Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Thomas JDonovan, Jr, joined a coalition of 16 Attorneys General in filing an amicus brief with the USCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, challenging an Ohio state law that would defund Planned Parenthood and other health service providers that perform or promote abortions. The attorneys general argue that the Ohio law violates the First Amendment and Due Process Clause. The law unconstitutionally prohibits state funding of health care providers that perform abortions. This infringes on plaintiffs’ right to free speech, plaintiffs’ right to provide access to abortion services, and their clients’ right to receive such services.

Attorney General Donovan said: “Women have a constitutional right to make their own healthcare decisions. Health care providers should not be forced to choose between honoring women’s constitutional rights and continuing to provide other essential health services.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Luxembourg-based owner of Vermont's Keurig Green Mountain has added another major US food brand to its portfolio with a $7.5 billion acquisition of Panera Bread Company. Panera (NASDAQ: PNRA) and JAB Holding Company announced Wednesday that the companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which JAB will acquire St Louis-based Panera for $315 per share in cash, including the assumption of approximately $340 million of net debt. JAB bought Keurig just over a year ago for $13.9 billion. JAB also has controlling stakes in Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Peet's Coffee & Tea. JAB also owns a large stake in Jimmy Choo.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) joined Senator Edward J Markey (D-Mass) and other Senate Democrats in sending a letter Wednesday querying the nation’s largest broadband internet providers on their rules to protect the privacy and security of their subscribers. Their letter comes two days after President Donald Trump signed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution formally rescinding the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) broadband privacy rules, which required broadband providers to get consent before sharing their subscribers’ sensitive information and adopt reasonable data security protections. Without these broadband privacy rules in place, the senators contend, broadband providers can use, share, and sell Americans’ sensitive information about their health, finances, and families without permission.

Vermont Business Magazine Three unique Vermont wetlands are now being classified as ‘Class I’ wetlands, a designation that places extra protections on wetlands with exceptional ecological features. The three wetlands receiving Class I designations are the Sandbar wetlands (Milton and Colchester), Dennis Pond wetlands (Brunswick), and Chickering Fen (Calais).

Vermont Business MagazineThe University of Vermont has received its second Gold rating from STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System for higher education. The university’s score of 70.87 placed it among the top 12 percent of all rated institutions. The Gold rating is valid for three years.A program of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, STARS is the most widely adopted sustainability rating in higher education. Publications like the Princeton Review and Sierra draw on the data STARS compiles for their own college sustainability rankings.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) is pleased to announce the Direct Admissions program, which gives Community College of Vermont (CCV) graduates guaranteed transfer admission into Castleton University, Johnson State, Lyndon State or Vermont Tech, where students have the option of enrolling in one of nearly 50 bachelor’s degree programs, with more expected soon.

Direct Admissions represents the VSCS’s commitment to making higher education accessible and flexible for all Vermonters. The program allows students to save both time and money, eliminate the uncertainty of the transfer process, benefit from the support of two partnering institutions, and complete two degree programs.

Vermont Business Magazine OnSaturday, May 6, fromnoon to 6 pm, Southern Vermont College (SVC) will host the 2nd Annual BATS Trail Mix Event. This year, SVC students in the Sports, Recreation and Tourism Management program will once again partner with Bennington Area Trail System (BATS) to promote awareness, access and safe usage of our area trails.

Bennington was voted Runner Up for “Best Sports Town” in Vermont in the recent Vermont Sports issue. According to the Vermont Trails and Greenway Member Organizations, last year Vermont trail systems recorded nearly 410,000 visitors. On average, 61 percent of trail users were from out of state and spent around $440 per visit. The 2015 to 2016 season noted $30.8 million in total annual economic activity supported by trail users. The SVC and BATS partnership is in its early stages, yet data indicates that trail system growth can be a driver for our local economy.

Vermont Business Magazine It's almost time for spring turkey hunting in Vermont. Youth spring turkey hunting weekend is April 29-30 this year, and the regular spring turkey season is May 1-31. What makes Vermont's spring gobbler season special? Vermont's turkey hunting is statewide during the spring season. Vermont's turkey population is one of the highest in New England. You can buy a turkey hunting license without having to go through a lottery. The turkey license comes with two spring tags for two bearded birds and one tag for a turkey of either sex in the fall season. Plus, you get to hunt the entire weekend because hunting is allowed on Sundays.

Vermont Business Magazine AccessCMO, a firm that focuses on marketing advice and counsel for growing businesses, has announced a discounted service rate for Women-owned businesses tied directly to the wage gap women face in the marketplace."When I started this firm, it was all about access -- giving small and growing businesses access to senior marketing leadership usually reserved for big brands," David Weaver stated. "The more I thought about the wage gap women face in the marketplace, the more I realized I had to offer something to address it - directly."

David Weaver, AccessCMO

April 4th is Equal Pay Day in Vermont. Equal Pay Day’s date symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year due to the gender wage gap.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board is now in the process of seeking public input on a number of proposed fishing regulation changes that could go into effect starting in 2018.

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday April 6^th at 11:30 am, Governor Phil School will join individuals personally touched by organ donation, VT DMV Commissioner Rob Ide, Members of the VT Organ and Tissue Donation Advisory Council, and Donate Life Vermont to announce April as Donate Life Month in Vermont, encouraging citizens to register as organ and tissue donors.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Power Systems Corp. (TSX: NPS), a next generation renewable energy technology company, has announced financial results for its fourth quarter and year endedDecember 31, 2016. Northern Power, based in Barre, is best known for its remote, small scale wind energy systems. Last year it sold its larger-scale wind turbine business and patents to Brazilian energy companyWEG SA(Bovespa: WEGE3 / OTC: WEGZY).