Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Donovan joined 51 Attorneys General as a signatory on a letter The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) sent yesterday to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee chair and ranking member. The letter asks the Committee to introduce legislation that would allow the federal government to return prescription drug settlement money to the states.

At issue is a prescription drug benefit, known as Medicare Part D, for individuals covered by both the Medicare and Medicaid programs. This benefit has been paid for by the federal government and the states. Over the last 10 years, the federal government has recovered tens of millions of dollars in pharmaceutical fraud settlements involving Part D drugs, however the states have never received any share of the money.

by Paul Cillo Public Assets Institute Two years ago, I wrote an op-ed that opened: “The Legislature can work with local communities to improve education, or it can push them around.” This is the fundamental choice that the governor and lawmakers continue to wrestle with this session. In 2015, the debate was over school district consolidation. This year, the discussion hinges on savings from lower premiums for teachers’ health insurance, which have already been set for 2018. Both issues involve the state imposing control over local school management, and both have profound implications for communities.

Vermont Business MagazineForest tent caterpillars have hatched, according to forest health specialists from the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. The insect is expected to cause widespread defoliation this summer, mostly in forests across northeastern and central Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Barre native and national quality expert Anna T Noonan, BSN, MS, RN, has been appointed president and chief operating officer for Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin. Following a rigorous national search, a press released stated, she emerged as the successful candidate and will start in the role July 24. CVMC is part of The University of Vermont Health Network, along with Porter Hospital in Middlebury and three hospitals in New York State.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Power Systems Corp(TSX: NPS) has announced financial results for its first quarter endedMarch 31, 2017. The report indicates that revenues are up and the quarterly loss is down, compared to the same period last year. Northern Power sold off part of the company to a Brazilian firm late last year. Based in Barre,Northern Power isa next generation renewable energy technology company best known for its mid-sized wind turbine systemsdesigned for remote and off-grid locations. It employs 75.

Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $6.2 million, compared to $5.2 million in the first quarter of 2016.GAAP net loss for the first quarter of 2017 was$1.2 million, compared toa net loss of $4.2 million in the prior year first quarter. Order backlog at the end of the first quarter was $30 million, compared to $26 million for the prior year first quarter.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is reminding anglers and the general public as a whole to avoid disturbing spawning sea lamprey that may currently be found in the Connecticut River and several of its tributaries. The invasive, non-nativesealamprey that plague Lake Champlain are a separate population of fish.

"Sea lamprey are native to the Connecticut River basin and play a vital role in the ecosystem," said Lael Will, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. "Vermont is also home to a separate population of non-native sea lamprey that are actively controlled as a nuisance species in Lake Champlain. Confusion can arise over the differing management goals for these two populations of sea lamprey. We believe it's important to highlight and contrast the conservation value of Connecticut River sea lamprey, educate the public, and encourage folks to do their part to protect this important population of fish."

Vermont Business Magazine SenatorsBernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Patrick Leahy released the following statements Wednesday after Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced the appointment of former FBI DirectorRobert Mueller to serve as a special counsel to oversee its investigation into Russian meddling in last November's election.

Leahy said: “Bob Mueller has a distinguished career in law enforcement. I know him well, especially from our oversight work on the Judiciary Committee. He is widely respected in Congress, across the political spectrum. I welcome this development and am glad that Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein did the right thing by appointing a special counsel. Director Mueller has an enormous responsibility, to impartially determine the extent to which Russia has interfered in our democracy, and the depth of any connections between this administration and Russian officials.

Vermont Business Magazine Which states are most into local food? That question is answered by the sixth annualLocavore Index, which ranks the 50 states (plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) in terms of their commitment to local food. The Index, which uses seven different data sets reflecting patterns of local food consumption, isresearched and compiledby Strolling of the Heifers, a non-profit food advocacy organization based in Vermont. According to the 2017 Locavore Index,Vermont, Maine, Oregon, Montana and New Hampshire (in that order) demonstrate the strongest commitment to local food. Vermont has led the Index since its inception in 2012. Rounding out the top 10 are the District of Columbia, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Rhode Island.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced that Burlington Chief Administrative Officer Bob Rusten will be leaving the CAO position on September 1, 2017, after serving in City Hall since 2013. Rusten played a critical role in numerous key initiatives over the last four years, including the restoration of the City’s credit rating, voter passage of a five year infrastructure plan, and substantial reform of the City’s retirement system.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Democratic leadership in the Legislature announced today that it has given up trying to find a compromise with Governor Phil Scott over the issue of a statewide teacher health insurance plan. They said they will now finalize the state budget and send it to the governor, where he could sign it, let it become law without his signature or veto it, as he has suggested he might. A veto would require the Legislature, nearly two week already behind their intended adjournment date, back into session soon after a veto.

Vermont Business Magazine Do you have an innovative product or creative concept? Do you need help in defining and refining your business concept and business pitch? Are you looking to court investors who can assist in producing your product or capitalizing your business? St. Johnsbury has again secured a spot in the statewide entrepreneurial competition known as Road Pitch, which will be hosted at Catamount Arts on August 4th. From Brattleboro to Grand Isle, see upcomiing Road Pitch schedule below.