Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The New England and Mid-Atlantic states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the nation’s first market-based regulatory program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, today announced consensus on a set of draft program elements that will guide the RGGI states as they conduct final economic analysis and establish a post-2020 path forward for the program. The RGGI states propose a regional cap trajectory that will provide an additional 30 percent cap reduction by the year 2030, relative to 2020 levels.

Vermont Business Magazine Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) Wednesday issued the following statement on President Trump’s threat to shut down the government if Congress does not agree to force American taxpayers to fund a border wall.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced Daniel “Danny” Rachek will become the next executive director of the Vermont Lottery. “I thank the Vermont Lottery Commission for its diligence in identifying such a qualified leader for this role,” said Gov. Scott. “Danny’s extensive public service and financial experience provides a level of expertise and a professional commitment that will set the standard in the Lottery’s future efforts.”

Rachek, an Essex resident, begins his post November 13. He currently serves as head of the Vermont office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he’s worked for more than 22 years. For the past six years, his service included supervising 20 FBI employees assigned to Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Gas announced today that 507 families and businesses in Addison County have signed for service. Vermont Gas said these new customers will save money and reduce their carbon footprint by switching to natural gas service. The company has been installing service lines in Middlebury and Vergennes this summer since officially completing the Addison Natural Gas Project in April. Vermont Gas said will continue installing service lines into new communities in the coming years including Monkton, New Haven and Bristol.

Vermont Business MagazineFall is approaching and the University of Vermont and Champlain College in Burlington are preparing to welcome students back to their campuses. Beginning onFriday, August 25th, residence halls for both institutions will be opening for first-year students, with returning students arriving over the weekend. Plans will be implemented to manage the traffic and parking challenges associated with the move-in process, including organizing hundreds of student, faculty, and staff volunteers to help move students in quickly, hiring of extra traffic control at key intersections, providing off-campus parking areas for faculty and staff, and assigning scheduled move-in times to students.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office settled with four landlords in Vermont for violations of consumer protection and lead laws. Vermont’s lead law protects all Vermonters, especially children, from the harmful effects of lead poisoning. Every landlord with pre-1978 rental properties is required to submit annual compliance statements which show that the landlords have performed the essential maintenance practices (known as EMPs) and the properties are in compliance with the lead law.

Charles Desautels, owner of thirteen rental properties in Richford and Enosburg Falls, will pay a $5,000 penalty for failing to file annual EMP compliance statements after notice and warning.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced the appointment of Cindi Wight as the new director of the Burlington Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront Department (BPRW). Wight brings over 24 years of experience, including four years as the Superintendent (Director) of the Rutland Recreation & Parks Department, where she oversees all aspects of the department, including budgeting, long-range planning, grant writing, and community partnerships. Wight was selected as a member of the American Academy of Parks & Recreation for Administrators in 2015, and under her leadership, Rutland Recreation & Parks’ park and theatre projects have gained state and national attention for their creative approaches to expanding services that benefit all community members.

Vermont Business Magazine A new ranking of environmentally-focused colleges reveals that New England is home to the greenest colleges in the nation. College of the Atlantic, Green Mountain College, and Sterling College were awarded the top three spots in Sierra magazine’s “Cool Schools,” the recently released ranking of the greenest colleges and universities in the US. The Cool Schools ranking is among the most well-known and prestigious sustainability rankings in higher education. The rankings recognize the colleges’ commitment to sustainability, which encompasses academics, research, operations, and engagement.

Vermont Business MagazineVermont hospital executivesand surgeons make the most money, not surprisingly, with Dr John Brumsted, the CEO of the University of Vermont Health Network, the top earner in the region at over $2 million a year. More than half of his income was from bonuses and other compensation. Dr James Weinstein, who recently stepped down as CEO of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in West Lebanon, NH, has the highest salary at $1.2 million, with a total compensation of $1.5 million. Brumsted leads a consortium of hospitals (including CVMC) in Vermont and in upstate New York.

Vermont Business Magazine Nearly 400 runners, walkers, and motorcycle riders from all over the region gathered in Randolph on August 18^thand 19^thand raised $105,000 for the 12^thannual Last Mile Ride.The popular two-day fundraiser has raised $646,000 thousand dollars over the years to support unique end-of-life services provided by Gifford Health Care. Starting in 2006, when 74 motorcyclists rode the very first Last Mile Ride route, the event has expanded into a two-day celebration that includes a timed 5K run and 1- and 2.5 mile walking routes.

Vermont Business MagazineGeneral Surgeon DrOvleto Ciccarelli is offering private skin cancer screenings at Gifford’s Community Health centers through the early fall. These private screenings are free and open to everyone, not just Gifford patients. Dr. Ciccarelli notes that early skin cancer warning signs can appear on hard-to-see areas of the body, or in areas that might be difficult to find for the elderly or people living alone. He is concerned about an increase in the number of patients he sees with basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and malignant melanomas.

“Melanoma is curable if caught early, and other skin cancers are more treatable if caught early,” he said. “Vermonters, who are largely fair-skinned and exposed to short intervals of intense sun, are especially vulnerable to skin cancers.”

Vermont Business Magazine GMP crews are ready to restore power if this afternoon’s severe thunderstorms and high winds cause outages across Vermont. “GMP is prepared for the upcoming storm that may cause outages across Vermont,” said Dorothy Schnure, GMP spokesperson. “Our dedicated crews are ready to work quickly and safely to restore any power outages that may occur.”

Forecasters are calling for possible severe thunderstorms and high winds across the state, particularly in northern areas. Scattered to isolated severe thunderstorms could begin as early as 3:30 p.m. today and continue through midnight.

Green Mountain Power reminds the public that downed lines may be live and dangerous, even if on the ground or tangled in trees. In addition, the storms can cause quickly rising water in rivers and near hydroelectric plants that can create unsafe conditions.