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Vermont Business Magazine Matt Dunne, Democratic candidate for governor, today was joined by supporters, volunteers and his campaign team as he outlined his vision for rebuilding trust and bringing a fresh approach to state government -- the very issues he’s been campaigning on over the last year. As Matt tours the state and talks to everyday Vermonters, he’s heard that voters are hungry for a change, and have lost trust in government’s ability to deliver on its promises. Matt has outlined a detailed plan to address the challenges facing our state, and will always speak up for what he believes is right.

Vermont Business Magazine Randy Brock today was the leading voice in a chorus of long-time Republican leaders and activists endorsing Phil Scott for governor. Scott said he was grateful to Brock for the endorsement and looked forward to working with him on their shared goals.

Vermont Public Radio Two Republicans are in the running for their party's nomination for governor, Businessman Bruce Lisman and Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott, and they're facing off in a live debate on Vermont Edition. Businessman Bruce 

Vermont Business Magazine Ledyard Financial Group (Ticker Symbol: LFGP) announced today a regular quarterly dividend of $0.48 payable September 2, 2016 to shareholders of record as of August 12, 2016. Ledyard Financial Group, Inc, headquartered in Hanover, NH, is the holding company for Ledyard National Bank. Ledyard National Bank, founded in 1991, is a full service community bank offering a broad range of banking, investment, tax and wealth management services in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region. Ledyard National Bank has eight offices with locations in Hanover, Lebanon, Lyme, New London, and West Lebanon, New Hampshire and in Norwich, Vermont.

RELATED STORY: Ledyard Financial Group reports 4 percent increase in Q2 2016 net income

Vermont Business Magazine Ledyard Financial Group, Inc (ticker symbol LFGP), the holding company for Ledyard National Bank, with a branch in Vermont, today reported quarterly earnings for the second quarter of 2016. Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, was $1,062,432 or $1.05 per share compared to $1,021,601 or $1.00 per share for the same period in 2015, an increase of $40,831 or 4%.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims increased last week after nearly a month of decline. Claims in 2016 generally have been running above 2015 claims. For the week of July 23, 2016, there were 639 claims, up 212 from the previous week's total and 220 more than they were a year ago. By industry, claims jumped for Manufacturing; surpassing Service, the usual leader, for most claims. 

Altogether 4,600 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 55 from a week ago, and 187 more than a year ago.

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

Vermont Business Magazine Matt Dunne, Democratic candidate for Governor, today unveiled an aggressive plan to tackle climate change and secure the state’s clean energy future. Matt’s plan includes strategies for protecting our drinking water and fighting for Lake Champlain, halting investments in new fossil fuel infrastructure, divesting from fossil fuels, banning taxpayer funded state purchases of heating oil from ExxonMobil and creating a $100m Green Jobs Fund to increase the energy efficiency of apartment and commercial buildings.

Vermont Business Magazine Shawn Shouldice, Campaign Manager for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Lisman today issued the following statement in response to Phil Scott’s campaign news release earlier today. “The Scott campaign’s response to our ad related to the Lt. Governor’s company’s conducting business with the State of Vermont is nothing more than an immature rant.  They offer no specific factual rebuttal to the information we are presenting to voters. That’s because all the information we presented is accurate.  Phil’s company – in a blatant conflict of interest - has routinely profited from taxpayer-funded contracts with the State.   And after becoming Lt. Governor, it got worse - his business with the State of Vermont increased by more than 400 percent to nearly $50,000 a month.

Vermont Business Magzine At an afternoon event in Rutland County Tuesday, the Vermont Sheriffs' Association endorsed Phil Scott for governor.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, at the Statehouse, Sue Minter was surrounded by environmental advocates to receive the endorsement of the Vermont Conservation Voters in her race for Governor. At the press conference, Minter reiterated her commitment to  Vermont’s bold goal to reach 90 percent renewable energy by 2050.  Minter made clear that she is the only candidate ready and committed to achieving Vermont’s renewable energy goals, cleaning up Lake Champlain and working to make sure that all Vermonters have access to clean drinking water.

“Sue Minter knows that a healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand-in-hand, and VCV is confident that she will bring her deeply-held environmental values into her work in the Governor’s office. We are pleased to endorse Sue Minter as Democratic nominee for Governor today,” added Vermont Conservation Voters Political Director Lauren Hierl.

Vermont Business Magazine Following President Obama’s signing of S764, which establishes a “National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard,” the Vermont Attorney General will no longer be enforcing Act 120, Vermont’s first-in-the-nation law requiring the labeling of food produced with genetic engineering (GE or GMO-genetically modified).

Vermont Business Magazine Late yesterday, United States District Court Judge Christina Reiss in Burlington ordered the Vermont Public Service Board to open Thursday's Vermont Gas Systems hearing to the public. The hearing regards the easement granted last week by the Hinesburg selectboard for Geprags Park in Hinesburg for the Vermont Gas pipeline project. The judge's decision is below. The PSB had decided to close the hearing to the public because of previous disruptions. Meanwhile, the PSB is still considering a Vermont Gas request to rule on intervenor status in the case.

The lawsuit was brought by Lisa Barrett of Huntington. Barrett, now retired, is a former Vermont Assistant Attorney General and former staff employee of US Senator Bernie Sanders. She is represented by Burlington attorney John Franco.