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Vermont Public Radio Who leads the race for president and the key statewide offices in Vermont? What are the top issues on voters' minds and how much do they trust some of Vermont's institutions? VPR has once again partnered with The Castleton Polling Institute to ask Vermonters what they think about the big issues facing our state and the choices voters face on November 8.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Supreme Court has reversed a lower court and denied an Act 250 permit for a proposed large commercial and retail development at the I-89 Exit 1 interchange near Quechee. The Vermont Natural Resources Board, together with the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, appealed the lower court’s ruling. In its decision earlier today, a unanimous Court agreed with the Board and the Regional Commission that the proposed development conflicts with the regional plan.

Vermont Business Magazine An improved set of practices designed to protect water quality on logging jobs goes into effect as a revised rule tomorrow, October 22. The Acceptable Management Practices for Maintaining Water Quality on Logging Jobs in Vermont, or AMPs, are a set of practices designed to protect water quality by minimizing soil erosion and runoff during and after logging activity. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation revised the AMP rule as a requirement of Act 64, an act passed in 2015 to improve the quality of State waters. The final AMPs are a result of significant public input and numerous discussions with foresters, landowners, loggers, environmental groups and other departments within the Agency of Natural Resources. It will apply to all logging operations on public and private lands in Vermont regardless of the purpose of the logging.

by Timothy McQuiston The unemployment rate was unchanged last month, but the key indicators were all slightly worse, as the labor force and employment both fell, while the number of jobless increased. The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for September was 3.3 percent, the same as the revised August rate. The national rate in September was 5.0 percent, up one tenth.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims rose last week, as Manufacturing claims spiked. This was offset somewhat by a fall in claims for both the Service and Construction industries. After running at a very low level during the latter part of the summer, overall claims have edged up the last two weeks. For the week of October 15, 2016, there were 571 claims, up 123 from the previous week's total and 18 more than than they were a year ago.

Altogether 3,179 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 198 from a week ago, and 131 fewer than a year ago.

The Department processed 0 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08).

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday, Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC), Encore Renewable Energy, and SoCore Energy, held a Community Appreciation Event at the site of VEC’s first Co-op Community Solar project on Route 78 and Dump Road in Alburgh. The Community Appreciation Event was held  to thank VEC members and the Town of Alburgh for helping to bring the one-megawatt solar project to fruition. VEC’s Co-op Community Solar project provides Co-op members with a new opportunity to save money by sponsoring solar panels and obtaining monthly bill credits. Developing cost-effective, well-sited, locally-generated, renewable energy is a VEC priority.

Vermont Business Magazine People's United Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBCT) on Thursday reported net income of $73.7 million, or $0.24 per share, for the third quarter of 2016, compared to $68.4 million, or $0.23 per share, for the third quarter of 2015, and $68.5 million, or $0.23 per share, for the second quarter of 2016. Included in this quarter's results were merger-related expenses of $3.1 million ($2.1 millionafter-tax), or $0.01 per share. The Company's Board of Directors declared a $0.17 per share quarterly dividend, payable November 15, 2016to shareholders of record on November 1, 2016.  Based on the closing stock price on October 19, 2016, the dividend yield on People's United Financial common stock is 4.3 percent.

Public Assets Institute, Montpelier This January, Vermont will have all new leadership at the State House. It’s the perfect time to zero in on three initiatives that are fundamental to Vermonters’ lives: 1) Ensure that work pays and families meet their basic needs; 2) Make smart evidence-based investments; 3) Restore public confidence in state government.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Troopers Association announced its support for Phil Scott for governor. “The Vermont Troopers Association is proud to endorse Phil Scott for Governor,” said the Association’s President, Sergeant Michael O’Neil. “Phil has a long track record of working with the law enforcement community and understands the daily challenges of the job. Lt. Governor Scott has said on many occasions that a critical role of government is ensuring public safety.  We look forward to working with him in the future to improve fair and impartial law enforcement standards, combat the opiate epidemic, and address the array of issues Troopers face everyday in Vermont,” O’Neil added.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) announced Thursday that the US Department of Labor awarded $4.3 million to a St Albans-based nonprofit, Vermont Associates for Training and Development, to expand their efforts to provide job training and employment services for low-income seniors. In addition to helping Vermonters, the boost in federal funding will allow Vermont Associates for Training and Development to replicate their employment services program in Maine and throughout large swaths of New York and Pennsylvania.

The funding announced Thursday was authorized as part of the Older Americans Act, which provides critical social and nutrition services for seniors in Vermont and throughout the United States. Sanders has called for significantly increasing funding for Older Americans Act programs and helped lead congressional efforts to reauthorize the law earlier this year.

Vermont Business Magazine Darn Tough Vermont, the Northfield-based manufacturer of the fastest growing collection of performance outdoor and lifestyle socks, continues to acquire market share through aggressive growth in multiple categories.  With a formidable annual sales forecast, Darn Tough is seizing upon opportunities in the Lifestyle, Junior and Work markets, it reported today.        

Ric Cabot meets and greets at last November's famous "sock sale" at the manufacturing plant in Northfield. VBM photo.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger, joined by leading Vermont environmental advocates, addressed today the environmental benefits of redeveloping the declining Burlington Town Center (BTC) into a mixed-use, City neighborhood. The supporters announced at the event included the Conservation Law Foundation, the Vermont Natural Resources Council, the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, the Burlington Electric Commission, and the Chittenden County Regional Transportation Commission.