Current News

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.  

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) on Wednesday unveiled the Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act, new legislation to improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Disaster AID Act was inspired and shaped by the experiences of towns and cities across Vermont recovering from historic floods in 2023 and 2024. Senator Welch’s bill will cut red tape and empower state and local governments to access recovery assistance when it is needed. The bill will support hazard mitigation efforts, make the delivery of disaster aid more efficient and effective, provide technical assistance to small towns and communities impacted by natural disasters, and block the White House from withholding funding for disaster response. He will officially introduce the Disaster AID Act next week, coinciding with the anniversary of the 2023 and 2024 floods. 

Vermont Business Magazine A rainy forecast couldn’t stop supporters of the McClure Miller Respite House from gathering on May 31 for the University of Vermont Health Network - Home Heath & Hospice’s 35th Jiggety Jog. The annual 5K run/walk raises funds to directly support the care of residents at the Respite House. The 2025 Jiggety Jog included 247 participants and secured 530 donations surpassing the event goal of $125,000. Meeting this goal will provide more than 140 days of care at Vermont’s only Medicare-certified inpatient hospice residence. 

Vermont Business Magazine On the evening of June 30, the U.S. Department of Education alerted the Vermont Agency of Education that a series of federal funding allocations for fiscal year 2025 would not be made available to Vermont public schools on July 1. Statewide, these allocations amount to $26 million in congressionally approved funding that Vermont school districts have included in their budgets for the 2025-2026 school year.

Vermont Business Magazine This summer Smokey House Center based in Danby is launching the Future Foresters Apprenticeship, a ten-week, hands-on training program for college-aged youth, focused on sustainable forestry practices, climate adaptation, and ecosystem resilience. This immersive experience equips participants with technical skills and industry connections needed to address regional forestry challenges and support long-term ecosystem health. Vermont is 76% forested, with its forests supporting more than 9,000 jobs and generating $1.4 billion in annual sales. Forest-based recreation, including activities like hiking, fishing, and skiing, double this economic impact, contributing an additional $1.9 billion and supporting another 10,000 jobs. Additionally, maple production adds 2,600 jobs and $53.5 million in economic output.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has proclaimed July as Lakes Appreciation Month in Vermont. The Governor’s proclamation signifies the importance of the state’s over 800 lakes and ponds for this and future generations. Vermont has faced unprecedented challenges due to climate change, including catastrophic flooding. The protection of lake health using tools like the Shoreland Protection Act strengthens Vermont's resiliency to the harmful impacts of climate change. The Shoreland Protection Act balances the protection of vegetation along the shoreline with the allowance for reasonable development along shorelands.