Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement: “The Declaration of Independence bears fifty-six signatures from individuals who came as New Yorkers and Pennsylvanians, South Carolinians and Virginians, but returned home as Americans.

Vermont Business Magazine ISO New England system operators used well-established procedures to balance supply and demand on the regional power system during a capacity deficiency on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Consumer demand for grid electricity unofficially peaked that evening at 26,024 megawatts (MW), the highest level seen in the region since 2013. That was roughly in line with the ISO’s pre-season forecast for above-average summer weather. It was still well below the region’s all-time peak of 28,130 MW, set in August 2006. The peak hour was between 6 and 7 p.m., when the average temperature in New England was 95.6° Fahrenheit (F) and the dew point, a measure of humidity, was 68.0°F. The heat and humidity drove air conditioner use, creating increased demand for electricity.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont weekly unemployment claims for the week ending June 28, 2025, fell after they more than doubled the previous week. New claims were 531, down 117 claims from the week before but up 116 from last year at this time. Claims, which tend to be lowest in the summer, were 181 at the end of September 2024. Meanwhile, the positive US jobs report from Wednesday sent the stock market soaring at the same time that Congress passed the controversial reconciliation bill.

ermont Business Magazine MENTOR Vermont, in partnership with Up for Learning, proudly hosted its First Annual Youth Day, a new statewide initiative created for youth, by youth. Designed and led by a planning committee of six youth ages 12 to 17 from across Vermont, the event was held to bring together young people and mentors from mentoring programs throughout the state for a full day of connection, creativity, and leadership development.

Vermont Business Magazine National early childhood education (ECE) leaders Michelle Kang, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and Marica Cox Mitchell, Chief Program Officer of the Bainum Family Foundation, joined Vermont early childhood education leaders on June 25 at the Capitol Plaza in Montpelier to celebrate the leaders and advocates helping transform Vermont's child care system into one that works for children, families, and early childhood educators. Michelle Kang and Marica Cox Mitchell joined the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC) Executive Director, Sharron Harrington, to underscore Vermont’s growing national attention for advancing early childhood education. While headlines across the country highlight the ongoing crisis in child care access, affordability, and workforce retention, Vermont is seen as a state offering real solutions. 

The Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing will perform a regional flyover on 4 July to mark Independence Day and recognize the ongoing support of communities in Vermont and upstate New York. The tribute aims to honor the holiday’s significance while connecting with the public. Beginning at approximately 9:45 a.m., four F-35 Lightning II aircraft will pass over towns and cities throughout the region. The flight path will coincide with various local parades and Independence Day festivities.

by Heather Pelham, Vermont Travel & Tourism Commissioner As perhaps many of you did too, at the Department of Tourism and Marketing we celebrated Canada Day yesterday by reaching out with messages of friendship to our neighbors across the border. Ever since we first saw the decline of visitors from Canada earlier this spring, we have been diving into the data and meeting with partners to strategize around how best to express our deep respect and genuine affection for Canadians. We understand many Canadians have been hurt by the rhetoric at the federal level and have now chosen not to travel to the U.S.  We have seen other destinations rush to express support, yet stumble with messaging that has fallen flat, despite the best of intentions. In recognition that our messaging strategy needs to be long term, we have been working with the Canadian-based creative agency MMGY Origin to launch our Canadian Outreach and Marketing Strategy for Vermont. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget reconciliation that included a provision to “defund” Planned Parenthood. The bill prohibits Planned Parenthood from receiving payments for the services they provide to patients on the Medicaid program. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) is calling this bill a backdoor abortion ban. The Hyde Amendment already bars federal Medicaid from covering abortion services, except in very rare instances. Now, Planned Parenthood’s non-abortion health services – such as cancer screenings, birth control, and STI testing – are also no longer eligible for reimbursement under Medicaid.

Vermont Business Magazine Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont) released the following statement on the passage of the Republican tax and spending bill that guts Medicaid, food assistance and other critical programs that Americans rely on. The Republican budget includes over $800 billion in cuts that will decimate Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. These cuts put rural hospitals at risk of immediate closure. It will kick nearly 17 million Americans off their health insurance and throw at least 4 million people off food assistance, all to bankroll tax breaks for billionaires and massive corporations. All Democrats voted no.

by Mike Donoghue An illegal immigrant wanted for wounding a man outside a South Burlington bookstore on Saturday was arrested in North Hartford, Conn. on Wednesday afternoon. Michael A. Wilson, 24, of Burlington was wanted on a state charge of attempted second-degree murder for the shooting outside the Barnes & Noble at 102 Dorset Street, South Burlington Police said. Police found seven shell casings from a Glock 19X 9-mm in the parking lot after the 11:40 a.m. shooting. The ATF determined that the handgun used in the shooting had been obtained by a woman in October 2024 and given to Wilson as a birthday present. The gun buyer claimed she was unaware that as a foreign visitor that Wilson could not legally possess a firearm.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.13 per gallon, down 3 cents per gallon from last week, up 5 cents/g from last month and down 31 cents/g from last year. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.47/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 82.0 cents per gallon. The lowest prices in the state were in Bennington ($3.02/g) and Windsor ($3.07/g) counties, while the highest were in Lamoille ($3.22/g), Franklin ($3.23/g) and Grand Isle ($3.23/g) counties, according to AAA. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.16/g today.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the City of Burlington announced the decision to indefinitely pause implementation of a Safe Overnight Parking pilot project in the gravel parking lot at Perkin’s Pier. It is important to note that the City of Burlington does not have the resources or staff capacity to address the need for shelter or services to respond to the crisis of unsheltered homelessness. We continue to call on State officials to ensure stable shelter is available to households as they wait for permanent affordable housing to be secured.