Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today delivered remarks on the impact of the Republican reconciliation bill — which passed the Senate by one vote and will throw nearly 17 million Americans off the health care they have. There is no question that cybersecurity and protecting the privacy of Americans’ health care records are important issues that we need to deal with. But, Mr. Chairman, let me be very clear. That is not the issue that is right now on the minds of the American people. What people are worried about is the catastrophic impact that the reconciliation bill that was passed last week will have on the health and well-being of the American people. 

Vermont Business Magazine Regional leaders from across the Northeast Kingdom gathered Tuesday at Community National Bank in Derby to tackle one of the region’s most pressing challenges: housing. Hosted by the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce, the NEK Housing Conversation brought together developers, financial institutions, planners, nonprofits, legislators, and employers to define the region’s top priorities and shape statewide efforts through the Let’s Build Homes Coalition, such as Act 250 and Act 181 reforms. 

The Vermont State Police is identifying the trooper who fired his service weapon Monday afternoon in the town of Putney as Peter Romeo. Trooper Romeo has been a member of the Vermont State Police since 2022. He has served as a uniformed trooper in the Field Force Division at the Westminster Barracks since his graduation from the Vermont Police Academy in January 2023. His department photograph is attached to this release. He has been placed on paid relief-from-duty status, per standard procedure following a critical incident. The man who was shot and killed is identified as Scott Garvey, 55, who lived in the apartment at Putney Landing where the shooting occurred. An autopsy completed Tuesday at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington determined the cause of Garvey’s death was gunshot wounds of the torso and left lower extremity, and the manner of death is a homicide.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University (VTSU) has been awarded $6 million in federal funding to continue its TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) programs, an investment that will directly benefit hundreds of first-generation, low-income students and students with disabilities across four campuses. The five-year grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, will provide $1.2 million annually to support academic success, degree completion, and equitable access to higher education at VTSU’s Johnson, Williston, Randolph, and Castleton campuses.

Vermont Business Magazine Windham community members are encouraged to participate in the second step of the What’s Possible, Windham? community process by joining the meeting on July 24th from 4:30 to 8:30 pm at the Windham Meeting House. At this meeting, Windham residents will discuss what’s important for Windham to champion right now, prioritize action ideas with dot voting, and form task forces to implement the chosen priorities. Dani Parkins, the Municipal Technical Assistance Coordinator at the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) states that “this upcoming community meeting in Windham is where the rubber hits the road. On July 24th, community members will have the opportunity to shape their own future by showing up to vote for and champion what is most important in Windham.”

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has been once again recognized as one of the top 50 Property and Casualty insurers in the United States by Ward Group, an Aon Hewitt company, and one of the industry’s most respected benchmarking organizations. This is the 17th year in a row that the Vermont-based insurer has received the designation. Annually, Ward Group identifies the industry’s top insurance companies through a comprehensive financial analysis of approximately 3,000 U.S. property and casualty insurers. The “Ward’s 50” recognizes insurers for their consistency, safety and outstanding financial performance over a five year period. 

Vermont Business Magazine After three consecutive years of multimillion-dollar operating deficits driven by rising health care costs and rising program costs, Howard Center today announced a strategic realignment of services to address ongoing financial challenges and protect its ability to deliver critical services across the region. Adjustments to programs and services will begin in September and continue through the end of the calendar year. Changes include a reduction of 13 supportive housing beds and closure of day programming at Westview House. All of which result in the elimination of 27 filled positions and 30 vacant positions - 13 of the positions are administrative. As a direct services organization, more than 90% of Howard Center’s budget is dedicated to staff salaries and benefits. 

Vermont Business Magazine National Life Group is thrilled to announce the Holly and Bob Miller Charitable Fund, a donor advised fund at the Vermont Community Foundation, will match every dollar that the National Life Group Do Good Fest® raises for the Vermont Foodbank, doubling up to $100,000. Born out of the company’s “Do good, Be good and Make good” values, Do Good Fest has brought national and local acts to the back lawn of its Montpelier campus since 2014 and has raised over $2 million to support its communities.

Vermont Business Magazine The Community College of Vermont (CCV) will offer a new project management certificate beginning in the fall 2025 semester. The new certificate is one of the College’s 27 certificate programs designed to provide a comprehensive offering of high-value credentials that prepare students for the workplace or further education. This certificate can be completed in just one year and is one of 33 degree and certificate programs that can be completed fully online. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Coberlin Brownell, 54, of Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one misdemeanor count of Possession of Child Pornography (now known as child sexual abuse material). The Court, Judge John Pacht presiding, sentenced Brownell to one to two years in jail, all suspended, and a two-year term of probation with conditions that require completion of sex offender programming, limit his contact with children, and monitor his access to the internet. If Brownell violates the terms of his probation, he faces up to two years in jail. Brownell is also required to register as a sex offender for 10 years after his successful completion of probation. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remain close to zero statewide, after a spike last winter. Overall COVID trends are declining in Vermont and across the US. The Vermont COVID-19 pandemic death total stands at 1,299 as of June 28, 2025, with 1 reported death from the previous week (the most recent data available from the CDC). Vermont has the second lowest state fatality rate in the US (148.3 per 100K; Hawaii 113.6/100K). Mississippi (465.9/100K) and Oklahoma (461.3/100K) have the highest rates. The US average is 308.1/100K (CDC data). 

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Medical Center has graduated the first sponsored cohort of Registered Nurses (RNs) from its innovative internal Nursing Pathway Program. These graduates, who began their journeys as Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNAs) at UVM Medical Center, earned their academic credentials in May 2025 and are now licensed as RNs and Practical Nurses (LPNs), marking a significant milestone in Vermont’s healthcare workforce development. The graduating cohort includes seven RNs and eight LPNs. This pipeline program is a strategic response to Vermont’s nursing shortage and University of Vermont Health Network’s commitment to strengthening internal career pathways. By investing in existing staff, UVM Medical Center reduces reliance on expensive traveling nurses and fosters a local, stable, community-connected nursing workforce.