the 660 social security numbers to be viewed publicly without requiring authentication.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Tony Pomerleau may be slowed by a wheelchair, but his wit is quick, and frequently targeted toward his son. "Ernie and I are very close, understandably, because he always needs money." But his dad keeps giving it away. Businessman and philanthropist Tony Pomerleau turned 100 Thursday and was at the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center Friday afternoon with Governor Scott, Mayor Miro Weinberger, friends and family to be feted for his birthday and his commitment of $1 million to the Sailing Center.

The Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center (CSC), a non profit with a mission to provide community access to Lake Champlain, dedicated the new Pomerleau Community Waterfront Campus to its namesake, Tony Pomerleau. Last fall, through the Pomerleau Family Foundation, Pomerleau gifted $1 million to the CSC’s Love Your Lake Capital Campaign.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement Friday in response to Senate Republicans' proposed fiscal 2018 budget resolution. "After failing to throw 32 million Americans off health insurance, the Republicans are continuing their attack against the working families of our country with one of the most destructive budgets in modern American history."

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims remained under 300 claims last week to hold at a historically low level. Claims have been falling steadily since early July. Claims also are lower than they were the same time last year, which has been the case for most weeks in 2017. For the week of September 23, 2017, there were 298 claims, 4 more than than they were last week and 55 fewer than they were a year ago.

Altogether 2,532 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 93 from a week ago, and 459 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan, part of a coalition of nine Attorneys General, challenged the Trump Administration’s proposal to repeal the 2015 “Clean Water Rule.” The 2015 rule defines “waters of the United States” under federal law to ensure that the nation’s lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands receive proper federal protection. In comments addressed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), the coalition argues that the proposed repeal is “arbitrary and capricious and not in accordance with law.” The coalition also charges that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s involvement in the effort, after suing to void the Clean Water Rule as Oklahoma Attorney General, is “illegal” and would render any repeal invalid.